WASHINGTON – During a press conference this morning, U.S. senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts of Kansas urged all members of the Big 12 conference to hang tight. “The Big 12 is a strong and vibrant conference with a bright future,” Brownback said. “The Big 12 should stay together to stay strong and we encourage our friends in Nebraska to keep the legacy of the Big 8 alive and stay in the Big 12.” They said they had talked to Nebraska government and university officials about staying in the conference. Brownback said they have been concentrating on Nebraska because that school is seen as the key in whether the conference stays together. The University of Nebraska regents meet Friday. There are reports that Nebraska and Missouri will bolt to the Big 10 because they aren’t happy with the Texas universities’ control of the Big 12 leadership. In turn, the six southern members of the Big 12 in Texas and Oklahoma would likely join the PAC-10. A worst case scenario would leave Kansas University, Kansas State and the remaining Big 12 schools high and dry, making it difficult for them to snag bowl bids and TV money. Brownback and Roberts said that case, they expect KU and K-State to be a package deal for another conference and are against the two schools cutting their own deals.
Wednesday, June 8, 1 p.m
