An interesting conversation with a well-placed Okie higher education official speaking off the record and before the consumption of any liquor which raises credibility substantially in any conversation. Apparently the impetus to discuss expansion by Boren was fueled by a chance meeting with a network official. Here is the gist as I got it. The official said there was an ideal situation for the Big 12 in positioning for the a TV contract that would 1) ensure Big 12 survival and 2) allow for enough revenue to more than make up for the additional teams.
The caveat was it needed to be substantial programs that gave the Big 12 EST and PST viewing slots each week with the network in question interested in apparently wanting to move to even earlier games on Saturdays. He thought Boren had gone so far as to have ‘off the record’ talks with Arizona and Arizona State but the complexity of getting them was beyond doable currently. But there was interest. He was not sure of the EST teams that Boren talked too if any.
The other item of interest and this goes to Big 12 survival was that Boren understands OU as a national brand is diminishing. I have to think Castiglione was deep into this conversation and it may be he who was pushing leaving the Big 12 before their ability to turn TV sets on diminishes and reduces their leverage. Not sure if this played into Bob leaving but I would guess Riley’s rope is very short. Get routed at tOSU and finish lower than second and next year is BIG for his length of tenure.
The caveat was it needed to be substantial programs that gave the Big 12 EST and PST viewing slots each week with the network in question interested in apparently wanting to move to even earlier games on Saturdays. He thought Boren had gone so far as to have ‘off the record’ talks with Arizona and Arizona State but the complexity of getting them was beyond doable currently. But there was interest. He was not sure of the EST teams that Boren talked too if any.
The other item of interest and this goes to Big 12 survival was that Boren understands OU as a national brand is diminishing. I have to think Castiglione was deep into this conversation and it may be he who was pushing leaving the Big 12 before their ability to turn TV sets on diminishes and reduces their leverage. Not sure if this played into Bob leaving but I would guess Riley’s rope is very short. Get routed at tOSU and finish lower than second and next year is BIG for his length of tenure.
