Several college conference realignments take effect Friday, as the Pac-10 officially becomes the Pac-12 with the additions of Utah and Colorado; Nebraska joins the Big Ten; Boise State moves to the Mountain West Conference; and BYU becomes part of the West Coast Conference for "most sports," according to Jack Carey of USA TODAY. In recognition of Utah's conference change, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert declared Friday “Pac-12 Day in the state.” Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott is “scheduled to be among the speakers on the steps of the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City for a celebration event at noon MT.” Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper also declared Friday “Pac-12 Day in Colorado." The Univ. of Colorado is having a "CU-Pac 12 Prize Patrol." School officials “will be going to about 20 places in and around Boulder, offering prizes and giveaways to fans.” Carey notes the Pac-12 Friday “will be relaunching its website with a variety of Colorado and Utah features on it” (USA TODAY, 7/1). In Denver, Natalie Meisler notes the bells at two Colorado campus buildings "will ring 12 times" at noon in recognition of joining the Pac-12 (DENVER POST, 7/1).
RED WITH PRIDE: USA TODAY's Carey notes Nebraska officials Friday “will have a morning ceremony to mark the school’s move” (USA TODAY, 7/1). In Omaha, Leslie Reed notes visitors to the school's website as of midnight Thursday "could launch 10 virtual 'Go BIG Red' balloons by clicking on a banner on the bottom of the screen." Nebraska "installed a counter to measure how many balloons are launched this weekend." There is "no limit on the number of times the balloons can be launched," and Nebraska Dir of Univ. Communications Meg Lauerman said that there is "no set goal" (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 7/1). In Minneapolis, Phil Miller notes Nebraska's "entire campus is decked out in Big Ten banners to mark the historic day." The Big Ten Network Friday "will kick off three days of Huskers programming" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/1).
HEIGHTENED INTEREST: In San Jose, Jon Wilner notes the Salt Lake Tribune Friday had a "front-page story" on Utah joining the Pac-12, the "latest installment of its ongoing coverage of Utah's move." Salt Lake Tribune Managing Editor Michael Anastasi said, "My sense is that people cannot get enough of (Utah joining the Pac-12). Historically, there has been much more interest in Brigham Young than Utah. But with Utah's consistent excellence, and now being invited to the Pac-12, we're seeing a seismic shift in the landscape" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 7/1).
CONSTANTLY CHANGING: In Arizona, Patrick Finley notes "many changes" to the Pac-12 have "already been unveiled." The conference "was split into north and south football divisions." Its new logo "was rolled out in March," and fans "voted for a Pac-12 title game logo in May." Pac-12 CMO Danette Leighton said that the conference's "renovated, easier-to-use web site became www.pac-12.org -- chosen from about '60 or 70' variations." Finley notes "more changes will come." Scott said that the conference has a "'pretty ambitious agenda,' beginning with the formation of the Pac-12 Network, for which the league has reserved prime football and men's basketball games" (ARIZONA DAILY STAR, 7/1). The AP's Antonio Gonzalez wrote since taking over a conference that was "stuck in neutral in July 2009, Scott has orchestrated college sports' largest TV deal, restructured the league and its tournaments, saved sports from being slashed, pulled rival programs together to share revenue and put the nation on notice: The Pac-12 is not just a BCS conference, it's reshaping college athletics." Scott said of his first two years in charge, "I think it's fair to say we exceeded expectations significantly. And I'm really as charged up as when I started" (AP, 6/30).
