The Quote That Will Eventually Haunt David Boren When The Big 12 Implodes

OU president David Boren talked for a long (long) time on Monday about why the Big 12 is not expanding. He said “because there were no good teams to add” about 100 different ways during the press conference, but then he said something he will likely regret saying at some point.

He was talking about the future of the 10 teams in the volatile Big 12.

“What I heard over the last 24 hours as our colleagues spoke very candidly among ourselves was the strongest expression of unity and cohesion and commitment to the conference that I’ve ever heard,” said Boren.

This could consist of three presidents saying, “you know, this conference isn’t that bad” and it would probably technically be the “strongest expression of unity and cohesion and commitment to the conference” that Boren has ever heard. But that’s neither here nor there. On to the crown jewel quote.

“In my opinion, there’s not a single school in this conference that is looking to go elsewhere. We are committed to each other. We’re committed to the Big 12 Conference. We’re committed to staying in the Big 12 Conference and making it as strong as possible.”

That one is probably going to sting in the future when Texas (or OU) bails for somewhere else, isn’t it? He also talked about the Big 12’s grant of rights which essentially legally binds teams to the conference by stating that they would have to give their TV money back to the Big 12 if they move to a different conference.

“So I just want to underline, there is no theological or abstract opposition to the grant of rights at the University of Oklahoma. We are committed to this conference. As I say, what I heard in that room, gave me a tremendous amount of optimism. There have been times over the past in the history of the Big 12 when there’s not been that sense of unity in the room, real cohesion, and sincere commitment.”

#Big12 BOD Chair David Boren on unanimity and commitment plus cooperation in future re: grant of rights. https://t.co/6JieE19Wxt

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 17, 2016

“No one’s looking to walk away from this conference. Any feelings to the contrary is just mistaken. They don’t understand the strong commitment that we all have to it.”

Boren probably won’t be OU’s president when the Big 12 is buried and the sod is laid over its grave, but for the sake of re-visiting these babies, I truly hope he is.