So by the conventional doomsday clock, we were probably at 11:59, if not 11:59:15, and by my “Titanic clock” as I was using in my Night to Remember snippets we were at about 2:17:30 (right before/at the breakup). Either way, it was close, assuming nothing worse happens.
Unlike the Titanic, though, we’re throwing the captain overboard before the ship sinks (again)(ish). But that’s long after making the fans exhausted and concerned about the whole thing, as the Kansas City Star also reports.
Showing how fluid the situation has been, the Kansas Board of Regents moved its emergency meeting up from Thursday to Wednesday, and still was a little late. The board wants Kansas and Kansas State to stick together in the Big 12.
The Oklahoman says Bob Stoops (!) was the voice of reason and/or/but the plan all along was to get changes in the Big 12. The Pac-12 was just a feint. If so, it was an awfully big feint, considering there were reports the Big 12 was “done.” The Tulsa World’s sports editor is not impressed.
In the Big East, UConn and Rutgers officials denied they made a commitment to that conference. Warning to the Big East: Nebraska did (or didn’t do) the same thing before bolting.
And now, the quote roundup. Starting locally, with ISU President Gregory Geoffroy on Tuesday — before the Pac-12 said it wasn’t expanding:
“We are absolutely committed to the Big 12,” Geoffroy said while attending the State Board of Regents meeting in West Des Moines. “We also believe it can and should survive.” At the same time, Geoffroy said he and Jamie Pollard, Iowa State athletic director, “will do whatever is necessary to make sure Iowa State is as well positioned as possible when the dust settles.”
The Little Four in the Big 12 the two Kansas schools, Iowa State and Baylor don’t seem to have much power in the realignment process, but they are doing what they can to keep the conference alive. … Members of the Kansas and Iowa legislatures have contacted lawmakers in other Big 12 states, trying to exert whatever influence they can.
Interesting. First time I’ve heard anything about local legislators getting involved. Elsewhere, the Iowa State-as-bottom-feeder/whipping boy line found new life:
CBS’s Dennis Dodd on the possibility of Missouri in the SEC: “Having Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida come to Columbia sure beats draws like Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Iowa State.”
An NBC writer pleads for the Big 12 to stay together: “If UT and OU can agree to stay in the Big 12, the next step is for the Big 12 employ equal revenue sharing. Adjust the bylaws; gather the lawyers; do whatever it takes to make sure everyone from Texas to Iowa State gets an equal cut of the pie.”
Spokesman-Review of Spokane: “But this time it was the Pac-12 CEOs who pulled the plug. At least, that was their call once they got word that Texas, having booted up the Longhorn Network, wasn’t going to equally share its booty with Wazzu any more than it would with Iowa State.”
Now, maybe, hopefully, I can go on another road trip and relax for a weekend.