Go time for Big 12 schools?

By Rob Gray, Correspondent

Oklahoma President David Boren is now free to fully explore all of his university's options regarding conference affiliation.

Texas president Bill Powers can do the same thing.

Monday afternoon, the boards of regents at those respective Big 12 Conference schools granted the powerful presidents that freedom by unanimous votes.

And whether that search leads OU and Texas to seek membership in another conference, notably, the Pac-12, or back to a refurbished Big 12 is anyone's guess.

So where does that leave Iowa State?

No one knows - yet.

“Until there's some finality to things there's no need to have discussions about it,” ISU football coach Paul Rhoads said in Monday's Big 12 coaches teleconference. “(Cyclone players) know they don't have a say and they know I don't have a say.”

Texas A & M got 2011 realignment talk rolling when school officials announced they would seek membership in the Southeastern Conference.

Then Big East powers Pittsburgh and Syracuse accelerated the pace - and scope - of speculation last weekend when they announced they intend to join the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Aggies' potential move is on hold because Big 12 schools such as Baylor and Iowa State have not waived their legal right to sue A & M or the SEC if its deemed warranted.

ISU spokesman John McCarroll said Monday both Athletics Director Jamie Pollard and President Gregory Geoffroy made their positions clear once realignment issues sparked by A & M's decision re-emerged late last month.

“(They've) been pretty adamant about it for several weeks that they are simply not commenting on every single development, every report that comes out, because it is very fluid,” McCarroll said after the OU regents' decision had been made public. “Of course they're monitoring the situation. I think they're looking at the best interests of Iowa State.”

Oklahoma's Boren made it clear before earning his regents' blessing he planned to weigh all options regarding conference realignment.

If the Sooners and Longhorns leave the Big 12, they'll likely take Texas Tech and Oklahoma State with them, forcing Big 12 holdovers such as ISU and Kansas State to scramble - and possibly joining with remnants of the Big East once the dust settles.

“I don't know what's going to happen,” said Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel.

To some coaches, large-scale change seems highly likely.

“As the landscape changes, you have to change with it,” Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops said.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder expressed dismay about the situation, which is complicated by Texas' $300 million deal with ESPN for the fledgling Longhorn Network.

“Families don't disintegrate because of problems,” Snyder said. “They work them out.”

Snyder also called for civility, compromise and patience to win the day.

“Schools should be able to sit down and cast aside whatever petty jealousies exist and take a mature approach,” he said.

Problem is, coaches have little say in the big money realignment game, even as they seek the high ground.

“I think the University of Texas wants to stay in the Big 12,” Longhorns Coach Mack Brown said. “I want to stay in the Big 12.”

What he - or any other coach - desires, however, may be a moot point as fan-level speculation and high-level discussions continue to swirl.

“The strange thing about all this is my opinion doesn't have any bearing on what's happening,” Baylor Coach Art Briles said, “so I don't see any reason to give it.”