Missouri and the SEC

It's easy to understand why the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri system have given chancellor Brady Deaton the approval to investigate other conference affiliations. The Big 12's recent instability has been a national punch line and MU is one of the--and perhaps only--Big 12 school outside of Texas and Oklahoma who appears to have interest from another conference.

However, it's my fervent hope that the decision ultimately doesn't become about MU's ability to thumb their nose at the "all about me" attitude of Texas, whose elitist ways played out so publicly over the past few months, or to say "look at me now" to Oklahoma president David Boren, who so obviously loved the flirtation with and thought of taking his Sooner Schooner west to the Pac 12.

No, this has to be about what's best for Missouri. Perhaps at the end of the vetting process, Deaton and his colleagues will determine that a move south is truly the right option. If so, so be it. But, in the wake of that decision will be catastrophic economic and regional brand ramifications for the Kansas City area.

There are a few optimistic public statements about the Big 12 Tournament still being a possibility for Kansas City, should MU leave, and that the Border War games between Kansas and Missouri can continue. Forget it--neither will happen.

The Big 12 will not hold a tournament in a state with no members--particularly one that said "see ya" to the collective remaining eight schools and new entry, TCU. Trust me, it just won't happen.

Further, what's the impetus for KU to continue playing MU in football, should the Tigers join the SEC? With TCU's entry into the league, coupled with another new school should MU depart, Kansas will have its regular rotation of nine conference games. The three non-conference games will be scheduled as follows--two guaranteed wins and one against a name opponent, e.g., the home-and-home series of 2010-2011 with Georgia Tech. The Jayhawks will not schedule a team of Missouri's current football caliber when they already will have to face Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State and TCU, not to mention Texas Tech, Kansas State and Baylor. Likewise, why would Missouri want to play KU given similar difficult foes in the SEC?

Sure, the Border War football game at Arrowhead can pull in a decent payday when the schools are good. But, from a won-loss perspective, it makes little sense for either school in scheduling non-conference match-ups. The last thing Kansas' program needs, as it tries to regain stability, is another tough foe on its schedule.

In basketball, there is more likelihood that the game could continue, given scheduling flexibility, but, in this case, why would Missouri want to schedule a game against a team that's beaten them 25 out of 35 games played during the Big 12 era? (And, Kansas has won nine of the last 10.) Don't let pride get in the way, Missouri fans. Once again, there is little reason to make this game happen.

The Mens and Womens Big 12 tournaments bring in positive economic impact to the Kansas City region in the sum of low teen millions. The Kansas City brand gets national exposure not only from the basketball tournaments but from past Arrowhead games between KU and MU coupled with the occasional Big 12 football championship.

So, Chancellor Deaton, the clock is ticking and a region anxiously awaits the news out of Columbia. Please don't let hubris get in the way of the right decision for Missouri. If a move to the SEC is warranted given your and your colleagues' analysis, so be it. I just hope that analysis weighs the merits of benefit to your state, and the second largest city in your state.