The Big 12 held meetings in Kansas City, Mo. this week and one of the proposals that surfaced involved six members of the conference to move to the Pac-10.

Athletic Director Lew Perkins didn’t attend the past three meetings because of a schedule conflict, but he is not worried about the where the state of the Big 12 is headed.

“Based on a considerable amount of work by Commissioner Dan Beebe and others,” Perkins said in a release Friday, “I am very encouraged as these meetings end about the strength and viability of the Big 12 Conference.”

“I respect the candidness of everyone who attended these meetings. We engaged cooperatively in a positive manner to work toward the goal that I think everyone wants, and I can say that I feel very good about the future of the Big 12. We at Kansas Athletics know that the Big 12 is one of the best conferences in the country, and we are confident about its future. I appreciate all of those at KU who have worked very hard to keep the Big 12 at the forefront of intercollegiate athletics. We all must stay patient and let this process take its course, but at the end of the day I am convinced that the Big 12 will remain, as it is today, a national leader.”

Among the schools in consideration to join the Pac-10 are Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Colorado, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little was kept abreast on the situation as well.

“Lew has kept me informed as these meetings progressed. I share his optimism about the Big 12 and look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure a strong future for the conference.”