Deaton indicates Mizzou departure imminent but complex
Posted: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 11:15 am
Despite no clear, or at least no publicized, action regarding Mizzou's athletics affiliation coming out of the Big 12 Board of Directors meeting on Monday in Dallas, MU chancellor Brady Deaton left little doubt Tuesday morning that change is imminent.During his regularly scheduled monthly radio appearance on KFRU in Columbia, Deaton said he spent most of that meeting outside the room and abstained from voting and that there is no fluidity in MU's strategy now as it appears bound for the Southeastern Conference."There has been a coalescing of view on what is best for the University of Missouri longer-term, and that's really driving where we're heading right now," said Deaton, who earlier said, "We've reached a firmness in where we are headed, where we want to analyze and focus our attention."Asked by host David Lile if he could assess a time frame on a resolution, Deaton said, "Our hopes were days, possibly a week or two. We're hoping the sooner the better."While MU's intent is rather clear, paving the way is another matter at play from multiple angles.Among other key issues likely requiring negotiation would be departure fees and the timetable:Whether it's merely posturing for negotiating purposes or not, the Big 12 has indicated it wants MU to stay for 2012 because of criteria it needs to meet for inventory for its football television contracts.The Big 12 seems to have targeted one or more Big East schools as potential replacements and may look to go back to 12 if MU becomes the fourth school to leave in just over a year, but the Big East has indicated through its actions with Pittsburgh and Syracuse that it would hold members to a 27-month departure time frame.The implications of legal snares in turn could leave the SEC delaying an acceptance of a MU application until all such matters are reconciled."Involved in these steps that are being taken at this point are two conferences, two boards of directors, two sets of legal counsel, two sets of financial analyses, or three, if you count the University separate from the Big 12, and then you have a commissioner in whichever conference you're dealing with," he said. "They're complex issues, and we have to look at a wide range of issues affecting our student-athletes, travel, financial issues, future security, stability of the conference."And what we're trying to do in other areas such as developing private development funds depends on the environment you're setting within the institution. And so these issues, such as stability, take on very, very important long-term meaning, and we're trying to look ahead at where we're going as a University and where the Big 12 is going, where the SEC is going and where the world of sports entertainment is going, for that matter."And we're analyzing each of those issues very carefully. These are not decisions that can just be made at the press of a button."And I know I've said this before, but my point here, I think for the public and alums to hopefully understand is, we are not delaying anything beyond what has to be delayed to make the right decision for the University of Missouri. And we're absolutely committed to that."Still, Deaton said Mizzou was working on just such issues even as he spoke."There's a significant amount going on at every moment, from very early in the morning," said Deaton, who greeted reporters waiting for him after the show but left in a hurry and essentially declined further comment. "I've already been on the phone earlier this morning with critical individuals in the analysis with new information coming forward, with commitments to continue the discussion later in the day, and hopefully have some of them resolved even by the end of this day."Asked about his words Monday night at Columbia Regional Airport indicating a farewell to the Big 12 ("I wish them the best, and all of that," he told KOMU TV),Even Deaton's clarification pointed to MU being outside the group."I have no doubt that I said just that," he said. "As I'm leaving an airport after a long, long day, thinking of the fact that I was actually outside the principle meeting of the Big 12 the last several hours that I was in Dallas because they were undertaking business that I needed to step away from ... it's very easy to get into a `they' kind of comment."Clearly, we will be part of the Big 12 as long as we remain as a competitor within the Big 12."Of the meeting, he added: "So while it's a bit cool because everyone understands that there's only certain things that I can say in this environment, it's cool but definitely professional and friendly in that respect."Deaton said a move to the SEC would not be just about money, which an MU analysis leaked to The Associated Press said would mean at least $2 million more a year and potentially up to $12 million more annually than the $17.16 it projects to make in the Big 12 next year."Let me say, a lot of people point to the fact that this is just about money. That could not be, I don't want to say farther from the truth, (but) that simply is not the case," he said. "As we are looking at alternatives here, the financial considerations are not the principle considerations."Looking to long-term stability, for an environment for the University of Missouri to prosper, for our student-athletes to reach their highest, most effective level of competitiveness, with clarity of where we're going as a University, are really the most important overriding factors that we're looking at."Deaton, who resigned as chairman of the Big 12 board earlier this month, said he understands the feelings of those who might be torn, alluding to a head vs. heart question posed in a column by Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Joe Walljasper."Let me just say, I was very touched by that statement, because I think it does reflect a lot of what we're seeing across the state," he said. "There's a deep warmth for the history of this tradition of playing in the Big Six, the Big Eight and now the Big 12. ..."We've been a member of this conference from its beginning. And so changing something like that is significant, and emotional attachment by a lot of people is very real. We listen to that very carefully."The world of course is changing very, very drastically, as the University of Missouri has changed, and coming to terms with those changes is very much a part of what we're all about."And as often is the case, our head has to outweigh our heart in achieving some of the objectives, because the heart won't necessarily in this case lead to where the University is going and needs to be going."Asked if a decision on conference alignment would be part of his legacy, Deaton said: "I've thought of the importance of it in terms of the longterm self-awareness and public perception of the university, yes, but my legacy, I hope, will be the academic excellence of the University of Missouri. That's what I've devoted my entire career to, and that goes far beyond this issue that we're dealing with today."He went on to call the faculty of MU "the pride and joy and, literally, the future of this state and nation."As for the when the future of MU's athletics affiliation will literally be known, Deaton declined Lile's invitation to announce it during the show, albeit with a slight slip."I'd love to come back, as soon as we annou. ..."He caught himself before completing the word and added, "as soon as we've reached conclusion on this, I'd love to be back here with you."Asked if he would feel relieved when the process is behind, Deaton said:"We will feel a new surge of excitement about the future irrespective of the direction of the decisions, and we will do that with conviction, with support and with a sure sense that we have made a decision that's in the best interest of the University of Missouri."Lile also asked Deaton about the status of men's basketball coach Frank Haith, who was accused by a University of Miami booster of condoning a $10,000 payment to a player."I have been in touch with (NCAA president) Mark Emmert on more than one occasion regarding this matter, and we're fully participating, cooperating with the NCAA ... and we're also pledged to say no more than that at this time."Read more:
Deaton indicates Mizzou departure imminent but complex
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