Is The University of Kansas in a conference near death?
By Stan Unruh
The University of Kansas is fortunate the Big 12 is financially healthy. Conference realignment is making noise again.
The slightest improvement we saw in the Kansas football program under coach David Beaty last fall is growing in significance.
As a matter of fact, there is a lot of talk online and in other media about teams and conferences who want change. Football rules the show.
First, one Big 12 team is supposedly unhappy and wants to leave.
I have no idea if it’s true. On the other hand, I didn’t want to believe Missouri and Nebraska were unhappy or considering a move and they left the conference.
Now blabbermouth Paul Finebaum told the boys at Joxfm.com the Big 12 is in big trouble -near death.
He will say anything for ratings.
Now, NFL teams showed a lack of interest in Big 12 players during last weekend’s draft.
The NFL drafted only 14 Big 12 players this year.
That’s one less than the American Athletic Conference. If you had told me that would happen- ever, I would not believe it.
Kansas didn’t help. However, Jayhawk defensive backs Fish Smithson and Brandon Stewart did sign free agent deals after the draft.
Following this little draft success, The American Athletic Conference-future home to Wichita State- is making a move to steal more national attention.
On Monday, the conference announced a plan to become recognized as a power conference.
You are familiar with the overused term “power five conference.”
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If the American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco has his way the new term will be power-six conference.
According to the conference media release
"“Our aim as a Power 6 conference is to pursue academic and athletic excellence at every level and within the context of our core values,”"
In the event all or part of this is true, I am sure Kansas Athletic Director Dr. Sheahon Zenger is watching and taking appropriate action.