BYU AD Tom Holmoe said that the school has "formally notified the Big 12 of its interest in joining the conference and would be open to discussing a football-only option," though full conference membership "would be BYU's goal," according to Jake Trotter of ESPN.com. Because of its "connection with the Mormon church, BYU does not play games on Sundays." That has "created questions within the Big 12 as to whether the conference could make full membership work." The Big 12 "stages several games in non-football sports on Sundays, notably soccer and baseball." However, Holmoe said that he "believes BYU's no-Sunday rule can be resolved with the Big 12" (ESPN.com, 7/22). In Oklahoma City, Berry Tramel writes while other Big 12 expansion contenders "build their case on what they could do if they join" the conference, BYU is making its case "not on what it will do, but what it has done." However, there are three reservations "about possible BYU membership," including the school's geography and no-Sunday play. There is also BYU's "recent controversy over sexual assault victims being penalized for breaking the school's Honor Code." Holmoe said that he "believes BYU officials can convince Big 12 administrators the school is serious about the issue." The controversy "did not involve athletes." But Holmoe said that his leadership "involved him in the process anyway and that things 'already have been procedurally improved'" (OKLAHOMAN, 7/25).
EARLY MOMENTUM: In Iowa, Bobby La Gesse noted Iowa State President Steven Leath "wouldn't go as far as endorsing" Houston, but is "interested in the university as an expansion target." Leath said, "They certainly have a lot of factors we are interested in. I feel a lot of the (Big 12) presidents feel the league is Texas-heavy already, which helps with the Texas schools, but it's a little problematic for the rest of us. ... All I can say on that is they will get a fair shake" (AMES TRIBUNE, 7/23). Incoming Texas Tech President Lawrence Schovanec said the school "welcomes the consideration" of Houston for expansion. Schovanec: "We have always valued our partnerships with UH" (LUBBUCKONLINE.com, 7/22). In Oklahoma City, Jenni Carlson wrote opposition to having another Texas school "was expected," but no school has "garnered stronger public support" than UH. The school "gets high marks in football, market size and TV ratings" (OKLAHOMAN, 7/24). In Austin, Kirk Bohls wrote, "Really, Texas? So now you're gung-ho for [Houston] to join your little Big 12 party." But the "bottom line is Texas got it right, even if for downright dubious motives." Houston "should be in the Big 12." Which is why the Big 12 "looks a little sideways and raises his eyebrows" when the UT does something out of the "goodness of their hearts." Houston "rightfully deserves an invite." Bohls: "Why wouldn't the Big 12 want to add a school in the nation's fourth-largest city that's also the country's seventh-biggest television market?" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMEN, 7/23).
SECRET POLL: In Hartford, Jeff Jacobs noted a secret poll of the 10 Big 12 football coaches "picking the two schools for expansion had BYU and Houston getting five votes, Cincinnati and Memphis getting four." Nobody else "had more than one vote" and UConn got zero. Indications are UConn would not join the Big 12 if it expanded by two schools, but it "probably" would if it expanded by four. UConn President Susan Herbst: "We are strong, no matter our league, but if the Power Five is looking for a traditional flagship university, grounded in the liberal arts and research, UConn Nation will be an exuberant and loyal partner." Geography "is a factor," and with UConn there is "more travel for existing Big 12 schools." Jacobs: "If this Big 12 expansion goes on without UConn, it could be a long, long time before another Power Five opportunity" (HARTFORD COURANT, 7/24). In Colorado, Miles Blumhardt wrote if "integrity counts for anything in the Big 12," Colorado State "gets an A+." CSU is "one of only 15 NCAA major athletic programs that has never been guilty of a major infraction" (Ft. Collins COLORADOAN, 7/23). Univ. of Memphis President David Rudd has said that the school joining the Big 12 "could be 'transformational.'" In Memphis, Schad & Stukenborg note a move would give the school "millions of dollars in new annual revenue and drastically" raise its profile. UM matters to the city "in a way unlike other expansion candidates in larger cities" (Memphis COMMERCIAL APPEAL, 7/24).
BIG GETTING BIGGER? In New Orleans, Ron Higgins wrote SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey "needs to be pro-active" when it comes to expansion. Sankey "needs to convince" the conference's presidents and chancellors that "he needs to make strong recruiting pitches to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State" to become the SEC's 15th and 16th members. The schools "fit the SEC demographic in every possible way" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 7/24).
