Big 12 in 2016

[RedDog]

Any truth to the rumor that Under Armor has significantly sweetened our deal in anticipation of our news and additional marketing opportunities?

[Lobot]

Not that I am aware of but I honestly haven't looked into it. AD brass met with UA folks in Cincinnati during camp. UA was visiting it's top 6 programs and we were first on the visit list. Bohn tweeted a picture of the UA jet at Lunken . Other than that I'll check.

[red_n_black_attack]

Any truth to the rumor that Under Armor has significantly sweetened our deal in anticipation of our news and additional marketing opportunities?

IS there something in the contract that raises the deal if we are in a P5 conference? I doubt UA would sweeten the deal because they bought/invested low and see the product gaining value. The next contract should be sweeter if we are in a P5 conference, unless the provisions are in the current contract.

[bearcatbret]

http://www.foxsports.com/college-foo...ter-all-081716 It looks like Houston fans are starting to worry. Not about being one of the two but the Big 12 staying at 10.

[Lobot]

UA contract has no provision for P5. Just these performance bonuses (scroll down to page 2 in the scribd box):

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/...ils-of-47.html

[Lobot]

SBNation polled it's Big 12 blogs on expansion:

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/8/17/12342286/big-12-expansion-survey

[Lobot]

Iowa St. President was quoted by the student newspaper as saying " I think we'll get there and you'll see a different Big 12"

[red_n_black_attack]

Iowa St. President was quoted by the student newspaper as saying " I think we'll get there and you'll see a different Big 12"

Hints, innuendos, and faking out the competition...I know this could be a release that the standoff is nearing an end or a ruse (to continue standoff or other ploy).

I don't care. I like it. A different Big 12 could mean a lot of things...most of all it means staying at ten is very unlikely. As for fans of the top 5-6 contenders...more waiting which none of us like.

[Lobot]

His followup statement to the paper was that the decision would be somewhere between September and Christmas. Lol.

[bearcatbret]

http://www.espn.com/blog/big12/post/...g-12-this-year
I think that they make sense that any new team will struggle because of facing an unfamiliar opponent each week. I also am not all that upset that UC is not listed as a contender. However, San Diego State? However, Tuberville does know the coaches so maybe UC's first year would be less stressful than others.

[red_n_black_attack]

Hypothesis (because we really don't know what the Big 12 presidents are thinking). IT is my belief that that the Iowa State president made some comments known publicly, especially the timing, to make it known to Texas that they (Iowa State and other northern schools) are standing firm united against Texas' first desire. The northern voting bloc will not accept a two team expansion that includes Houston, though they are acceptable to Houston in a four team expansion. This is only my thinking, but it gives credence to the fact there are three camps/lines of thought in expansion. One camp wants two team, those being UH and BYU. Another camp wants two teams being UC and BYU. The UH camp is led by Texas and the UC camp led by OU. Both OU and Texas want a two team expansion to appease keep from extending the GOR, though they don't want to extend GOR even if four teams are added. The third camp is looking at long term strength of the conference. This third camp wants either a two team expansion with GOR extended or a four team expansion to add stability for when schools defect in 23/24/25 timeframe. Each president believes that the stance they are taking is good for the conference and good for his/her school.

[Lobot]

Here's the Iowa St comments for those who haven't read them:

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/iowa-state-president-reveals-the-timeline-for-possible-big-12-expansion-081816

[bearcatbret]

http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-...819-story.html I know it means nothing but both Houston and UConn have leaked to their press that they have been contacted with instructions. I suspect all interested parties have been contacted. The good news is that the Olympics end this weekend so the Big 12 can have center stage.

[Lobot]

Houston got FOIA'd on the letter. I think these letters mean that they've(we) made the first cut and they(we) need to stay quiet. Absolutely no reason to believe we did not get one as well. ESPN was the first to report the letter but seems to have only done it on Jake Trotter's twitter account.. There's no article I can find from them.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2016/08/18/big-12-commissioner-emails-houston-about-expansion-procedure/88970266/

https://twitter.com/Jake_Trotter/status/766329382377889793

[Lobot]

Unrelated: Ken Starr has completely left Baylor finally.