Stability of the Big 12 Conference is under question again as Missouri’s seven voting curators agreed unanimously Tuesday night to authorize Chancellor Brady Deaton as leader in conference negotiations. Deaton will resign as chair of the Big 12 Board to avoid a conflict of interest in the conference realignment process.
Interim Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas said in a statement that he expects Missouri to remain a member, despite speculation that it will join the SEC.
“The University of Missouri is a member in good standing in the Big 12 Conference, and I anticipate the University will continue to be a member of the Big 12,” Neinas said.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that a Missouri official said the school wanted an invitation to the Big Ten but received none. The official said the school now hopes to join the SEC, but the Big Ten remains the top choice.
Big 12 officials — including Deaton — agreed Monday to divide the wealth from the conference’s most lucrative television deals if its members agree to lock those top-tier TV rights into the league for at least six years.
The agreement is subject to approval by university governing boards. Missouri board chairman Warren Erdman told The Associated Press Tuesday the school will not take action until able to “fully explore options for conference affiliation.”
The Big 12 lost Colorado to the Pac-12 and Nebraska to the Big Ten last year to trim its membership to 10. Rumors of disbanding and rebuilding arouse when it was announced the league will lose A&M to the SEC next year.
SEC athletic directors and Commissioner Mike Slive met Wednesday in Birmingham, Ala., to discuss the logistics of Texas A&M’s arrival. Slive has not ruled out further conference expansion and Tennessee Athletic Director Dave Hart said the SEC will eventually add members.
Missouri’s departure from the conference endangers its longstanding rivalry with Kansas. Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self told the Lawrence Journal-World Tuesday that the “Border War” may not continue if Missouri leaves.
“I have no ill will toward Missouri at all, but 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,” Self told the newspaper.
The Big East lost two members after Pittsburgh and Syracuse joined the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sept. 19. Rumored target Notre Dame remains independent in football, but many of its varsity teams play in the Big East, including men’s and women’s hoops.
Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick told The Associate Press Wednesday the school hopes “the Big East stays a vibrant and successful partner.” Zenger also said the conference is “working on additions” and Notre Dame will “continue to support” the league in the realignment process.
The presidents and chancellors of the 14 remaining Big East members and TCU unanimously voted Sunday to authorize Commissioner John Marinatto as the league leader in conference realignment.
“The presidents voted unanimously to authorize the commissioner to aggressively pursue discussions with a select number of institutions that have indicated a strong interest in joining the Big East Conference,” Marinatto said in a statement.
Among speculated top choices for Big East expansion are Navy, Air Force and Temple but East Carolina is the only school to announce its application to the league.
Marinatto also said the conference is “actively considering changes” to make leaving the conference more difficult.
TCU could face those tougher regulations if it joined geographic rivals in the depleted Big 12. TCU agreed to leave the Mountain West Conference and start Big East competition in the 2012-2013 school year.
The Big 12 may also consider Louisville, West Virginia and Cincinnati.
Connecticut’s governor confirmed that UConn is interested in joining the ACC.