In the final day of meetings, Big 12 school officials
yesterday put together a revenue sharing plan that "divides most
income equally," while also allowing teams "generating the most
revenue keep the largest shares," according to Blair Kerkhoff in
this morning's K.C. STAR. Kerkhoff reports that the conference
will equally share TV and bowl revenue after expenses. "To
reward the more successful programs," the conference will allow
home teams to keep all gate receipts. Kerkhoff writes that "the
incentive is to play a good schedule to attract fans and keep all
the ticket sales." The same ideas will also apply to basketball,
with more successful NCAA Tournament teams keeping the largest
share of payouts and teams playing non-conference games on TV
keeping 80% of their gates. Texas Tech AD Bob Bockrath
"estimated that the annual income difference between the richest
and poorest schools will be no more than $700,000." A football
playoff is not part of this plan, but word is expected on a
possible championship game in five-six weeks. Kerkhoff reports
that "athletic directors privately believe it will happen" (K.C.
STAR, 5/18). Kansas State President Jon Wefald: "If the
athletic directors see favorable numbers and recommend a playoff,
then I think the CEOs will as well" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM,
5/18).
