http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/collegesports/2016/05/03/carlton-opinions-differ-big-12s-future-bob-bowlsby-one-message-conference

The Big 12 almost sounds downright penitent and humble.  Maybe Boren has laid down the law on them bolting if his three things don't happen. Seems like something has shifted in the last few days. 

"If they ask me, 'Should we let this linger on another six months,' I'll say definitely no," Bowlsby said. "We need to move ahead and make decisions. I just think we need to move ahead expediently."

Bowlsby confirmed that the model with 12 teams, a conference title game and eight conference games provided the best chance to reach the College Football Playoff.

Of course, that would require expansion.

Asked if Navigate has also compiled data on potential expansion candidates as rumored, Bowlsby said: "I don't consider there to be any expansion candidates. Navigate has provided us with information on a wide variety of topics."

Yeah .. that's a weird answer .. but one that just saves him from asking the inevitable "Then WHO are the candidates and how are they ranked?" can of worms.

Bowlsby believes Big 12 member schools are willing to listen to the data on the three defining issues, in Phoenix and also in spring meetings May 31-June 3 in Irving.  "I think for the most part, those positions aren't established yet," Bowlsby said.

Now, onto the Texas point of view ...

Texas athletic director, Mike Perrin gave an interesting answer when questioned about how he will view the presentation.

"I can't say I've got an open mind on any of these issues," Perrin said. "I can say I've got an open mind for receiving data."

Whatever Texas ...  Does UT run a course on how to be offensive and stubborn even when giving a "non-answer."  

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said he had "countless questions" about Navigate's research but didn't want to voice them publicly for fear of appearing to steer the debate.

"I think it says we're trying to be as thorough about our evaluation as possible," Castiglione said. "It doesn't imply any particular direction."

Now on to everyone's favorite Big12 Coach:

"Whatever it takes for our conference to make sure we're not disadvantaged," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "I think that will be the answer. We'll do what we need to do to be competitive.

"I think we need to be as aggressive as we can as a conference."

DATA Gary? You'll follow the DATA Gary?  You can't HANDLE THE DATA!

Tech AD Kirby Hocutt said the key is not the Big 12 now but where it will be.

"I think it's a critical time for us to assess the future of the Big 12," Hocutt said. "Right now, we're a strong league. For the most part we feel real good about where we stand today. But times change, too.  We've got to make sure we continue to make the best long-term decisions for our league, and I think we're all prepared to do that."

The Big12 Athletic powers are sounding downright forward-thinking and open to change/progress.  Maybe they're sick of being the laughing-stock of the P5 conferences and the loser in the last round of re-alignment.  

Also encouraging, the best quotes were from 2 of the 3 rumored anti expansion schools, TCU and TTech. 

Am I just reading too much into it?  Are they REALLY going to make the best move to make their conference he strongest possible based on the research presented?  That data HAS to show BYU as an outlier on these metrics to our advantage, right?

Go Cougars!!!