Now that Texas A & M has finalized their intention to leave the Big 12 in writing, the real handwringing begins. And not just the hands of Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe.
In Austin. In Norman. In Stillwater. And from Waco to Ames, Iowa. This is the defining moment for the Big 12's very existence.
And, the only man who can save this tradition-rich, historic conference dating back to the old Southwest Conference days, is a former player in that old conference who knows more about the tradition, history and success of the coalition of schools who comprised the Southwest Conference than anyone else.
His name: Jerrel Wayne Jones. He goes by Jerry around these parts nowadays.
A former starting offensive lineman and co-captain on the 1964 undefeated, national champional Arkansas Razorbacks, former successful oilman from North Little Rock via Los Angeles, and the defacto head of the board of regents for the University of Arkansas, Jerry Jones is the only man alive who can make the Big 12 whole again.
His mission: convince the University of Arkansas leadership that it is time to end the S.E.C. experiment and literally call the hogs home. Waiting for them is that prized Texas recruiting ground that accompanies playing actual football games in the state of Texas in front of the actual high school recruits it so covets. A top 5 television market with millions of eyeballs to actually watch Razorback games. A renewal of a long-standing, hated, natural border rival in Texas. A new match up with neighbor Oklahoma that old king Barry Switzer never wanted any part of while he was feeding the monster in the 70's but one in which the new king of Norman, Bob Stoops, would eagerly welcome today. An instant BCS nod that would annually come against Big 12 North division foes the likes of Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri instead of Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Mississippi. A Big 12 Championship Game in Fayetteville South-Cowboys Stadium in December. And the one thing that Jerry understands more than anything else: more money than they are currently receiving from the S.E.C.
An Arkansas entry into the Big 12 will certainly cause eyebrows to be raised in South Bend, Indiana. Who knows. Maybe the "independent-minded" Fighting Irish will take another look at a Big 12 conference that consists of perennial national powers Oklahoma and Texas, a rejuvenated-Oklahoma State, who has been flirting with national success the past few years, a 20 million person market in Texas and an instant ticket to the BCS bowl dance. If Arkansas comes along with Notre Dame does that also bring another national power looking for a home in the Southwest like say, Florida State? Who knows. But Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe better be on the phone to Dallas-neighbor Jerry Jones at this instant to find out the hogs interest.
At yesterday's SMU Athletic Forum Luncheon featuring Troy Aikman, SMU Athletic Director, and former Notre Dame alumni, Steve Orsini opened the luncheon with three questions for the jam-packed audience:
1) Why does the city in the heart of the most tradition-rich football region of the county with long-standing ties to the Big 8/12 and Southwest Conference not have an Automatic Qualifying BCS school?
2) Why does the 5th largest television market in the country not have an Automatic Qualifying BCS school?
3) Why do Ames, Iowa; Stillwater, Oklahoma; Lubbock, Texas and Waco, Texas have an Automatic Qualifying BCS school and Dallas does not?
Obviously, Mr. Orsini is selling SMU's possibility of capitalizing on Texas A & M's departure hoping the Big 12 will look at an SMU entry into the league. Not a bad idea and one I would be selling if I were in Mr. Orsini's shoes. And, it's the same case Dan Beebe should be selling to Jerry Jones, the University of Arkansas and Mr. Orsini's alma mater.
Yes indeed. The future success of the Big 12 depends on Jerry Jones. Let's hope for the sake of the entire Southwest and football-crazed Texas he succeeds.
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