goings-on at other football programs ...

[tmcats]

College Sports Only
@CollegeSportsO
No school's athletic department has been gutted like Oregon State:

- No longer power conference school

- Football: Lost HC Jonathan Smith, starting QB DJ Uiagalelei, backup QB Aidan Chiles, star RB Damien Martinez, star WR Silas Bolden

- Men's basketball: 4 of 5 starters transferred

- Women's basketball: entire starting 5 transferred after trip to Elite 8

Pour one out for Benny the Beaver.

This could've easily been K-State just a few years ago.

no question! and to carry that a step further, as we move closer and closer to rationalization of what's left, this year is critical to k-state's future. nothing would help more than another b12 championship and some success in the cfp to ensure k-state's future. we should be all in on football sending the necessary nil that direction. for all the torment and angst, larger picture, basketball simply doesn't matter at this school.

[NatCat2]

Couldn’t agree more TM. I’m sure it’s hard for some of us older fans who remember when basketball was all we had because we were really good at it and football was terrible. But in today’s world football is the key to relevancy. The realignment stuff isn’t done so we need to build our football brand to stay relevant. This year is critical, we must win and get into the playoffs.

[stlcatfan]

In this rapidly changing environment, we are fortunate to have the right people in place to guide us into the future, from AD Taylor to Coach Klieman and Coach Tang (Yes, basketball is still relevant, albeit not as much as football).

Right now, it seems there are three future scenarios staring at us.
1) The Big Ten and SEC grab the top ACC schools and then go their own way, leaving everyone else behind;
2) The Big Ten and SEC expand even more and grab up a few more Big 12 schools (which could include us);
3) The Big 12 continues to be assertive under Yormark's leadership and grabs the best remaining ACC schools (and maybe a couple West Coast schools) to form a coast-to-coast conference with a high number of solid brands that are too valuable to be left out, thereby making the Big 12 relevant in the brave new world of college sports.

[spot2180]

In this rapidly changing environment, we are fortunate to have the right people in place to guide us into the future, from AD Taylor to Coach Klieman and Coach Tang (Yes, basketball is still relevant, albeit not as much as football).

Right now, it seems there are three future scenarios staring at us.
1) The Big Ten and SEC grab the top ACC schools and then go their own way, leaving everyone else behind;
2) The Big Ten and SEC expand even more and grab up a few more Big 12 schools (which could include us);
3) The Big 12 continues to be assertive under Yormark's leadership and grabs the best remaining ACC schools (and maybe a couple West Coast schools) to form a coast-to-coast conference with a high number of solid brands that are too valuable to be left out, thereby making the Big 12 relevant in the brave new world of college sports.

Additions to your #3:
3a) I think what you said is likely how it will wash out. What I think we will also see is an active push not to schedule any games between the P2 schools and the Big12, because they stand a chance of being beaten by them. Such scheduling will expose them.

3b) With the transfer portal and what it is becoming, you will have rosters in P2 that will be a real herding cats situation. The kids chasing NIL money have no loyalties to the coaches and the schools paying them. Too many egos to get along. I think the portal will negatively affect the P2 schools more than any other conference. Saban was complaining about something he was already using and he had a definite advantage. That's all gone. He'd rather get out being 'the best coach' while he can, but anyone who has coached and struggled knows that Saban was great because it is about the Jimmys and the Joes. Now those Jimmys and Joes could become nightmares for those coaches and teams.

3c) I've seen more than one podcast questioning why Yormark is saying this or that. He isn't stupid. I think he has a plan, and he is MOTIVATED to make the Big12 successful and a part of the conversation going forward. He's gonna bluff once in a while as he holds his cards close to the vest. He's the guy you shouldn't underestimate if you are the P2. Just my take on him. He likes the challenge.

[WildcatEngineer]

Samantha Steele Ponder
@samponder
I got to attend my friend Chris Mortensen’s funeral in Arkansas today. It was emotional, of course… a whole, full life summed up in just a couple hours. But I was struck by a few things:

1) No one mentioned a single TV report he ever made. He was one of the best in his whole industry, gave his whole working life to ESPN, but not one person brought up his actual work, only the way he treated people while he was doing it.

2) Every single person mentioned the way he talked about his family while he was at work… the way he esteemed his wife, Micki and how proud he was of Alex.

3) He was very matter of fact about his faith, but never pushy. He would ask you how your faith was but never judged, and never made you feel ashamed for where you were at. He just wanted to talk about it because it mattered to him.

4) He was hilarious. The only person he made fun of more than you was himself.

Singing Great is Thy Faithfulness with his friends, family and colleagues is something I will treasure until it’s my time to go too. You did well, Mort.
I thought this was a lovely tribute to a good man.

[Tbonespop]

Samantha Steele Ponder
@samponder
I got to attend my friend Chris Mortensen’s funeral in Arkansas today. It was emotional, of course… a whole, full life summed up in just a couple hours. But I was struck by a few things:

1) No one mentioned a single TV report he ever made. He was one of the best in his whole industry, gave his whole working life to ESPN, but not one person brought up his actual work, only the way he treated people while he was doing it.

2) Every single person mentioned the way he talked about his family while he was at work… the way he esteemed his wife, Micki and how proud he was of Alex.

3) He was very matter of fact about his faith, but never pushy. He would ask you how your faith was but never judged, and never made you feel ashamed for where you were at. He just wanted to talk about it because it mattered to him.

4) He was hilarious. The only person he made fun of more than you was himself.

Singing Great is Thy Faithfulness with his friends, family and colleagues is something I will treasure until it’s my time to go too. You did well, Mort.
I thought this was a lovely tribute to a good man.

That Tribute written by Sam Ponder made me self-reflect on what is really important in life. Makes me want to strive to be more like Mort.

[tmcats]

the last time nebraska ended the season ranked (at #25 no less) was 2013. that's a pretty amazing fact for me.

[spot2180]

the last time nebraska ended the season ranked (at #25 no less) was 2013. that's a pretty amazing fact for me.

Not to mention, funny!!

There are great similarities between A&M and the Nubbers and their boosters and fans.

[tmcats]

the last time nebraska ended the season ranked (at #25 no less) was 2013. that's a pretty amazing fact for me.

Not to mention, funny!!

There are great similarities between A&M and the Nubbers and their boosters and fans.

except aTm never sniffed the greatness that was devaney and osborne's nebraska.

[WildcatEngineer]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-footb ... -solution/

Dennis Dodds is probably the NCAA P4 messenger of what is coming, "revenue sharing". I have my doubts because Universities like Texas would never share anything.

Time will tell