In turn, Deaton resigned as chair of the Big 12 board of directors, a reasonable move given that the Big 12 is looking at expansion, and you can't have a member with a foot out the door leading the charge.
This all sets up Missouri's potential departure from the Big 12 and the possible end of rivalries with Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State. Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas is scheduled to meet with Deaton today, the Star reported.
We've already heard months of rumors about Missouri being linked to the SEC. But I wonder if exploring conference affiliation means Deaton will be ringing up Jim Delany and the Big Ten. Mizzou seemed to be lusting for an invite to that league but was left behind after the Big Ten plucked away Nebraska last year.
Interesting note from Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com: In all the talk of Big 12 members granting their TV rights to the conference, there had been talk of doing so for six years. But Brown's latest report says conference members were talking about doing so for 13 years. That's definitely one way of finding stability.
As for the Border War, it sounds like it's in jeopardy. Kansas basketball coach Bill Self told the Lawrence Journal-World that he's not going to go out of his way to schedule Missouri if the university leaves the Big 12.
“I will say this ... the media is not going to dictate who we play. I’ll dictate who we play as long as I’m coaching here,” Self said. “I have no ill will toward Missouri at all, but to do something at a time that could be so damaging and hurtful to a group, I can’t see us just taking it and forgetting. I think that would be something that’d be talked about with our administration, and we’d make a decision that’s best for our place. They are making a decision that’s best for theirs. We’ll make a decision on a schedule that’s best for us.
“I am not going to schedule Missouri just to schedule Missouri. I’m going to schedule what’s best for us, period. That’s how it’s going to be.”
The potential biggest loser of all this realignment talk: Kansas City. Would the Big 12 really hold its basketball tournament in a state with no members? If the league expands back to 12 members, would the league hold its football championship at Arrowhead? I doubt it. I hope this is all a high-stakes game to force concessions from Texas in regard to the Longhorn Network and not a real threat of Mizzou departing.
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