Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Why Wouldn't the Missouri Tigers Leave?

The Missouri Tigers are the No. 1 soap opera college team in America these days. Please, let me explain.

Missouri has wandering eyes as it ponders what to do with its athletic future. These wandering eyes began last year when the Tigers really wanted an invitation to join the Big Ten Conference. An invitation that obviously never developed.

So after that snub, the Tigers appeared content to remain in the Big 12. Their president was even trying to hold the leaky-boat league together.

But then developed rumors Missouri had new eyes for the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Well, the Tiger’s President resigned from his Big 12 leadership role and the Missouri curators gave him permission to seek conference membership somewhere else.

Now, apparently Missouri is weighing whether its wants to remain in the Big 12 or jump to the SEC. The SEC hasn’t publicly said it will offer Missouri a spot in its conference, but many believe it will eventually come.

My question is why is it taking Missouri so long to determine its fate? Is there more interest from the Missouri side rather than the SEC side? Does the SEC want to invite someone other than Missouri? Could Missouri end up without a conference if the SEC thing doesn’t come through?

Missouri’s wandering eyes does not bode well for the marriage of the Tigers and the Big 12. It doesn’t appear that Missouri wants the Big 12 Conference and is only waiting for someone else to take them.

Missouri hopes it isn’t a lengthy wait.

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