Big 12 ADs "were given a list of schools to contact a few weeks ago once it became clear that Texas A&M would be departing the conference for membership in the SEC," according to Andy Katz of ESPN.com. Sources said that Arkansas and BYU "were contacted but then ... the athletic directors who were given the instructions did not reach out to the other three schools on the list -- Pittsburgh, Louisville and West Virginia of the Big East -- because Oklahoma president David Boren made comments that the Sooners were unsettled in their situation as a member of the Big 12 and were exploring their options." Iowa State, Kansas State and Missouri "are holding their ground in the A&M/SEC affair -- or at the very least approaching it with trepidation." The TV deal that the Big 12 signed with Fox "for an estimated $90 million over a 13-year period beginning in 2012 allowed schools to begin major on-campus projects." Iowa State "went ahead with projects after the Fox contract was completed and took out $40 million in bonds based on the deal." A source yesterday said, "The taxpayers of Iowa can't pay if those bonds fall through." Kansas State Dir of Communications Kenny Lannou said that the university has "multiple capital projects that were undertaken or are planning to begin in the fiscal year that were budgeted after the contract with Fox was signed." A source said that "fundraising at Missouri is on hold for its major $160 million capital campaign" (ESPN.com, 9/14).
OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK: Missouri Chancellor and Big 12 BOD Chair Brady Deaton said last night that he "anticipates clarification of the University of Oklahoma's future alignment intentions within 10 to 14 days but that he remained hopeful the conference could stay viable even if OU -- and probably Oklahoma State with it -- were to leave." Deaton: "I don't want to go too far there, (but) there's a legal basis for the Big 12 to go on and, certainly, I would expect that to continue. ... If things change, we'll try to keep it together and move forward with other members." Deaton added that until the OU matter is cleared up, "the conference can't pursue repopulating to 10 schools." Deaton continued, "We don't want to reach out there too far right now (because) we want to make sure we have the building blocks in place and the cement to strengthen where we are today" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 9/15).
