Big 12 has eliminated Memphis officially.

[DesotoCountyDawg]

Commercial Appeal reporting.

 

[rugbdawg]

I think the Big 12 eliminated the Weimar Republic too.

 

[11thEagleFan]

ESPN and multiple other outlets reporting it now. The school refuses to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement, which frankly is embarrassing when multiple other schools have announced they didn't make the cut. It doesn't appear that Memphis was ever a serious contender, with 11 schools in front of them.

 

[dawgatUSM]

Which is baffling to me considering that Fed Ex literally wrote a letter on their behalf.

 

[PBRME]

I can't believe they snubbed their nose at Memphis so quick. Not because Memphis really has anything to offer, but because of offending Fed Ex and their money.

 

[FQDawg]

Why is it embarrassing?

ESPN and multiple other outlets reporting it now. The school refuses to comment, citing a confidentiality agreement, which frankly is embarrassing when multiple other schools have announced they didn't make the cut. It doesn't appear that Memphis was ever a serious contender, with 11 schools in front of them.

Just because some other schools violated a non-disclosure agreement that doesn't mean it's "embarrassing" that Memphis won't. If anything, if it were my school, I'd be more "embarrassed" if they had broken an NDA than if they hadn't.

 

[thatsbaseball]

I wish they had made it. It would have really helped the city.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Easily the best team in Tennessee

 

[patdog]

I'm surprised too. Of the schools they are considering, Memphis to me is one of the better options. Reasonably close to the rest of the conference. Gets them another school a lot closer to West Virginia than they have now. Get's them a team in the SEC footprint for recruiting purposes. Good basketball tradition and football has been better lately. Not sure Memphis would be in my top 2 if I were the Big 12, but they'd be in the top 4 for sure. But Big 12 gonna Big 12 and 17 it up one way or the other.

 

[MaroonNation]

I know OM was hoping this so they could scratch that non-power 5 loss off their resume'.

 

[johnson86-1]

I'm surprised too. Of the schools they are considering, Memphis to me is one of the better options. Reasonably close to the rest of the conference. Gets them another school a lot closer to West Virginia than they have now. Get's them a team in the SEC footprint for recruiting purposes. Good basketball tradition and football has been better lately. Not sure Memphis would be in my top 2 if I were the Big 12, but they'd be in the top 4 for sure. But Big 12 gonna Big 12 and 17 it up one way or the other.

memphis probably indicated they wanted something close to a fair split of TV money. Only reason to eliminate them so quickly and early. Let's pretty much every school other than buy know being a low 'bidder' is extremely important.

 

[ckDOG]

Re: FedEx

I can't believe they snubbed their nose at Memphis so quick. Not because Memphis really has anything to offer, but because of offending Fed Ex and their money.

Was there chatter about how much money they could bring to the table? I know folks reference FedEx money often, but is that really persuasive? There's a chance they could put in some big time advertising money with the Big 12 and/or Fox on the urging of Fred Smith, but it's not like FDX is his personal piggy bank. There is still a BOD that would kill a big time advertising expenditure that makes no sense.