While your level of enjoyment may depend on the school colors you wear/are wearing, there’s little doubt that all of this expansion talk has been at least mildly intriguing to some and downright fascinating to watch unfold to others.
Unfortunately, turn out the lights and start cleaning up the mess. The party just might be over.
According to the Omaha World Herald — the same paper that reported Tuesday that Nebraska could be bolting for the Big Ten by Friday — all of this expansion talk has filtered its way to the upper reaches of government, and there’s a chance Congress could step in if the path appears to be leading to four 16-team super conferences.
Sen. Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, had a come-to-Jesus meeting with Sen. Ben Nelson, a Nebraska Democrat, just outside the Senate floor on Tuesday, warning his colleague that his state school doesn’t need to be the one to tip over the first conference domino.
“Don’t be the domino that blows college football up into four major conferences and gets rid of the NCAA,” a World-Herald reporter heard the Kansas senator tell Nelson. “It isn’t going to do anybody any good when those dominoes start falling.”
What would happen if college football were to be, as the esteemed linguist Emmitt Smith would put it, blowed up?
“There’s going to be a lot of litigation, and then Congress will probably try to stick its nose into it,” Roberts said. “I would prefer that that not be the case, but there have always been antitrust concerns. …
“I think the big concern here that Congress could take a look at is how the network television contracts are driving different schools to consider different conferences to attract the money — and those that will be in those big conferences, or super conferences, will get the money and others won’t.”
Way to piss in our punchbowl, Mr. Roberts. Thanks a lot. Appreciate it.
So Washington wants change, Change starts, Washington says stop….
PICK A SIDE WASHINGTON!
Nebraska and the Big Ten are a GREAT fit. Kansas, would also be a good fit for the Big Ten. The Big Ten would be smart to bring Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. They gain a major power house in football (Nebraska has won more games since the 70′s than any other team), they gain Missouri (KC and St Louis), and they gain a major power house in basketball.
Win – Win!
Nebraska might have won more games since the 70s, but too bad most of them were in the 70s and 80s. What have you done for me lately Cornhuskers?
If Congress gets involved it won’t be Nebraska to the Big Ten, it will be Harvard and Yale.
Someone please tell me how Nebraska is being blamed for blowing-up the Big12 ???
The Big12 can replace three schools (all from the weak sister North Division). If the BigEast didn’t implode after Miami-Fl, Va Tech & BC joined the ACC, the Big12 can handle the loss of 3 schools not named Texas.
Blaming Nebraska is low-down dirty Texas politics at its finest. The rest of the civilized college football world should leave all the Texas schools to their own device and the all Texas conference can be called ‘North Mexico’.
You can’t have this kind of money and a few geographically privileged universities trying to claim the lion’s share without others taking notice. It’s not like Indiana’s or Washington State’s football programs are so much better than a Kansas or Oklahoma State. It’s not like these schools have higher academic standards (that are enforced) for their football and basketball teams that we should “reward” them with monies for their general universities. Who cares that the Big 10(11) has tier one schools – we are talking about football players, not scholars. If that were the criteria then the Ivy League should be getting the money. NCAA shot itself long ago by allowing TV deals.
Since Nebraska and Mizzou couldnt ever beat Texas or OU in the Big 12, maybe they’ll do better against the lesser teams in the Big 10.
Has anyone looked at why there has been no announcement of sanctions against USC when there had been news that these sanctions would be revealed last week? And folks, this IS related to the Big 10 and PAC 10 stealing schools from the Big 12!!
If USC faces major penalties, the PAC 10 is nothing,.. yes, I said nothing when it comes to television ratings, and that means less $$$ for the conference. So why wouldn’t they want Texas and Oklahoma to join,.. to build the coffers until USC comes off the probation they may receive. Its sheer greed people. But think of this,.. who is the loser in this mega conference if only ONE SCHOOL gets a BCS bid?? The plan sort of destroys any credibility of the BCS (not that it has a lot anyway) would have crowning a national champion.
So Nebraska may join the Big 10?,.. and who else. Notre Dame? If this happens the Big 12 is destroyed, all for the mighty dollar. Whether you realize it or not, the upcoming Big 12 football and basketball seasons promise to one of the best conferences in the country to watch this coming year, especially basketball.
If television money drives the breakup of a major college conference for dollars, then yes,.. it’s time for Congress to take a look. All of the minor sports programs at the affected universities will suffer because one school got caught. I believe that is the root of the issue here…
To Tiger;
1990-1999: 107-16-1
3 national titles
National Title Game Appearance 1993
(59-3 run to end Tom Osborne’s career)
Coaching change in 1997-98
2000-present: 84-44
Conference title in 2001
Heisman Trophy winner 2001
National Title Game appearance 2001
Coaching changes in 2003-04 and 2007-08
2000-2003 + 2008-present: 57-22
Take out Callahan and remove 22 losses in 4 years.
1990-present: 191-60-1
That’s what Nebraska has done lately. Most of their wins didn’t just come in the 70′s and 80′s.
Another example of people who have no idea what happens in College Football outside of their teams.
Nebraska was at one point 1 of 3 teams with 800 wins. Michigan is coming off two BAD stretches. Notre Dame has had many rough years. Miami went through a dip, looks to bounce out. EVERY team goes through bad years. USC wasn’t exactly great for several years till Pete Carroll.
Nebraska also carries a large fan following all over. If Nebraska didn’t matter, currently, the Big Ten would not disrupt another conference like they are doing if they didn’t realize the Big Ten and the Big Ten Network would see a significant increase.
Unemployment is still high. There are people who are losing their homes, can’t buy food, and can’t buy medicine. We still have troops overseas being killed everyday. We have a serious problem with Mexicans crossing the border illegally. 29 men died in a mine explosion in West Virginia that could have possibly been avoided had federal mine inspection laws been toughened up by Congress. We have a massive oil spill in the Gulf that could have DEFINITELY been avoided had the government done its job. And yet, college football is what Congress cares to investigate??? I’m so glad we have our priorities straight.
Marshall, I’m with you! So many other things deserve our full attention right now. I say good riddance! I won’t miss Nebraska in the Big 12 one iota.
Cygnus, check your facts. Nebraska beat OU last year and was scammed out of beating Texas in the Big 12 championship. Correct me if I’m wrong.
Sure people like KU are going to be upset knowing that if Nebraska left for the Big 10, they would be among those benefiting from such lucrative TV deals. It goes beyond that, looking at the grants and funding of Big 12 schools compared to Big 10 it is obvious that Big 10 has the better institutions. Look at Penn State, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern. Those are some of the best public schools in the nation, Nebraska would be crazy not to accept an offer to this elite ACADEMIC conference. Most people forget that conferences aren’t strictly athletic based, and while those benefits are huge too, academics play an equal factor. Nebraska should be looking out for themselves, and the Big 10 seems to offer the best chance of success. Sorry KU, deal with it.
Keep the conferences, just fire the NCAA.
To NotaHuskerfan:
You won’t miss Nebraska in the Big XII because without Nebraska there is no Big XII.
The only constant is change. Texas has to adapt, they held on as long as they could. Now Nebraska is moving into better fields.
The Big 12 north is weak if you compare it to the south, which includes Texas and OU. So to take the best team in the North (and one of the best teams in the conference), it leaves a huge gap. The Big 12 can’t exist without Nebraska, and if Mizzou were to get picked up by the Big 10 it would be over. Why else would Texas, OU, and TT be talking to the Pac-10? They know if Nebraska decides to leave, the conference would be obsolete. Theyre looking for a way out too.
To get back to this article, KU is whining because if Nebraska leaves, so will everybody else. Kansas politicians are so desperate that they are threatening to bring it to Washington. Obviously I agree that they should be dealing with problems that are actually of value, but this just goes to show the effect that Nebraska can have by simply considering leaving the conference. NotaHuskerfan, you may not like the Huskers, but you seem to be ignorant to the fact that they are a key player.