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A long time ago (read: six hours ago), Big XII expansion was pretty much dead. No one (read: Texas) seemed interested in the choices out there, and the league seemed satisfied with their perhaps ill-advised decision to start hosting a championship game (read: make more money).
Well, so much for that!
Wait ... hold the phone. David Boren says there is "continued interest in expansion."
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) July 19, 2016
Back in June, the Big 12 said "the market" decided a Big 12 network wouldn't happen. After ACC news yesterday ... maybe not.
— David Ubben (@davidubben) July 19, 2016
Bowlsby: "We did take a vote, and everyone was supportive of it."
— Jake Trotter (@Jake_Trotter) July 19, 2016
This is really surreal to listen to. I swear Boren is saying the exact opposite of everything he said about $$$, expansion a month ago.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) July 19, 2016
Boren: "We're looking at fan base, we're looking at access to media markets, and we're also looking at the academic reputations..."
— Joey Knight (@TBTimes_Bulls) July 19, 2016
Bowlsby suggests expansion could be possible in time for 2017 football season.
— Mike Finger (@mikefinger) July 19, 2016
Remarkable: In 1 meeting, Big 12 has gone from multiple officials saying expansion would be tabled to all but saying expansion is coming.
— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) July 19, 2016
So I guess I have to write the expansion thing. Which means you’re getting this pic in there somewhere. pic.twitter.com/yMo9XJXBqV
— Jamie (@mmmmsnouts) July 19, 2016
I find it really hard to believe that the Big XII isn’t abundantly clear what their expansion options are. To be honest, I still find it hard to believe that they’re actually going to expand - we didn’t hear a peep from anyone representing Texas, and we all know who really runs that conference.
But if this is for real, I do have two thoughts:
- This is going to happen quickly. See "abundantly clear what their expansion options are."
- Other than buying season tickets (on sale now!) and showing up to games and maybe cutting the school a giant check if you have the money to spare, I don’t think there’s much else you can personally do to help. I guess if you want to pray, you could do that?
And not to put too fine a point on it, but Collin summed it up best on Twitter:
Will write tomorrow, but there are now two to four life rafts out of Conference Purgatory. If you're not on one, it might be over for good.
— Collin Sherwin (@USFCollin) July 19, 2016
If this doesn’t happen for USF, it’s probably never happening. Now or never time. In Harlan (and Judy) we trust.