Why did NU leave the Big 12?

[litespeedhuskerfan]

Where was this trail? I've mtn biked in Moab since the early 90s, but don't remember this one. Feel like I missed out.

Closest trail you might recognize is Gemeni Bridges trail head, north on 313, very close to horsetheif area. I don't believe it was ever a legal trail, but it was marked...if you didn't have an "in" with a local, you'd never find it. It was just the right amount of challenge..mostly downhill

Jesse from Coyote Shuttles turned us onto it....he owed us cause we gave him some shrooms...haha...he liked em so much he gave us a free shuttle up and directions how to find it. It was epic.

 

[V-Doub]

I am trying to settle a debate with somebody. What was the real reason Nebraska left the Big12?

You can pick up to two.

Should be able to pick more than 2 IMO. I see at least 3 possibly 4 very viable and historically accurate…

Long term conference stability, equal money distribution and B1G money are all about the same thing. And all are true IMO.

Texas pouring poison honey into the ears of the other Big 8 members, and positioning themselves to have inequitable money and power in the conference was also a very big reason. Any of the 4 above “reasons” would be valid IMO.

 

[king_kong_]

Should be able to pick more than 2 IMO. I see at least 3 possibly 4 very viable and historically accurate…

Long term conference stability, equal money distribution and B1G money are all about the same thing. And all are true IMO.

Texas pouring poison honey into the ears of the other Big 8 members, and positioning themselves to have inequitable money and power in the conference was also a very big reason. Any of the 4 above “reasons” would be valid IMO.

the answer can be boiled down to 1 word:

politics.

 

[V-Doub]

Colorado definitely chose wrong. Pac 12 and now had to come back begging to join the new Big 12 group of wannabes and also rans.😜👈

College football’s popularity has grown much slower on the west coast (over the last 25 years) than it has over the rest of the US. So much so that it ultimately killed the PAC 12 conference. Nobody could have seen that coming 20 years ago, but yeah, Puffs hitched their wagon to a dying horse.

 

[Wasker77]

My beef with Haliburton is they acquired some land in Moab that took away one of, if not the best, mountain bike trails called The Green Dot. Somebody literally painted green diamonds down the rocky landscape so you could follow the trail and it was world class....Haliburton bought the bought the land and closed it down and fracked the holy hell out of it..I only know because I snuck in to ride it again anyway and there were literally thousands of holes punched into the ground, everywhere....it was gross

Here is the key line in your comment "Haliburton bought the land". My father, from the Depression Era/WWII generation taught me if you don't the land then you have nothing to say to those who did how they use it. If this land was such a good mountain bike property, why didn't one of you mountain bikers or group of you step up and buy it to preserve it for riding?

 

[V-Doub]

the answer can be boiled down to 1 word:

politics.

I suppose, but if you want to get into the specifics of what those politics or political decisions entailed… It comes back to one main theme, (which he encapsulated in about 4 of his options) Texas destabilized the conference and we jumped when presented with a better offer.

If you know your GF is fvcking around behind your back, or in Texas case throwing right in your face, you’re pretty much a bitch ass cuck if you don’t tell that 2 timing high maintenance skank to go fvck herself with the Eiffel Tower. Especially when you have a damn good offer from another.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

Here is the key line in your comment "Haliburton bought the land". My father, from the Depression Era/WWII generation taught me if you don't the land then you have nothing to say to those who did how they use it. If this land was such a good mountain bike property, why didn't one of you mountain bikers or group of you step up and buy it to preserve it for riding?

You don't really think i'm actually mad about this do you? Haliburton can set a nuke off on that land if they wish...but i'm within my right to yell at the clouds about how things used to be. Haha

 

[Wasker77]

South Park nailed it. From Matt and Trey. CU alums.

View embedded media

I think you probably can find many places in the three West Coast states and all over the West in left leaning communities such as Missoula, MT, Jackson, Wyoming or Taos/Santa Fe, NM where you would get the same reaction.

 

[V-Doub]

They don't just punch holes all over. They drill wells on a "pad". Usually, the pad has multiple wells on it. From 2 to 12 on larger ones. The frac horizontally underground along the seams where the oil is at. This leads to not drilling all over like in the old days where you saw all the pumping units everywhere. That is vertical drilling.

Fracking does not leave holes in the ground ever. They have well heads on each well and take up a relatively small footprint. Pads are maybe a couple acres. I have seen 16 well pad that took up less than an acre when totally complete. When you drill horizontally you would not have pads close together at all in most cases. Miles apart at best. The wells are at times a mile deep and up to 2 miles horizontal. Depends on the area and ground make up. Wells in CO, UT, ND areas are typically deeper than the southern areas of the country as a rule. The footprint they leave is by far much smaller than other energy sources when everything is complete.

 

[Wasker77]

You don't really think i'm actually mad about this do you? Haliburton can set a nuke off on that land if they wish...but i'm within my right to yell at the clouds about how things used to be. Haha

The one I scream about are those large metal poles they stick up all over the West's beautiful ridgelines and open spaces and call great for the environment. I cannot believe if you went to the Sierra Club and told them you were going to go all over this great land of ours and set up on public land huge metal apparatuses that they would endorse it. But put some giant blades on them and tell them you are going to inefficiently generate some electricity they all giggle with glee on how much better it is for all of us to use natural generating energy. I think they are nothing but eyesores.

 

[huskerfan66]

Not sure we knew about the b1g $$ at the time. I think the BIG b1g $ came in after we joined.

Yes it was good at the time but pretty sure it's doubled since 2010

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

Funny that Moab would be a subject today..altbough i gjess i started it...cause i just made resvo's for my yeary April trip there..going with my incredibly fit son who is half my age...hahaha

 

[HuskerAlum92]

Should be able to pick more than 2 IMO. I see at least 3 possibly 4 very viable and historically accurate…

Long term conference stability, equal money distribution and B1G money are all about the same thing. And all are true IMO.

Texas pouring poison honey into the ears of the other Big 8 members, and positioning themselves to have inequitable money and power in the conference was also a very big reason. Any of the 4 above “reasons” would be valid IMO.

Allow too many votes, and all the choices fill in. They were a lot of reasons that supported the notion of leaving the Big12 for the BigTen. But what was the top reason or two that were really the driving force behind the decision?

There is some overlap between options but with different emphasis. I suggest picking what you feel best captures the key reason or two. As you mentioned Texas destabilized the conference in different ways. I would say long term conference stability would be the best fit for that, but you can choose Texas Hate if you want to underscore Texas.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

If we were 8-1 versus Texas, as opposed to 1-8...our rush to bolt would not have been nearly as great...go to my grave believing that.

 

[V-Doub]

Not sure we knew about the b1g $$ at the time. I think the BIG b1g $ came in after we joined.

Yes it was good at the time but pretty sure it's doubled since 2010

We knew about the money. We didn’t get a full share until year 4 (I think) but we knew we were gonna make significantly more money once we earned a full share. Now… did we know our TV money would be this prosperous 15 years later? And/or the degree of financial disparity between the B1G and BigXII? Probably not…

 

[Husker.Wed.]

I think they are nothing but eyesores.

You forgot bald eagle slicers. If this dead bird were covered in oil next to oil derricks the picture would be on the cover of every enviro mag.

 

[king_kong_]

Not sure we knew about the b1g $$ at the time. I think the BIG b1g $ came in after we joined.

Yes it was good at the time but pretty sure it's doubled since 2010

accurate

our move had very little to do with money

it was purely political

 

[regoratsginrom]

Nebraska left the Big 12 Conference and officially joined the Big Ten on July 1, 2011. The decision was driven by a combination of financial, competitive, and governance factors:

Key Reasons for Nebraska Leaving the Big 12:​

1. Financial Stability and Revenue Sharing:
   • The Big Ten offered a more equitable and lucrative revenue-sharing model, particularly through its successful Big Ten Network.
   • The Big 12 had a revenue distribution model that disproportionately favored Texas and a few other schools, leaving Nebraska and others with less financial security.
2. Texas' Influence in the Big 12:
   • Texas' dominance in conference decision-making, especially with the creation of the Longhorn Network, caused friction with other member schools, including Nebraska.
   • Nebraska felt marginalized by Texas' growing influence over television deals and scheduling.
3. Desire for Conference Stability:
   • At the time, the Big 12's future was uncertain, with rumors of schools like Texas, Oklahoma, and others potentially leaving.
   • The Big Ten was seen as a more stable and prestigious conference.
4. Academic and Institutional Fit:
   • Nebraska valued the Big Ten's strong academic reputation and its association with the Association of American Universities (AAU).
   • The conference prioritized both athletics and academics, aligning with Nebraska's long-term goals.
5. Geographic and Competitive Considerations:
   • The Big Ten offered high-profile matchups and a larger media footprint, which benefited recruiting and program exposure.

Impact of the Move:​

• Financially, Nebraska has benefited from the Big Ten's robust media deals and revenue sharing.
• Competitively, however, the football program has struggled to achieve the same level of success it had in the Big 12 and earlier eras.

Nebraska's departure from the Big 12 marked a significant realignment in college athletics and was a precursor to other major conference changes.

With regard to #1, IIRC, the B12 did not share revenue equally and Nebraska was one who benefitted/got more than its league counterparts.

With regard to #2, the B1G is run by tOSU and Michigan. We have little to no influence.

With regard to #4, some of our new B1G brethren were responsible for kicking us out of the AAU.

According to many here the refs actively work against us.

I hate this conference. Money be damned.

 

[huntered]

texass, academic advantages, and outlook for more money

 

[Gobeegred]

If we were 8-1 versus Texas, as opposed to 1-8...our rush to bolt would not have been nearly as great...go to my grave believing that.

If we were 8-1, as opposed to 1-8, and nothing else was different (Taxes centric Big 12, conference instability, politics, etc...) Nebraska still would have bolted.
In retrospect, Osborne and Perlman look like geniuses.

 

[cavalot]

Funny that Moab would be a subject today..altbough i gjess i started it...cause i just made resvo's for my yeary April trip there..going with my incredibly fit son who is half my age...hahaha

Taking my wife on a trip this summer through parts of Moab and onto Zion to meet a buddy. She loves Utah but has only been North of SLC. I told her that the beauty is indescribable. I took pictures last time but it simply doesn't do it justice.

 

[king_kong_]

With regard to #1, IIRC, the B12 did not share revenue equally and Nebraska was one who benefitted/got more than its league counterparts.

With regard to #2, the B1G is run by tOSU and Michigan. We have little to no influence.

With regard to #4, some of our new B1G brethren were responsible for kicking us out of the AAU.

According to many here the refs actively work against us.

I hate this conference. Money be damned.

 

[huskerfan66]

If we were 8-1 versus Texas, as opposed to 1-8...our rush to bolt would not have been nearly as great...go to my grave believing that.

True but uterus wouldn't have been dictating either. Probably still a pain in the butt though.

But because reality is we were 1-8, was because what uterus and their cronies did to cut us off at the knees with votes and weren't nimble enough to change. Nor did we have time to coupled with other athletic department blunders

 

[WHCSC]

accurate

our move had very little to do with money

it was purely political

And everything political is all about money

 

[king_kong_]

And everything political is all about money

most things political are about feelings

money is just a unit of measure

 

[WHCSC]

most things political are about feelings

money is just a unit of measure

Feelings about money

 

[ckriley]

The guy I am arguing with is trying to tell me that Pac10 ordeal had nothing to do with Nebraska’s move. I remember it as you do. There was a lot of angst around Texas’ maneuvers, but leaving the conference wasn’t on anybody’s radar. Until Texas almost did it and almost left us behind. That was the moment that changed everything. It was that instability that Delany recognized as an opportunity. 6 months after that Pac10 stunt we accepted the B1G offer.

I fully believe that if the Pac10 threat didn’t happen, we don’t leave the Big12. And while the potential of more money was nice, what we really wanted was long term conference stability that would allow us to be in the championship mix.

Actually, if I remember correctly, the B1G had been wanting Nebraska. Texas' preferred outcome was to keep the Big 12 together and they wanted Nebraska in it. But for a variety of reasons, both cultural and financial, Nebraska left for the B1G. (As an aside, had Oklahoma never turned their back on NU and that game was still played every year, I don't think Nebraska ever leaves the conference.)

The Pac 12 stuff started in earnest after it was clear Nebraska was leaving, and CU had already bolted.

I remember following all of that in the summer of 2010. I had an active sub on the paid board at the time, and had even taken out a sub on Orangebloods to get their side of things. (I was banned from Orangebloods after trying to tell them where NU was coming from lol.)

Texas has many faults, but to paint them as the sole villain in all of this would be disingenuous. There were a number of reasons NU left the Big 12. But it was primarily due to money and stability. And if the Big Ten comes calling, you take that call no matter what.

It was the right thing to do to leave the Big 12. They were about as anti-Nebraska as you can get.

 

[NikkiSixx]

It was the right thing to do to leave the Big 12. They were about as anti-Nebraska as you can get.

And the Big Ten isn't anti-Nebraska?

The Big12 was not anti-Nebraska.. but we were the only one standing up to Texas and their control issues, the others were just afraid of going against them.

We would still be welcomed better in the Big12 (even if it's just a shell of what it once was) and we had a chance to go back right after covid.. this is before OU and Texas left. It might have stopped that from happening although who knows how it could have worked out.

We do not, in any circumstances, have any friends in the Big Ten whatsoever. Period.

 

[scarletred]

And the Big Ten isn't anti-Nebraska?

The Big12 was not anti-Nebraska.. but we were the only one standing up to Texas and their control issues, the others were just afraid of going against them.

We would still be welcomed better in the Big12 (even if it's just a shell of what it once was) and we had a chance to go back right after covid.. this is before OU and Texas left. It might have stopped that from happening although who knows how it could have worked out.

We do not, in any circumstances, have any friends in the Big Ten whatsoever. Period.

I still think you’re mom and dad brought you on your head more often than not.

 

[HuskerAlum92]

Actually, if I remember correctly, the B1G had been wanting Nebraska. Texas' preferred outcome was to keep the Big 12 together and they wanted Nebraska in it. But for a variety of reasons, both cultural and financial, Nebraska left for the B1G. (As an aside, had Oklahoma never turned their back on NU and that game was still played every year, I don't think Nebraska ever leaves the conference.)

The Pac 12 stuff started in earnest after it was clear Nebraska was leaving, and CU had already bolted.

I remember following all of that in the summer of 2010. I had an active sub on the paid board at the time, and had even taken out a sub on Orangebloods to get their side of things. (I was banned from Orangebloods after trying to tell them where NU was coming from lol.)

Texas has many faults, but to paint them as the sole villain in all of this would be disingenuous. There were a number of reasons NU left the Big 12. But it was primarily due to money and stability. And if the Big Ten comes calling, you take that call no matter what.

It was the right thing to do to leave the Big 12. They were about as anti-Nebraska as you can get.

You don’t remember it correctly.

The Pac10 ordeal is what set the wheels in motion for the departure. Before that, there was no talk of leaving and nowhere to go because there was no invitation to go anywhere. When the B12 appeared to be falling apart with the Pac10 exodus, that was when Delany took advantage of opportunity.

 

[Baxter48]

I still think you’re mom and dad brought you on your head more often than not.

Actually the best part of him was left on his mom’s inner thigh

 

[Gobeegred]

You don’t remember it correctly.

The Pac10 ordeal is what set the wheels in motion for the departure. Before that, there was no talk of leaving and nowhere to go because there was no invitation to go anywhere. When the B12 appeared to be falling apart with the Pac10 exodus, that was when Delany took advantage of opportunity.

Incorrect. Nebraska was talking to the Big Ten before the Pac10 rumors. The Pac10 "threat" (I don't believe it was ever going to happen) simply sped up the negotiations between NU and the Big Ten.

 

[TFrazier]

We knew about the money. We didn’t get a full share until year 4 (I think) but we knew we were gonna make significantly more money once we earned a full share. Now… did we know our TV money would be this prosperous 15 years later? And/or the degree of financial disparity between the B1G and BigXII? Probably not…

Close…looks like year 6.

UNL to receive full Big Ten benefits after six years

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln will soon see the full benefits of the Big Ten Conference: big green.

www.dailynebraskan.com

 

[Zeke2005]

Actually, if I remember correctly, the B1G had been wanting Nebraska. Texas' preferred outcome was to keep the Big 12 together and they wanted Nebraska in it. But for a variety of reasons, both cultural and financial, Nebraska left for the B1G. (As an aside, had Oklahoma never turned their back on NU and that game was still played every year, I don't think Nebraska ever leaves the conference.)

The Pac 12 stuff started in earnest after it was clear Nebraska was leaving, and CU had already bolted.

I remember following all of that in the summer of 2010. I had an active sub on the paid board at the time, and had even taken out a sub on Orangebloods to get their side of things. (I was banned from Orangebloods after trying to tell them where NU was coming from lol.)

Texas has many faults, but to paint them as the sole villain in all of this would be disingenuous. There were a number of reasons NU left the Big 12. But it was primarily due to money and stability. And if the Big Ten comes calling, you take that call no matter what.

It was the right thing to do to leave the Big 12. They were about as anti-Nebraska as you can get.

You do not remember correctly. There was talk of the big 12 south minus Baylor leaving to join the pac 10. Nebraska felt pressured, joining the big 10 wasn’t due to culture it was to be in a conference. We would have been left hanging had the south division left. CU announced departure to pac 10 and the following day Nebraska announced its departure. There was no time in between that where Texas talks with pac 10 happened, it was prior and what spurred us to look into leaving.

 

[ckriley]

You do not remember correctly. There was talk of the big 12 south minus Baylor leaving to join the pac 10. Nebraska felt pressured, joining the big 10 wasn’t due to culture it was to be in a conference. We would have been left hanging had the south division left. CU announced departure to pac 10 and the following day Nebraska announced its departure. There was no time in between that where Texas talks with pac 10 happened, it was prior and what spurred us to look into leaving.

I’ll take your word for it.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

If we were 8-1, as opposed to 1-8, and nothing else was different (Taxes centric Big 12, conference instability, politics, etc...) Nebraska still would have bolted.
In retrospect, Osborne and Perlman look like geniuses.

I don't really care anymore one way or the other...we left. OK....I also can't help but remember several votes on key issues, that went 11-1 against us...we were the 1. Combined with our record against Texas....felt to me like we took our ball and went home.

 

[schneidrd]

Actually Nebraska toyed with a Big Ten move back in Coach Devaney days. He had a soft spot for Big Ten from his days at MSU as assistant coaching with Coach Daughter.

Regents didn't want to leave and it faded away.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

SIAP - Nebraska was one of 4 teams that received a larger share of the Big 12 financial pie. The Big 12 was playing with the idea of a Big 12 Network to replace the tier 3 media rights that the individual schools kept to themselves, Texas decided to partner with ESPN to start the Longhorn Network and didn't want to participate in a league wide network that would have potentially been less profitable for them because they would have to share the revenue rather keep it all to themselves. Nebraska was pushing for the league wide network. Then there was the moving of the HQ from KC to Dallas. Nebraska's biggest fault in this was that they were already getting a larger piece of the pie, but when Texas wanted an even bigger piece of the pie, Osborne and company got upset.

 

[Dean Pope]

And the funniest thing of all? All the little brothers who NU beat up on for 50 years. The ISU's and KSU's who cozied up to the evil empire were left at the altar by Texass and OU who bolted for more money in the $EC. Now they're stuck in the watered down Big 12 making peanuts compared to the Big 10 and $EC. Good choice dummies.😂

You are right. But I'm not sure those schools were ever invited to join the Big 10 anyway. And looking back on it all, the way things are right now it doesn't seem like those schools are any worse off than they were before all of the mad scramble for money & conference realignment took place. Just looking at football anyway, Iowa State, Kansas, K-State will probably all have more players drafted than we will and those schools have had more success-- albeit in a "smaller pond". Those three schools are making less money, but spending less money while playing an easier schedule. NU is making a lot more and spending a lot more while playing a tougher schedule.

I thought NU moving to the Big 10 was the right move, but all along I've suspected that it would hurt our chances to contend for a national title. But I didn't think that the bottom would fall out.

 

[Dean Pope]

There should be no debate. It was clearly stated at the time that Texas' secretive plan to bolt to the PAC leaving Nebraska behind placed a lot of doubt on the future stability of the Big 12.

I saw this mentioned in an article about the demise of the Pac 12. The Pac 12 went from expansion with Texas to not even having a conference.