Forsee, Deaton, Alden discuss details of new Big 12
UM system President Gary Forsee, Chancellor Brady Deaton and Athletic Director Mike Alden held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss MU's future in the Big 12.
The conference began with the trio reaffirming their allegiance to the 10-member Big 12.
“We look forward to a very bright future for our conference,” Alden said.
Deaton said MU is committed to the Big 12 for the foreseeable future, and is in it for the long haul. MU never had any offer from the Big 10, and chose not to engage in any speculation beyond simply doing due diligence.
“We examined all alternatives,” Deaton said about earlier in the year, when Big 10 expansion rumors began. “We wanted to be prepared for whatever came down the road.”
Alden said no changes have been made regarding revenue distribution among the remaining 10 members of the Big 12. He said the restructured television deal for the remaining Big 12 members that several news outlets, including ESPN, had reported lured Texas to stay in the conference was still in discussion and had not been finalized.
“It will stay the same,” Alden said. “We accept that. We'll move forward. It's incumbent on us to win more games and get more exposure on television.”
With two less members, the football season will be comprised of nine conference games and three non-conference games. In basketball, it will be a double round robin, resulting in 18 conference games.
Alden denied rumors that exit fees recovered from the University of Nebraska and University of Colorado would be unevenly divided.
“When we do recover those exit fees, then those monies will be put in a holding account and distributed according the policies of the league,” Alden said.