Be Careful What You Wish For....

Cougar fans over the last month have hounded random twitter accounts of anonymous characters such as @GSwaim and @TDAWGCOUG. They have tracked charter planes flying in and out of Provo's airport. Most of these fans, and most of the national media for that matter, thought that BYU to the Big XII was imminent after the departure of TAMU to the SEC, and reached for any plausible corroboration to the rumors. BYU fans "in the know" began reporting that BYU to the Big XII was a done deal, that the BYU administration had "played its hand" exceptionally well at the negotiating table. The news made cougar fans gleeful and giggly as adolescent girls. Cougarboard posters began to adopt Big XII logos as their images and party like it was 1984. Everything was just how it was meant to be.

Monday, however, the celebration came to an abrupt end after media outlets leaked news of TCU's invitation to join the Big XII. The news came as a shock to most fans and media members as TCU's role in the expansion was more of a dark horse than an actual contender. Sure, they won a Rose Bowl last year, and yes they have been dominant in football under Coach Gary Patterson the last few years, but what else did they bring to the table? A small private school in Fort Worth, Texas? Doesn't the Big XII already have a few Texas teams?

Cougar fans were confused. They asked what the heck happened? The confusion quickly turned into anger as some of Chip Brown's of Orangebloods.com "key sources" leaked that BYU had been too demanding at the negotiating table. In fact, he even referenced BYU as too "high maintenance." This led to a complete meltdown over on Cougarboard. Some posters began to predict that this was the beginning of the end. Others channeled their anger into emails directed to Tom Holmoe and President Samuelson, demanding that they prostitute BYU to the Big XII and capitulate to whatever demand the Big XII imposed. Some even advocated changing our no Sunday play policy if that were to make a difference. Needless to say, it was pandemonium.

Now, I want to put it out there that I think we are better off in the Big XII, and I hope that if the Big XII continues to expand that BYU receives and accepts an invite. At the same time, be careful what you wish for cougar fans....

Let's take a look at the Big XII.

Nebraska left because they were thoroughly pissed off with the Big XII.

Missouri openly solicited an invite to the Big 10. They weren't even secretive about it, they didn't even care if the rest of the schools in the Big XII knew. The Big 10 told them "no". After the rejection, Missouri hiked up its skirt and flirted with the SEC. They have now thrown themselves at the SEC without shame in the slightest degree.

Oklahoma State's biggest benefactor, T. Boone Pickens, basically has told Oklahoma State what to do and Oklahoma State has obliged. The guy makes a complete fool of himself parading around in the media talking about expansion and his involvement in it. Oklahoma State also publicly looked into joining the Pac-12.

Oklahoma looked into joining the Pac-12. They tried to maneuver themselves into a position to force Texas' hand into joining as well. Texas laughed at them and didn't budge. The whole thing was a ploy for attention in the end really. They were unhappy that everyone thought Texas was the only important school in the conference. Then, after meetings, where their bluff was called, they scheduled a press conference 15 minutes before a Mizzou scheduled press conference to announce the same thing. They did this, presumably, as a call for attention.

Texas Tech fired their coach because Craig James tells them too, and have sucked ever since. They also tried to join the Pac-12. Texas Tech is also in Lubbock... That fact is telling in and of itself....

Texas A&M was tired of being Texas' pet. They kept saying they were going to leave to try to get Texas to negotiate over some disagreements they had. Texas laughed at them. A&M left.

Baylor threatens to sue just about everyone through this process.

TCU has changed conferences for the sixth time in the last 15 years. (They aren't exactly the paragon of stability.)

Texas has alienated just about every single member of the conference in one way or another. They have used that weasel Chip Brown as a gopher in trying to put on a really good PR campaign. Basically, they used and abused every single member of the conference.

Colorado left. (Their departure however was probably more motivated by the marijuana supply at Berkeley. They bolted to join their pothead friends)

That leaves Kansas, Kansas State, and Iowa State who have wallowed in obsolescence, so no one really seems to care what they think or do. Last year, they were close to being left out of the Pac-16 and left with an invitation to the Mountain West in hand.

In summary, eight of the twelve Big XII teams have looked for a new conference in the last year. Three teams have left, and a fourth one is on its way out. Everyone is really pissed with Texas and their use of the Longhorn network.

So let's think about this again. How attractive is the Big XII in reality? What is so troubling with trying to negotiate a deal where BYU is protected from abuse for which other members of the conference have defected and the others are desperate to leave? If teams are leaving, isn't that a signal of deeper problems?

Let's face it, the Big XII is full of clowns with schools located in some of the least desirable destinations in America. Sure the football may be slightly better, but would we really want to have to put up with this without at least some protections?

I am proud of how professional BYU has been the last month in these talks, especially compared to some of the crowd in the Big XII. No one has heard a peep out of our camp about expansion. I have much respect for how President Samuelson and Tom Holmoe have handled this, no matter the outcome, and I trust they have the University's best interest at heart. If acting like an idiot is part of "big time college athletics", I am glad BYU won't have a part in it.

Like I said, I think overall, the Big XII helps BYU, especially in basketball. But let's not be hasty.