Wednesday brought with it the first reports of serious college football expansion, with word the Nebraska had agreed to join the Big Ten after receiving a formal invitation. So naturally, Wednesday night has given way to denials issued from the school.
Nebraska Says Report It Reached Agreement With Big Ten Is ‘Not Accurate’
First, the university issued an official statement, saying these premature reports are “not accurate.”
“A report being circulated this afternoon among sports media stating that the University of Nebraska Board of Regents ‘met informally’ today and have ‘agreed to move to the Big Ten’ is not accurate. Members of the Board’s executive committee met via conference call to discuss the agenda for Friday’s meeting. Such meetings routinely take place prior to Board meetings. At its meeting on Friday, the Board will be briefed on UNL athletic conference alignment and consider a resolution. No action was taken during today’s conference call, and none will be taken prior to Friday’s meeting.”
Then, Bob Phares, the chairman of Nebraska's Board of Regents, said that "no invitations that are extended," but for the most past he did his best to skirt around answering any questions or saying anything of real consequence when approached about Nebraska joining the Big Ten.
"First of all, there are several factual errors. No. 1, there’s been no vote by the board at all. No. 2, as I understand it, there are no invitations that are extended. You decide if you wish to make an application and then they react to your application.
"And I heard that there were reports that Tom Osborne had advised all of his staff that it was a done deal. You can talk to Tom and see what his comment is. I would be immensely surprised if that was the case, because as I said there’s been no vote by the board and no formal decision.”
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