TCU to Big 12

[jonnylingo]

It is quite hilarious to watch the fake "insiders" on twitter scramble to cover their butts now.
"Oh, the TCU move was planned all the time... I knew all about it."
Just never mentioned it, eh?

I don't see how you can all say the sources were wrong at this point. expansion is not finished.

You may not have seen, but several of the "insiders" were announcing that BYU had already signed the deal, which is obviously laughably false.

Couldn't that still be true?

[snoscythe]

It is quite hilarious to watch the fake "insiders" on twitter scramble to cover their butts now.
"Oh, the TCU move was planned all the time... I knew all about it."
Just never mentioned it, eh?

I don't see how you can all say the sources were wrong at this point. expansion is not finished.

You may not have seen, but several of the "insiders" were announcing that BYU had already signed the deal, which is obviously laughably false.

Not to mention that most of the "insiders" feed off of tweets and blogs from UT insiders---tweets that said TCU was never coming in because UT wouldn't allow it. The TCU development completely decimates any credibility of the UT insiders, who have been the primary "insides sources" for BYU posters.

[IowaCougar]

Looking over the comments on the ESPN article, a large number of commenters were under the impression that TCU was offered only because BYU declined. Where did that idea come from? I would think if that was the case, that there would have been a definite announcement from BYU?

[snoscythe]

It is quite hilarious to watch the fake "insiders" on twitter scramble to cover their butts now.
"Oh, the TCU move was planned all the time... I knew all about it."
Just never mentioned it, eh?

I don't see how you can all say the sources were wrong at this point. expansion is not finished.

You may not have seen, but several of the "insiders" were announcing that BYU had already signed the deal, which is obviously laughably false.

Couldn't that still be true?

Not the way I read the official Big XII article.

Per the Big XII article re: TCU, here's how the Big XII expansion process goes--
- put out feelers to determine whether the invitee will accept (this is not explicit, but assumed)
- Big XII board must vote on whether to issue invitation
- Upon vote, Big XII commissioner is directed to "begin negotiations"

If BYU had a signed deal, that assumes that all of the above have already happened--the Big XII has voted on it (and kept it secret), the Big XII approved it (and kept it secret), the Big XII commissioner negotiated the contract with BYU (and everyone kept it secret), and BYU signed the contract.

I don't think anything but step 1 has happened with BYU. The Big XII has a horrible, but well-deserved horrible, reputation for keeping secrets. The Big XII is where the leak this AM re: TCU originated......so why wasn't BYU leaked if they were FARTHER along than TCU????

My interpretation of the TCU move is this--BYU is playing hardball at stage one right now with the Big XII re TV rights etc, and the TCU addition is the Big XII sending a signal to BYU that, "hey, we don't NEED you, so buck up or shut up" or it could be an F-you for BYU scheduling the BSU series and adding potential millions to the Big XII buyout of contracts. The tweets from Oklahoma and Lubbock are that BYU is OFF of the list because of "complications," which would explain the TCU move also.

[jonnylingo]

It is quite hilarious to watch the fake "insiders" on twitter scramble to cover their butts now.
"Oh, the TCU move was planned all the time... I knew all about it."
Just never mentioned it, eh?

I don't see how you can all say the sources were wrong at this point. expansion is not finished.

You may not have seen, but several of the "insiders" were announcing that BYU had already signed the deal, which is obviously laughably false.

Not to mention that most of the "insiders" feed off of tweets and blogs from UT insiders---tweets that said TCU was never coming in because UT wouldn't allow it. The TCU development completely decimates any credibility of the UT insiders, who have been the primary "insides sources" for BYU posters.

I believe it was chip brown who continued to insist that tcu was in the equation. I think it was more byu people that were saying it made no sense.

[frdbtr]

I am starting to think (from the tweets) that BYU was the Big 12's first choice and was taken off of that status because of something. I can't speculate what that is, but usually when negotiations break down it is because one party is asking for too much. IMO, BYU would have to have been the party asking for too much and the big 12 said screw it and went to option #2

Having said that, I am really disapointed in this because i have wanted BYU in the Big 12 since it was first formed and ByU was in the talks until Texas' governer screwed them and demanded Baylor be put in instead. I was only in favor or independance because I got to watch them on ESPN every week but IMO independance is a 1st class ticket to irrellavence especially if BYU keeps scheduling 2 for 1's or 1,1 and neutral with everyone. I hope that someone at BYU pulls their head out of wherever it is buried and gets on the horn with the Big 12 and gets our name back in the mix.

[scott715]

If TCU joins that could mean that the Big East disbands. They are down to 6 teams and only one leaving to the Big12 could spell the end. A couple or all coudl go to them to form a confrerence of 12 or more.

[jonnylingo]

It is quite hilarious to watch the fake "insiders" on twitter scramble to cover their butts now.
"Oh, the TCU move was planned all the time... I knew all about it."
Just never mentioned it, eh?

I don't see how you can all say the sources were wrong at this point. expansion is not finished.

You may not have seen, but several of the "insiders" were announcing that BYU had already signed the deal, which is obviously laughably false.

Couldn't that still be true?

Not the way I read the official Big XII article.

Per the Big XII article re: TCU, here's how the Big XII expansion process goes--
- put out feelers to determine whether the invitee will accept (this is not explicit, but assumed)
- Big XII board must vote on whether to issue invitation
- Upon vote, Big XII commissioner is directed to "begin negotiations"

If BYU had a signed deal, that assumes that all of the above have already happened--the Big XII has voted on it (and kept it secret), the Big XII approved it (and kept it secret), the Big XII commissioner negotiated the contract with BYU (and everyone kept it secret), and BYU signed the contract.

I don't think anything but step 1 has happened with BYU. The Big XII has a horrible, but well-deserved horrible, reputation for keeping secrets. The Big XII is where the leak this AM re: TCU originated......so why wasn't BYU leaked if they were FARTHER along than TCU????

My interpretation of the TCU move is this--BYU is playing hardball at stage one right now with the Big XII re TV rights etc, and the TCU addition is the Big XII sending a signal to BYU that, "hey, we don't NEED you, so buck up or shut up" or it could be an F-you for BYU scheduling the BSU series and adding potential millions to the Big XII buyout of contracts. The tweets from Oklahoma and Lubbock are that BYU is OFF of the list because of "complications," which would explain the TCU move also.

My impression is that there have likely been memorandum's of understanding exchanged and that they were at a point where they were good to go despite the fact that there have not actually been a signature on a dotted line yet. In other words, when the time was right it as just a matter of pulling the trigger.

I tend to think that this is still the case and that missouri is a goner and everybody knows it. there is probably a small chance of them staying but I still expect byu to get invited in missouri's place. byu steps in for missouri in north, tcu steps in for a&m in south. i think TCU was added because they have strong football are close in geography and are able to step in next year (the last being the most important). it also improve big 12's positions in terms of adding additional teams. byu's leverage goes down because big east teams are even more likely to jump to big12 at this point. they have thier pick now if they need it between byu and/or big east teams.

We will see though. The good news is that at this point the big 12 appears stabilized which means even if byu doesn't go to big12 independence is still a good option.

[Lawboy]

If BYU was not able to close a deal for Big XII, it will be a colossal failure on the part of BYU. BYU has 1 need, and 1 need only--no Sunday play. The rest are wants. If BYU overplayed its hand for wants and blew it, it is a catastrophe of epic proportions.

We have heard for over a year about our strategic partnership with Texas, and they are driving this right now. If we blew that and blew Big XII, I am going to be pissed beyond measure, and I know a large host of BYU fans will agree with me. Along with BYU coaches, like Dave Rose and Bronco. IT will be a horrible thing for BYU if they blew it.

I am not a BYU grad (applied and accepted, did not attend). I was an athlete at another school. My connection to BYU is sports only. I joined Cougar Club because I want to see BYU win and compete, in football mostly. If they blew Big XII, it tells me BYU not interested in competing at highest levels, just in other miscellaneous things. My BYU connection will greatly weaken. Just a fact.

[snoscythe]

It is quite hilarious to watch the fake "insiders" on twitter scramble to cover their butts now.
"Oh, the TCU move was planned all the time... I knew all about it."
Just never mentioned it, eh?

I don't see how you can all say the sources were wrong at this point. expansion is not finished.

You may not have seen, but several of the "insiders" were announcing that BYU had already signed the deal, which is obviously laughably false.

Couldn't that still be true?

Not the way I read the official Big XII article.

Per the Big XII article re: TCU, here's how the Big XII expansion process goes--
- put out feelers to determine whether the invitee will accept (this is not explicit, but assumed)
- Big XII board must vote on whether to issue invitation
- Upon vote, Big XII commissioner is directed to "begin negotiations"

If BYU had a signed deal, that assumes that all of the above have already happened--the Big XII has voted on it (and kept it secret), the Big XII approved it (and kept it secret), the Big XII commissioner negotiated the contract with BYU (and everyone kept it secret), and BYU signed the contract.

I don't think anything but step 1 has happened with BYU. The Big XII has a horrible, but well-deserved horrible, reputation for keeping secrets. The Big XII is where the leak this AM re: TCU originated......so why wasn't BYU leaked if they were FARTHER along than TCU????

My interpretation of the TCU move is this--BYU is playing hardball at stage one right now with the Big XII re TV rights etc, and the TCU addition is the Big XII sending a signal to BYU that, "hey, we don't NEED you, so buck up or shut up" or it could be an F-you for BYU scheduling the BSU series and adding potential millions to the Big XII buyout of contracts. The tweets from Oklahoma and Lubbock are that BYU is OFF of the list because of "complications," which would explain the TCU move also.

My impression is that there have likely been memorandum's of understanding exchanged and that they were at a point where they were good to go despite the fact that there have not actually been a signature on a dotted line yet. In other words, when the time was right it as just a matter of pulling the trigger.

I tend to think that this is still the case and that missouri is a goner and everybody knows it. there is probably a small chance of them staying but I still expect byu to get invited in missouri's place. byu steps in for missouri in north, tcu steps in for a&m in south. i think TCU was added because they have strong football are close in geography and are able to step in next year (the last being the most important). it also improve big 12's positions in terms of adding additional teams. byu's leverage goes down because big east teams are even more likely to jump to big12 at this point. they have thier pick now if they need it between byu and/or big east teams.

We will see though. The good news is that at this point the big 12 appears stabilized which means even if byu doesn't go to big12 independence is still a good option.

Memoranda of understanding are step one in the process. They are non-binding and only set up later negotiations of the final, binding agreement.