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PROVO — The ongoing saga of Big 12 expansion took another turn Tuesday afternoon.
The conference will actively look at expanding the league, and has delegated Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby to contact several schools that have expressed interest in joining the league in the upcoming years, according to Oklahoma president and Big 12 board of directors chairman David Boren.
“We are evaluating what expansion of the league might contribute to the overall process and the financial process of the league,” Boren said during a conference call with the media. “At the end of that discussion, the decision of the board was to have the commissioner re-contact those schools who have contacted the conference and evaluate their interests, and he will be reporting back to us.”
BYU has been among the reported leaders under consideration for expansion, but other schools such as Central Florida, Colorado State, Cincinnati, Connecticut and Memphis have also been linked with interest at various times. Boren did not comment publicly on the specific schools that have contacted the Big 12, but said each school has approached the league individually.
In response to the Big 12 conference's decision, BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe expressed "excitement" for the decision.
"BYU is know for its academic excellence and I believe we have an exceptional athletic program," Holmoe said in a statement from the school. "As I've stated before, I would like to see our student-athletes compete at the highest level."
The conference’s board of directors met during Big 12 media days, and Boren said a number of topics related to the current and future composition of the conference were addressed. In addition to adding potential candidates to the 10-team league, Boren said the board of directors also examined the creation of a conference television network, a decision that comes on the heels of the Atlantic Coast Conference deciding on a soon-to-be launched ACC network in the upcoming years.
“There was continued interest in expansion, and the directions to the commissioner reflect that," Boren said. "We look forward to hearing back from him as he evaluates those interests from all those who have contacted us.”
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the decision to further explore expansion and examine individual candidates was a unanimous decision by the 10 chancellors and university presidents on the board of directors. The issue was placed to a formal vote, and no member of the board objected or abstained, according to the commissioner.
“I think this continues to be exploratory, but it is clearly another step forward and one that our board felt very good about,” Bowlsby said. “On this one, we took a vote and everyone was supportive of it.
“What that means is they are supportive in concept, and there is a lot of work left to do. It will be up to the staff and I to do that.”
The move is a proactive step for the conference, the board of director’s chair said.
“We cannot sit on the sidelines and not be proactive,” Boren said. “As long as their are intercollegiate conferences, I hope the Big 12 is stronger for years and years to come. The members of this conference have a commitment that we make our conference as strong as possible, and as beneficial to all of our members as possible.
“We have to stay attuned very much to what is going on. I think that will influence our commissioner moving forward as we examine what is moving on.”
Boren said potential candidates should be a good fit athletically and financially in the conference, and it’s ability to further a nation-wide broadcast package with its partners like ESPN, Fox, and a yet-to-be-created Big XII network. But he also said other, wide-ranging factors would be considered in exploring all interested parties.
“We are looking not just for athletic partners or the TV following of a team, but also the academic standards of these schools and institutions and shared values with us,” Boren said. “There are a number of factors that will be considered, and the commissioner will be evaluating as he contacts schools that have expressed interest to us.”
Bowlsby said the league did not have a timetable for expansion, but hinted that incoming teams could be made available as soon as the 2017-18 academic year.
“We are looking for members that will grow over time as we grow, that will bring stability to the conference, and that have a high top end,” Bowlsby said. “They will benefit with an affiliation with the schools currently in our conference.
“They are going to join a family, and it’s important that they strengthen the family and we strengthen them.”
