As if the expansion rumor mill needed any additional fuel, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and one of the most powerful man at the most powerful school in the conference have thrown some prime kindling onto a fire that’s bordering on an inferno.
The latest? Just a few hours after a report surfaced that the Pac-10 was prepared to pare six schools from the Big 12 tree, Beebe was scheduled to meet with the assembled media. And didn’t.
Texas president Bill Powers was scheduled to meet with the media at 5 p.m. Central time. Then rescheduled for 6 p.m. Then didn’t, instead rescheduling for tomorrow.
Fit, meet shan.
While Beebe did not hold his scheduled presser, he did make a quasi-statement as he scurried toward the safety of an elevator’s closed doors.
“Here’s the situation,” Beebe said. “We are still in session. The board is still in session so we’re not going to have anymore comments at this point. Tomorrow after we’re finished with the board and and its concluded its meetings, it will be finished.”
It will be finished. What, the Big 12 as we know it?
As Brian Christopherson of the Lincoln Journal Star put it, describing the mood at the Kansas City hotel where the meetings are being held, “Weird vibe here. Very weird.“
As far as the report itself is concerned, Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott told Chris Dufresne of the Los Angeles Times the following: “No decisions made, No offers extended. We meet this weekend and I’m not anticipating any definitive decisions coming out.”
That’s not exactly ripping, shredding and tearing apart the validity of the original report, is it?
Certainly, there have been many a rumor tossed out since December regarding expansion. For every single rumor that’s come out — as far as I can recall — there have been swift denials from one, a couple or all of the parties involved within an hour or two.
This story has been out for at least six hours. Maybe even seven. Number of denials? Zero.
Unlike the other speculation, this one may actually have some legs to it, at least judging by the deafening sound of silence coming from all corners.
The SEC needs to jump on Texas and Texas A&M NOW.
Those two schools would benefit FAR MORE from joining the SEC then they would the Pac-1o.
But if the Pac-1o offers first, only juicing the Texas Legislature would get them into the SEC.
Come on Mike Slive, don’t get caught with your pants down waiting on the Big-ZERO!!!
Offer Texas, A&M, VATech, and West Virginia /NC State NOW!!!
I wonder what the odds are of a multi-conference bidding war over one or more of these schools.
I’m also wondering if Delany didn’t play this exactly right: announce that the Big Te(leve)n is studying expansion, with a 12 month timeframe, then sit back and watch what happens. In this way, he could, without making a single offer, watch everyone go out of their mind with speculation, and quietly observe which schools are, and aren’t, interested in making a move. I mean: look at this way, Mizzou has all but stated their interest, and Delany hasn’t had to make a single move. Instead of rifle hunting, he’s just been casually laying bait – waiting to see who comes for a bite.
I’m speculating of course, but still – food for thought.