The Pac-12 yesterday announced that it "would not expand at this time, apparently ending one of the two stated options" of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, according to Berry Tramel of THE OKLAHOMAN. OU President David Boren said Monday that the school was "deciding between staying in the Big 12 and applying for the Pac-12." He also indicated that OU and OSU "would be welcomed into the Pac-12." But Boren said yesterday, "We were not surprised by the Pac-12's decision to not expand at this time." Sources have indicated that Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott "had given OU and OSU encouragement that they would be welcomed into his league." But Scott said yesterday, "After careful review, we have determined that it is in the best interests of our member institutions, student-athletes and fans to remain a 12-team conference. ... We have a strong conference structure and culture of equality that we are committed to preserve." Tramel notes the "reference to 'culture of equality' appears to be a shot at Texas, which was loath to compromise on its Longhorn Network and fold it into the Pac-12 Network model." A Big 12 source said yesterday that OU would "consider remaining in a 'reformed' version of the conference, which would include restrictions on Texas' Longhorn Network and removal of Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe." The source said the league would "have to have an interim commissioner" to keep OU in the conference. The source added that the Big 12 presidents "do not believe Beebe responded with adequate leadership to Nebraska's and Texas A&M's frustration, even though Beebe was rewarded last November with a contract extension" through '15. An A&M source said of Beebe, "The perception is, he answers only to one school (Texas). That does not work." The source added that Beebe "made the decision that appeasing Texas was the Big 12's best hope for stability." The source said, "He made the wrong decision" (THE OKLAHOMAN, 9/21).
COMINGS & GOINGS: ORANGEBLOODS.com's Chip Brown cited sources as saying that UT and OU officials "will get together in the next week to iron out differences and pledge to at least a five-year commitment in the Big 12." The sources added that there will be "a sense of urgency to add one school and possibly more" to the conference. A&M is not expected "to remain in the Big 12," and school officials yesterday confirmed that they "plan [on] leaving the Big 12 after this season." Sources indicated that one of the "first steps the nine-member Big 12 took was to notify" Beebe of its desire for a "change in leadership." Univ. of Missouri Chancellor and Big 12 BOD Chair Brady Deaton "led the charge on Tuesday after the Pac-12" announced it would not expand (ORANGEBLOODS.com, 9/20). In Tulsa, Sittler & Hoover cite a source as saying that Boren would only stay with the Big 12 "if Beebe were removed and the LHN was altered." The source added that keeping Beebe "atop the Big 12 was 'a deal-breaker'" (TULSA WORLD, 9/21).
SHARING IS CARING: ESPN.com's Andy Katz cites a source as saying that the Pac-12 decided against further expansion because Scott "failed to get assurance that Texas would back an equal revenue sharing plan if the league added the Longhorns, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State." The source indicated that Scott "didn't endorse expansion to the league's presidents and chancellors," so the schools' officials "never took a vote on the four Big 12 schools and the four schools didn't formally apply for inclusion either" (ESPN.com, 9/21). In Austin, Bohls & Trubow note Scott "could have gotten the nine votes necessary to have the Pac-12 presidents vote to approve" the additions of the four schools. But a source said that Scott instead "decided the Longhorn Network and Texas' qualms about equal revenue sharing were not worth the hassle and abruptly ended all negotiations." The source said Scott "just decided it wasn't worth the effort. He probably could have gotten the votes, but it became a matter of not wanting to." Another source indicated that the Pac-12 is "closely monitoring developments and hasn't yet convened its presidents to declare the league's intentions on expansion." Bohls & Trubow note UT has "never wavered in its hopes to keep the Big 12 afloat, but is equally determined to keep its lucrative Longhorn Network" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 9/21). SI.com's Andy Staples cites a source as saying that the Pac-12 "did not want to accept Texas if the Longhorns weren't willing to fold their Longhorn Network into the Pac-12's regional network structure and share revenue equally with all members of the conference." The source indicated that Texas "was not willing to do that," but "taking only Oklahoma and Oklahoma State would have created another complicated set of issues, leading Pac-12 leaders to conclude that staying at 12 was the best move for the conference" (SI.com, 9/21).
IN THE LINE OF FIRE: In K.C., Sam Mellinger writes Beebe is a "smart and well-intentioned man stuck in an unmanageable position that's neutered his power and influence enough that the most effective move he has is to walk away." Beebe is "not the villain, but he's the poor sucker left holding the bag, the man whose name is at the top of the company directory." He is now facing the "impossibly awkward reality that if he's truly committed to the league's best future he must quit." Mellinger: "Beebe must go, right or wrong, and not just for the league's immediate survival but for its future. Sometimes perception trumps reality. Sometimes a leader must pay for factors out of his control" (K.C. STAR, 9/21). In Oklahoma City, Jenni Carlson writes the Big 12 "is a broken conference right now," and "that starts with the people who make decisions." The relationships "between the schools are fractured," and the "camaraderie among the leaders is splintered." Carlson: "It's been a big ol' mess, and no one from the Big 12 offices seems to have been able to do anything about it. ... I'm not saying that Beebe has done nothing during these tumultuous times, but in 15 months, he has lost a quarter of his conference schools. That's a problem" (THE OKLAHOMAN, 9/21). ESPN.com's Katz wrote Beebe "will have to do a lot of massaging to repair the egos in the conference and get better revenue sharing, especially from Texas." Katz: "The Big 12 may need a clean slate to move forward after Beebe took a number of hits recently" (ESPN.com, 9/20). In K.C., Blair Kerkhoff writes, "Our common gripe about Beebe recently is the Big 12's inactivity to move on realignment." But a Big 12 source said, "What can he do? He can talk to schools, but he can't tell them what the conference will look like because nobody knows what's going to happen with Oklahoma and Texas" (K.C. STAR, 9/21).
