Dallas News article on the Big 12 network, expansion etc.

The article focuses on the complexities facing the creation of a Big 12 network (LHN is the one big hurdle). Neither Texas nor ESPN seem to be inclined to change the status quo.



The article also mentions that Boren and Gee have not been able to convince many of their counterparts that expansion is a priority. It may be that the others think that a conference network must precede any expansion. We don't know since no one else, not even the other member of the expansion committee, Ken Starr, have commented on the issue.



We should know more by tomorrow afternoon, at the conclusion of the 2-day Presidents and ADs meetings.





http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2016/02/03/hot-air-big-12-network-horizon-athletic-directors-presidents-meet-week" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Same old song.



Points well made that getting a B12 network would be quite a task and uphill battle, what with the LHN and all the other schools having tier 3 contracts with a multiple of networks/cable companies. I have to image though that the SEC and B10 also had those issues to overcome, but at least those conferences knew the market was there with their sports brand that even the PAC12 didn't or doesn't have.



My largest disagreement with what the article notes as being the general feeling of the ADs/Presidents of the B12 schools is that there is not school out there, currently outside of the P5 platform, that actually brings value more than just adding schools as simply "another mouth to feed".



There are plenty of facts that have surfaced which support that actually BYU is the only team not currently attached to a current P5 conference that does have a national appeal. Yesterday's data on recruiting interest (website hits, tweets, etc.) was such tangible support of that premise and not just some blue-goggle jawl flapping.



I would hope that the B12 AD's/presidents have actual data in their hand on that issue and aren't simply shooting from the hip in expecting butts in seats (game attendance)/in lazy boys (fans watching) is the same for all potential candidates. That would be sad if they don't have the facts that support reality.



I'm not convinced still that we can get by the Sunday play rule regarding all non-football sports that wouldn't sink our boat. Does the BYU brand overcome the challenges such an issue would present? I simply don't believe, at the level of these conference leaders, that there is any statistic that can be waved in their faces that would convince them that it does.



I still put our chance of entering a P5 conference at about a 4 out of 10 and it's sad to believe that Cincinnati/Houston/Memphis/UCF/Connecticut (et al) would ever be viewed as a better options--except one of them as a WVU travel partner.