This has been a learning experience for me. I wasn’t old enough in the last realignment to really understand the greater picture.

Do these type of interactions happen often between ADs and conference heads? Does this seem a bit off?

Can we get the RMN team of lawyers to wade in on this? Perahps Smith/Smith and Ebner…

But Joe Walljasper wrote the article.

…Mizzou did everything right and still got blamed for it even though it’s now clear that the fault lies almost entirely with Nebraska. I am shocked, shocked I say, shocked.

…but all I can say is, the sentiment behind the Alden and Deaton e-mails are EXACTLY the sentiment I’d have tried to convey in the same messages. Alden and Deaton did so many things EXACTLY as I hope I’d have done them … which ticks me off all the more that Mizzou became a laughingstock regardless.

…the first comment in the comments thread so perfectly encapsulates a good portion of not only idiot Mizzou fans, but idiot Internet fans in general. The grammar, the amazing conclusion, everything.

From Beebe:

"I request that your public comments express the positives about the Big 12," he wrote. "To the degree you feel you have to placate constituents who would like for you to express interest in another conference; I hope that you can indicate that your institution is a proud member of the Big 12, but that you will monitor the environment."

And

From Deaton:

"If any university President is not open to all information and analysis that may benefit their university, they should not be in their job. Frankly, I do not understand or accept the line of reasoning being suggested. As our meeting demonstrated, every President at the Board meeting was looking out for their University’s interest. They should be applauded for that.

This article contains clear, unequivocal evidence that we were being responsible members of the conference, informing them of pertinent information, yet doing what we needed to do to protect our taxpayer’s interests in attempting to provide the best University their money can pay for.

While I know that certain writers in the conference’s footprint don’t care now that the story is over and it’s not going to inflame their readership any more, I’d love to see a reaction to this new information.