Oklahoma prez, regents chair promise cooperation in expansion decision
The Oklahoma president and chairman of the school's board of regents claim support for each other following a CBS Sports story about discord over potential Big 12 expansion.
By
Dennis Dodd
•
1 min read
Oklahoma president David Boren and the school's board of regents chairman released joint statements Monday in response to CBS Sports' story describing infighting among OU leadership regarding potential Big 12 expansion.
Board chairman Max Weitzenhoffer told CBS Sports he would seek clarification with OU president David Boren on the board's role in the expansion issue. Boren has been a strident expansion supporter. Weitzenhoffer is against expansion.
"I can tell you I'm not alone," said Weitzenhoffer, who added that fellow regent Clay Bennett, owner of the Oklahoma Thunder, is on his side.
According to the Big 12, Boren would be compelled to abide by the feelings of the seven-board if a formal vote was taken on expansion. A simple 4-3 majority is needed on the issue. Boren is the current chairman of the Big 12 CEOs.
"I first want to make it clear that I have complete confidence in the leadership of the University of Oklahoma," Weitzenhoffer said in his statement. "President Boren has proven to be a visionary and effective leader of the university. I am confident that our President will lead the university in the right direction on matters related to the Big 12 Conference. He has and will continue to have my full support."
Here is Boren's statement: "I remain firmly committed to my belief that we should all work together to make the Big 12 Conference even stronger through holistic reform that allows for possible expansion and the creation of a Big 12 network."
Expansion discussion is not a formal agenda item at Thursday's regents meeting; however, that would not preclude the regents from talking amongst themselves at any point or privately in executive session. Thursday's meeting is open to the media.
It is not known definitively how any Big 12 school would vote on expansion. The league has the smallest membership among the 10 FBS conferences (10 teams). It is the only Power Five conference without a league championship game.
Coaches and athletic directors discussed expansion last week in Phoenix. Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said he would like to see a decision one way or the other by Sept. 1.
Big 12 presidents will meet at the conference's spring meetings May 31 to June 3 in Dallas. No formal conference vote regarding expansion is expected at that time.
