Today, Tommy Tuberville was reprimanded by the Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe for his comments he made during an interview with Rivals Radio. The Big 12 issued a press release on it's website, in which the first paragraph reads:
The Big 12 Conference has announced a public reprimand of Texas Tech University head football coach Tommy Tuberville for recent statements that were a violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship, prohibiting public criticism of members. - Big 12 Sports.com
This paragraph reaffirms what all college football fans know - the Big 12 will continue to show its egregious incompetence, regardless of who remains in the conference.
Upon close examination of Tuberville's comments, what did he say that was public criticism of its members? Coach T simply pointed out that in other conferences the teams get equal money. In his example, he pointed out that perennial doormat Vanderbilt gets the same TV money as an upper echelon program like Florida. He also pointed out this financial disparity gave some teams more influence than others when it comes to conference decisions. At no time did Tuberville criticize any member institution of of the Big 12.
More importantly, Tuberville was "dead on balls" accurate!!
Commissioner Beebe continues to drop the ball on things. Does he not realize that it was this horrible TV deal that lead to Nebraska and Colorado leaving? By extending the deal to benefit Texas, doesn't he realize that in two to three years Texas can attempt to leave again - expecting him to raise the deal even more? And should Texas try re-negotiate, what's to stop Oklahoma and/or Texas A&M from joining the football-rabid SEC?
To bottom line it, the commissioner paid too much for an already overpriced product. No one is going to fill the stands for Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri... at least for college football.
