he doesn't have a total hold on how politics operate in the Big 12.
He knew he had a window to "go rogue" and talk to the media immediately following the NCAA meeting on CCG deregulation. He used his savvy of politics to insert his argument into the media, so that he could frame the discussion of the upcoming Big 12 AD and presidents' meetings.
He also knew ahead of time that he would be told to shut up for the time being.
Boren knows who he's working with and he knows the political obstacle all along has been Texas.
He seized the moment to position the chess board where he wanted it, so to speak. Now, he is content to let the data points and discussions take place.