Tommy Tuberville and the Big 12's Survival

I wish there were more coaches like Texas Tech's Tommy Tuberville. After former head man for the Red Raiders, Mike Leach, was fired by the school's athletic department, Tuberville was hired to fill the void. Though he may not have an offensive scheme like Leach's, where 50 plus passes a game were thrown, he sure is as outspoken as him. Earlier this week Tuberville went on a Rivals.com radio show and expressed his frustration with the lack of parity in the Big 12. He said, "I don't think this conference will last long because there is too much disparity between all the teams. In the SEC for instance, Vanderbilt makes as much money in the television contract as Florida. Everybody is good with it. Everybody is on the same page. Everybody gets the same votes." Tuberville went on to say how certain schools in the conference were treated above others, and how he really had no idea how the conference would keep its remaining ten teams intact if they continued to act in such a way.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe sure didn't appreciate Tuberville's words, publicly reprimanding the Texas Tech coach. According to Beebe, "Tommy Tuberville's comments were very unfortunate, and contrary to the very strong feelings of unity expressed publicly and privately by the Big 12 Board of Directors." The only unfortunate thing in this whole situation is how the Big 12 will not just accept that it gives teams, like Texas and Okahoma, much greater portions of TV revenue than other schools. I agree with Tuberville; the Big 12 will not survive if it continues to treat its teams unequally. We all saw how Nebraska left for the Big 10 so they could gain revenue from its television network and actually have a chance at competing for a league crown. Colorado did the same, departing for the Pac 10. As soon as next summer we may be talking about programs like Missouri, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Kansas wanting out as well. Though the Jayhawks are a basketball power, they don't get nearly enough credit from the Big 12 for their recent success in football, and considered going independent of a conference rather than staying.

What we need in college football are programs like Texas and Oklahoma stepping up to the conference and vouching on the parts of the smaller schools. This probably won't happen, as money is pouring into both successful athletic institutions like never before. It's a shame Tommy Tuberville had to be talked down upon by the Big 12 like that. The man said something that we all know is true: wanting his program and others to be spared from the disparity of the Big 12, and actually have a chance to win a conference title.

-John Stoller