College Confidential

Nebraska regents preparing to vote on move to Big Ten

Nebraska regents have gone into executive session to discuss _ and, presumably, vote _ on conference realignment at today’s meeting in Lincoln, Neb. The motion to consider a move to the Big Ten was moved to the top of today’s agenda at the 1 p.m. meeting and the topic was thrown open to public discussion. No one voiced an opinion. At that point, the meeting went into executive session, where it stands currently.

The meeting is being streamed on the school’s website.

Nebraska regents are expected to vote to accept membership in the Big Ten, which would make it the second school in two days to break away from the Big 12. Colorado officials accepted an invitation Thursday to join the Pac-10.

If Nebraska officials vote to change conferences, as expected, the Big 12 will be down to 10 members. And there is a proposal on the table from the Pac-10 to add five additional Big 12 schools _ Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State _ that could reduce the number of Big 12 members to five in the near future.

Colorado’s membership agreement with the Pac-10 takes effect in 2012. A similar time frame is expected for Nebraska’s apparent move to the Big Ten.

_ Jimmy Burch

Boise State to join Mountain West

The Mountain West Conference announced today that Boise State will join the league in July 2011.
"We are pleased and excited to welcome Boise State University to the Mountain West Conference,” MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson said in a released statement. "Since our inception just 11 short years ago, the Mountain West has experienced tremendous success, and the addition of Boise State will further enhance that strength.  The MWC continues to strategize regarding potential membership scenarios and bringing Boise State into the Conference is an important part of that evolution.”
The MWC began in 1998 with eight schools. TCU joined in 2005.
“The invitation to join the Mountain West Conference reflects the excellence that Boise State University has demonstrated academically and athletically,” Boise State President Robert Kustra said in the league statement. "It will be a privilege to compete and partner with such a successful group of member institutions.  This move is in the best interests of Boise State’s future, and the university is excited to be part of one of the nation’s most outstanding conferences.”

The Boise State and TCU football teams have met the last two years in postseason bowl games, including the BCS Fiesta Bowl in January, which the Broncos won 17-10.

OU athletic director trying to keep Big 12 together

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione is working to keep the Big 12 together, The Oklahoman reports.

The key is Texas, he says.  If the Longhorns declare their intention to stay, all 10 remaining members (assuming Nebraska makes the decision today to leave, would probably stay, and the league could still flourish.

Castiglione told the Tulsa World he wants OU to stay tied with Texas in any conference realignment.

The Nebraska regents meet at 1 p.m. today in Lincoln, and will come with plenty of questions on  the pros and cons of joining the Big Ten. The Omaha World-Herald will host a live, unmoderated chat all today on the development, beginning at 10 a.m.

'Worst day in Kansas City sports history?'

The epicenter of the college conference earthquake may well be Kansas City.

The metro area that straddles two states and has hosted Final Fours and most recently Big 12 basketball tournaments is  now looking at "Mountain West obscurity," according to commentary by Sam Mellinger of The Kansas City Star.

He's not much into Fort Worth.

"Goodbye, BCS; hello, Armed Forces Bowl."

Reports: Tech says Tech, Texas, A&M will stick together, but are Texas, A&M looking at Big Ten?

A high-ranking Texas Tech official confirmed Wednesday to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal that when Nebraska leaves the Big 12 Conference this week, so too will Texas Tech, Texas and Texas A&M,

The official said those three Texas universities have vowed to stick together through any major conference upheaval.

The University of Texas, along with Tech and A&M, should soon be leaving the conference to join the Pacific-10 Conference, according to the source.

Colorado on Thursday accepted an invitation to join the Pacific-10.

Then comes this report from KCTV in Kansas City: High-level sources have told the television Texas and Texas A&M will petition the Big Ten for membership and Oklahoma is planning to petition the Southeastern Conference for membership. Check that report here.

TMZ Sports reported Oklahoma State is likely to follow Colorado to the Pac-10.

The Austin American-Statesman reports that Texas A&M regent Gene Stallings says it is conceivable that Texas and Texas A&M could go to different conference, and that the meeting Thursday between Texas and Texas A&M official did not have representatives from Baylor or Texas Tech.

There have been reports that Texas A&M would rather look to the SEC, and there's this Thursday from SI.com:

A source confirmed to SI.com late Wednesday that emissaries from the SEC initiated discussions with Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne months ago, and while the SEC is just one of several potential options for the Aggies, it remains an option heading into Thursday's meeting between Texas A&M and Texas officials. At the meeting, power brokers from both schools will discuss a last-ditch effort to save the Big 12, even if Nebraska's Board of Regents votes Friday to leave for the Big Ten. "It's on life support," the source said of the Big 12. "But people have come off life support before."

Seven Frogs named to All-Tournament team

Taylor Featherston was named the Fort Worth regional MVP after batting .583, with a double, two triples, a home run, and eight RBI. Jerome Pena, Jantzen Witte, Aaron Schultz, Joe Weik, Jason Coats and Steven Maxwell were all named to the all-tournament team. Maxwell got the victory in the regional-clinching game over Baylor Sunday. The junior held the Bears to three hits in eight innings with 10 strikeouts. 

TCU, Texas set to tussle again

TCU will get a rematch with Texas. The Horned Frogs defeated Baylor 9-0 Sunday night to advance to their second consecutive super regional against the Longhorns in Austin next weekend. Texas defeated TCU last June in the Frogs' first super regional appearance. The Longhorns won the best-of-three series 2-1.

TCU faces Baylor for Super shot

TCU meets Baylor at 7 tonight for a chance to advance to the super regional. Baylor defeated Arizona 4-2 earlier Sunday to stay alive in the Fort Worth regional. TCU and Baylor split two games this season. The Bears handed the Horned Frogs their worst loss of the season (14-4) April 28 in Waco. The previous night TCU rallied to win 5-4 in 10 innings at Lupton Stadium.

Baylor will start right-hander Craig Fritsch (2-3, 3.50 ERA) against Steven Maxwell (10-1, 2.73).

TCU takes opener 16-3 against Lamar

TCU opened the Fort Worth regional with a 16-3 victory over Lamar Friday night at Lupton Stadium. The Frogs advance to play Arizona at 7 p.m. Saturday.

Frogs going with Winkler Friday

TCU right-hander Kyle Winkler (10-1) will start against Lamar in the Horned Frogs’ opener at 7 p.m. Friday in the Fort Worthregional at Lupton Stadium. Baylor meets Arizona at 2 p.m. Friday to open the tournament.

Winkler, a sophomore, had two starts in the postseason in 2009. Freshman left-hander Matt Purke (12-0) has been the Frogs’ Friday night starter since March 26, but TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said pending matchups against Baylor or Arizona, and Winkler’s postseason experience, dictated the rotation change. Steven Maxwell (10-1), the Mountain West pitcher of the year, could throw Saturday instead of Sunday depending on the opponent. All three pitchers will be throwing on at least a week’s rest.

Senior right-hander Matison Smith will pitch for the Cardinals (35-24). Smith (10-3) has a 4.54 ERA in 113 innings with 62 strikeouts.

“I really don’t make a distinction between those three guys,” Schlossnagle said of his starters. “We feel like we could roll any one of them on any day and have a chance to win.”

-- Stefan Stevenson