The Small 12 Survives

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:42:35 +0000

Campus Bar and Grill, affectionately known as “Big 12″ by University of Missouri students, can finally rest after a weekend of worrying “Mountain West” wasn’t quite as catchy. Withstanding some serious poaching efforts by other conferences, looking to trap animals native to the Big 12 jungle (the tiger, buffalo and even fictional jayhawk to name a few), the heartland’s most athletically gifted conference will apparently survive at least a few more years. Absent only a few familiar faces, the Small 12, with less members than its original name suggests, is ready to stick together as a 10 team conference, despite the defection of both Colorado and Nebraska. The Texas schools were seriously courted by the Pac-10, while the less appealing Mountain West Conference offered a last resort for the left over Big 12 schools, finding themselves homeless under the proposed Pac-16 plan. Instead, the conference will only need some minor fine tuning. Fans can expect a departure from the current division system, as both losses came from within the Big 12 North. Among the changes remaining universities are looking forward to, members will receive more money than in previous years to keep the conference intact, with current TV money now split among a smaller number of schools, in turn allotting each university a larger chunk of change. Texas, the lynchpin in maintaining the status quo, will also have the opportunity to launch its own TV network ensuring future millions funneled into the already well-endowed athletic department. The Longhorns would not have been able to pursue an individual TV deal had they gone ahead with Pac-10 realignment plans, as they would be obligated to fall in line with the conference-wide network.Though rules currently require 12 teams in order to host a conference championship, the remaining 10 teams can petition the NCAA to keep its game on the schedule. A shortened season could actually be a blessing in disguise for some Big 12 schools, as they wouldn’t have to face powerhouses Texas or Oklahoma for a second time at the end of the season. This less taxing schedule could allow for more a sparkling record and a better chance at an at-large BCS invite. The loss of the Huskers and Buffaloes will actually help the conference in the basketball arena, now featuring a consistently high level of competition from top to bottom.

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The Small 12 Survives