Emails show extensive efforts to prevent Missouri from leaving Big 12

[Sid]

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2012/mar/18/behind-the-scenes-of-a-breakup/

 

[tycat947]

Too bad for Mizzou! They WILL regret some day even though they may not admit! They had been toying with this for years, especially the Big 10.

 

[bocabull]

The most accurate part of the article:

On Oct. 24, an anonymous Big 12 administrator told the Austin American-Statesman the conference would be better off with West Virginia than Missouri. The official said, "West Virginia has better football than Missouri, better basketball than Missouri, a better budget than Missouri and more passion among its fans than Missouri. They're better, anyway you turn 'em."

That sums up why the new TV contracts are coming in well ahead of initial forecasts.

 

[Sawyer]

The most accurate part of the article:

On Oct. 24, an anonymous Big 12 administrator told the Austin American-Statesman the conference would be better off with West Virginia than Missouri. The official said, "West Virginia has better football than Missouri, better basketball than Missouri, a better budget than Missouri and more passion among its fans than Missouri. They're better, anyway you turn 'em."

That sums up why the new TV contracts are coming in well ahead of initial forecasts.

The paragraphs immediately following were more interesting.

 

[Big Old Booger]

The most accurate part of the article:

On Oct. 24, an anonymous Big 12 administrator told the Austin American-Statesman the conference would be better off with West Virginia than Missouri. The official said, "West Virginia has better football than Missouri, better basketball than Missouri, a better budget than Missouri and more passion among its fans than Missouri. They're better, anyway you turn 'em."

That sums up why the new TV contracts are coming in well ahead of initial forecasts.

I will admit WV has a better football and basketball program as well as more rabid fans, but Mizzou is a better academic institution (and it's not even close), and the travel to Morgantown is going to be brutal.

Just as brutal will be traveling to SEC east programs like South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, etc., for Mizzou.

Both the big 12 and Mizzou lost when they decided to go to the dueling banjo conference.

 

[Sawyer]

Too bad for Mizzou! They WILL regret some day even though they may not admit! They had been toying with this for years, especially the Big 10.

Will that someday be before or after UT joins the Pac X?

 

[bocabull]

The paragraphs immediately following were more interesting.

Where Alden repeated your quote about being surprised that's what we thought of you? Lol

When it's all said & done the Big XII is greatly strengthened. The cry baby underachieving dead weight is being replaced by hungry achievers.

 

[Sid]

After the Big 12 CEOs held a conference call in which they voted to replace Commissioner Dan Beebe with Neinas on an interim basis, Boren and Deaton, the Big 12 chair, held press conferences to update the state of the conference.

While Boren said the Big 12's leaders had unanimously committed to granting their media rights to the conference for six years — a pact he likened to "handcuffs" — Deaton said Missouri made no agreement. In fact, Missouri's allegiance at the time was seen as so precarious that Oklahoma State drafted a "positive" and "negative" press release to react to the conference call — the latter calling Missouri's decision to leave the Big 12 a "complete surprise."

"Can you please explain to me why you had a press conference yesterday and greatly exaggerated the truth — lied, really — about the future of the Big 12 and the 'grant of rights,' " a reporter from the New York Times wrote in an email to Boren. "Do you realize how ridiculous you look having a celebratory press conference while the guy who should be speaking and knows the truth, Brady Deaton, is dispensing reality?"

 

[Sawyer]

After the Big 12 CEOs held a conference call in which they voted to replace Commissioner Dan Beebe with Neinas on an interim basis, Boren and Deaton, the Big 12 chair, held press conferences to update the state of the conference.

While Boren said the Big 12's leaders had unanimously committed to granting their media rights to the conference for six years — a pact he likened to "handcuffs" — Deaton said Missouri made no agreement. In fact, Missouri's allegiance at the time was seen as so precarious that Oklahoma State drafted a "positive" and "negative" press release to react to the conference call — the latter calling Missouri's decision to leave the Big 12 a "complete surprise."

"Can you please explain to me why you had a press conference yesterday and greatly exaggerated the truth — lied, really — about the future of the Big 12 and the 'grant of rights,' " a reporter from the New York Times wrote in an email to Boren. "Do you realize how ridiculous you look having a celebratory press conference while the guy who should be speaking and knows the truth, Brady Deaton, is dispensing reality?"

This sort of thing, along with ongoing discussions between UT, OU, TT and OSU with the PAC, are why MU is in the SEC.

 

[tycat947]

This sort of thing, along with ongoing discussions between UT, OU, TT and OSU with the PAC, are why MU is in the SEC.

Maybe these schools were looking at the PAC12 because Mizzou had been on their knees BEGGING an invite to the Big 10 for years!

 

[seniorsooner]

Can we just skip all the foreplay and cut to the point where Sid rips Boren and Castiglione? Sid's about as subtle as a sledgehammer...

 

[Sawyer]

Maybe these schools were looking at the PAC12 because Mizzou had been on their knees BEGGING an invite to the Big 10 for years!

Except losing Mizzou doesn't matter and WVU makes the conference stronger.

Or something like that.

Mizzou had an opportunity to possibly go to the Big 10, but they were offering an extended junior membership that we didn't want (but Nebraska took in a heartbeat). We were interested in being in the Big 10, but only if we could actually be in the Big 10. They weren't putting that option on the table. Ever.

So until the LHN stuff about showing high school games pissed off A&M and UT/OU started looking at the PAC again, MU was fine with the Big 12 as it was a year ago.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Can we just skip all the foreplay and cut to the point where Sid rips Boren and Castiglione? Sid's about as subtle as a sledgehammer...

Some people are somewhat like the arrow on a compass. When you figure out which way they are pointing, you know to go the opposite way.

 

[sooner333]

Please explain the "junior membership" Mizzou didn't want. Not buying it.

 

[Sawyer]

Please explain the "junior membership" Mizzou didn't want. Not buying it.

I'm not necessarily saying there was a committable offer on the table (I don't know if there was or not). But I do know the Big 10 was at least in discussions with MU. Any deal they were offering would have required an extended period of junior membership (which is what Nebraska ended up with, and what TCU/WVU have in the Big 12). If MU was going to move, it was going to need to be as full members from day one.

The Big 10 wasn't ever going to put that offer out there for MU. Lacking that, the Big 10 was never a real option for MU. It was a dream many on the academic side had, but that's all it was. Joining the Big 10 without immediately reaping the financial benefits of doing so would never make sense for MU. The period of reduced payments would hamstring the athletic department severely enough that we'd be facing an uphill battle for much longer than that.

The SEC and I believe the PAC both had full membership from day one on the table for their new additions.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Please explain the "junior membership" Mizzou didn't want. Not buying it.

This was reported here in KC. The big 10 was going to accept Mizzou but as Sawyer said only as a "junior" member. This meant a smaller piece of the financial revenues and a few other minor differences (from being a full member).

I've never heard that Nebraska was offered and accepted a junior membership. I believe they are full members but that may be wrong.

 

[coolm]

I liked having Mizzou in this conference.

BUT... that said ... don't let the door hit ya in the azz

 

[snydrosooner]

If I understand right TA&M does not get a full share of SEC money for several years. This would be the same as a Jr Membership Sawyer was talking about. Is MU getting better deal then TA&M?

 

[DenverSooner]

What I find ironic is that for years Missouri claimed it was a superior academic school compared to the other Big XII programs and belonged in a better academic conference like the Big Ten. However, when the smoke cleared, Missouri joined the weakest academic conference of the BCS schools.