Colorado leaves Big 12; Baylor, others remain in limbo
By John Werner Tribune-Herald staff writer
The Big 12 isn’t dead yet, but it might be on its last legs.
The league dwindled to 10 teams after the University of Colorado accepted an invitation to the Pac-10 on Thursday.
Colorado’s announcement came after the University of Nebraska’s board of regents approved a move to the Big Ten on Wednesday. A formal announcement is expected today.
Baylor and Nebraska players pray together after a game last year at Waco's Floyd Casey Stadium.
Jerry Larson/Tribune-Herald
The Pac-10 reportedly has targeted Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State for expansion.
But there was no resolution after Texas and Texas A&M officials met Thursday in Austin.
Baylor officials also attended the meeting, but Texas Tech reportedly did not send representatives.
A source from a Big 12 school told the Tribune-Herald that University of Texas President Bill Powers wants to move to the Pac-10, but Longhorns football coach Mack Brown prefers to stay in the Big 12.
Brown has ruled the state in recruiting since his arrival 13 years ago, and a Pac-10 merger could open the door for the West Coast schools to recruit more Texas athletes.
“I hate to think that the University of Texas, with all its money, would have a president think that going to the Pac-10 is the thing to do,” Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey said. “They’ve always been kings here. I don’t see where they’d have any power in California. I can’t imagine any coaches at Texas wanting to go out there.
“This is a classic example of greed and the almighty dollar,” she said. “It starts with people who make the decisions at Nebraska and Texas. For people who talk about academics, this is not about what’s in the best interest for the student-athlete. It’s about money.”
Meanwhile, a source said Texas A&M prefers to stay in the Big 12 but also is taking a hard look at the SEC. Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne reportedly has issues with teams making frequent trips to the West Coast.
There could be a rift between the state’s most prominent schools if Texas desires to bolt to the Pac-10 and Texas A&M wants to go to the SEC.
If no Big 12 South teams jump to the Pac-10, Commissioner Larry Scott said in a conference call Thursday that an 11-team conference is a possibility.
“There are several different scenarios,” Scott said.
Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw said he still hopes the Big 12 can stick together.
“We’re working feverishly with the other Big 12 schools to keep the league and the four Texas schools together,” McCaw said.
If the Big 12 doesn’t stick together, Baylor will have to scramble to find a new league.
Baylor women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey (right) called the situation "a classic example of greed and the almighty dollar."
Jerry Larson/Tribune-Herald
Since late last week, Texas legislators with Baylor ties had been lobbying high-ranking officials at Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech to keep the four schools aligned if there were a six-team exodus to the Pac-10.
However, that scenario died when the Pac-10 invited Colorado on Thursday. State Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco, helped lobby for Baylor but realized the Pac-10 had its eye on Colorado for some time.
“It’s a lot harder to get a marriage proposal withdrawn than to win a contest for a proposal,” Dunnam said. “The more that we’ve figured out what’s going on, it appears Colorado has had this in the works for some period of time and had their offer secured before anyone in Waco seemed to know about it.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, urged Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker of the House Joe Straus to call immediate hearings in the Texas Legislature on the impact to the state if the Big 12 is dissolved.
“It’s important that all citizens of Texas have a right to have their voices heard on the future of the Big 12 before — not after — all decisions have been made,” Edwards said. “These decisions are too important to be decided solely by a small handful of people behind closed doors without public input from the citizens of our great state.”
Baylor coaches have watched anxiously as the expansion scenario has evolved. If the Big 12 decides to dissolve, the league would play two more seasons.
Teams making the jump to the Pac-10 are expected to make about $20 million annually after the league negotiates a new television deal next year. The Pac-10 reportedly will start its own cable TV network similar to the Big Ten model, which is part of a package that nets its members $22 million annually.
Big 12 teams received between $7 and $11 million last year.
If Baylor moved to a non-Bowl Championship Series conference, it could greatly impact the athletic department’s revenue.
“The two things that would hurt Baylor the most would be our revenue and our football team,” Mulkey said.
Baylor football coach Art Briles said he’s kept an eye on the expansion talk but was preoccupied Wednesday with his summer camp for high school players.
“All I know is that we’ve got the 2010 season coming up, and that’s what we’re geared for,” Briles said.
Baylor regent Chairman Dary Stone said he’s hopeful all Texas schools involved in a potential exodus from the Big 12 will see the benefit of keeping the league intact.
“They need to take a timeout, take a big gulp of air, look around and consider what we’re doing in our neighborhood, being Texas,” Stone said. “Clearly, money is important, but it shouldn’t be 100 percent of the story. Is it worth, in the short run, a marginal financial increase shearing all of those traditions and rivalries that make college sports what they are?
“If you get rid of those traditions, it’s pro sports,” Stone said. “It’s mercenary.”
Staff writers Michael W. Shapiro and Tim Woods contributed to this story.
jwerner@wacotrib.com
757-5716
RELATED SEARCHES
- State's top politicians not making pitch to help Baylor stay in Big 12
- Baylor leaving Big 12 could have big impact on Waco economy
- Brice Cherry: Blame Big 12's demise on leadership
- Jim Dunnam, guest columnist: Vibrant public discussion needed before Texas schools defect from Big 12
- Statement from Baylor President Ken Starr on Big 12 developments
MORE IN BAYLOR BEARS SPORTS »
To me Texas,Texas Tech,Oklahoma, Ok St. seem like a bad fit for the PAC 10, A&M is a bad fit for the PAC 10,even the Aggies seem to realize that. Regardless, Baylor will not get into the MWC,Big East or ACC. The next stop for the Bears is plain to see, the West Texas town of El Paso beckons, see you at the Sun Bowl chumps.!
@donald: Baylor wasn't just a tag along. Ann Richards and others in Texas legislature made sure Baylor was part of the Big XII. Where was all the talk about keeping the Texas schools together at that time? Houston should have been the logical choice at the time since they are a state school. TCU will block any attempt to add Baylor to the MWC. There's a DMN report stating that today.
@WacoBob: You could not be more wrong. You might as well cancel the Baylor Football Program if you want to be on independent. The only reason that Notre Dame survives is that they still have the recognition of being a national power and that they have one of the largest TV contracts in College Football with NBC. Do you think ABC, NBC, CBS, or FOX would do that with Baylor. If you do then you need to come back to reality. If people could watch the game on TV there would not be 20,000 people in the stands every week. Who wants to watch a game on TV that the people who live there don' want to watch. Baylor needs a conference. It appears that TAMU would rather go to the SEC than the Pac-10. If so then maybe Baylor could get in. If not I think the MWC is the next best fit. Not having a conference is NOT an option. Even mighty Notre Dame will soon be part of the Big 10 to make a super conference.
We need to stop blaming everyone and look in the mirror. The reason we aren't part of the mega-conference discussions is we don't support the Bears like we should. We haven't had a winning season in football since joining the Big 12 and barely draw 30-35,000 at games. We don't travel well, we have no TV market, and no national presence. Many schools wonder why we just hired a controversial President. Academically, Baylor isn't even in the same league as Pac 10 schools (no matter what we keep spinning to ourselves). This is about money but also academics. We don't belong for either reason. Let's stop complaining and start thinking realistically about where we belong (and its not in the Pac 10, SEC, or Big 10). Truth is we are better off in a weakend Big 12 or in C-USA.
Baylor to the Big East or ACC! I admit and recognize we just don't have the budget or base to compete in football with the big boys. Personally, I'd prefer not to go the the PAC 10. I don't want to be where I'm not wanted. Baylor would have an opportunity to king of the gridiron in a conference like that (at least a better chance in the Pac 10) and it would make a monster basketball conference. I think we have an opportunity to follow Duke's blueprint. Also, the Texas market, whatever bit Baylor can bring to those conferences, would be a plus for Baylor, and the opportunity for those schools to play in TX could help them in recruiting. Personally, I'm over the whole superconference thing. But, I may but a ticket to watch Cal-Berkley or Stanford march into Kyle Field. :-D
For those dogging Baylor about the 1995 decision to leave the SWC and join the Big XII, how quickly we forget that they SWC was just about dead when Baylor jumped on board. The Texas schools were leaving the SWC and Baylor just jumped on board. Baylor was the tag-a-long in 1995. As far as getting Arkansas and TCU to get back to 12 that will never happen. Arkansas will not leave the SEC especially for a dying conference. I lived in the Deep South for two years and things are different is SEC Country. That is why these schools are not wanting to go to the SEC. Arkansas left the SWC as a powerhouse to become a very average team in the SEC. Texas A&M wanting to go to the SEC only makes sense for money and travel. Aggie fans will be firing coaches every 2-4 years because they will not win in the SEC. As far as the Pac-10 goes, I think that is a step backwards from the Big XII. With the expection of USC, the Pac-10 has not been that good for years and thanks to Reggie Bush and some donors the USC Trojans are going down as well. If Texas wants a challenge join the SEC so you can see how average you will be when you have to play the big boys every week.
@Kent: TCU hasn't forgotten what happened in 1995. Boise State has already been added to the MWC. Rumors are Kansas, Kansas St and Missouri have been in contact with MWC officials.
There's always the SWAC for the bears. :-) But . . . then there would never be a sellout without TEXAS, the eggies and maybe Nebraska.
I still like the idea of moving OU and OSU to the North division of the Big 12 (which would strengthen it), then add TCU and UH to the South division.
well Baylor coaches...you think getting a good recruit is hard now...good luck
It's simple folks. We haven't been competitive in football since joining the Big 12. We haven't done our part to fill the stadium with paying fans. We have no TV/media market for advertising and little to no national following. We've done well in basketball but are not competitive in football. We have good baseball, softball, and tennis but these sports don't bring in revenue or much TV interest. We haven't done our part to support Baylor like other major teams. We don't travel well in terms of fans. Truthfully, we are getting what we deserve and would be better off in a smaller conference with SMU, Rice, and Houston.
Joe wrote: "There's no way TCU agrees to add Baylor to the MWC." To the contrary, I'm betting TCU and the MWC will do whatever it takes to augment the MWC and achieve BCS status. The addition of Baylor and the Kansas schools would pretty much force the MWC into BCS status. Add a 12th school like Boise State and I don't see any way the MWC wouldn't become a BCS conference. In any event why wouldn't TCU welcome the opportunity to spank Baylor on an annual basis?
Well obviously the Pac-10 leadership wanted nothing to do with Baylor. Hence the preemptive invitation to Colorado which blows up any idea of Baylor following it's Texas brothers to the Pac-10. Frankly the Pac-10 probably only wants Texas and Oklahoma and is willing to take Colorado for the Denver media market. A&M is probably a net plus as that brings much of Texas into play. But Oklahoma State and Tech are probably a wash. Baylor should be looking hard at helping organize an augmented Mountain West conference with Kansas, K-State, and Boise State. With those teams added the MWC would for certain have to reach BCS automatic qualifying status. Baylor basically has 2 choices, go east and join Conference USA or go west and join the MWC. Lately the MWC seems to be the stronger and more coherent conference. And frankly it is more geographically cohesive and the schools are more interesting than CUSA. Regardless they should stick with the Kansas schools for the basketball. One good thing about all of this is that it will likely blow up the BCS and produce a more fair and interesting playoff system.
@Bill: You're right on the money. Baylor wasn't concerned with that in 1995. They were out for the big bucks then and now they are finding out what it's like to be left behind. There's no way TCU agrees to add Baylor to the MWC.
Well it looks like the Big XII has become a huge bear trap for Baylor. Remember Baylor 2012 vision that former president Sloan used to promote after Baylor joined the Big XII? Well 2012 never looked so bleak for BU as it does right now. I guess Baylor will have to settle for North Texas State, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, UH, Rice, SMU, maybe even Tarlton. They'll at least win half their games.
Let's bring in TCU and Arkansas and we're back to 12!!!
It is all about money. Baylor will never have the fan base or viewing audience that a state school will have. I would still like to see an all-Tex conference. We have enough great schools to make it happen even if Tech, TAMU, and UT leave.
Here is a quick fix, colorado is out, invite the Iowa Buckeyes in.
what a bunch of hypocrites. where were the concerns about "rivalries" and "traditions" in 1995? you reap what you sow
I really hope that the remaining Big 12 teams can keep the league intact. If not, this could have a devastating effect on Baylor and the city of Waco. The very least that we could hope for is that the Texas schools can remain together in the same conference. It's nice to see that the Trib has returned the comment section to their online newspaper. Lets hope those who forced them to remove it clean up their comments.
Column
Brice Cherry: Lady Bears single-minded in climb to top
Baylor embraced its "national title or bust" mentality and rode it all the way to the championship.
Column
John Werner: One more salute to Baylor's Griffin, Wright
Robert Griffin and Kendall Wright will always be remembered by Baylor football fans for their role in turning the program around.
| Date | Opponent | Time/ Result |
Pics | TV? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 2 | TCU | W, 50-48 |  |
ESPN |
| Sept. 17 | SFA | W, 48-0 | |
|
| Sept. 24 | Rice (parents' weekend) | W, 56-31 | |
Fox SW |
| Oct. 1 | @ Kansas State |
L, 36-35 | |
ABC |
| Oct. 8 | Iowa State | W, 49-26 | |
Fox SW |
| Oct. 15 | @ Texas A&M | L, 55-28 | |
FX |
| Oct. 29 | @ Okla. State |
L, 59-24 | |
ABC |
| Nov. 5 | Missouri (homecoming) |
W, 42-39 | |
Fox SW |
| Nov. 12 | @ Kansas |
W, 31-30 (OT) | |
|
| Nov. 19 | Oklahoma | W, 45-38 | |
ABC |
| Nov. 26 | vs. Texas Tech (at Dallas) | W, 66-42 | |
Fox SW |
| Dec. 3 | Texas | W, 48-24 | |
ABC |
| Dec. 29 | Alamo Bowl vs. Washington (Alamodome, San Antonio) |
W, 67-56 | |
ESPN |
The Bear Blog
Get on the Bear beat with beat writers John Werner and Brice Cherry.
