With realignment talk finally on the back burner for good (well, at least for now), let's look at three big matchups for today!
* Oklahoma State at Texas A&M
The Cowboys hit the road for a top-ten tilt that will give the winner a clear shot to challenge Oklahoma for the Big 12 conference title. Brandon Weeden has led the Cowboys to three straight lopsided wins over outmatched opponents, but has been inconsistent with a league-leading six interceptions thus far. Ryan Tannehill is still looking to quiet the doubters, sporting higher effeciency rating than Weeden (164.8/157.5) and only one interception.
The biggest question for both teams is arguably defense. Oklahoma State surrendered a jaw-dropping 365 yards rushing to Tulsa in their late night marathon a week ago, but most of those yards came with OSU playing out the string with a huge lead and Tulsa playing without their starting quarterback. A&M has played virtually no competition of much note, so how they will fare against Oklahoma State's high-powered passing attack remains to be seen.
It sez here that OSU on the road against one of the toughest home environments in college football will be just a bit too much for the Pokes to overcome. With A&M on its Big 12 Farewell tour, look for Texas A&M to post a wild 42-38 win over OSU this afternoon.
* Arkansas - Alabama
The Crimson Tide may have one of the the best defenses in the country, teamed up with one of the best pair of running backs in the country. So what's a Razorback fan to do? Still, Bama hasn't exactly blown out its first three opponents, but has never been seriously challenged, either. Arkansas did blow out its first two opponents, but found itself in a bit of a battle against Troy before prevailing 38-28. Neither team has enjoyed success in winning the turnover battle (Bama at -3, Arkansas at -4), and Bama's special teams - particularly in the FG department - has been less than special.
One interesting difference is offensive efficiency. While both offenses have been productive inside the redzone, Arkansas has been better at converting those trips into touchdowns, while 'Bama has been settling for field goals. The Razorbacks have converted 100% of its 13 trips into points, settling for field goals only three times. By contrast, Alabama has converted only eight into touchdowns. That highlights the potential risk for Bama should the game come down to one of trading TD's for field goals.
It sez here that, honestly, though, FG's and redzones won't matter. Playing at home, Alabama will use its defense to upend a solid but largely untested Arkansas offense, and secure a 27-14 win over the Razorbacks
* Oklahoma - Missouri
Last year, the Sooners went to Columbia as the #1 team in the country, but a mistake-prone Sooner offense stumbled its way to a 36-27 loss at the hands of Blaine Gabbert and the Missouri Tigers. This year, the Tigers visit Norman with a young, inconsistent quarterback, a nearly-as-young team, and a Sooner squad fresh off a national TV road win against then-#5 Florida State.
It seems too easy, doesn't it?
It seems impossible to think Oklahoma could enter its contest tonight with the same emotional intensity it showed against Florida State, and that gives Missouri an early-game opportunity to make things interesting. If Oklahoma's defensive tendency to play guts-and-blood defense 90% of the time while allowing an inexplicable big play the other 10%, Missouri has the offense to take advantage. The key: A great early start for Missouri quarterback James Franklin.
If the Oklahoma offense comes out and establishes tempo, Missouri will be in trouble. Combine that with Oklahoma's defense that held Florida State to 27 yards rushing a week ago, and Missouri had better pounce on any early game opportunities - or it could be a long day for the Tigers.
It sez here Oklahoma may have a sluggish early-game start, but the friendly confines of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium combined with a revenge mindset gives the Sooners every chance for a lopsided win. Look for Oklahoma to come away with a 41-20 win.
Showing posts with label ou. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ou. Show all posts
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
OU's Boren comments on Big 12
Oklahoma president David Boren, with fresh authorization in hand to determine the university's future athletic affiliation, had pointed comments about the status of the Big 12 yesterday. A few summary notes/highlights:
* The threat of litigation by some conference members was not a helpful way to keep the conference together.
* Oklahoma has no desire to be in a position to dominate a conference politically.
* The ongoing instability of the conference going forward into next and later years was, essentially, intolerable.
* Boren's options are the Big 12 or the Pac 12
* OU wants to be in a conference with equally shared revenue.
* Nebraska's departure last season was "regrettable."
* The Big 12 conference office bears some of the burden for the conference's condition
Although remaining in the Big 12 is an option, the criticisms Boren laid out make it hard to believe that remaining there is a realistic option.
Oklahoma City's KWTV-9 sports anchor Dean Blevins reasserted yesterday that the framework of a deal sending OU and Oklahoma State to the Pac 12 regardless of Texas' decision remains in place as it has been for nearly two weeks. All that remains to make it official is to wait for the "ink" to dry.
* The threat of litigation by some conference members was not a helpful way to keep the conference together.
* Oklahoma has no desire to be in a position to dominate a conference politically.
* The ongoing instability of the conference going forward into next and later years was, essentially, intolerable.
* Boren's options are the Big 12 or the Pac 12
* OU wants to be in a conference with equally shared revenue.
* Nebraska's departure last season was "regrettable."
* The Big 12 conference office bears some of the burden for the conference's condition
Although remaining in the Big 12 is an option, the criticisms Boren laid out make it hard to believe that remaining there is a realistic option.
Oklahoma City's KWTV-9 sports anchor Dean Blevins reasserted yesterday that the framework of a deal sending OU and Oklahoma State to the Pac 12 regardless of Texas' decision remains in place as it has been for nearly two weeks. All that remains to make it official is to wait for the "ink" to dry.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Sooners Post Big Win in Tallahassee
Sooners 23, Florida State 13
Big Game Bob is Back
Bob Stoops would never admit it, but you know it bugged him.
Big Game Bob had gone Bust.
After multiple BCS losses and latter-day road game collapses, OU and Bob Stoops faced the national stage again. The stage was set for the Sooners to, once again, fail.
Not tonight.
In a game that lived to every bit of its two weeks of hype, Stoops took his #1 ranked Sooners and topped the Seminoles on a loud, crazy, balmy Saturday night in Tallahassee, with a national TV audience watching. And guess what - while everyone watching expected a shootout of offensive fireworks, the Sooners and the 'Noles cooked up an old fashioned defensive dogfight.
There had to be special satisfaction for Stoops in that defense starred in this game - enough to make Momma Stoops proud. Moreover, the Sooners added in just enough offense at just the right time to secure a win against what could have been the toughest defense they'll face all season.
This was the biggest win for Stoops arguably since the 2000 title game, and the Sooners walked away as double-digit winners - not that it was pretty, or any rerun of last year's 47-17 walloping OU applied to FSU's backsides. This was an old fashioned defensive slugfest, with FSU and Oklahoma's defenses responding to punch and counterpunch seemingly all night. And when its seemed FSU was on the verge of turning the game their way, even with a backup quarterback in to replace the injured E.J. Manuel, there came Landry Jones.
Aside from a brilliant opening drive that staked the Sooners to an early 7-0 lead, Jones was rattled and confused most of the night, tossing two ugly interceptions amid a furious FSU defense that never allowed OU to gain any rhythm. With the defense holding FSU and the Sooners taking the ball midway through the 4th quarter and the game tied at 13, it was time for the Oklahoma offense to show up.
Show up it did.
With 7:00 to play, Jones shook off those two early interceptions and broke the tie for good with a 37-yard touchdown toss to Kenny Stills, who made a dazzling catch on the underthrown ball before cradling it safely behind Greg Reid to put OU up 20-13.
Jimmy Stevens toed a shaky 31-yard field goal with 2 minutes left following an interception to put the game out of reach at 23-13.
Oklahoma now looks ahead to a schedule where it will be favored in every game it plays the rest of the way, with the hope of a national title berth at the end of the road.
And Big Game Bob couldn't be happier.
Big Game Bob is Back
Bob Stoops would never admit it, but you know it bugged him.
Big Game Bob had gone Bust.
After multiple BCS losses and latter-day road game collapses, OU and Bob Stoops faced the national stage again. The stage was set for the Sooners to, once again, fail.
Not tonight.
In a game that lived to every bit of its two weeks of hype, Stoops took his #1 ranked Sooners and topped the Seminoles on a loud, crazy, balmy Saturday night in Tallahassee, with a national TV audience watching. And guess what - while everyone watching expected a shootout of offensive fireworks, the Sooners and the 'Noles cooked up an old fashioned defensive dogfight.
There had to be special satisfaction for Stoops in that defense starred in this game - enough to make Momma Stoops proud. Moreover, the Sooners added in just enough offense at just the right time to secure a win against what could have been the toughest defense they'll face all season.
This was the biggest win for Stoops arguably since the 2000 title game, and the Sooners walked away as double-digit winners - not that it was pretty, or any rerun of last year's 47-17 walloping OU applied to FSU's backsides. This was an old fashioned defensive slugfest, with FSU and Oklahoma's defenses responding to punch and counterpunch seemingly all night. And when its seemed FSU was on the verge of turning the game their way, even with a backup quarterback in to replace the injured E.J. Manuel, there came Landry Jones.
Aside from a brilliant opening drive that staked the Sooners to an early 7-0 lead, Jones was rattled and confused most of the night, tossing two ugly interceptions amid a furious FSU defense that never allowed OU to gain any rhythm. With the defense holding FSU and the Sooners taking the ball midway through the 4th quarter and the game tied at 13, it was time for the Oklahoma offense to show up.
Show up it did.
With 7:00 to play, Jones shook off those two early interceptions and broke the tie for good with a 37-yard touchdown toss to Kenny Stills, who made a dazzling catch on the underthrown ball before cradling it safely behind Greg Reid to put OU up 20-13.
Jimmy Stevens toed a shaky 31-yard field goal with 2 minutes left following an interception to put the game out of reach at 23-13.
Oklahoma now looks ahead to a schedule where it will be favored in every game it plays the rest of the way, with the hope of a national title berth at the end of the road.
And Big Game Bob couldn't be happier.
Report: ACC off the table for Texas?
Chip Brown reports on Orangebloods.com that the ACC option for Texas may be "decreasing," and that the conference may have "moved on without Texas." Brown also reports that the best remaining option for Texas will be to join the Pac 12. Texas was supposedly caught completely off-guard by the Syracuse-Pitt move to the ACC, and how that has played in this "end-game" is unclear.
Analysis: Rumors spun earlier today that suggested Texas was told by the ACC they wanted two teams from Texas, but when Texas Tech was asked by UT to join the ACC, Texas Tech declined. When Baylor was proposed as an alternate, the ACC declined. Shortly after this negotiation broke down, supposedly, the Syracuse/Pitt move happened with startling speed.
There are huge ramifications if this report holds true. Reports held that short of remaining in the Big 12, the ACC was Texas' last, best hope for retaining the Longhorn Network in its current form. If the door to the ACC has closed, and the Longhorns are unwilling to go independent (as they've repeatedly stated), it looks very much like the stage would be set for Texas and Texas Tech to follow the Sooners and the OSU Cowboys to the Pac 12+
Obviously, all of this is very fluid, and at times Orangebloods.com has been a bit dicey in credibility, but the fact that this current report matches earlier rumors gives this curernt info a bit more credibility.
More as it develops!
Analysis: Rumors spun earlier today that suggested Texas was told by the ACC they wanted two teams from Texas, but when Texas Tech was asked by UT to join the ACC, Texas Tech declined. When Baylor was proposed as an alternate, the ACC declined. Shortly after this negotiation broke down, supposedly, the Syracuse/Pitt move happened with startling speed.
There are huge ramifications if this report holds true. Reports held that short of remaining in the Big 12, the ACC was Texas' last, best hope for retaining the Longhorn Network in its current form. If the door to the ACC has closed, and the Longhorns are unwilling to go independent (as they've repeatedly stated), it looks very much like the stage would be set for Texas and Texas Tech to follow the Sooners and the OSU Cowboys to the Pac 12+
Obviously, all of this is very fluid, and at times Orangebloods.com has been a bit dicey in credibility, but the fact that this current report matches earlier rumors gives this curernt info a bit more credibility.
More as it develops!
Monday, September 12, 2011
A&M is now in the SEC: OU, OSU on way to Pac 12
Update 9/13/2011 @ 9:59pm CDT
Probably the last update for the night, but a bit of interesting news coming around. One independent writer is at least suggesting the possibility that "UT to ACC" talk is being orchestrated by Austin, and that contacts with ACC ties have no clue of any such discussions ongoing. As I said, interesting. FWIW.
Update 9/13/2011 @ 6:37pm CDT
Possible big news pending, but still presently VERY iffy: Texas is apparently seriously considering a move to the ACC solely to preserve the Longhorn Network. Again, *very* sketchy and *not* confirmed, but this is at a minimum an increasing possibility. Hang on.
Stay tuned.
Update 9/13/2011 @ 4:53pm CDT
Not a great deal of startling new news, but some tidbits:
Multiple media sources indicate that the Big 12 conference is finished. Oklahoma has made clear its intent to depart the conference in search of "stability," presumably in the Pac 12-14-16, and formal application/acceptance could occur as early as Monday/Tuesday of next week...however...
Oklahoma will allow Texas the opportunity to make an independent decision regarding Pac 12 membership, in the event UT would not want to have the appearance of "following" Oklahoma. The mutual preference is for both schools to move together. While Oklahoma is playing a strong hand, they're working hard not to alienate UT in the process.
Texas is at least contemplating the possibility of joining the ACC. The exact terms of how the Longhorn Network would fit in the ACC are unclear, as that conference also has an equal-sharing rights revenue model. One scenario discussed included all non-football sports going to the ACC, but football remaining independent. Although possible, my opinion is this option is unlikely.
ESPN continues to spin that Texas is acting even now to save the conference, casting them in a noble light, and vilifying Oklahoma. This is, at best, a mischaracterization of reality. Texas has already acknowledged internally that the Big 12 is not viable without Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and will dissolve. Oklahoma made its intentions clear to Texas during meetings last weekend.
Missouri is a possible candidate for the SEC's 14th team, despite Mike Slive's claims that he won't immediately seek a 14th team following A&M's addition.
Most OKC media reports indicate Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will being playing its Pac 14 schedule with the 2012 season. Although there continue to be reports that Texas will explore other options, I still hold that the most likely reality to emerge is OU, Ok State, Texas, and Texas Tech to move to the Pac 16.
More as I hear it.
-David
Things moved very quickly this afternoon, which we have now found out to be a result of high-level weekend meetings, decisions, and the leading edge of what stands to be a tumultuous series of weeks before conference realignment settles.
Here's what we've learned from this weekend.
Over the weekend, a high-level delegation from the University of Texas flew to Norman and engaged in "friendly," high-level talks to determine what criteria, if any, were available to persuade Oklahoma to remain in the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma, led by David Boren, is reported to have enumerated a specific list of requirements, a list that Texas was not willing to accede. As a result, the talks concluded politely, but unproductively, and the die was cast for Oklahoma to move with its intentions to depart the conference.
Today, the OU Board of Regents is said to have met, and after a briefing of the weekend's talks from President Boren, unanimously voted to move forward with the process of applying for membership in the Pac 12 conference. Press reports indicate that while the process is expected to complete within two weeks, the Board is actually expected to vote formally on the application process by Monday, September 19th, with a possible announcement by the Pac 12 shortly thereafter.
Other press reports stress that the high-level talks between Texas and Oklahoma were friendly, not confrontational or adversarial, with each school recognizing the mutual value their relationship holds to each other. To that end, it is reported that both schools apparently expressed a preference to move to a new conference home together - presumably the Pac 12 - which still implies that a disposition of the Longhorn Network pursuant to Pac 12 network rules remains to be negotiated and resolved. Oklahoma has conveyed to Texas its willingness to allow Texas to assess its own options independently. One observation emerging from these reports is that, while they may differ on the best way to run a conference, Oklahoma and Texas desire to foster their relationship regardless of their conference affiliations.
Nearly coincident with the reported decision of the OU Board of Regents was the announcement by SEC commissioner Mike Slive that his conference had now accepted Texas A&M's membership application, apparently implying that Baylor's threat to sue was no longer an obstacle or was now seen as posturing given Oklahoma's apparent resolve to leave the conference anyway. Slive, for now, is claiming that the SEC plans to add A&M in time for next season and play an unbalanced, 13-member schedule rather than rush to find a 14th member.
How Oklahoma's reported intentions affect the balance of the Big 12 is unclear. What is clear, however, is that only three reasonable scenarios remain at this time:
1. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State move to the Pac 12 alone, with Texas remaining atop a gutted Big 12.
2. OU, OSU, Texas, and Texas Tech move to the Pac 12.
3. OU, OSU, Kansas, and Missouri move to the Pac 12.
The latter two options almost certainly imply the end of the Big 12, as a conference of only five members isn't viable and would offer little in the way of value to prospective new members unless lower-tier progarms were considered, thus diluting the conference's value further. The Big East was reportedly involved in unofficial overtures to Missouri, Baylor, and possibly one or both Kansas schools over the weekend. The ACC is also reported to have expressed interest in both OU and Texas, although that possibility seems remote at this time.
If Texas is unable to work out a deal to allow the Longhorn Network into the confines of the Pac 12, the possibility #3 arises, which would almost certainly force the Longhorns to go independent, or move to the ACC, or possibly even the Big 10. Such moves, at this point, are highly speculative.
This is but the first step in what stands to be a rocky road through realignment. We'll try to keep information consolidated here with as little wild speculation as possible.
Stay tuned!
Probably the last update for the night, but a bit of interesting news coming around. One independent writer is at least suggesting the possibility that "UT to ACC" talk is being orchestrated by Austin, and that contacts with ACC ties have no clue of any such discussions ongoing. As I said, interesting. FWIW.
Update 9/13/2011 @ 6:37pm CDT
Possible big news pending, but still presently VERY iffy: Texas is apparently seriously considering a move to the ACC solely to preserve the Longhorn Network. Again, *very* sketchy and *not* confirmed, but this is at a minimum an increasing possibility. Hang on.
Stay tuned.
Update 9/13/2011 @ 4:53pm CDT
Not a great deal of startling new news, but some tidbits:
Multiple media sources indicate that the Big 12 conference is finished. Oklahoma has made clear its intent to depart the conference in search of "stability," presumably in the Pac 12-14-16, and formal application/acceptance could occur as early as Monday/Tuesday of next week...however...
Oklahoma will allow Texas the opportunity to make an independent decision regarding Pac 12 membership, in the event UT would not want to have the appearance of "following" Oklahoma. The mutual preference is for both schools to move together. While Oklahoma is playing a strong hand, they're working hard not to alienate UT in the process.
Texas is at least contemplating the possibility of joining the ACC. The exact terms of how the Longhorn Network would fit in the ACC are unclear, as that conference also has an equal-sharing rights revenue model. One scenario discussed included all non-football sports going to the ACC, but football remaining independent. Although possible, my opinion is this option is unlikely.
ESPN continues to spin that Texas is acting even now to save the conference, casting them in a noble light, and vilifying Oklahoma. This is, at best, a mischaracterization of reality. Texas has already acknowledged internally that the Big 12 is not viable without Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, and will dissolve. Oklahoma made its intentions clear to Texas during meetings last weekend.
Missouri is a possible candidate for the SEC's 14th team, despite Mike Slive's claims that he won't immediately seek a 14th team following A&M's addition.
Most OKC media reports indicate Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will being playing its Pac 14 schedule with the 2012 season. Although there continue to be reports that Texas will explore other options, I still hold that the most likely reality to emerge is OU, Ok State, Texas, and Texas Tech to move to the Pac 16.
More as I hear it.
-David
Things moved very quickly this afternoon, which we have now found out to be a result of high-level weekend meetings, decisions, and the leading edge of what stands to be a tumultuous series of weeks before conference realignment settles.
Here's what we've learned from this weekend.
Over the weekend, a high-level delegation from the University of Texas flew to Norman and engaged in "friendly," high-level talks to determine what criteria, if any, were available to persuade Oklahoma to remain in the Big 12 Conference. Oklahoma, led by David Boren, is reported to have enumerated a specific list of requirements, a list that Texas was not willing to accede. As a result, the talks concluded politely, but unproductively, and the die was cast for Oklahoma to move with its intentions to depart the conference.
Today, the OU Board of Regents is said to have met, and after a briefing of the weekend's talks from President Boren, unanimously voted to move forward with the process of applying for membership in the Pac 12 conference. Press reports indicate that while the process is expected to complete within two weeks, the Board is actually expected to vote formally on the application process by Monday, September 19th, with a possible announcement by the Pac 12 shortly thereafter.
Other press reports stress that the high-level talks between Texas and Oklahoma were friendly, not confrontational or adversarial, with each school recognizing the mutual value their relationship holds to each other. To that end, it is reported that both schools apparently expressed a preference to move to a new conference home together - presumably the Pac 12 - which still implies that a disposition of the Longhorn Network pursuant to Pac 12 network rules remains to be negotiated and resolved. Oklahoma has conveyed to Texas its willingness to allow Texas to assess its own options independently. One observation emerging from these reports is that, while they may differ on the best way to run a conference, Oklahoma and Texas desire to foster their relationship regardless of their conference affiliations.
Nearly coincident with the reported decision of the OU Board of Regents was the announcement by SEC commissioner Mike Slive that his conference had now accepted Texas A&M's membership application, apparently implying that Baylor's threat to sue was no longer an obstacle or was now seen as posturing given Oklahoma's apparent resolve to leave the conference anyway. Slive, for now, is claiming that the SEC plans to add A&M in time for next season and play an unbalanced, 13-member schedule rather than rush to find a 14th member.
How Oklahoma's reported intentions affect the balance of the Big 12 is unclear. What is clear, however, is that only three reasonable scenarios remain at this time:
1. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State move to the Pac 12 alone, with Texas remaining atop a gutted Big 12.
2. OU, OSU, Texas, and Texas Tech move to the Pac 12.
3. OU, OSU, Kansas, and Missouri move to the Pac 12.
The latter two options almost certainly imply the end of the Big 12, as a conference of only five members isn't viable and would offer little in the way of value to prospective new members unless lower-tier progarms were considered, thus diluting the conference's value further. The Big East was reportedly involved in unofficial overtures to Missouri, Baylor, and possibly one or both Kansas schools over the weekend. The ACC is also reported to have expressed interest in both OU and Texas, although that possibility seems remote at this time.
If Texas is unable to work out a deal to allow the Longhorn Network into the confines of the Pac 12, the possibility #3 arises, which would almost certainly force the Longhorns to go independent, or move to the ACC, or possibly even the Big 10. Such moves, at this point, are highly speculative.
This is but the first step in what stands to be a rocky road through realignment. We'll try to keep information consolidated here with as little wild speculation as possible.
Stay tuned!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Thursday Realignment Saga Update
There's not a great deal of new news to report on the realignment front, but there are a few pieces worth mentioning:
1. Oklahoma State issued a tersely worded release saying that anonymous reports mentioning OSU as part of some legal action against SEC and A&M were false.
2. Per tweets from a couple of different sources, OU will NOT recommit to the Big 12. Reports from some message boards rumoring that OU had decided to stay in the Big 12 are false.
3. Rumors circulating that there had been a "conspiracy" uncovered among Texas and the Big 12 are false.
4. Baylor is apparently very interested in overtures from the Big East, and an invitation from a BCS AQ conference may go a long way to pacifying their current refusal to sign a lawsuit waiver.
5. BYU has reportedly expressed interest in joining the Big 12 if Oklahoma stays. This is in direct contradiction to reports I trust that said the BYU flatly turned down the Big 12 before Oklahoma's conference exploration went public.
6. Oklahoma officials are, to be kind, not at all happy with what appears to have been a fabricated (?) report, possibly (allegedly?) initiated/planted by Baylor, implying OU could save the Big 12 by staying
Analysis: Not a great deal to analyze, except a bit of speculation Texas may have no choice but to go independent by 2012. Baylor is fishing for a soft-landingn in an AQ conference, and I somehow suspect an invite from the Big East would end their huffy holdout over A&M, and ISU would have no teeth to perpetuate the battle. Oklahoma's apparent option not to reaffirm commitment to Big 12 is important, meaning it is not going to be intimidated by reports (true or otherwise) about their relative ability to "save" conference. Beyond that, I seriously doubt OU will make any kind of announcement prior to next week, because of pending serivces for the late Lee Roy Selmon pending in Tampa and Oklahoma City over the next few days.
Ultimately, we're not much farther than we were the other day. All we can do is watch and wait.
Updates as they make sense.
Please feel free to join the EndZoneRevivew as a follower (on the links to the right) or chime in with a comment below.
1. Oklahoma State issued a tersely worded release saying that anonymous reports mentioning OSU as part of some legal action against SEC and A&M were false.
2. Per tweets from a couple of different sources, OU will NOT recommit to the Big 12. Reports from some message boards rumoring that OU had decided to stay in the Big 12 are false.
3. Rumors circulating that there had been a "conspiracy" uncovered among Texas and the Big 12 are false.
4. Baylor is apparently very interested in overtures from the Big East, and an invitation from a BCS AQ conference may go a long way to pacifying their current refusal to sign a lawsuit waiver.
5. BYU has reportedly expressed interest in joining the Big 12 if Oklahoma stays. This is in direct contradiction to reports I trust that said the BYU flatly turned down the Big 12 before Oklahoma's conference exploration went public.
6. Oklahoma officials are, to be kind, not at all happy with what appears to have been a fabricated (?) report, possibly (allegedly?) initiated/planted by Baylor, implying OU could save the Big 12 by staying
Analysis: Not a great deal to analyze, except a bit of speculation Texas may have no choice but to go independent by 2012. Baylor is fishing for a soft-landingn in an AQ conference, and I somehow suspect an invite from the Big East would end their huffy holdout over A&M, and ISU would have no teeth to perpetuate the battle. Oklahoma's apparent option not to reaffirm commitment to Big 12 is important, meaning it is not going to be intimidated by reports (true or otherwise) about their relative ability to "save" conference. Beyond that, I seriously doubt OU will make any kind of announcement prior to next week, because of pending serivces for the late Lee Roy Selmon pending in Tampa and Oklahoma City over the next few days.
Ultimately, we're not much farther than we were the other day. All we can do is watch and wait.
Updates as they make sense.
Please feel free to join the EndZoneRevivew as a follower (on the links to the right) or chime in with a comment below.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Legal Knots: Realignment Wednesday
Update 9:47 9/7: Word started to trickle in about 90 minutes ago that doubt was being cast on the veracity of the Waco Tribune story that said six Big 12 schools were working in concert to block the A&M move to the SEC unless Oklahoma agreed to stay. Subsequent updates and tweets from several sources now indicate the Waco story was, at best, bogus, and that the actual primary actors are most likely Baylor via Ken Starr and, possibly, Iowa State.
The story started to unravel when Texas Tech denied any involvement with any lawsuits (heck, their legal team is still tied in Mike Leach knots), and Oklahoma denied any knowledge that it was being made into the fall guy for the Big 12's future. Ultimately, this appears to have been a craftily laid land mine possibly set into motion by Ken Starr of Baylor.
How this does or doesn't affect the Big 12 issues at hand remains to be seen, but clearly the line of the night award belongs to ESPN's Pat Forde, who lead off his column tonight with the following gem:
With the SEC vote to accept Texas A&M now known, it became clear early today that the invitation wasn't quite that clean cut. Word had been communicated to the SEC that one or more Big 12 schools weren't crazy about the pending departure, and were not standing by a previous agreement from the Big 12 to release any claims the conference had against A&M for their departure. As a result, the SEC's invitation was conditional upon a waiver from each Big 12 school of their right to sue.
Word comes down that eight of nine schools are refusing to waive that right, unless Oklahoma decides to remain in what's left of the Big 12.
Now, no one knows quite what will happen next. As for an opinion, I believe the refusal to waive rights has been orchestrated by Texas itself in order to put that "extreme pressure" on OU to remain in the Big 12. Texas would like nothing better for OU to take the role of villain in the dismantling of the Big 12. For OU, it seems imperative that they not knuckle to this lowest-common-denominator blackmail, and pursue its own best interests.
Something's rotten in Denmark: CBS reports that Texas Tech has denied any threat to sue anyone regarding conference realignment. George Schroeder tweets that some info he's learned makes him skeptical of the original Waco news report indicating this "band of 6 threat." Exactly what is going on is unknown, but something is clearly rotten in Denmark. At worst, its ridiculous propaganda, at worst its malevolent posturing.
Where is this all heading? No one really knows. To an extent, the entire theater is getting a bit ridiculous. The core of this round of realignment is the Longhorn Network, and for Texas to shift the blame to any other party is laughably disingenuous.
Stay tuned
The story started to unravel when Texas Tech denied any involvement with any lawsuits (heck, their legal team is still tied in Mike Leach knots), and Oklahoma denied any knowledge that it was being made into the fall guy for the Big 12's future. Ultimately, this appears to have been a craftily laid land mine possibly set into motion by Ken Starr of Baylor.
How this does or doesn't affect the Big 12 issues at hand remains to be seen, but clearly the line of the night award belongs to ESPN's Pat Forde, who lead off his column tonight with the following gem:
There is nothing funny about what's going on in the Big 12 right now. Except for the fact that it's fall-down hilarious.Stay tuned. Please feel free to add your comments below, or join EndZoneReview!
With the SEC vote to accept Texas A&M now known, it became clear early today that the invitation wasn't quite that clean cut. Word had been communicated to the SEC that one or more Big 12 schools weren't crazy about the pending departure, and were not standing by a previous agreement from the Big 12 to release any claims the conference had against A&M for their departure. As a result, the SEC's invitation was conditional upon a waiver from each Big 12 school of their right to sue.
Word comes down that eight of nine schools are refusing to waive that right, unless Oklahoma decides to remain in what's left of the Big 12.
Now, no one knows quite what will happen next. As for an opinion, I believe the refusal to waive rights has been orchestrated by Texas itself in order to put that "extreme pressure" on OU to remain in the Big 12. Texas would like nothing better for OU to take the role of villain in the dismantling of the Big 12. For OU, it seems imperative that they not knuckle to this lowest-common-denominator blackmail, and pursue its own best interests.
Something's rotten in Denmark: CBS reports that Texas Tech has denied any threat to sue anyone regarding conference realignment. George Schroeder tweets that some info he's learned makes him skeptical of the original Waco news report indicating this "band of 6 threat." Exactly what is going on is unknown, but something is clearly rotten in Denmark. At worst, its ridiculous propaganda, at worst its malevolent posturing.
Where is this all heading? No one really knows. To an extent, the entire theater is getting a bit ridiculous. The core of this round of realignment is the Longhorn Network, and for Texas to shift the blame to any other party is laughably disingenuous.
Stay tuned
Monday, September 5, 2011
Big 12 Shuffling - Separating Fact from Fiction
Update 9/6/2011:
New info from several tweets:
1. Pac 12 doesn't want to expand. They're happy with current situation...but
2. If Big 12 explodes with A&M's departure, they would likely accept OU and OkState even without Texas. A&M must move first, however.
3. Academics are a concern among some schools, although there is no hard AAU membership requirement in the Pac 12.
4. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy was quoted as saying that it "didn't look like the Big 12 could be saved."
5. ACC denies last night's report that TX was joining their conference in non-football sports.
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Update 9/5/2011:
Last Update - 10:52PM - ACC commish denies TX membership pending.... Last tweet from Chip Brown @ Orangebloods says Texas in "intense" talks with OU to "save Big 12 - may work, may not." I personally think UT is going to try and bluff OU on status of OU-TX game should TX go ACC and OU go west to Pac 12. I think its all a bluff - OU needs Texas, Texas needs OU now that A&M is gone (or will be shortly). We'll see how it all works out, but my money for now still sits with the reports that seem to make the most sense - OU, Texas, Tech, and OSU to the Pac 12+, with a reworked LHN. We'll see. G'nite.
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Two reports emerging that indicate things are moving, but which direction is unclear. OKC sports reporter Dean Blevins from CBS affiliate KWTV-9 tweets that the Longhorn Network is the "only obstacle" to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech moving to the Pac 12+, but that it "will be reworked."
The other report that tends to work against this is that of Chip Brown at Orangebloods.com, wherein he states that Texas is working to salvage the Longhorn Network, and may be entertaining a move to the ACC!
My personal opinion is that's a load of, ahem, "surplus bevo," with almost no chance of seeing the light of reality. Texas to the ACC makes no sense under nearly any theory. But we'll see. Ultimately, I think OU will lead the charge of the four named schools west in short order.
The ESPN (and other) message boards are rife with speculation about the final destinations of Texas, OU, and other Big 12 schools pending the apparent demise of that flailing conference. Amid the speculation is quite a bit of sheer nonsense, and I'd like to try to separate some of that fiction from the facts:
That's a summary of the biggest red herrings out there for the moment. Any others?
New info from several tweets:
1. Pac 12 doesn't want to expand. They're happy with current situation...but
2. If Big 12 explodes with A&M's departure, they would likely accept OU and OkState even without Texas. A&M must move first, however.
3. Academics are a concern among some schools, although there is no hard AAU membership requirement in the Pac 12.
4. Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy was quoted as saying that it "didn't look like the Big 12 could be saved."
5. ACC denies last night's report that TX was joining their conference in non-football sports.
-----
Update 9/5/2011:
Last Update - 10:52PM - ACC commish denies TX membership pending.... Last tweet from Chip Brown @ Orangebloods says Texas in "intense" talks with OU to "save Big 12 - may work, may not." I personally think UT is going to try and bluff OU on status of OU-TX game should TX go ACC and OU go west to Pac 12. I think its all a bluff - OU needs Texas, Texas needs OU now that A&M is gone (or will be shortly). We'll see how it all works out, but my money for now still sits with the reports that seem to make the most sense - OU, Texas, Tech, and OSU to the Pac 12+, with a reworked LHN. We'll see. G'nite.
------------
Two reports emerging that indicate things are moving, but which direction is unclear. OKC sports reporter Dean Blevins from CBS affiliate KWTV-9 tweets that the Longhorn Network is the "only obstacle" to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Texas Tech moving to the Pac 12+, but that it "will be reworked."
The other report that tends to work against this is that of Chip Brown at Orangebloods.com, wherein he states that Texas is working to salvage the Longhorn Network, and may be entertaining a move to the ACC!
My personal opinion is that's a load of, ahem, "surplus bevo," with almost no chance of seeing the light of reality. Texas to the ACC makes no sense under nearly any theory. But we'll see. Ultimately, I think OU will lead the charge of the four named schools west in short order.
The ESPN (and other) message boards are rife with speculation about the final destinations of Texas, OU, and other Big 12 schools pending the apparent demise of that flailing conference. Amid the speculation is quite a bit of sheer nonsense, and I'd like to try to separate some of that fiction from the facts:
- Myth 1: OU is in secret talks to go to the SEC.
- Myth 2 - Texas really wants to go independent.
- Myth 3 - Texas can keep Oklahoma in check by threatening the future of their rivalry game
That's a summary of the biggest red herrings out there for the moment. Any others?
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Texas legislature worried about OU, Texas moves?
Orangebloods.com reporter Chip Brown is reporting that movers within the Texas legislature are moving rapidly to "slow down" conference movement actions from Texas A&M and Texas. Most interesting is that Texas officials have reportedly told legislative contacts that OU's moving kills the Big 12, and that UT should follow suit, but that those same legislative contacts are telling UT reps to, in turn, tell OU to "slow down."
Somehow, I don't think the suggestion that the Texas legislature is trying to muscle OU will go over very well in Norman. The idea that UT is now, apparently, worried about what OU is doing is almost staggering.
The legislature is apparently also letting A&M know it no longer has their blessing to jump to the SEC. Now, why they waited to make this known to the Aggies four days after they announced the move is stupefying, which suggests perhaps that the OU rumblings are making a lot of people in the power structure of Texas very, very nervous very quickly.
Right now, claims are that the legislature received assurances that the Big 12 would survive without A&M, which means they never expected OU to publicly contemplate a serious jump to a different conference. That means that OU president David Boren could be playing a serious poker game with Texas, and they might do well to remember that Boren's past history as a former governor and powerful, multi-term senator gives him more than enough political acumen to stare down sabre rattling from the state powerbrokers in Austin. It also means that Texas legislators only view A&M as relevant to the extent it protects the Big 12, and by extension only to the extent the Big 12 protects Texas' interests as they relate to its nascent Longhorn Network.
The bigger question is whether Boren and Castiglione are playing an "all-in" game with Texas, even risking the future of the OU-Texas rivalry to make the Pac 12+ happen. Texas has vowed never to play A&M in any sport again should it depart, but can it make a similar threat to the Sooners and eliminate their only other high-profile rival in the process? Texas never doubted that OU would follow its lead; now, the Horns are terrified that the Sooners will go rogue, and bust the LHN by killing the Big 12.
Texas worried about what OU does? Whoulda thunk it?
Somehow, I don't think the suggestion that the Texas legislature is trying to muscle OU will go over very well in Norman. The idea that UT is now, apparently, worried about what OU is doing is almost staggering.
The legislature is apparently also letting A&M know it no longer has their blessing to jump to the SEC. Now, why they waited to make this known to the Aggies four days after they announced the move is stupefying, which suggests perhaps that the OU rumblings are making a lot of people in the power structure of Texas very, very nervous very quickly.
Right now, claims are that the legislature received assurances that the Big 12 would survive without A&M, which means they never expected OU to publicly contemplate a serious jump to a different conference. That means that OU president David Boren could be playing a serious poker game with Texas, and they might do well to remember that Boren's past history as a former governor and powerful, multi-term senator gives him more than enough political acumen to stare down sabre rattling from the state powerbrokers in Austin. It also means that Texas legislators only view A&M as relevant to the extent it protects the Big 12, and by extension only to the extent the Big 12 protects Texas' interests as they relate to its nascent Longhorn Network.
The bigger question is whether Boren and Castiglione are playing an "all-in" game with Texas, even risking the future of the OU-Texas rivalry to make the Pac 12+ happen. Texas has vowed never to play A&M in any sport again should it depart, but can it make a similar threat to the Sooners and eliminate their only other high-profile rival in the process? Texas never doubted that OU would follow its lead; now, the Horns are terrified that the Sooners will go rogue, and bust the LHN by killing the Big 12.
Texas worried about what OU does? Whoulda thunk it?
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Is OU heading to the Big 12 exit?
If Texas A&M's recent departure from the Big 12 put the conference on life support, word came yesterday that might just move it to the terminal list. Oklahoma president David Boren announced yesterday that the Sooners are "exploring" their conference options, and have received interest from "several" conferences.
Oklahoma has been conspicuously quiet throughout the conference realignment talk over the last year, seemingly willing to go along with the Longhorns as a tandem into whatever conference they align. Now, with A&M's departure, and OU's stated announcement, it seems to me the Big 12 has reached a crossroads - more accurately, a dead end.
OU AD Joe Castiglione served this week on a board to assess expansion to get the Big 12 back to at least ten, if not twelve, teams. Rumors circulating throughout the media indicated that BYU was prime among the expansion targets, but Oklahoma sports station WWLS reported late last week that the Cougars said "thanks, but no thanks." That Boren made his announcement about OU's future conference alignment shortly thereafter speaks volumes - with BYU saying no, and OU a member of the expansion team, there's an implicit admission that there aren't any teams of high enough caliber interested in joining the flailing and failing Big 12.
Talk radio speculation swirled that other schools such as Pitt, Lousiville, SMU, and Houston were either interested in or likely candidates for Big 12 expansion. It says here that the Big 12 realized that adding teams merely for the sake of numbers doesn't add value - it dilutes the league with second-tier programs, thereby diluting its value. And the previously silent Sooners finally decided it was time for them to play their own cards. That Boren mentioned OU's desire to ally itself with prestigious academic universities telegraphs the Sooners' preferred choices as either the Big Ten, which is unlikely, or the Pac 12, which was interested just last year.
There exists at least the chance that Boren's self-imposed "three-week" deadline to resolve OU's conference membership was really a clock for a prospective member such as BYU to change its mind. In reality, I think BYU is happy now as an independent, and OU's likely exit from the Big 12 will spell the end for a troubled, top-heavy conference, with too much power focused south of the Red River.
Stay tuned.
Oklahoma has been conspicuously quiet throughout the conference realignment talk over the last year, seemingly willing to go along with the Longhorns as a tandem into whatever conference they align. Now, with A&M's departure, and OU's stated announcement, it seems to me the Big 12 has reached a crossroads - more accurately, a dead end.
OU AD Joe Castiglione served this week on a board to assess expansion to get the Big 12 back to at least ten, if not twelve, teams. Rumors circulating throughout the media indicated that BYU was prime among the expansion targets, but Oklahoma sports station WWLS reported late last week that the Cougars said "thanks, but no thanks." That Boren made his announcement about OU's future conference alignment shortly thereafter speaks volumes - with BYU saying no, and OU a member of the expansion team, there's an implicit admission that there aren't any teams of high enough caliber interested in joining the flailing and failing Big 12.
Talk radio speculation swirled that other schools such as Pitt, Lousiville, SMU, and Houston were either interested in or likely candidates for Big 12 expansion. It says here that the Big 12 realized that adding teams merely for the sake of numbers doesn't add value - it dilutes the league with second-tier programs, thereby diluting its value. And the previously silent Sooners finally decided it was time for them to play their own cards. That Boren mentioned OU's desire to ally itself with prestigious academic universities telegraphs the Sooners' preferred choices as either the Big Ten, which is unlikely, or the Pac 12, which was interested just last year.
There exists at least the chance that Boren's self-imposed "three-week" deadline to resolve OU's conference membership was really a clock for a prospective member such as BYU to change its mind. In reality, I think BYU is happy now as an independent, and OU's likely exit from the Big 12 will spell the end for a troubled, top-heavy conference, with too much power focused south of the Red River.
Stay tuned.
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