Many here have characterized joining the Big 12 as a death sentence and we should avoid it at all costs. How can you say that is that a viable option? It’s either SEC or B1G for many. SEC isn’t interested. So that means one option. And also this isn’t the conversation we were having 4 weeks ago. That was just pure speculation. Now Flo is confirming what I thought- we weren't being quiet because Rad was playing 4D chess, it was because we didn't have a spot in the B1G and needed to keep all options open. Now the options look like partial shares in the B1G or full shares in the Big 12. It sounds like the UM brass is seriously considering the Big 12, so I'm guessing the pro/cons they are looking at are the same ones I've described.
When it's full shares vs full shares, B1G is the obvious decision. When it's partial shares vs full shares, it's a tougher decision. You talk about recruiting and perception- when Washington and Oregon got paired up going into the B1G, they both took partial shares so they are in the same boat. If we go in with partial shares and FSU gets full shares, how do you think that perception plays out? FSU is our biggest rival for recruits- you don't think FSU will say that UM is obviously a 2nd tier program as the conference had such a low opinion of us that it didn't give us full shares?
As for the Big12 being a 2nd tier conference, it clearly isn't on the same level right now with the P2. I will however point out something they are doing well. Credit where credit is due. I have to say I'm extremely impressed with the Big 12 commissioner. Everyone said the Big 12 was dead after Oklahoma and Texas announced they were leaving, but somehow he managed to get a massive increase payout from the networks.
You can't underestimate elite leadership. Big 12 has all sorts of flexibility- deals with both networks, streaming, etc. that the new commissioner negotiated that the P2 don't have because they are behemoths. If I'm UM, I'd at least hear him out. Maybe he has roadmap to get the Big 12 almost as much money as the B1G- by pulling in the best remaining ACC schools (UM, VT, GT, Louisville, Pitt) and signing streaming deals with Netflix or Amazon to give them exclusive rights to certain games.
Remember that just a few years ago the Pac12 was patting itself on the back, and signed a media deal that paid the Pac12 teams more than the SEC or B1G teams were getting (21 million per team to Pac 12 compared to 18 million of P2)
Comparing the ACC's TV deal to the other five BCS conferences. We can't exactly claim poverty here, but ...
www.bcinterruption.com
But like Swofford, the PAC 12 Commissioner was a moron who ended up killing his conference. The Big 12 commish is earning his paycheck. Let's say he sits down with UM and says, "Here's the 5 year plan, with a combination of streaming and network deals, that gets each team in the Big12 nearly as much the P2. You get full shares from the start and will be the golden child for our conference." You'd have to be incredibly myopic not to consider it.
