Mizzou Links, 11-1-11

MIZZOUEXPANSIONAPALOOZA™ 2011

I was just thinking to myself the other day, "You know what MIZZOUEXPANSIONAPALOOZA™ 2011 has been missing? Lawsuits!" Well praise the lord. Now this gets really fun.

I'm curious how the timeline works moving forward. It has appeared to me that Missouri is attempting to cover all of its bases -- timeline, etc. -- before having its "We're leaving" press conference, but if WVU truly does end up suing the Big East, and if Missouri's timeline (i.e. whether they leave in time for 2012-13 or have to stick around for another year) is indeed tied to whether WVU can get out of the Big East by next year, then it's going to be a while before we know all the details. Does Mizzou go ahead and announce its departure then, and just figure out the timeline later?

And if the Big East can get their ducks in a row when it comes to their own expansion -- if they can get Boise State, SMU, etc., aboard for next year -- do they become more likely to let WVU (and Pitt and Syracuse) walk early? Or do they want a couple more Big East tournaments at MSG with 'Cuse, WVU, Pitt and the entire gang either way? Lots of questions.

• Deaton Postpones Cancels Postpones Trip
  The Missourian: MU Chancellor Brady Deaton cancels trip to India
  KC Star: Mizzou/SEC: Deaton delays trip

  University of South Carolina (an SEC member) president Harris Pastides was quoted by The State newspaper as saying: "There is a prevailing positive viewpoint about (Missouri) becoming the 14th team."

  So why the continued lack of official confirmation?

  Pastides, over the weekend in an interview with The Daily Gamecock, the school newspaper, said: "Our decision on Missouri or any candidate would depend on not creating a huge problem for the conference they’re leaving."

  Interim Big 12 Commissioner Chuck Neinas last week expressed concern over the possibility of reduced TV revenues for Big 12 teams should West Virginia not be able to compete in the Big 12 in 2012.

  Missouri, the supposition follows, might be leveraged to stay in the Big 12 as a West Virginia place-holder, even though Deaton has said that 2012 was Missouri’s target year in determining any realignment involve Mizzou.

• Culture
  The Missourian: Missouri's bid to join SEC affords opportunity to reflect on cultural identity

  "I like saying that Missouri is the northernmost Southern state, but it’s also the southernmost Northern state," Overby said. "It’s also the easternmost Western state and the westernmost Eastern state."

  So, just how Southern are we, anyway?

  The editors of Southern Living magazine recently named Columbia one of the best Southern college towns. Features editor Jennifer Cole said it received this distinction because the city exhibits Southern charm, and there’s a sense of community that’s intrinsic to Southern towns.

  From Cole's perspective, the Show-Me State "has a split personality, a little bit of an identity crisis."

  The Missourian: Fans describe football culture of SEC
• Suing Always Gets You What You Want
  SB Nation: West Virginia To Sue Big East In Order To Leave For Big 12, According To Report
  CBS Sports: West Virginia filing suit vs. Big East

  In an e-mail to the league’s presidents Monday, Big East commissioner John Marinatto wrote that "we have been advised by West Virginia league council that the University is filing suit against the Big East Conference today (Monday) – presumably to get relief from the withdrawal provision contained in our bylaws."
  
  Marinatto later issued the following statement in response to West Virginia's lawsuit:
  
  "We are disappointed that West Virginia has adopted this strategy and cannot imagine why it believes it does not have to respect and honor the bylaws it agreed to as a member of the Big East. Based on an initial review of the lawsuit, it is clear that the allegations and claims in it are false and inaccurate. Certainly there is nothing in it that would justify WVU’s not fulfilling its obligations. To put it simply, a contract is a contract.
  
  "Once we have reviewed the filing, we will explore all our legal options and will act vigorously to ensure that WVU lives up to all its obligations to our conference. In the meantime, this lawsuit will not interfere in any way with our ongoing efforts to strengthen and expand the Big East."

  College Football Talk: John Marinatto expresses disappointment in WVU's lawsuit
• Oh?
  Miami Herald: If Big East can stay together, TV riches await
• The Big East's Next Move...
  Frank The Tank: The Latest Conference Realignment FAQ

  1.  Is Missouri really leaving for the SEC? – I’m not sure why this keeps getting asked between the accidental "we f**ked up" web posting on the SEC website announcing the addition of Mizzou and the conspicuous absence of any mention of the Tigers in the Big 12′s press release regarding West Virginia, but there are still constant lingering questions about whether the Columbia-based school is going to stay in the Big 12 or receive a last-second Big Ten invite.  As I’ve stated previously, the SEC has turned the normal expansion process for most conferences on its head by making its candidates go through a public kabuki dance, which elongates the time frame for getting a deal completed.  Make no mistake about it: Missouri is heading to the SEC.  It would be the dumbest conference choice in college sports history if Mizzou were to stay in the Big 12.

  Dallas Morning News: Sources: Timeline difficult on SMU's potential move to the Big East
• To Some Degree, Sure...
  USA Today: Is ESPN the force behind realignment?

Mizzou Football Links

Congratulations, Missouri defense! You buckled down and showed some great things versus Texas A&M! Now here's Robert Griffin III. Have fun.

• A&M
  The Missourian: Win at Texas A&M gives Missouri big lift
  Post-Dispatch: MU defense shined in OT win

  "The great thing was there were a lot of guys who made a lot of plays out there," MU defensive coordinator Dave Steckel said.

  The group effort wasn't just on the field.

  To hear Pinkel and several players tell it, the turnaround began with some impassioned words from defensive end Jacquies Smith to the defensive unit at halftime.

  Because Smith seldom speaks in such situations, cornerback Randy Ponder said, his emotions had extra clout.

  "His words were everything," Edwards said. "Really, he told us to man up."

  In turn ...

  "I got in Randy Ponder's face," Edwards said. "I got in (Trey Hobson's) face. I got in E.J. (Gaines') face. I told 'em, 'Hey, he's talking to us.'"

• Baylor
  MUtigers.com: Tigers Continue Texas Two-Step
• Gaines
  The Trib (Dave Matter): Gaines wins Big 12 weekly defensive honor
  Post-Dispatch: Mizzou's Gaines named Big 12 defensive player of the week
• TLR
  The Trib: Pinkel praises La Russa
• NFL
  The Trib: Former Tigers in the NFL

Other Football Links

• Self-Share
  SB Nation: The Numerical, Week 9: 12 Quarterbacks Equal One Case Keenum

  3: Points scored by Texas A&M in the final eight drives of their 38-31, overtime loss to Missouri. The Aggies watched a third double-digit halftime lead turn into a loss on Saturday, not necessarily because they went into a shell offensively, but because they made too many mistakes (three turnovers), and Missouri's defense started making plays. Mizzou cornerbacks E.J. Gaines and Randy Ponder combined to defense six passes (five passes broken up, one interception), four after halftime, defensive end Jacquies Smith stripped quarterback Ryan Tannehill as the Aggies were driving for a game-winning field goal attempt, and tackle Dominique Hamilton batted down a Tannehill pass on fourth-and-ballgame in overtime.

• Bob Barry, Sr.
  KBIA Sports Extra: Paying it forward: A tribute to broadcaster Bob Barry Sr.
  

Mizzou Basketball Links

• MUtigers.com: Message from Frank Haith
• One State, One Spirit
  MUtigers.com: Restoring Joy to Joplin
  MUtigers.com: Frank Haith's Post-Game Reactions
  The Missourian: PHOTO GALLERY: Missouri, MSSU complete in One State, One Spirit Classic
• Recruiting
  The Missourian: Missouri basketball recruit Aaron Scales reverses verbal commitment

Other Basketball Links

• Big 12
  SI.com (Seth Davis): Scott Drew's Baylor Bears looking to exceed preseason expectations
  

Other Mizzou Links

• Mizzou Wrestling
  MUtigers.com: Bradley Takes First at Open
• Mizzou Volleyball
  MUtigers.com: Volleyball Looks For Win at Kansas
• Mizzou Soccer
  MUtigers.com: Three Tigers Earn All-Big 12 Honors

Other

• USMNT
  Daily Soccer Fix: A tricky situation involving Jurgen Klinsmann and Juan Agudelo