Sleep is good - Most of the links today continue to talk about the BYU LGBT issues as well as whether the networks are meddling a little too much:
ESPN/FOX related
Are the Big 12 powers playing poker with ESPN & Fox?
http://newsok.com/article/5513165
Some Big 12 schools don’t want to add two schools and no Big 12 school wants to add four. No Big 12 administrator can be thrilled with any combination of prospective new members.
IS THE TAIL WAGGING THE DOG WITH ESPN/FOX BLOCKING POTENTIAL BIG 12 EXPANSION?
Big 12 expansion would be a huge boost for programs like Cincinnati or Houston or even BYU. Some of these schools that lost out on the first round of realignment and currently sit on the outside looking in at the Power Five would give anything to have a seat at the grown-ups table. How should those schools and those fanbases feel about ESPN and Fox stealing away their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and potentially sealing their fate as a college football “other”? How should Big 12 fans feel about ESPN refusing to play ball with the Big 12 and placing them at the end of the line behind even the ACC?
Coogfans discussion: ESPN wants to block B12 expansion by non-P5 teams - #31 by pray10
UH-related
THE GREAT NEGOTIATION: WILL THE BIG 12 CHOOSE HOUSTON AND LONG-TERM STABILITY OR STICK WITH SHORT-SIGHTED THINKING?
http://www.campusrush.com/big-12-expansion-houston-cougars-football-1965479371.html
Choosing the Cougars would be a move for the Big 12 to protect its footprint rather than try to expand it, a move for preservation with the Big 12’s future looking uncertain. It would be a decision made with foresight, reversing the error of a conference that failed to take Louisville when the Cardinals desperately wanted to be admitted in 2011.
Coogfans discussion: The great negotiation: will the big 12 choose houston and long-term stability or stick with short-sighted thinking? - #4 by PAWRFUL
BYU/LGBT
Coogfans discussion: WOW -- 25 LGBT groups ask B12 to not add BYU - #11 by CougarRed
Bowlsby responded to Athlete Ally, one of the leading organizations to send the letter, on Tuesday saying the Big 12 will take any form of discrimination into consideration during its publicly stated plans for expansion from 10 member schools. Other universities frequently mentioned in the expansion discussion include Boise State, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Connecticut, Houston, Memphis, Central Florida and South Florida. Schools need eight of 10 votes by conference presidents in order to join the Big 12.
Bohls: LGBT involvement could harm BYU’s Big 12 expansion chances
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/sports/bohls-lgbt-involvement-could-harm-byus-big-12-expa/nsCtj/
Timing is everything, and BYU’s philosophical stance on homosexuality and sexual behavior could be a big obstacle standing in its way of joining the Big 12 in light of the sexual assault scandal at Baylor. A current development could cripple or even kill those chances. Plus, I still think Texas and Oklahoma want to remain at 10 schools
https://twitter.com/TomHolmoe/status/763070953681145857
UCONN
Connecticut has done a lot for ESPN; how about the other way around?
And may I ask why Gov. Malloy, at whose behest ESPN received a sweetheart tax deal the size of Wyoming, hasn’t at least questioned the motives of the World Wide Leader yet?
It’s not as though other politicians haven’t unburdened themselves on conference expansion. Example: The Austin American Statesman reported recently that supporters of the University of Houston said they would consider dropping their opposition to the University of Texas’ expansion in Houston in exchange for a deal that allows the Cougars to join the Big 12.
“Big 12 expansion is a non-starter unless it includes University of Houston,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted.
Talk about unethical.
But then, is there room for ethics in this morass anymore?
Tweets
https://twitter.com/TimBrando/status/763105548547993601
https://twitter.com/TimBrando/status/763105905797795840
https://twitter.com/TimBrando/status/763106559098429440