Big 12 presidents yesterday "decided unanimously" that the conference will formally explore expansion by "adding two or four teams," according to Dennis Dodd of CBSSPORTS.com. While nothing is assured, Big 12 BOD Chair and Oklahoma President David Boren "indicated it is more likely than not" the conference "expands as it will begin to 'actively evaluate' schools that previously showed interest in joining" the Big 12. Dodd noted a presentation by Big 12 TV consultants Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures and Navigate Research "changed hearts and minds in a conference that had indicated expansion was all but dead." Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby: "I don't know if we're going to add members, but we've taken another step" (CBSSPORTS.com, 7/19). In Ft. Worth, Carlos Mendez writes expansion was "thought to be dormant" after the conference's decision to "add a championship game and pass on a television network." Bowlsby said that he "could not provide a timeline" for when a decision would be made. Bowlsby: "We intend to be very active pretty soon. ... There likely will be a two-stage process of some sort that will involve some preliminary work and a secondary process that gets into a little more fact-finding and perhaps even a negotiation stage." Boren said that the vote was "unanimous on the motion to have Bowlsby get back to the potential candidates" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/20). Bowlsby said that his work "could be done before the end of the football season." Bowlsby: "It's possible that this could extend to our October board meeting, but it's also possible that we could have a special meeting sometime between now and then" (AP, 7/19).
HOW ACC IMPACTED DECISION: Big 12 officials on a conference call yesterday indicated that the ACC's announcement of an upcoming dedicated network "impacted the decision to keep expansion on the table" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/20). In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel writes the ACC "prodded the Big 12 into action," as it established its own network and "secured grant-of-rights from its members" through '34. Tramel: "Not so much with the network news, but with the grant-of-rights, which seals a school's media rights to a conference." The Big 12's grant of rights go through the '24-25 season. Some Big 12 members instead of expanding in the near future "privately preferred sitting tight at 10 schools, strengthening the conference and making a play for football powers Florida State and Clemson as their contracts neared completion." Tramel: "Such a coup was a longshot. Now it's a no-shot, and the Big 12 obviously felt the need to act" (OKLAHOMAN, 7/20). SI.com's Pete Thamel noted both the ACC and SEC's grant-of-rights now extend to '34. If the Big 12 "can add members and then negotiate a deal that lasts as long as the SEC or ACC's, that would be attractive to most members" (SI.com, 7/19).
PULLING A 180: In Memphis, Phil Stukenborg in a front-page piece notes the conference's decision "was surprising to some." Bowlsby at the conference's spring meetings last month said that the presidents and chancellors "indicated they were unsure about whether adding schools 'was going to be the right thing' to do" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/20). FOXSPORTS.com's Stewart Mandel wrote yesterday's announcement "truly came as a surprise," as all indications pointed to any interest the Big 12 had in expansion having "all but died last month" (FOXSPORTS.com, 7/19). In Hartford, Paul Doyle writes "Suddenly and unexpectedly Tuesday, everything changed" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/20). In San Antonio, Mike Finger writes the Big 12's decision is a "jarring reversal even for a conference known for its wildly fluctuating direction" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 7/20).
SATISFIED WITH BAYLOR'S RESPONSE: In Waco, Brice Cherry reports after meeting with Baylor officials for more than two hours yesterday, the Big 12 BOD "came away satisfied with the university's response to sexual assaults on its campus and chose to not to levy any punishment against the school or athletic department." Boren said that those Big 12 presidents came out of yesterday's meeting "believing that the steps Baylor has taken in response to the scandal were 'very beneficial.'" Both Boren and Bowlsby "described Baylor as being 'very forthcoming' in its presentation of the Pepper Hamilton findings." Neither "shared the extent of that information with the media." Bowlsby said that it was "unlikely Baylor would share it with the public, either" (WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 7/20). However, in Ft. Worth, Gil Lebreton writes under the header, "Big 12 Presidents Take The Easy Way Out On Baylor." Lebreton writes fans can "forget" about Baylor possibly being kicked out of the conference, as Bowlsby "swiftly turned the page to expansion." When Bowlsby and Boren addressed the media after yesterday's meeting, they "acted like a family that had resolved a problem that it wanted to remain private" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 7/20).
