We're now withing 9 weeks of the beginning of football season. We got a nice reprieve with all this conference expansion talk but I think that's dead for the foreseeable future. However, the last time I talked about the winners in all this, so today lets take a look at some of the losers.
1. Missouri.
No one had their reputation more battered than the Tigers in my opinion. We were portrayed as the cheap hooker who was willing to do anything in our effort to join the Big Ten. Mike Alden took a hit in this when I don't believe he did anything other than keep his mouth shut and soldier on. It was apparent that Coach Pinkel preferred to remain viable in the state of Texas for recruiting purposes so I imagine it was a mixed blessing for the AD. Unfortunately for Mike he's going to be the point man for athletics, even when something like this occurred that really was over his job description. The onus now falls on him as well as Mike Anderson and Gary Pinkel. This thing is just taking a breather for now so it is imperative that Missouri continue to win, and win big. And while Missouri would have to listen if the Big Ten were to call again, I don't think a little flirtation with the SEC would be a bad thing. Just keep it behind the scenes and for the love of God, tell Jay Nixon to keep his mouth shut this time.
2. Texas A&M & Oklahoma.
Now how were these guys losers you may ask. Yes, they will receive more money for the new television deal that is still nothing more than a promise from Fox Sports. But A&M apparently was negotiating a possible move to the SEC without Texas, (and possibly bringing along Mizzou as a partner) but for whatever reason, it died that fateful Monday morning. Whether it was Texas politics, less enthusiasm from the SEC once they determined that landscape changing was in the process of happening, or just the realization that they'd be splitting up 100 years of Texas tradition, they caved and are firmly back in the fold. And Oklahoma? They have football tradition that can compare with anyone, from Bud Wilkerson to Barry Switzer to Big game Bob Stoops. Congratulations guys, you've now earned the wing man label forever.
3. Big Ten and Pac 10.
Ok, imagine you're Jim Delaney. On Tuesday you heard Deloss Dodds state that Missouri didn't matter and the Big XII could function as long as long as Nebraska remains in the conference. So within 72 hours who is holding a press conference but the University of Nebraska announcing they will be joining the Big Ten. So it's Friday and to celebrate you decide to go out for a few drinks with that cute little intern from Wisconsin. Next thing you know you wake up Monday morning in a Motel 6 in downtown Lincoln in bed with Larry the Cable Guy. You just added about 4 to 5 million dollars a year in subscription fees to the Big Ten network and now have to hope that the huskers add a lot of advertising revenue or you just cost the other 11 members of your conference quite a bit of $$$$.
And if you think that Delaney was the guy that was going for the home run and wound up with a seeing eye single, how about Larry Scott and the Pac 10? He was going to help change the face of football and add 4 teams from the south division of the Big XII. So what did he get? That's right, Colorado and Utah. That's pretty much like the guy attempting to bunt a runner over to 2nd base and wind up having the ball bounce up, hit him in the nose and turning into a double play when the runner is caught off at first base. There are plenty of folks that were fitted for clown suits here and right now Larry has the reddest nose.
So now we can forget about conference expansion for a while. I really don't know what I'm going to talk about other than this time it's probably going to actually be football related. Unless of course something new breaks in lawrence and lew perkins is led out of his office in handcuffs. It's been a nice diversion, but now it's time to get the eye black together and get ready for the season. Have a great week folks.
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