Big 12 Championship Game Site Not Permanent - Yet
16 comments so far
March 11, 2010 by
As a Kansas City Area resident, and someone who works two miles away from the Sprint Center and the Big 12 basketball tournament, the excitement in town is picking up this week. Sports talk radio has been all over basketball, and this city contains fans of three great basketball teams all in one place. Coupled with Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe's comments this week that the Big 12 will not be choosing permanent Championship sites for football and basketball in June, and it got me thinking about the Championship Games status. The June spring meeting (in Kansas City), will determine sites for basketball, football, and baseball starting in the 2011-2012 seasons, and they may decide on sites anywhere from the three to five years after that.
I like the idea of having a rotation of sites in basketball, where it's been in Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Kansas City. As for football, I can live with a Dallas/Kansas City rotation, but the Big 12 Championship game has also been played in Houston, San Antonio, and St. Louis. What I can't live with is a permanent home for these events.
The contingent of fans at the Big 12 Championship game in football this year in Dallas was acceptable to me, as the well-traveled Husker fans showed up like they always do to away events. But there is something to be said for having a game closer to home, like within driving distance, instead of having to take a flight. I'm sure basketball fans are thinking that right now, as most of the Big 12 North schools are taking the opportunity to come check out their teams and make it feel like a home game this week in downtown Kansas City. And I feel like Kansas City will continue to be in the mix for football, since Arrowhead Stadium has just undergone $475 million in expansion and upgrades.
Fans of all Big 12 North teams should be rooting for a Championship site in the North states in order to maintain the balance that seems to be shifting towards south schools in football. Basketball this year has fortunately had a strong showing in the North, but a rotation will ensure that there is parity in that sport too.
But there's only one sure way to get the attention of big organizations as a collective: vote with your wallet. The fact is, we have no say in what happens in that spring meeting without doing something to garner the attention of the Big 12 Conference. Unless people stop supporting the Big 12 corporate sponsors: Chick-fil-A, Dr. Pepper, Gatorade, Geico, Motel 6, O'Reilly Auto Parts, Phillip 66, Sunkist, and Sirius/XM, no way their voice gets heard. And you can't just stop buying these products without telling anyone why, so if you plan to do something like this, you need to contact the Big 12 and let them know what you're doing and why.
I'm not sure if I'm to the point of boycotting brands yet. But as of right now, the fate of future Championship sites is not determined, and control rests solely behind closed doors.
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Jimbo Mar 11 10
Should have the Big 12 Football game in Texas every year. Look at all the schools in the conference that have Texas players. This gives there parents a chance to see them play in person. You guys want to recruit Texas players you have to play in Texas. Sad but true.
tom Mar 11 10
WRONG.
We played one game in the state of Texas in 2008 and it was in Lubbock, no Championship game. Our 2009 Recruiting class:
Nick Ash, Keller, TEXAS. Rex Burkhead, Plano, TEXAS. Jesse Coffey, Denton, TEXAS. Andrew Green, San Antonio, TEXAS. Thaddeus Randle, Galena Park, TEXAS. Dontrayevous Robinson, Euless, TEXAS. Chris Williams, Abilene, TEXAS.
We played one game in the state of Texas in 2007 (College Station), no Championship game. Our 2008 Recruiting class:
David Grant, Killeen, TEXAS. Courtney & Steven Osborne, Garland, TEXAS. Kody Spano, Stephenville, TEXAS. Brandon Thompson, The Woodlands, TEXAS. Lester Ward, Brenham, TEXAS. Alonzo Whaley, Madisonville, TEXAS. David Whitmore, Port Arthur, TEXAS. Josh Williams, Denton, TEXAS.
It goes on for years and years. And this has nothing to do with recruiting. It has everything to do with the appearance of a "neutral site game". I know there's no place that would be completely impartial in any Big 12 state, but what I'm calling for is there to be no permanent home, especially not in the State of Texas.
Next time, come ready to play.
Jimbo Mar 11 10
Congradulations Tom..NU got the ones that OU and TCU and UT did NOT want. Keep up the good work. Glad to see you are one of the "I hate all things Texas". To Dream the Impossible Dream..LOL
Bill Mar 11 10
Yeah Jimbo, I am sure that none of those schools would have wanted Rex Burkhead or Cody Green.
"CongraTulations" Jimbo, you are a credit to the academic prowess of your state.
darren Mar 11 10
Of COURSE the Big 12 title games and tournament need to move around. There ARE in fact other good venues in the rest of the country. Shocking, I know. Sure, the don't have the world's largest screen to gawk at, but they are nice.
The idea of "All Texas, All the Time" is a joke. As a side note, the only reason for NU to consider leaving the Big 12 is to get away from the current over-Texased nature and politics of the conference. But, the idea of leaving the great Big 8 history behind for the four SWC schools to have makes me want to puke.
Don't mess with Texas? We'll take our chances, thanks. Oh, and if that game is played in St. Louis, then all the better.
Yes, I have anti-Texas issues. I know.
tom Mar 11 10
Do we really have to keep doing this? Let's just take the "good teams" that you brought up:
Nick Ash, offer from TCU. Lester Ward, offer from TCU. David Grant, offer from OU. Chris Williams, offer form OU. Kody Spano, offer from TCU. Josh Williams, offer from UT.
Plenty of other good schools offered these players scholarships, but nobody else can quite match up to Texas in your eyes.
Nathan Radenslaben Mar 12 10
You mean to tell me that all us Husker fans are not wanting to see more "home cooked" calls on the field and time put back on the clock of a game that has already expired....why not just put the game in Austin? Can't wait for you Horns to come to town in October, it will be a long trip back down!
Boz Mar 12 10
Tom you disappoint even the average fan. My school OU sent out over 200 offers. Just because we sent out an offer means little. We are looking for feedback from them. Many never respond. My understand is UT 2010 class just signed had 25 people come to campus for offical visits and ALL 25 signed LOI.
All you NU fans have a very very short memory. The Big 12 was formed because OU and NU could not do it all in the old Big 8. You people hate UT for only one reason. They beat you 9 out of 10 times they play you. Do not think for one minute you or OU can go it alone. UT brings in a very big market. OU and NU do not.
Sadly Tom you think that getting TCU players is a great thing to do. Good for you and keep thinking low, real low. All the hate you guys have for UT is EXACTLY the way college football fans thought about you back in the 1990's. Keep dreaming that TCU players are just as good as UT or OU...
Boz Mar 12 10
to Nathan,
One second was NOT PUT BACK ON THE CLOCK. THE ONE SECOND SHOULD NOT HAVE RUN OFF THE CLOCK..BLAME THE TIMEKEEPER FOR NOT DOING HIS JOB CORRECTLY.
Truth is had the North Division not been so bad your team probably would not have even been in that game. Nice to think one sided pal. Half a brain is a terrible thing to waste. LOL
Bill Mar 13 10
BOZ,
My thinking is that if NU's offense hadn't been completely decimated by injuries, the Horns wouldn't have been close in that home game.
Boz Mar 13 10
And my thinking is if Texas had even a respectful offensive line it would not have been close either. See we can all play this game.
tom Mar 13 10
Jimbo/Boz,
You've now pointed out that I "hate" Texas twice when I harbor no such feelings. I just believe there's a disparity and favoritism because the Big 12 HQ and officiating offices are in Dallas.
Nebraska recruits in the state of Texas because there are good players there, but it appears to have been more of finding a diamond in the rough rather than convincing top players to come to NU. Bo believes now that they can make offers to top players in Texas and convince them to play for Nebraska instead of a school in Texas.
But really, I'm just confused about what you are saying. Do you think that an offer from a school means nothing? Do UT, TCU, and OU give offers to players they don't want? I would think an offer from the number 6 team in the country means something, which is why I figured you mentioned TCU in your previous comment and replied accordingly.
Please feel free to clear this up for me.
mickey Mar 13 10
Texas does not beat OU or NU 9 out of 10 times. How many big 12 titles does UT have??? The answer is 3. If you count this years win against NU. Otherwise, 2 1/2....NU has won 2. OU HAS WON 6!!! Dominance....
Apollo Mar 14 10
I wish UT would go to another conference. You think even the leftovers would want NU? Kids in jr high and high school in Texas have NEVER heard of NU. How many points does UT have to beat you again before you all just shut up? Would 35-7 do it...no way because just like last year you choked in October and by Decemeber you all think you can beat the Saint...gee people get a grip. It is football with NU leading up the rear. You are not the lead dog anymore...boo who...
Great Dane Mar 14 10
Tom I think the reason he mentioned TCU is because TCU can not beat UT no matter how much ESPN wants you to believe it. ESPN is like Fox News or MSNBC, it is not about the real truth, it is how can we spin it to make you keep watching us. IN other words, getting TCU offered players (by the way so they are number 6 they played in a High School Conference) means that you can beat the teams that TCU beat, not UF or any other big boys.
VY Mar 14 10
Needs to be held at Jerry's World EVERY YEAR. Long live Texas. You build a stadium like that in Nebraska and we will consider it. Texas is the best state bar none. Ya'll come on down :)