Dan "Mr. Longhorn" Beebe stopped his drinking binge (or whatever he is on) long enough to release a statement. Like most everything he does, I think it was pretty weak. Basically, he said Big 12 central offices wouldn't sue SEC but that didn't cover individual member schools.
Or in other words, Congress and the President could sign a peace treaty with France but each state's national guard could ship troops over and invade. The real question is this: other than his own stupidity, what did Mr. Longhorn get from the SEC in return for not suing centrally? The answer to that question may be a problem for Mizzou fans. Although its pure speculation at this point, many national journalists are thinking that Beebe got an agreement that the SEC wouldn't take any other Little 9 schools.
If the SEC is out, we're in trouble. Gabe DeArmond of PowerMizzou.com tweets that the Big 10 isn't adding more members. If the SEC doesn't take Mizzou, we're headed way west or way east.
Speaking of tweets, to lighten the mood before the links here is the best one from yesterday via Sam Mellinger of the KC Star: "In his next career, I wonder if Dan Beebe would make for a good divorce attorney. He'd be your first choice to rep your spouse, anyway."
On to the links:
(1) Alum Pat Forde of ESPN says this whole thing is laughable. The key sentence pointed out by a loyal reader: "So the implosion of the Big 12 clearly would be a scary thing for Baylor. Same for the largely undesirable commodities to the north known as Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State." Controversial question for the comments section: 10 years ago is our (Mizzou's) name in that sentence?
(2) Baylor seems to think they are saving football more than saving themselves. This person seems to think the Baptists are also saving souls.
(3) Greg Tepper of Dave's Cambell's Texas Football says, there are no villains in realignment. There are, though, plenty of emotions:
"But that’s when I get back to the emotion part, something I simply can’t grasp. Fans want to see their school do better than every other school (understandably so), which is why you see illogical, irrational statements like “Sticking it to Texas” and “Baylor’s being desperate.” Neither of those is true.
College football, first and foremost, is a business. These are business decisions. If Apple were making these decisions, we’d applaud them for doing what’s best for their shareholders.
A&M (with the SEC) and Baylor (with the reported threatened legal action) and OU (with reported flirting with the Pac-12) and Texas (with the Longhorn Network) are only acting in their best interest as institutions."
(4) Whoever is to blame, we need to get to a resolution quickly says NewsOK. The trip is killing us!
(5) If you are really bored at work, here are a shit-ton of links from Mr. SEC.com.
(6) Here is Rivals.com preview of Friday night's game.
Summary
Everyone is blaming everyone else for this mess instead of moving us forward toward resolution. It will be interesting to see who steps up. I think it has to be Oklahoma. Once they make a decision, others will quickly follow suit.
Something sad to ponder which was posted by a reader on the Forde column: 60% of the Little 9 are currently ranked in the Top 25. Why, again, are we blowing up this league? As Tepper said above, it's all about emotions and what we're seeing is a very emotional and very public divorce. Worst news of all? Dan "Mr. Longhorn" Beebe is our divorce lawyer.
And months ago I thought your diligent coverage of the search for a new basketball coach would be your finest work. Liking the blog, liking the blog.
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