Everything Must Belong Somewhere...

...or so says Bright Eyes.  Where do we all belong...that's what we sort through today with a mega-list of links:

(1) The bottom line is Oklahoma will decide where everyone belongs and it looks like they will decide it on Monday.  Brady Deaton agrees, its all up to OU as to what happens next.

(2) SI thinks everyone has lost their mind.  The teams in the Big 12 below where they are.  A funny quote: "The Big 12 does not evoke nostalgic affection. This is the league that diminished and ultimately destroyed Oklahoma-Nebraska, which was one of the top five rivalries in college football. It killed the old Southwestern Conference, which made cheating almost seem charming."

(3) If OU makes the decision to break up the Little 9 by heading west, Texas has a decision to make as to where it belongs.  Texas is scared of the SEC says Out Kick the Coverage.  And they are right.  If you read nothing else, read this.  The two key quotes:

(a) "There's only one issue for Texas -- going to the ACC and flying over the SEC would demonstrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that Texas is scared of the SEC. Why? Because it makes the most financial sense for Texas to join the SEC.   That is, Texas could make more money in the SEC than any other conference. That's because the SEC allows all schools to retain their local media rights. That means the Longhorn Network is the most feasible of all the major conferences in the SEC."

(b) "Texas, who received an offer to join the SEC last year, hasn't explored the SEC at all even as the very foundation of the Big 12 is rocked. Why? Because unlike their Texas A&M brethren the Longhorns are steers, gelded pansies afraid of competing in a real conference. The Longhorns, plain and simple, are bullies, and bullies don't like to be challenged. Instead of joining the conference they border replete with ready national rivalries, Texas would rather fly over the SEC and join the ACC, conference of perennial football lightweights. All hat, no cattle indeed."
 
(4) Jeff Schultz isn't buying that Texas belongs in the ACC.  Perhaps more accurately, he says that they are swooping in to use the conference.  Frank the Tank Disagrees and says the ACC for Texas makes sense.  The Daily is pushing Texas toward the SEC.  

(5) Who is deciding where programs belong?  Doctors and dentists says CBS Sportsline.  An interesting read about how Trustees are trying to serve as Athletic Directors and are failing in the process.

(6) Where does Dan "Mr. Longhorn" Beebe belong?  Evidently making campus visits to schools that are already united in keeping the Little 9 together.  Makes perfect sense to me.

(7) Perhaps the united part of the Little 9 isn't so united, says SB Nation.  A humorous look at a Missouri town who is suing to try and get kU to drop its athletics mascot.  Note the shirt the kid is wearing in the picture in this article. 

(8) Whatever happens, teams don't belong in conferences over 12 members, says SB Nation.  The reason: they all implode.  Quickly.

(9) Meanwhile, the Big East says Mizzou, kU and k-State belong with them.  A funny story. 

(10) The St. Louis P-D asked where Mizzou belongs and the answers from their experts were a bunch of mindless dribble other than this really funny quote from alum Jeff Gordon: "...and poor Frank Haith has nightmares about the ACC talk. Been there, failed at that."

(11) Frank Haith thinks he belongs at Mizzou, since he claims he did nothing wrong at Miami.  Bernie Miklasz wants Haith to keep talking.  My position hasn't changed: he belongs in the unemployment line.

(12) The KC Star says TJ Moe belongs right where he is: at the heart of the Tiger team. Nothing enlightening here, just a good TJ Moe article.  

 

(13) On to baseball, Jim Leyland belongs in some new underwear.  

(14) The Cardinals?  In going on a massive winning streak and settling their bullpen (Motte) and defense (Punto) it looks like they belong in the postseason.  To do so they will have to join history.  Being 4.5 games back of the Braves in the Wild Card and 5.5 back from Milwaukee in the NL Central with 13 more games left to play, I don't see it happening, but I hope it does.

(13) Finally, ESPN says many Little 9 schools belong in bankruptcy if the league breaks apart.  Some tough numbers on the page to read.  Also tough to read, Mizzou is hot on joining the ACC.  

 

The ACC?  I was mad at first but calmer heads prevailed.  They seem to have what we want: academics, basketball, and a football league we can win in.  Think it over.  More on this and the loss of the Big 12 this weekend or early next week.  

 

Summary

Not much new to report, other than the possibility that Mizzou might join the ACC, something that wasn't really written about much before.  The bottom line is everyone is still trying to sort out where they belong.  The pieces start falling into place next Monday with OU.  It should be an interesting week.

Thanks for reading,

Doug