This DNews articles (Nov. 2011) mentions the "difficult" perception.
workindev is correct; the "difficult" label was always attached to the BE negotiations and never the Big 12.
The comments revolved around BYU wishing to retain the rights to its home games. The sources were unamed. The label has stuck and, unfortunately, is bandied about by national writers and bloggers as if it were factual and applied to every situation.