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University of Missouri Board of Curators chairman Warren Erdman on Friday gave the clearest indications yet the Tigers are headed toward a departure from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference.
Erdman said the curators have placed full authority for making that decision, including entering into contracts with other conferences, in the hands of MU chancellor Brady Deaton.
And he discussed contingencies that could maintain the Tigers' presence in Kansas City should they leave the Big 12. Erdman, who grew up in western Missouri and said the area is very important to him, added that MU is exploring the creation of a holiday basketball tournament involving the Tigers and continuing a football game against a traditional rival, namely Kansas, at Arrowhead Stadium.
But KU athletic director Sheahon Zenger indicated in a statement that the Border War rivalry likely would not continue if Missouri left the Big 12.
"The KU-Missouri rivalry belongs in the Big 12 Conference," Zenger said later Friday. "Should Missouri decide to leave the Big 12, we would wish them well."
That action has yet to be taken. The curators announcement Friday at the close of two days of meetings at the UMKC Student Union stopped short of definitively saying Missouri would apply and anticipate being accepted as the 14th member of the SEC.
"The reason that we are delegating this authority in the manner that we are," Erdman said, "is that's what we can do today."
Deaton, on Oct. 4, had been authorized by the curators to explore membership in other conferences. On Friday, Erdman said the authority given to Deaton now includes making a decision without further consultation with the Board of Curators.
"I think that is a significant step," Erdman said. "Should his decision lead to our departure from the Big 12, this board is committed to doing what we can to preserve the rich tradition and heritage that is very important to us here."
Erdman's impassioned response at a brief news conference raised the question of why Missouri officials would bring up concrete examples of retaining a sports presence in the Kansas City area if the school was not already anticipating leaving the Big 12.
"We will be making a decision about pursuing an application to another conference, if we deem that in the best interests of the university," said Deaton, who appeared at the news conference alongside Erdman, interim University of Missouri system president Steve Owens and MU athletic director Mike Alden.
"The next step will be resolution of the question," Erdman said.
Sources told The Star on Friday afternoon that they anticipated the last big step would be taken by the middle of next week. And the consensus of those sources reflected a report earlier this week in The New York Times that Missouri's departure for the SEC was "inevitable and imminent."
Alden, as he did several weeks ago, acknowledged Missouri has had conversations with officials from conferences outside the Big 12.
Deaton said there was continuing contact with the Big 12 and interim commissioner Chuck Neinas, who said conference membership will be discussed during a regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting on Monday.
"But we've also provided information to the SEC," Deaton said, "and we've asked for information from the SEC to inform us in regard to our future decision making."
The final question of the news conference, directed at Deaton by The Star, concerned whether a move to another conference would take place before the next athletic season, 2012-13, or be delayed until 2013-14, as has been suggested by Neinas.
"We would anticipate that our decision, whatever decision we make," Deaton said, "would be applicable to the next year."
If that's the case and Missouri leaves, it would be subject to a withdrawal penalty that could reach $30 million under Big 12 bylaws, although that figure could be negotiated down as Colorado and Nebraska did when those schools left the Big 12 before this season.
"This is a very complex transaction to consider," Erdman said. "Very complex. There are lots of important consequences. And as anxious as everyone, including our rabid fan base, is to have a definitive answer, we have to exercise our fiduciary duty.
"We are taking our time to analyze all of the issues."
As for what would happen next on the field, Alden said Missouri would want to continue its rivalry with Kansas "no matter what." The schools currently have an agreement to play their annual football game at Arrowhead through 2012.
"We've had a rivalry with the University of Kansas for 119 years," Alden said, "and we would hope that we would be able to continue to play that series, regardless of anything, for many years to come in all sports.
"Not just football and basketball, but all of our sports."
That's not a feeling shared by Kansas officials. KU basketball coach Bill Self earlier this month echoed Zenger's statement, saying the Jayhawks may not schedule the Tigers as a nonconference opponent.
Kansas City officials fear the Big 12 men's and women's basketball tournaments could leave the city if Missouri is no longer a conference member. The men's tournament is scheduled to be held at the Sprint Center through 2014, the women at Municipal Auditorium through 2013.
The event is one of the most important on the city's sports scene from a revenue-generating standpoint - even more so than previously believed.
At last year's tournaments, an economic study conducted by the University of Arizona concluded an overall impact of $15 million-$19 million. That tops the bottom line of previous studies by at least $1 million. The survey found that 92 percent of the respondents said they planned to return for next year's tournament.
If the Big 12 tournament and Border War were no longer played in Kansas City, could Missouri bring in similar crowds for a holiday basketball tournament at the Sprint Center and a football game at Arrowhead Stadium?
If so, interim Kansas City Sports Commission president Cindy Smith would appreciate the business.
"It made me feel like they were leaning toward a move," Smith said. "It's like they were saying, "We haven't forgotten about you.'"
