ISU President concerned but reaffirms faith in current Big 12

KANSAS CITY -- Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy said his school remains committed to the Big 12 Conference amid rumors that up to eight schools could leave the league for other conferences.

"We're strongly committed to the Big 12 Conference," Geoffroy said Thursday at the Big 12 meetings at the InterContinental Hotel. "It's a great conference. We've enjoyed our membership in it."

Orangebloods.com reported Thursday that the Pac-10 intends to invite Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Colorado at its spring meetings which begin Friday. Missouri and Nebraska are among the many schools rumored as potential Big Ten expansion candidates.

Geoffroy declined to address specific rumors and deferred comments about the Pac-10 report to University of Texas President Williams Powers.

"Until something firms up it's all speculation," Geoffroy said.

He did say the situation was concerning.

"The entire issue of all the discussions related to conference realignment create instability discussions," Geoffroy said. "We're confident that the Big 12 Conference is going to remain strong and be one of the best conferences in the nation and we'll do everything we can to keep it that way."

When asked if he envisioned the Big 12 remaining in current format, Geoffroy said, "We certainly are going to work to make sure that happens."