The Dysfunctional Big 12 Conference

[Tugg Speedman]

Is this rock bottom for the Big 12?

http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/17792693/on-field-struggles-field-scandals-league-dysfunction-rock-bottom-big-12%20http://es.pn/2dhexSJ

Not even a decade ago, the Big 12 had reached its apex.

In 2008, the Big 12 South had emerged as the best division in college football, headlined by heavyweights Oklahoma and Texas trading blows for conference supremacy and the chance to play for national championships. The Big 12 had just signed one TV deal with ESPN, and was primed to ink another with Fox.

The conference appeared harmonious. And seemed stable.

Since that time, the Big 12 has been in a free fall, culminating with a new low point this year.

"I don't know if the conference has hit rock bottom yet," said one source familiar with Big 12 matters. "But we can see the bottom."

A Title IX scandal has come to define one of its members. Baylor, even several months after removing the school president, athletic director and head football coach, continues to be in the news almost weekly.

[GGGG]

It wasn't that harmonious in 2008.  Nebraska and A&M had been resenting Texas excess revenue for years...going back to the conference's founding.  The root of their troubles all dates back to the decision to allow differential conference revenue.  Good programs with options left, and left to much greener pastures. 

BTW, the conference isn't expanding.

Looks like this will come to a resolution soon and expansion will not happen.

http://www.si.com/college-football/2...nsion-unlikely

"Multiple sources indicated there have been discussions with the Big 12’s TV partners to pay the league not to expand. The purpose of the payment would be to eliminate the pro rata clause in the TV contract—which the TV officials consider a loophole—that enables the league to receive nearly $25 million annually for every school it adds. The willingness of ESPN and Fox to discuss paying to eliminate that clause and end future potential expansion drama in upcoming years makes not expanding the most likely conclusion."

[forgetful]

I wouldn't be surprised about the expansion not happening.  I know for a fact that some schools on the last "short list" know for certain they will not be getting an invite. 

So either, there will be no expansion; or the teams that are part of the expansion already know.

My guess, BYU and Houston were the original choices.  Backlash due to BYU's stances on some issues and adding another Texas team made expansion dead on arrival.

[rocket surgeon]

2011 was actually it's pinacle-RG III, #4, 11, 16 and 17th ranked teams
 
   dan beebe(go longhorns, 'ey?) goodbye huskers and aggies

  no conference championship game-smiley faces for everyone?   bowlsby was steee-rike 2

  baylor recruitment failures

 

[rocket surgeon]

didn't the big 10 file an amendment to force the big 12 into forming 2 divisions?  has that been resolved?

   they are trying to introduce this to force a true conference championship game between the division champs as opposed to the 2 top schools of the conference. 

     

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Didnt the entire changing of conference era begin with Longhorn TV or something like that?

[GGGG]

Didnt the entire changing of conference era begin with Longhorn TV or something like that?

The last straw. The Big 12 divided television revenue according to a formula that was based on the number of television appearances each school had. Always created problems.