Boone Pickens has more to say

[RSSBot]

Earlier this week, the Austin American-Statesman tracked down Boone Pickens and captured a few of his thoughts (before the era of "unequivocal commitments, of course) about a few teams around the league, as well as TCU, a team whose name constantly comes up with any talk of Big 12 expansion.

Pickens, if you weren't already aware, is Oklahoma State's billionaire booster who's given more than $400 million to the university. As such, he's allowed to say whatever he wants. And often, his statements are entertaining.

A few selections from earlier in the week:

"I don't know what Missouri's gonna do. You can't tell about them ... I don't have to have 'em."

"What's Nebraska got to offer? They have 700,000 households. So, they don't bring any big audience to the market." (Save your "We're a national brand!" arguments, Nebraska fans. I agree with you, not Pickens, in this case.)

"TCU's got a 35,000-seat stadium and they can't even fill it."

"Hell no, they weren't serious," he said of the Aggies' flirtations with the SEC. "The Aggies would die if their athletic department said we're going to the SEC and Texas is going to the Pac-10."

"I have a strong streak of loyalty, and that's the way I feel about Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State. I don't want to go off and leave them, either. I don't care about Missouri," he said, presumably half-joking.

Pickens had more to say yesterday on The Bottom Line, a show on ESPN Radio in Austin.

<span><span> It went just like I wanted it to. I wasn't keen about hooking up with the Pac-10. I'm kind of glad to get rid of Nebraska and Colorado. I wouldn't say it was a real smart move on Colorado's part.​

He expressed his pleasure at the Big 12 sticking together and looked forward to a division-less league, subjecting everyone to dates Texas and Oklahoma every season. And as for Missouri? Pickens is taking the high road, even if he's not their biggest fan.

If Missouri signs up, says they're on board, that's fine with me. I don't carry grudges. I think Missouri probably learned a lesson. They'll be a good Big 12 minus-two school.​

Like most commentary, the fans will only remember the negative. Remember those new rivalries from yesterday?

Oklahoma State doesn't travel to Lincoln this season, but hosts the Huskers on Oct. 23. A&M fans insistent on the Aggies' move to the SEC won't get a chance to let the Cowboys hear it this year, either. The two teams play in Stillwater on Sept. 30. Colorado and Oklahoma State can only meet in the Big 12 title game.

Just a guess: Pickens comments will be long forgotten by the time Oklahoma State makes it back to College Station, and certainly Lincoln if the Huskers finalize their hopes to leave the Big 12 before the 2011 season.

More...

 

[leftybuff]

Voice from the grave? I thought he died...oh wait, that was Jimmy Dean, I have a hard time keeping track of my rich hicks, they all run together after a while.

 

[JJBuff]

Can someone please explain to me how this is a bad deal for CU? The only negative opinions about our move to the PAC seem to be coming from the old big 12 south members. Sour grapes?

 

[Lt.Col.FrankSlade]

"I wouldn't say it was a real smart move on Colorado's part."

But, I suppose he thinks it was a smart move to give Texas, OU, and A&M everything they wanted just go keep the remaining pieces of the Texas league together.

 

[Lt.Col.FrankSlade]

Can someone please explain to me how this is a bad deal for CU? The only negative opinions about our move to the PAC seem to be coming from the old big 12 south members. Sour grapes?

It will be a more difficult conference for Colorado to compete in. No more Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas State, etc. games.

And it is questionable at this time how financially lucrative the new conference will be for Colorado.

 

[Mick Ronson]

i also think in Texas, OK and the KC area they tend to think CU is like their public schools where the vast majority of students are from that state....instead of just about half. and that a big part of that half are from California. and, outside Austin maybe i doubt any of those places have any idea how much of the main population centers in Colorado have transplants in and out. they assume a lot more "native" support than CU gets.

additionally, most of what "them folks" know about CO is being in DIA and Summit County.

 

[JJBuff]

It will be a more difficult conference for Colorado to compete in. No more Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas State, etc. games.

And it is questionable at this time how financially lucrative the new conference will be for Colorado.

We'll have to see about how good the PAC teams are. U of A, ASU, WSU, OSU, UCLA, UW are not currently powerhouses. Good yes, but hardly exceptional.

As for the money, how much would we have gotten in the new TV deal had we stayed in the big 12? I am hearing it would still be less than the anticipated PAC tv deal.

Also, there has been talk for years about moving to the PAC and until now none of the reasons were really about money. It was about CU being isolated culturally in the big 12. I fail to see how the current move is anything but good for CU.

 

[buff4bcs1985]

"I wouldn't say it was a real smart move on Colorado's part."

But, I suppose he thinks it was a smart move to give Texas, OU, and A&M everything they wanted just go keep the remaining pieces of the Texas league together.

he's just gonna supplement the difference for the AD for OSU