Just when the Florida State/Big 12 story gets a douse of cold water to cool the coals, someone comes along and reignites the fire.
Two days after Florida State president Eric Barron released a lengthy memo listing several reasons to stay in the ACC -- although it never specifically says FSU wouldn’t leave -- the conversation of realignment has been opened again.
Speaking on the Tim Brando Show this morning, former Seminoles linebacker and BOT member Derrick Brooks dropped possibly the biggest bombshell on the matter, saying “As far as I know the Big 12 reached out to us.”
Here’s the audio of the interview.
Despite mixed messages about an interest in switching conferences, Florida State has maintained that no conversations with the Big 12 have been taking place and the Big 12 has responded in kind. And, to date, a majority of the speculation about FSU and the Big 12 has been media-driven based on the untimely comments of FSU BOT chair Andy Haggard.
Brooks’ comments, however, have now broken the seal on what would be a rather important development for a story with previously little evidence to support it. Still, Florida State’s administration is doing its best to temper the flares. When asked to respond to Brooks’ comments, FSU athletic director Randy Spetman said “I don’t know where Derrick got that.”
But regardless of whether the two sides are talking, or have ever spoken, the fascinating angle continues to be that no one at FSU is on the same page publicly. How that happens regarding such a grand issue, I have no idea, but it would behoove Barron to gather his troops, if he hasn’t already, and make sure everyone knows where the school stands, and pronto.