The first Big 12 championship game was between Texas and Nebraska and was a parallel to the power struggle to come within the conference. Texas were underdogs coming into the game and Nebraska was continuing their dynasty of the late 1990s. Late in the fourth quarter, Texas converted a 4th and 1 by throwing the ball off a play-action, and went on to win the game. It paralleled things to come in that Texas took the reigns of the Big 12 and has controlled the majority of how the Big 12 operates.
So this whole rivalry came full circle last season when the two teams met in the Big 12 title game, with Nebraska being the underdog and Texas continuing its dominance. It was a complete role reversal from 1996, but this time Texas won on a controversial clock management call, which allowed Texas to kick a field goal and advance to the National Championship game.
With the combination of money and spite, it was a pretty easy decision for Nebraska to bolt. So, what does that say about money in college athletics? Simply, it is the most important thing. Money is what keeps this entertainment business running, and don’t think sports is anything more than entertainment. The business savvy schools make the rules, and smaller ones fall in line because it is required.
With the conference realignment, Nebraska was tired of falling into line. So it took some money and will now look for a place at the big boy table in the Big Ten Conference.
Article comments
1 - daigoro1715
I think you need to hone your research skills and your editor needs to hone is title writing skills (the NCAA is not a conference). Descibing Nebraska's move to the Big 10 as a decision based on money and an acrimonious relationship with Texas may be icing on the cake, but the spongy middle of the cake is more revealing of the truth. Bob Devaney always wanted Nebraska to move to the Big 10 and Nebraska has been making the moves toward becoming a school known for their academic research. The potential dissolution of the Big 12 (stoked by Missouri and propagated by Texas negotiations with the Pac 10) stimulated Nebraska's discussions with the Big 10. This article is nothing more than a poorly thought out opinion that has no basis in fact.