For Mizzou to pose as another obstacle to that happening is just downright selfish.Īnd, really, that's what we're talking about here. But all signs point to that being the goal. Sure the Tigers still have interest in leaving if the Big 12 can't get its act together. And it would've happened a lot faster had Missouri pulled all of its limbs inside the train and let the door close. I realize things aren't perfect and that the league has a lot of work to do before it can even begin to regain the respectability and trust of those who follow it and work with it. The league has worked too hard for it to come to this, even if it does seem fitting. By not pledging strong, long-term commitment to the league, Deaton left the door open for the Tigers to move to another conference - someday - and left a lot of people upset at the same time. Instead of taking the opportunity to hammer home the point that the Big 12 was strong, MU chancellor Brady Deaton added even more uncertainty. The realignment mess seemed to be settled, commissioner Dan Beebe was on his way out and it looked as if the nine remaining members were ready to move forward with a lot of hugs, handshakes and happiness.īut then officials from Missouri spoke and threw a wrench into everyone's plans. Well, great in comparison to what it's looked like for the past few weeks. Thursday, everything seemed to be in great shape with the Big 12. If not, they're just wasting everybody's time, including their own. Not sure the second part of that will work - I think Texas believes the Big 12 could and would live without MU - but I can see where the Tigers are coming from if that's the case. Perhaps to get what it wants in all of this and perhaps to further put the pressure on Texas to give in. More than likely this is about MU making a leverage play. But either way, with news of a potential offer in place leaking earlier this week, solid material for future lawsuits already is piling up. Once again, if MU to the SEC is still on the table, there could be plans in the works to make the whole idea seem like Missouri went after the SEC, not the other way around. They won't be willing to deal with lawsuits - which would come - to grab Mizzou if they weren't willing to do it to get A&M. With that in mind, do you think the SEC's going to throw all that out the window and charge hard after Missouri? No way. Extensive, right? The SEC wanted the move to be about A&M wanting to leave and basically wouldn't even touch the Aggies until they had "broken up" with the Big 12. Think about the lengths the SEC went to to avoid lawsuits when they were courting Texas A&M. I posted this yesterday, but I think it's worth repeating. One goal.Īs expected, there's been a ton of talk today about where Mizzou stands with the SEC. No more of this several members acting in their own best interest stuff. More importantly, he's already alluded to his past relationships with former Big Eight members as giving him a leg up in the task of putting the Big 12 back together again.Įarlier today, Mike DeArmond of the Kansas City Star, who knew Neinas during his days with the Big Eight posted this Q&A with the Big 12's new boss.Īs the effort to clear up the confusion Missouri put in place last night continues, one thing has emerged above all else and that's the this is a conference in need of one voice. This is the reason the guy was a no-brainer choice for the position. One day into his term as interim commissioner of the Big 12, Chuck Neinas already is hard at work. It also goes a long way toward stabilizing the league, though there, clearly, remains a lot of work to be done in terms of unifying it. If this whole charade was a leverage play by Mizzou, this news severely undercut it. The announcement did not specify what the purpose of the call would be, however, it's most likely the easiest way to accommodate the large number of requests for interviews with Neinas.Ĭhris Level, who covers Texas Tech for reported earlier that Tech president Guy Bailey told him and Aaron Dickens earlier today that Mizzou's Brady Deaton told him that MU did not have an offer from the SEC and would remain in the Big 12. If you'd like to catch the live Tweets, come follow me: !/mctait Probably will be a lot easier to do via Twitter, at least live, and then I'll come back here with a recap. I'll be on it and I'll be tracking all of the action. The Big 12 has announced that interim commissioner Chuck Neinas will host a conference call at 5 p.m.