Big 12 infighting delays Texas A&M defection
By Paul Jordan
It’s the biggest amount of drama in Texas since JR Ewing was ruling the roost for Ewing Oil. It seems that the rest of the Big 12 is taking the news of Texas A&M defecting to the SEC kicking and screaming. Despite a letter from Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe stating there would be no legal action if Texas A&M joined the SEC, it appears that there will be exactly that. And the letter from Beebe apparently was saying that the Big 12 Board of Directors would not sue, but that the individual schools could still sue:
“This is the first time to my knowledge that a conference has been requested to waive any legal claims toward another conference for any damages suffered with a membership change,” Beebe said in a statement Wednesday. He added that the waiver “did not and could not bind the individual member institutions’ governing boards to waive institutional rights.”
So there you go. Baylor, Kansas, and Iowa State seem the most sue-happy, but this all seems to boil down to Oklahoma. Apparently no one will sue if the Sooners remain in the Big 12, but if the Sooners decide to leave, Texas A&M can not leave. Petty, petty, petty.
I have to wonder how much all of the “Big 12 drama” talk may be affecting the college decision of one Perry Ellis. Ellis is currently preparing for in-home visits from Kentucky, Kansas, Kansas State, and Wichita State. Kansas will visit on Friday, Kansas State on Monday, Wichita State on Tuesday and Kentucky at a date to be determined. Since two of Perry’s four teams are Big 12 teams, you have to think that conference matters, right?
Archie Goodwin will be at Big Blue Madness but he will not make his college decision until the spring. Goodwin has a final five of Kentucky, Kansas, Arkansas, Memphis, and UConn. Here is what Goodwin recently told Adam Zagoria about Kentucky:
“As far as Kentucky, another great program, a winning program. Has a great coach [John Calipari], and another great staff behind him. Consistently puts guards in the league and other players as well. In the NCAA Tournament, in the last Elite 8 or so.”
We all know that Lexington’s task force is currently looking at the options for renovating or replacing Rupp Arena. One thing that is becoming apparent is that Kentucky needs luxury suites in order to increase income for the basketball program. Thanks in part to the Yum! Center, Louisville is the most profitable basketball program in the country and it is not due to the conference distributions. Kentucky gets $18.3 million a year from the SEC compared to Louisville’s $1.2 Big East distribution, yet the Cardinals luxury suites put them ahead of Kentucky. From this appear, it appears Kentucky is missing out on some big bucks.
Could Aaron Boyd be the answer to Kentucky’s receiving woes? John Clay is saying that Aaron Boyd will get a chance to turn it all around on Saturday and has some videos of Boyd. Personally, I’d love to see some production from Boyd. The Big Blue Nation seems solidly behind him and it would be great to see him have a good day.
That’s it for now. We get more into the Central Michigan game on the site today, so keep checking in as we will try to keep you on top of all Big Blue News and such. The weekend is in sight…
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans