The New Big 12
John Giffin, Reporter
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
With so much talk over conference realignment and the doom of the Big 12 seeming inevitable, the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri and Iowa State University appear to be the odd men out.
Since 1913, when K-State joined the Missouri Valley Conference (later known as the Big 6 and Big 8 Conference), these four schools have shared a conference and have developed long-time rivalries.
These four schools are the glue that held the various concoctions of the old Big 8 conference together when schools were moving in and out and could become the base of the new Big 12, whatever form it takes.
With talk of potential departures from everyone from the states of Texas and Oklahoma, except Baylor, the five remaining members have not been the topic of much speculation and don’t appear to be being courted by any of the new “super conferences.”
Given the history of the four remaining Big 12 North schools, it is highly likely and desirable for the quartet to remain together. If the four do remain together it would make a good base for a resurrection of a smaller, more regionalized Big 8 type conference.
It is questionable if that if the four stayed together whether they would be a BCS conference. But given the recent history of K-State and Mizzou football, it would be hard for the BCS not to recognize the football tradition of the new Big 12. However, it would be beneficial to recruit other schools with a good football program.
In basketball the conference would immediately have relevancy because of the success at the four schools over the years. Kansas would give the new Big 12 a perennial Final Four possibility and K-State, Mizzou and Iowa State have had national and NCAA Tournament success in recent memory.
While the losses of the southern schools of the Big 12 to “super conferences” may be inevitable, the new Big 12 would have a solid base to build from. Hopefully, whatever the four historic rivals choose to do will reflect the ongoing tradition of their history.
cyberspace (anonymous) says...
John,
The way I look at it, it's just sports. So whatever happens, happens. I don't care. This comes from a big sports fan. For me, money is ruining sports. The "amateur athlete" is a hypocrisy in major college sports. When college coaches make 10 times what the governer or even the President make, something is out of whack. Our priorities need to get correcetd. I understand from a sportswriters perspective, you may feel differently but I am checking out.
September 14, 2011 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
fedup101 (anonymous) says...
I agree. Watching some of these overpaid, egotistical, show-offs makes me sick. When they hold out for enormous contracts to PLAY A GAME, and talk about "living paycheck to paycheck just like everyone else" i just want to kick them where it hurts. That is a huge slap in the face to the fans who pay their salaries by buying game tickets and team merchandise. I for one will never go to a game again or buy licensed by a sports organization, and I hope everyone else does the same. These A-holes should try living on $30,000 a year or less working 40 hours or more a week at maybe 2 or more jobs. NO-ONE IS WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FOR PLAYING OR COACHING A GAME!!!!!!!!! It's time the fans stand up for themselves and stop paying these jerks and treating them like they are heroes. They are not putting their lives on the line every day like our military, law enforcement and fire fighters who work for peanuts compared to athletes and politicians (who also should work for minimum wage). I say politicians and athletes should have a cap on their salaries, and if they don't like it they can find a new line of work. Maybe at a meat packing plant, bakery, pet food manufacturer, or fast food facility and see how real people live without making $13 million a year.
September 14, 2011 at 3:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )