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Bowlsby and Kliavkoff Meet for a Second Day and Big 12 CEOs To Be Briefed Thursday

August 4, 2021
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STILLWATER – The talk must have been good, or then again, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby and Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff may have just needed the time away from the office.

It was middle of the day Tuesday when Max Olson of The Athletic broke the story that the two commissioners had arranged to meet and discuss options of mingling their two conferences together in a potential schedule alignment or even a merger. The Big 12 is weakened with the loss of Texas and Oklahoma as they followed up secret negotiations that lasted over six months by joining the Southeastern Conference for the future, at the latest following the end of the current television contract in 2024-25.

The Pac-12 is intact, but has struggled with television network issues, football relevancy and trying to squeeze Pac-12 football in the first window on Saturdays of noon eastern and 11 a.m. central time. Now, we find out that talks on Wednesday went so well that the two talked again on Thursday. Pokes Report reported that first early Thursday morning.

On my daily radio show on Triple Play Sports Radio, Sports Talk with Robert Allen and Friends we had Olson on as a guest.

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
George Kilavkoff at Pac-12 Football Media Days.

“I’ve heard where they’re meeting; I’m not going to say where, but it sounds like a very lovely, scenic place,” said Olson of a locale such as San Francisco, Coronado Island, Lake Tahoe, somewhere out West. The Pac-12 offices are in San Francisco, but Kilavkoff lives in Las Vegas.

“I’ve heard reports of the same thing you shared; they’re going into day two of this. Does that proved a little bit of hope that this is not just sort of a quick courtesy visit from [George] Kliavkoff and that this is a real, potentially a real strategy session? I think that lends a little bit of hope for that. I know Bowlsby’s going to meet with Big 12 ADs this week and I’m sure he’ll brief them on how it went and what the options are.

Yes, Pokes Report learned that Bowlsby will meet virtually with the Big 12 school presidents and chancellors early at seven a.m. on Thursday morning.

Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Spencer Sanders congratulates former Cowboys receiver Tylan Wallace during the win at Oregon State in 2019.

“I think these are two guys getting together who, my sense from talking with other Big 12 ADs, that they are no bad options right now,” said Olson as he continued. “Like, let’s put it all on the table, let’s see what we can figure out that kind of solves our problems here. While the speculation quickly turns to what’s the scheduling alliance look like and how does that make sense, or what are all the issues that come with a merger, which is obviously a much more complicated thing. I think these guys are pretty open to any creative solution here, especially if they can figure out a way that it benefits both leagues.”

Olson is no different than any of us in the media, no different than anybody that is involved in this from school presidents to athletic directors to coaches to student-athletes to fans. It takes away from what everyone enjoys the competition and the action on the field.

“We also can’t live in this ‘sky is falling’ mode for 18 months, isn’t that going to be miserable?” Olson said. “People are going to have to wrap their heads around ‘hey, you’ve gotta have some patience with this.  We’re all going to have to find a way to settle down a little bit this fall and understand this stuff will be going on behind the scenes, hopefully there’s a good resolution, but I’m sure that’s why Mike Gundy said what he said, like you can’t spend all your time stressing about this.”

Earlier in the day, Oklahoma State President Dr. Kayse Shrum was interviewed by Steve Daniels on The Morning Scramble on Triple Play Sports Radio, and she said something very similar.

Zachary Lancaster - Pokes Report
Dr. Kayse Shrum at Big 12 Football Media Days.

“Where we are now, it is time to focus on Oklahoma State University and where we are going,” Dr. Shrum said. “We can let the Big 12 deal with these issues with the conference. In my role as president, I’m responsible for creating a vision and directing the University toward that and then also protect the interests of the University and be the spokesperson for what is in the best interest of the University.”

What that means is Dr. Shrum will be interested in what Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby has to say about those meeting over the past two days with Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff, but it also means Dr. Shrum and her team have been working on their own to find Oklahoma State a singular path for the future if they have to take it. I can guarantee that has been happening.

Discussion from...

Bowlsby and Kliavkoff Meet for a Second Day and Big 12 CEOs To Be Briefed Thursday

7,195 Views | 15 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by CaliforniaCowboy
James Allison
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Thanks RA, I subscribed at a great time.
NJAggie
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Yeah, this is very encouraging. While I think if we all sit and wait most of us will find something, getting a big deal done would be best for all. Even WVU would be fine if the set up is structured properly.

When you're #'s 4&5 you're just going to have to try harder.
Zach Lancaster
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Staff
We'll also have a ton of great content now that football season is getting underway! We're glad you're here!
Ostateman
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A deal merging the BIg 12 with the PAC12 would give the PAC football coverage from 11am Central game times all the way through the afternoon and evening.
Honestly, unless WVU wanted to stay in that new configuration, I would let them go to the ACC where there true rivalries lie. I think WVU mostly loved it's games with Texas more than anything and won't miss the Big 12.

Overall, our entire sports programs matches better with the Big 10 with football, basketball and wrestling, while baseball, tennis, and women's sports match up better with the PAC (IMO).

Football, the 800 lb. gorilla would fare about the same in the Big 10 with Ohio State replacing ou as our annual can't-seem-to-beat nemesis. The rest are beatable.
Our matchups in the PAC are even more winable, but PAC football has always been the least interesting set of games for me. But oSu is not a huge tv draw and we would benefit from joining either conference.
Yet, the Big 10 doesn't seem interested in what we have to offer.

So, if we get an offer to merge with the PAC, then let's do it. And for the Big 12, just screw it.

The ACC could blow up if the SEC goes and gets Clemson and FSU to join. Then what do you have? A watered down, east coast version of a BIg 12 on life support should we decide to take on a bunch of teams that mean nothing to us.

Do it!
I know there are rules, but do we really want to follow them now?
thetruth
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Ostateman said:

A deal merging the BIg 12 with the PAC12 would give the PAC football coverage from 11am Central game times all the way through the afternoon and evening.
Honestly, unless WVU wanted to stay in that new configuration, I would let them go to the ACC where there true rivalries lie. I think WVU mostly loved it's games with Texas more than anything and won't miss the Big 12.

Overall, our entire sports programs matches better with the Big 10 with football, basketball and wrestling, while baseball, tennis, and women's sports match up better with the PAC (IMO).

Football, the 800 lb. gorilla would fare about the same in the Big 10 with Ohio State replacing ou as our annual can't-seem-to-beat nemesis. The rest are beatable.
Our matchups in the PAC are even more winable, but PAC football has always been the least interesting set of games for me. But oSu is not a huge tv draw and we would benefit from joining either conference.
Yet, the Big 10 doesn't seem interested in what we have to offer.

So, if we get an offer to merge with the PAC, then let's do it. And for the Big 12, just screw it.

The ACC could blow up if the SEC goes and gets Clemson and FSU to join. Then what do you have? A watered down, east coast version of a BIg 12 on life support should we decide to take on a bunch of teams that mean nothing to us.

Do it!
In a B10 move, we wouldn't play tOSU each year. Likely only 1 out of 4 at best. Two divisions of 8, play all division teams and one or two cross-divisional games each year.

SEC isn't getting Clemson/FSU, GoR is too expensive for either team to get out of at this point. Unless of course, someone has $130-140M to shell out.

B10 is a better fit all around for us. Might not happen, not even likely. But if it does it's a whole new day for OSU.
CaliforniaCowboy
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my preferences are

1) expand the Big 12 and carry on (depending on a 12-team playoff which is likely) mostly for recruiting

2) Pac12 (if some Texas schools came along)

that's it.

I'd take the B1G if we had too, but that will never ever happen because of the AAU issue (where KU and ISU are already AAU members - so why bother with OSU)

Whatever we do, it must be predicated on 1 (and only 1) access to Texas recruiting... meaning we MUST have some Texas teams with us where ever we end up (TT, Houston, somebody)

thetruth
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CaliforniaCowboy said:

my preferences are

1) expand the Big 12 and carry on (depending on a 12-team playoff which is likely) mostly for recruiting

2) Pac12 (if some Texas schools came along)

that's it.

I'd take the B1G if we had too, but that will never ever happen because of the AAU issue (where KU and ISU are already AAU members - so why bother with OSU)

Whatever we do, it must be predicated on 1 (and only 1) access to Texas recruiting... meaning we MUST have some Texas teams with us where ever we end up (TT, Houston, somebody)


Maybe. Don't know if in this round of expansion (if any other conference even expands at this time) AAU will matter.

KU is a dumpster fire of an athletic program. ISU doesn't move the needle.

B12 conference would be a loser from the get go. In time you'd lose revenue and stature.

Ending up in an expanded PAC won't do much for our recruiting. We play multiple games a year now in Texas. Hasn't moved the needle yet.
NJAggie
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I'm encouraged by the quiet following today's meeting. If it had been bad news it would be all out in the street by now. Probably still a long way to go, but it must have gotten off to a good start.

In a related note SEC/ESPN's actions have alarmed the other conferences. I don't think anyone was ready, and they're just now getting their info and game plans together. Here's a pretty good article out of Seattle with the President of WSU (Was the KSU Pres, during last round of losses by B12).

https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/uw-husky-football/wsu-president-kirk-shulz-on-predatory-sec-pac-12-expansion-options-and-more/#comments
GumbyFromPokeyLand
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Can't imagine there are more than 2 fans that would pick B12 expansion as their most desired outcome.
Ok_state_fan78
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I do not think AAU is an issue in this now, it is all about football. Thus, the B1G is a real possibility. It would be the best thing that could happen to us. As far as recruiting goes all you have to do is play a couple non-conference games with texas schools each year. Baylor or TCU or SMU or TTU or Houston, etc. The PAC is the real problem for football recruiting. If we go to B1G or ACC we are basically winners. But, if it is the PAC that is probably about like being in the Big 12 right now or a little worse not a huge loss but certainty not a win.
NJAggie
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I like playing the Texas schools, but I don't think our recruiting success is about playing them. It's about beating whoever is on the schedule. Yes there was a time when local coverage was crucial, but kids don't watch the local sports and for the most part it no longer exists. They watch ESPN or FOX or go online and youtube who they want to see.

The most important thing is to be in a conference that can support the athletic department we want. The rest is all details.

One of the interesting things in the article I posted above is the fact that the B1G, PAC, & ACC saw the OU/UT move as predatory, and it alarmed them. I think we've already seen a hold go on the new SEC pushed playoff format, and it also probably speaks to the fact that none of these conferences are ready to make moves. It could also mean some more friendly reception of the schools involved. We'll have to see how it plays out, but it looks like the PAC is at least taking a good look at options.
CaliforniaCowboy
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I think it is essential that we actually play game IN THE STATE of Texas.

It has everything to do with convincing mom and pop that we will be showing up locally so that they can watch their kid play.

NJAggie
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So how do we lose kids from Texas to schools like Wisconsin and Arkansas every year?

We've always brought a lot of Texas kids up to play here before we played in Texas multiple times every year, so I just don't see it being an overall issue.

As I said I frankly prefer us to play the Texas schools and wouldn't mind bringing in at least UH to add to that Texas footprint. But, if the B1G calls and its us and Iowa State I'm not going to say its a bad move.

Heck, when I did my pods for the PAC I put us in with the Texas schools and people were yelling at me for putting us in the toughest pod.

I also like the fact that if we are in the PAC and there is need to go up in size we can maybe drive it so that some good Western Schools like CSU, Wyoming, UNLV, New Mexico get consideration, and we don't go after a bunch of Eastern schools.
jrod1978
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If I had my pick, I'm Big 10 all the way. The money would be huge improvement. The travel would be the best of the three conferences. We would be in the Western Conference, which is very winnable.I think if it were to happen, we would need to schedule as many Texas teams as we could in the non-conference to keep a presence in the state for recruiting purposes. Probably won't happen but a man can hope.

The PAC would be my second choice. We would probably join with some Texas teams, which again, good to keep that presence. Also, it could open up some recruiting in Arizona and California. Money isn't as good tho.
CaliforniaCowboy
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Cincinnati in the MNC game?

the ESPN talking heads are showing their Top 25 power ratings, and listed CIncy at #11 - and mentioned with games @ Indiana and @ ND, they could actually play their way into the playoff this year.

Those games are their 3rd and 4th, so we'll know early in the season if they can live up to this early season hype.

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