Report: Beebe out as commissioner of Big 12

With schools jumping from the conference like fleas from a wet dog, The Kansas City Star is reporting late Wednesday night that embattled Big 12 commissioner, Dan Beebe, is working on an agreement to step down. What impact this will have for schools the likes of K-State in regards to realignment still remains to be seen.

Beebe’s resignation, due in large part to the displeasure voiced by the nine other conference schools not named Texas, was a foregone conclusion once it became clear that a change at the top was necessary. Growing concerns over the cavernous financial discrepancy and obvious recruiting advantages granted to the University of Texas- brought about by their newly launched Longhorn Network in conjunction with ESPN- accelerated the move. Beebe signed off on the agreement last year, and among others is the biggest reason Texas A&M is leaving for seemingly greener pastures in the SEC. Oklahoma  forced the conference’s hand by publicly announcing they would stay put if Beebe was shown the door. Nebraska and Colorado have also departed under Beebe’s watch. Former Big 8 (remember that?) commissioner Chuck Neinas is rumored to replace Beebe.

Even though the Pac 12 announced yesterday that they are currently standing pat as the FBS deck continues to shuffle, leaving Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Texas Tech to return to their current home, winds of change are definitely in the air. Syracuse and Pittsburgh, largely viewed as “Basketball schools”, recent jump from the Big East to the ACC is all the proof we need that football money rules the day, and is all the evidence we need to know why Kansas and Kansas State in particular are going to fight for scraps once their big brothers on the gridiron leave.