Welcome to the Big XII

[red_n_black_attack]

I wonder if EPSN is pushing this not only to get teh Big 12 up and running but to get Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. I still wonder if we will ever find out the extent of ESPN meddling in this round of realignment.

ESPN is 100% behind all of this, but it will never be proven in court or otherwise. Their level of interference to increase their profitability will not result in awards to those left behind, either the Big 12 8 or the AAC remnants.

I'm not old enough to remember it, but I think this is like when the ABA and the NBA were competing and the ABA lost.

[bearcatbret]

Higher Exit fee and get out of town.

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...igher-exit-fee

I wonder if EPSN is pushing this not only to get teh Big 12 up and running but to get Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC. I still wonder if we will ever find out the extent of ESPN meddling in this round of realignment.

[Lobot]

Higher Exit fee and get out of town.

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...igher-exit-fee

[red_n_black_attack]

Behind the scenes and continued backstories or other interesting news:

Pac-12 considered adding 1 Big 12 team and 1 AAC team prior to their Aug 26th announce to not expand "at this time"
https://www.star-telegram.com/sports...254113023.html (may be $$ article, I had at least one more free preview)

Cunningham deserves the vast majority of the credit:
https://theathletic.com/2823431/2021.../?redirected=1 ($pay article)

[bearcatbret]

This is a nice read. The new Big 12 will be better for you (msn.com) Why this is good for college football fans......

[coach]

I am excited about the move but I hope that this is not buyer's remorse.

Say what? LOL

[Carin's Dad]

Obviously this move was driven by football, but what a basketball league!

[bearcatbret]

I am excited about the move but I hope that this is not buyer's remorse.

[Pharmfam]

Very nice article about Aresco. I always thought he was a class act.

[swilsonsp4]

Mike Aresco is taking this professionally, saying there are no hard feelings. Aresco specifically mentioned a nice message he received from CLF. He does expect to negotiate for early departures, undoubtedly for significantly more than $10M.

https://www.espn.com/college-footbal...igher-exit-fee

[swilsonsp4]

Mo asked John Cunningham if UC planned to work on exiting the AAC early. Cunningham started to answer, then caught himself and danced around the question. There's no way, with negotiations certain to occur, that he can come out and say publicly that they want out earlier than 2024.

[GoBearcats31]

Rece Davis gives his thoughts (94-second clip): https://twitter.com/J_SchaefferWOI/s...20438884814856

[Lobot]

in case you were wondering if it wasn't real.

https://twitter.com/Big12Conference/...6258812973058/

[bearcatbret]

Cunningham on with Mo Egger on 700 wlw at 6:00 PM.

[GoBearcats31]

5:30 pm ET press conf with Cunningham, Fickell, Clark-Heard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hRBpdQ9Luk

Started a couple mins early, should be archived here for anyone seeing this link after it's over