NashBuff
CSU Knob-Slobberer
The Big 12 Conference discussed Colorado's exit fee in a meeting Monday, but the issue remains unresolved as a target date to join the Pac-10 next year approaches.
The Pac-10, which has accepted Colorado beginning with the 2012 football season, wants to begin scheduling for 2011 by Oct. 15. In order for CU to join next year, it must negotiate an exit fee that would make it economically feasible to leave the Big 12 a year early. The current fee believed to be on the table is about $9 million, depending on variables ranging from TV appearances to a bowl game.
"We're waiting and seeing," Colorado president Bruce Benson said.
All three parties — CU, the Big 12 and the Pac-10 — would like the Buffs to join the Pac-10 next year, but unless they get help from the Big 12 on lowering the exit fee, CU will likely stay until 2012.
Benson is not panicking.
"I've negotiated deals all my life," he said. "Let's not get in a rush."
The Big 12 lost Nebraska to the Big Ten for next season and does not want to schedule an 11-team conference. The Pac-10 has announced it will be called the Pac-12 once CU joins. It has Utah of the Mountain West Conference joining next year as its 11th member and wants to have a conference title game when it has 12 members.
Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn declined to say what exit fee the school would accept, but he remains hopeful the Buffaloes will be a Pac-10 member by next season.
CU chancellor Phil DiStefano is in discussions with Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott to resolve the issue.
"I've got a lot of confidence that everybody will get the matter resolved," Bohn said. "It means a lot to us and the two commissioners in both conferences."
Beebe and DiStefano declined comment.
Read more: Buffs working on time of Big 12 departure - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_15945651#ixzz0yCDD7sig
The Pac-10, which has accepted Colorado beginning with the 2012 football season, wants to begin scheduling for 2011 by Oct. 15. In order for CU to join next year, it must negotiate an exit fee that would make it economically feasible to leave the Big 12 a year early. The current fee believed to be on the table is about $9 million, depending on variables ranging from TV appearances to a bowl game.
"We're waiting and seeing," Colorado president Bruce Benson said.
All three parties — CU, the Big 12 and the Pac-10 — would like the Buffs to join the Pac-10 next year, but unless they get help from the Big 12 on lowering the exit fee, CU will likely stay until 2012.
Benson is not panicking.
"I've negotiated deals all my life," he said. "Let's not get in a rush."
The Big 12 lost Nebraska to the Big Ten for next season and does not want to schedule an 11-team conference. The Pac-10 has announced it will be called the Pac-12 once CU joins. It has Utah of the Mountain West Conference joining next year as its 11th member and wants to have a conference title game when it has 12 members.
Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn declined to say what exit fee the school would accept, but he remains hopeful the Buffaloes will be a Pac-10 member by next season.
CU chancellor Phil DiStefano is in discussions with Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott to resolve the issue.
"I've got a lot of confidence that everybody will get the matter resolved," Bohn said. "It means a lot to us and the two commissioners in both conferences."
Beebe and DiStefano declined comment.
Read more: Buffs working on time of Big 12 departure - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_15945651#ixzz0yCDD7sig
