Kansas University Reaches Out to Archrivals to Stop Dissolution of Big 12

by

Jun 8, 2010

Would you go to your archrival and beg for mercy?

Kansas University chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little is doing just that, as the Big 12 threatens to dissolve and leave Kansas in the dust.

With the University of Nebraska and University of Missouri leaning toward the Big 10 — and the University of Oklahoma and University of Texas conversing with the Pac 10 — Gray-Little has pled for the schools to stay for the sake of her program, ESPN.com reports.

She’s spoken with Nebraska chancellor Harvey Perlman, and plans on speaking with Missouri chancellor Brady J. Deaton, but has received no definitive response.

"There are some universities that survive and thrive without a large athletic program," Gray-Little told ESPN.com. "I hope we don't have to test that out."

Kansas and Kansas State University would need to scramble for a new home if the Big 12 disintegrates. Likely, that home wouldn’t be in a BCS Conference, meaning it would be a huge hit to all aspects of Kansas’ athletic program — funding and recruiting included.

The Jayhawks have already found a friend in their Sunflower State brethren.

"That's been our commitment and our plan, to the extent that it's possible, that we would work together, that we would intend to be in the same conference and have the opportunity to play one another and continue a great tradition of rivalry,” Gray-Little said.

Who says rivals have to hate each other?

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