Missouri Officials Vote To Look Outside Of Big 12

[superman7515]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7060457/missouri-tigers-curators-vote-consider-leaving-big-12


ST. LOUIS -- University of Missouri curators voted Tuesday to consider leaving the Big 12 instead of committing to the troubled league for the long term.

The governing board's members agreed unanimously after a 4-hour closed meeting at the system's St. Louis campus to give Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton authority to look elsewhere.

Speculation has centered on a possible Missouri move to the Southeastern Conference, which recently agreed to accept Texas A&M from the Big 12 starting next year. The Big 12 has also lost Nebraska and Colorado to other major conferences.

"The University of Missouri is a member in good standing in the Big 12 Conference, and I anticipate the University will continue to be a member of the Big 12," Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas said in a statement Tuesday night.

[BlueHen86]

It looks to me like Missouri wants to join the SEC.

[DG Cowboy]

I thought Curators ran museums. Probably where all this realignment stuff belongs anyway.

[bluehenbillk]

Makes total sense - Big 12 asking for financial commitment to Big 12 for a while - Mizzou would be crazy to agree to that.

[BlueHen86]

Looks like I was right about Missouri wanting to jion the SEC:

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7063633/missouri-tigers-hope-join-sec-had-wanted-big-ten-invite-most

There is now way the SEC stays with 13 teams, they are going to add at least 1. Sounds like the Big XII might look at Louisville, West Virginia and TCU as possible members. That would kill the Big East.

[PaladinFan]

Looks like I was right about Missouri wanting to jion the SEC:

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7063633/missouri-tigers-hope-join-sec-had-wanted-big-ten-invite-most

There is now way the SEC stays with 13 teams, they are going to add at least 1. Sounds like the Big XII might look at Louisville, West Virginia and TCU as possible members. That would kill the Big East.

The word in this neck of the woods (I live in the heart of the SEC footprint) is that they likely will expand. Most fans would love to see one of the no-brainer geographical additions (Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State, etc.). Many of the conference schools, however, do not want to share revenues with in state teams, and therefore will not agree. That is to say, Georgia won't agree to Georgia Tech, South Carolina to Clemson, etc.

Missouri may well be the winner. The rumor has been that Auburn would flip to the SEC East to accomodate Mizzou. Most fans are lukewarm. No one really sees Missouri as a natural fit for the conference, geographically or culturally. However, adding Mizzou would bring in the St. Louis and KC media markets, so there's really no downside for the SEC. Georgrapically, Columbia, Missouri really isn't that far from Fayetteville, Arkansas and no more far removed than Kentucky, really.

Missouri would be a fool not to take an invite to the SEC. They are the biggest fish and draw the most water. They will get their butts beat in for a number of years, but ultimately could find success.

Proposed Conference:

SEC West: Alabama, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Miss. State, Texas A&M, Missouri, LSU

SEC East: Florida, Georgia, Auburn, USC, Kentucky, Vandy, Tennessee

[dgtw]

I do not want Missouri in the SEC, they add very little and don't belong froma historical or cultural standpoint. I'd much rather have West Virginia or Florida state, if florida would allow that.

Texas A&M doesn't do much for me either, but I undertsand why they were let in.

[TexasTerror]

More on Mizzou... may begin to see some action this week...


The University of Missouri is heading down a path to join the Southeastern Conference, said a college official with direct knowledge of the situation.

The person said that Missouri’s decision to apply for membership to the SEC was “inevitable and imminent,” although a specific timeframe has yet to be set. Missouri’s Board of Curators will meet on Thursday and Friday at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where the process of withdrawing from the Big 12 and applying to the SEC is expected to begin. While expansion is not listed on the agenda, there is an private session scheduled Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

After Missouri applies, the person said that it expects “no problems” with gathering enough votes among SEC presidents to become a member.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/sports/ncaafootball/missouri-moves-closer-to-joining-sec.html?_r=4&ref=sports

[PaladinFan]

I do not want Missouri in the SEC, they add very little and don't belong froma historical or cultural standpoint. I'd much rather have West Virginia or Florida state, if florida would allow that.

Texas A&M doesn't do much for me either, but I undertsand why they were let in.

Much of my wife's family are Texas A&Mers. It fits the SEC more snuggly than you might think. You bring in part of the Houston and Dallas markets, they are in close proximity to Arkansas and LSU, and fit the kind of cultural footprint you'd expect.

[bluehenbillk]

No surprise with Mizzou & the SEC, now the dominoes fall to the Big 12, do they raid the Big East as suspected?? Louisville? WVU?? Cincy?? 10 team league or 12-team league?? Do they go back to BYU?? Not over by a long shot.

[TexasTerror]

Presser about to start...

http://www.kctv5.com/category/215375/kctv5-livestream-mva2

[TexasTerror]

Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman indicates that West Virginia is the top pick should Mizzou leave...


Two high-level Big 12 school administrators said on Sunday the conference expects Missouri to leave and will act quickly to replace the Tigers, focusing primarily on West Virginia with Louisville as a strong second candidate.

“I think that’s accurate,” one school official told the American-Statesman. “I’d say West Virginia is the leader in the clubhouse. I think we’ll come out better than before. I’d rather be with someone who wants to be with our conference than anybody who doesn’t.”

Asked why the Big 12 would be upgraded, the official said, “West Virginia has better football than Missouri, better basketball than Missouri, a better budget than Missouri and more passion among its fans than Missouri. They’re better, anyway you turn ‘em. The travel’s not good (to Morgantown, W. Va) but that’s it.”

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/bohls/entries/2011/10/23/west_virginia_t.html

[TexasTerror]

Orangebloods update on Mizzou...


2 PM TUESDAY - A source close to the SEC said Missouri officials are meeting with SEC officials in Birmingham, Ala., today to discuss their next step.

Two Big 12 administrators said discussions between Missouri and the SEC point to the Tigers remaining in the Big 12 for the 2012-13 school year and then moving to the SEC for the 2013-14 school year.

The SEC would compete with 13 schools for the 2012-13 school year, sources said.

The SEC would like to announce Missouri's acceptance into the league as the 14th school this week, since the Tigers are facing future SEC member Texas A&M in College Station on Saturday, sources said.

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1283801

[TexasTerror]

SEC slip up... unofficially, officially announced the addition of Mizzou!

http://outkickthecoverage.com/sec-accidentally-announces-missouri-to-sec.php

[TexasTerror]

SEC makes the announcement...


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- After weeks of waiting, Missouri's move to the Southeastern Conference became official on Sunday.

The SEC released a statement saying the conference's presidents and chancellors acted unanimously, and Missouri will join the league effective July 1, 2012.

"The presidents and chancellors of the Southeastern Conference are pleased to welcome the University of Missouri to the SEC," Florida and SEC board president Bernie Machen said in a statement. "The University of Missouri is a prestigious academic institution with a strong athletic tradition and a culture similar to our current institutions."

Missouri will be leaving the Big 12, a conference it has been a part of since 1907, including its days as the Big Eight.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/7199062/missouri-tigers-move-sec-official-big-12-hurdles-remain