Oklahoma looking to leave Big12 for PAC 12

[Dallas]

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1259825

Talk about it in Inside the 40 Acres
Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe convened a conference call late Friday afternoon with a handful of his conference's presidents to discuss the increasing possibility that Oklahoma wants to bolt the Big 12 for the Pac-12, multiple sources said.

Texas president Bill Powers, Oklahoma president David Boren and Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin were excluded from the call, sources said. But Beebe advised the other presidents in the Big 12 to "work on Texas" to get the Longhorns to stay in the Big 12, sources said.

[trickblue]

The state of Oklahoma will be hating those 9:00 and 10:00pm game starts when OU is on the road...

[Aikbach]

The Big 12 either has to make new invites or implode, a shame too because hte competition of many programs was/ is picking up, no longer are UT and OU the lone bookends of the conference.

[xout]

OU makes more sense in SEC or Big 10 IMO.

I'd love to see OU and A&M join the SEC West with someone like Virginia Tech and North Carolina joining the East. That'd be pretty nasty conference.

Of course, I'd rather see Clemson and Florida State but SEC most likely won't expand schools unless they are out of state.

If OU does end up in the PAC or Big 10, look for Missouri to either jump to Big 10 or SEC quickly as well.

[DIAF]

OU makes more sense in SEC or Big 10 IMO.

I'd love to see OU and A&M join the SEC West with someone like Virginia Tech and North Carolina joining the East. That'd be pretty nasty conference.

Of course, I'd rather see Clemson and Florida State but SEC most likely won't expand schools unless they are out of state.

If OU does end up in the PAC or Big 10, look for Missouri to either jump to Big 10 or SEC quickly as well.

The SEC is already huge with the addition of A&M. No thanks.

[xout]

The SEC is already huge with the addition of A&M. No thanks.


I love A&M in the SEC, but don't you think OU with A&M would be even better?

Annual OU vs LSU, Arkansas, Alabama, and Auburn games with the periodical games vs Florida, Georgia, or UT would be pretty awesome television.

[Aikbach]

I love A&M in the SEC, but don't you think OU with A&M would be even better?

Annual OU vs LSU, Arkansas, Alabama, and Auburn games with the periodical games vs Florida, Georgia, or UT would be pretty awesome television.So the Aggies can lose another conference game? they're going to get killed in the SEC.

[MC KAos]

the aggies arent going to the SEC, they want an easy path to the BCS championship game, thats why they are against a conference championship game. the big 10 said they want to stay at 12 teams and unlike the SEC, i believe them. i think they would rather expand to the northeast than to oklahoma. I think the interest that they say is from "multiple" conferences is the SEC (which they arent taking serious) and the PAC 12. Unlike A&M, if OU leaves there is no way the big 12 survives. i really hope they decide to stay and we can bring in Pitt and BYU along with a 12th team to make the conference whole and stable again.

[MC KAos]

The state of Oklahoma will be hating those 9:00 and 10:00pm game starts when OU is on the road...

ive mentioned this before, there is 0% chance they would start those games that late, even on the road. You never see the Pac12 play teams from other time zones that late unless they are cupcake teams. just look at the USC/Notre Dame games for example. They wouldnt start those games later than 8 central

[DIAF]

I love A&M in the SEC, but don't you think OU with A&M would be even better?

Annual OU vs LSU, Arkansas, Alabama, and Auburn games with the periodical games vs Florida, Georgia, or UT would be pretty awesome television.

There's 12 teams already in the SEC. It's already huge. A&M plus another school like OU would be 14 teams, 7 teams in each division. That's too many.

OU would never come to the SEC anyways. Much harder to win championships when you have to go through the likes of Alabama/LSU/Auburn in your own division, then have to deal with Florida and Georgia in the East (UT will eventually be back up to snuff as well).

[big dog cowboy]

As a huge fan of the Big 12, I don't understand what they are trying to accomplish. The second Nebraska and Colorado announced they were leaving replacement teams should have been brought in. Instead of becoming a bigger and better conference, now they seem destined to become irrelavent or die a slow and painful death.

[Ren]

It won't be a slow death 2 years from now the Big 12 will be history

[jterrell]

If OU goes it is with OKST, Tech and Texas. The only reason this didn't have earlier was because texas didnt want to lose it tamu rivalry. Now that's a done deal so this 50-60% likely.... insanity is the word of the day but it does become the first true mega conference.

That group plus Ariz/ASU, Colorado and 1 other will form the Eastern wing.

Games would be at same times they are now.
It actually works well for tv because it allows early then late games on the same day.

Big time USC/OU/UT/Oregon type matchups would likely occur in prime time CST for the benefit of the most households. 5-PM PST isn't a bad start.

The Longhorn Network would become a regional network with Tech. OU/OKST would have their own regional network as well. There would be revenue sharing from these networks.


As to why the big 12 remained at 9... money. They were offered lots of money to keep the 9 together. They had the second richest tv contract. Texas was content to sit on those huge piles of money. Everyone else was as ell even if the pile wasnt as big except the Aggies. So the SEC gets another big southern dummy school to beat up on.

And the state of Texas gets recruited heavily from coast to coast.
All the Texas schools are idiots.

[jimmy40]

As to why the big 12 remained at 9... money. They were offered lots of money to keep the 9 together. They had the second richest tv contract. Texas was content to sit on those huge piles of money. Everyone else was as ell even if the pile wasnt as big except the Aggies.
huh???

[Chocolate Lab]

I've watched these teams my whole life, so I have an interest here. But I'm not strictly a fan of any Big 12 team, so I think I can be a little objective about them. And the bottom line is that this really sucks. The best football state in the country being broken apart into east and west, not having its own league in the center of the country, is just sad.

I don't understand why OU wouldn't look at the SEC a little harder. I heard Berry Tramel, a writer up there, on GAC and he said that the administration doesn't want to join the SEC because the past NCAA violations really bothered them and they don't want to be tempted in the SEC. That's admirable, but football-wise, it stinks. I hate the idea of teams this far west joining the Pac-12. For one, I've always looked at the Pac-10 as pretty much Mickey Mouse football. For another, the late start times are a huge bummer. To me, part of college football is having the huge games at around noon or 2:30. Now a bunch of them will be at 10:00 PM.

It's really too bad UT couldn't leave well enough alone. In the end, this is what we get, a huge mess.

[DFWJC]

For one, I've always looked at the Pac-10 as pretty much Mickey Mouse football. For another, the late start times are a huge bummer. To me, part of college football is having the huge games at around noon or 2:30. Now a bunch of them will be at 10:00 PM.

It's really too bad UT couldn't leave well enough alone. In the end, this is what we get, a huge mess.
I hear ya CL. However...

We just have a bias that the Pac 10 (or Pac 12) is worse. But actually, there are more NFL players from Pac 10 schools than Big 12 schools...and that was when the Big 12 had 2 extra schools.

UT has gotten good again in the last 10-12 years, OU has almost always been good, Nebraska is no longer in the Big 12.... it's not like the Big 12 is loaded with powerhouse football schools.

[jimmy40]

It's really too bad UT couldn't leave well enough alone. In the end, this is what we get, a huge mess.It wasn't well enough. The huge mess was coming no matter what.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Stoops said that OU could live without the Texas/OU game. I think he's out to lunch but I guess we'll see.

I think that if OU leaves the Big12 to go to the PAC12, it seriously hurts their recruiting in Texas eventually. I think that Texas players go to OU as opposed to in state schools because they know they still play half their games in Texas and that they are still on local stations and their families can still watch them week in and week out. You go to the PAC 12 and I don't know if that still happens. I guess we'll see.

[Dallas]

Stoops said that OU could live without the Texas/OU game. I think he's out to lunch but I guess we'll see.

I think that if OU leaves the Big12 to go to the PAC12, it seriously hurts their recruiting in Texas eventually. I think that Texas players go to OU as opposed to in state schools because they know they still play half their games in Texas and that they are still on local stations and their families can still watch them week in and week out. You go to the PAC 12 and I don't know if that still happens. I guess we'll see.

I completely diagree. I don't think Texas kids go to Oklahoma to play for Bob Stoops because they have some games back home in Texas.

I don't think that has anything to do w/ it whatsoever. Those kids are going to play for Oklahoma because of Bob Stoops and his consistency for winning and putting the best kids on the field.

Saying that, I personally do now want to see Oklahoma without Texas. The RRR is some of the best tradition we have left in the game now. I don't want to see that disolved.

I am not trying to be a jerk, but I hate hearing these excuses and that somehow Oklahoma isn't going to be Oklahoma if Texas isn't around.

This mindset is why the Big12 is in the shape that it finds itself atm.

In the end you will probably see Oklahoma jump to the Pac12. I hear this is actually what Texas wants, because then it can go along and not have the egg all over its face for wrecking the 12, if it left.

[Risen Star]

Stoops said that OU could live without the Texas/OU game. I think he's out to lunch but I guess we'll see.

I think that if OU leaves the Big12 to go to the PAC12, it seriously hurts their recruiting in Texas eventually. I think that Texas players go to OU as opposed to in state schools because they know they still play half their games in Texas and that they are still on local stations and their families can still watch them week in and week out. You go to the PAC 12 and I don't know if that still happens. I guess we'll see.

Yeah but then using that logic it improves their recruiting out west.

[ABQCOWBOY]

I completely diagree. I don't think Texas kids go to Oklahoma to play for Bob Stoops because they have some games back home in Texas.

I don't think that has anything to do w/ it whatsoever. Those kids are going to play for Oklahoma because of Bob Stoops and his consistency for winning and putting the best kids on the field.

Saying that, I personally do now want to see Oklahoma without Texas. The RRR is some of the best tradition we have left in the game now. I don't want to see that disolved.

I am not trying to be a jerk, but I hate hearing these excuses and that somehow Oklahoma isn't going to be Oklahoma if Texas isn't around.

This mindset is why the Big12 is in the shape that it finds itself atm.

In the end you will probably see Oklahoma jump to the Pac12. I hear this is actually what Texas wants, because then it can go along and not have the egg all over its face for wrecking the 12, if it left.

I think you are wrong Dallas. If that were the case, you would see more Texas kids going to Bama or Florida or USC or Ohio State. They don't go there much because they can't be close to home. All of those programs and several more have Big Time programs with Big Time Coaching Staffs. All of them are on par with OU and Stoops. I just don't buy it. If you look at OU and it's recruiting just prior to joining the Big 12 and what they were pulling out of Texas, it's night and day. I just don't think that they will continue to get the kind of players they are currently getting out of Texas if they were to join the PAC12 consistently if several of the Texas schools don't follow. I see a lot of those kids that OU currently gets jumping to TAMU. They could still offer all the things that OU has offered and offer SEC competition. JMO but I think it's based on fairly solid theory.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Yeah but then using that logic it improves their recruiting out west.

I agree. They probably would be able to pick up more kids out West but the talent pool out West is not as deep as it is in Texas. Only Florida can rival Texas in that capacity IMO. It's certainly a trade off but you are facing a situation where you have to recruit kids against USC and the rest of the PAC12 and your going to offer them what, Norman over the Pacific Coast Beach? That's going to be a tough road I think. OU will win some of those but I don't think it will be as easy to recruit those kids from Cali as it currently is to recruit kids out of Texas. That is only my opinion but again, I think there is some logic behind it.

[StylisticS]

Very interesting to see what Texas will do. I still think it's stupid if they go independent in a superconference world. That's me, though.

[ConcordCowboy]

Stoops said that OU could live without the Texas/OU game. I think he's out to lunch but I guess we'll see.

I think that if OU leaves the Big12 to go to the PAC12, it seriously hurts their recruiting in Texas eventually. I think that Texas players go to OU as opposed to in state schools because they know they still play half their games in Texas and that they are still on local stations and their families can still watch them week in and week out. You go to the PAC 12 and I don't know if that still happens. I guess we'll see.

I agree...WTH?

First Nebraska and Oklahoma stopped playing each other every year and now Nebraska's in the Big Ten and now there could be no Texas vs Oklahoma?

Damn.

I know change is sometimes inevitable...but I miss the old days.

[Cythim]

I think the Texas/OU game makes too much money for both schools for them to drop it. The Metroplex makes too much money as well during that game, I don't think anyone wants to lose this one.

[Chocolate Lab]

Oklahoma has, what, seven national championships? And only one of them was won being in the same conference as Texas.

So they don't have to play Tech and Baylor and A&M every year to recruit Texas.

[Rogah]

I agree...WTH?

First Nebraska and Oklahoma stopped playing each other every year and now Nebraska's in the Big Ten and now there could be no Texas vs Oklahoma?

Damn.

I know change is sometimes inevitable...but I miss the old days.Yeah it seems to me like we've lost a lot of the old SWC/Big 8 rivalries in the past few years. :(

I was quite a bit disappointed that we lost Colorado-Nebraska. I know other rivalries had more meetings, but that was one I always enjoyed.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Oklahoma has, what, seven national championships? And only one of them was won being in the same conference as Texas.

So they don't have to play Tech and Baylor and A&M every year to recruit Texas.

I understand what you are saying but realistically, I think you have to look at how OU won those and when. OU had a power house between 50 and 56. they won three titles under Bud Wilkerson and then won one two in 74 and 75 under Switzer with another in 85 to round out the Big 8 titles. After 85, the Sooners started to slide. 86 and 87 were good years but 88 resulted in a 9-3 record, 89 was 7-4, 90 was 8-3, 91 was 9-3, 92 was 5-4-2, 93 was 9-3. I think that this was due to a down turn in recruiting. Now, part of that might be attributable to coaching but I think it's probably more a question of talent available in those years. In 94 OU was 6-6, in 95 OU was 5-5-1, 3-8 in 96, 1996 being the first year the Big 12 played a football schedule. In 1997 OU went 4-8, 5-6 in 98 and 7-5 in 99, which was the year Stoops became head coach at OU. In 2000, OU went 13-0, winning the National Championship and Stoops did it with players that he did not recruit, for the most part. That, IMO, tells you that the recruiting OU was able to do out of Texas, played a huge role in their success. Certainly there is no doubt that Stoops played a huge role in OU's recent success but there is also no doubt that OU started trending upwards immediately after they joined the Big 12 and started playing more Texas Schools. Stoops and his staff were able to start recruiting better players out of Texas.


How many top recruits will they pull from Texas playing a PAC12 Schedule? The fact that they won 6 titles while still in the Big 8, IMO, does not change the fact that they were able to play Texas Schools every year and recruit in Texas because of it.

To me, it would be a mistake to sever ties with Texas Schools but I guess we'll see.