Thursday, September 8, 2011

Larry Scott: Pac-12 has no expansion plans, but could evaluate in future

The Pac-12 added two schools this summer with Colorado and Utah. But will the conference stop there?

Commissioner Larry Scott hasn't shied away from thinking big about his league. There was an invitation to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Texas last summer that was turned down when the Big 12 avoided disintegration.

Now that Texas A&M announced it is leaving the Big 12, there is speculation that Scott revisit that scenario or look to add other schools given the SEC is likely to grow by at least one team and maybe more.

He issued a statement Wednesday addressing the issue.

"Our sole focus has been on developing the tremendous opportunities we have as a new, 12-team Conference and we have no current plans to expand the Pac-12," Scott said. "However, I have made clear my vision that the health, stability and future of college athletics will likely include further consolidation and realignment. While I can not predict if and when this might make sense for us, we will listen to and evaluate any scenario that would benefit our member institutions, our student-athletes and our fans.

"In the meantime, we are pleased to be in a strong leadership position in academics and college athletics, with both a rich heritage of success and recent moves that have greatly strengthened our Conference and positioned us well for the future."

One impediment to last year's plan could be the addition of Texas, which just launched its Longhorn Network and may not fit with the Pac-12 plans to have its own network.

But Scott left the door open in his statement that would seem to indicate there is a chance of the Pac-12 growing again if the right scenario presents itself.

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Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomCollegeMensBasketball-TopStories/~3/3Np48GVxbe0/1

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