Arkansas: No Interest In The Big 12-2

by srr50 on Jun 18, 2010 8:47 AM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

Expansion rumors involving Arkansas wanting into the Big 12 won't go away even if Jerry Jones denies wanting to get his alma mater and Notre Dame into the league.

Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart came out and said he has no knowledge of any contact, and that the SEC was the best conference in the country and he saw no reason for Arkansas to move.

Said Gearhart, "I suspect this thing will go on, but we’re not going anywhere...Everybody, I think it’s fair to say, is very, very happy that we are in the SEC and that we’re staying in the SEC"

Gearhart added, "I suspect it’s a big deal to so many people that it’s probably going to have a life of its own for awhile...But we don’t have any interest in going anywhere."

It's one thing to issue a non-denial denial, but the Chancellor seems emphatic that the Razorbacks are staying put.

Jones and Cowboys stadium are scheduled to host the Big 12 title game through 2013, but with Nebraska and Colorado leaving over the next two years, the revised league would not be able to hold a championship game.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

No one in a major conference has an interest until there is something to be interested in such as a formal invitation / proposal.

by Clay Travis on Jun 18, 2010 10:22 AM CDT reply actions

Oh, Bill Bixby, you are so silly.

by Sailor Ripley on Jun 18, 2010 10:26 AM CDT reply actions

Although I love the idea of Arkansas & Notre Dame in the Big 12-2, it’s a pipe dream. The SEC is the best athletic conference in the nation. It’s also one of the most lucrative. I see only a couple of reasons Arkansas would leave the SEC for the Big 12: 1) To renew & continue their rivalry w/ Texas; & 2) To recruit better in TX. However, as to the first point, an entire generation or 2 has grown up w/o the UT-UA rivalry (which is quite one-sided both in terms of victories & hatred). It doesn’t have much meaning for them. As to the second point, the A&M has opened the door to TX by scheduling the Arkies to a long series, w/ the potential to extend it, at JerryWorld. Way to go, Gomers.

ND wouldn’t give up their independence for the Big 10, despite the riches the Big 10 offered, the academic cache, & the long history ND has w/ several Big 10 schools. The only way ND would forgo their independence is if the Big East imploded. However, the Big 10 will always leave an empty chair for ND.

by Joetx on Jun 18, 2010 10:50 AM CDT reply actions

Why do I see ND keep coming up? If ND won’t joing the Big 10, why would they join us? Is this just people spouting crap, or is there some history/attachment with ND that would cause them to think about joining the conference?

by UT_06 on Jun 18, 2010 11:20 AM CDT reply actions

@Joetx Is the SEC really the best athletic conference in the nation? Aside from being top heavy with football power houses, what about basketball, would you rank them top 3? Baseball, overall, are they top 3? Track, outside of LSU and Arkansas, where do they stand? Volleyball.

I can see why Arkansas would want to stay for football, but aside from that dreadfully close McFadden season it’s been middle of the pack for them, they’ll get those every now and then.

Getting into a conference with Texas would open up the Texas recruiting pipeline, not that I’m sure they ever had much of one. They’ll compete for titles every year in track [yes it’s a non revenue sport but still a title is a title]. They’d be closer to the top in the football than the middle. Basketball, they’d always have a fighting chance.

I just don’t see, aside from the money the football program will bring in, where they NEED to stay in the SEC.

by USgotROBBEDscrewHOLLANDrefs on Jun 18, 2010 11:42 AM CDT reply actions

Why would Arkansas leave a financially stable conference for one that is basing its future on promises?

by srr50 on Jun 18, 2010 12:05 PM CDT reply actions

And why would we invite them to split the pie when all they bring is crust?

by Sailor Ripley on Jun 18, 2010 12:06 PM CDT reply actions

I don’t think it would be worth it to expand, if expansion means we add Arkansas and TCU.

Now, ND on the other hand…. but that’s not going to happen. I think we stay at 10 teams for a few years, and then we go through all this bullshit all over again.

by nordberg on Jun 18, 2010 12:27 PM CDT reply actions

Given everything that’s happened to date, it makes perfect sense that Arky would think about coming back to the big 12-2. By the math that Beebe’s been floating, that would probably add another $100 million/year to our tv deals, maybe $200 million if ND is involved.

by fitzhume on Jun 18, 2010 2:16 PM CDT reply actions