Alejandro Avila
Videos by OutKick
When it comes to the good, the bad and the ugly in the SEC transfer news involving Texas and Oklahoma, Big XII Commissioner Bob Bowlsby’s fervor has turned things from “bad” to “ugly” after calling out ESPN as a saboteur in the ordeal.
On Wednesday it was announced that the Big XII submitted a “cease and desist” order to ESPN based on the following, according to Yahoo Sports.
“All actions that may harm the conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big XII Conference’s existing members or any NCAA conference regarding the Big XII conference’s members, possible conference realignment or potential financial incentive or outcomes related to possible conference realignment.”
ESPN released their response the following day, reported by Nicole Auerbach, and negated the Big XII’s allegations.
“The accusations you have made are entirely without merit. Apart from a single vague allegation that ESPN has been ‘actively engaged in discussions with at least one other’ unnamed conference, which ESPN disputes, your letter consists entirely of unsubstantiated speculation and legal conclusions. To be clear, ESPN has engaged in no wrongful conduct and, thus, there is nothing to ‘cease and desist.’
“We trust this will put the matter to rest.”
After a weekend of last-second efforts from Bowlsby to retain both departing Big XII programs, the commissioner’s shifting of the narrative (or blame) to the AAC, joining ESPN as a tandem attempting to take down the Big XII, continues to produce a fiery exit for OU and UT.
As reported by OutKick’s Clint Lamb, the Big XII’s official response claimed “all eight of those remaining members are being targeted by the American Athletic Conference, also known as the AAC.”
There has been no response issued by Bob Bowlsby since ESPN’s note. Stay on top of the SEC-Big XII news with OutKick VIP.
This is what dying on the vine looks like.
Not that I’m a friend of the Four Letter Network, telling the Four Letter Network not to communicate with their institutions is silly.
Normally I’d agree but espn has a direct financial stake in the SEC. They’re borderline colluding here, so it’s not good. When they’re sticking their nose in on college football conference decisions that will benefit their network directly they’re crossing a line. This whole thing has been greasy from the beginning. Not a good look for ESPN, Texas, OU or the SEC.
ESPN is the neighborhood bully. It can / will do whatever it damn pleases to further its objective of maximum revenues … knowing that IT CAN!