FWST: Big 12 soap opera continues with no expansion decision imminent
BY JIMMY BURCHÂ jburch@star-telegram.com
IRVING – The absurd soap opera unfolding in the Big 12 continued at warp speed Thursday, with administrators showing a wishy-washy resolve on key topics at the league’s spring meetings while working against a backdrop of more negative headlines from Baylor.
The lone certainty: Expansion will not be approved by league presidents during Friday’s final voting session. But check back later this summer, in case that changes after more time to study the issue.
In a league facing lots of big-picture questions, Thursday’s lone significant action involved reversing a Wednesday vote to uphold a rule mandating a lost year of eligibility for non-scholarship athletes who transfer within the conference. As of Thursday, that ban is removed. An amended “Baker Mayfield Rule†is now Big 12 policy thanks to a 7-3 vote by faculty representatives that will allow the Sooners’ starting quarterback to play for Oklahoma through the 2017 season. …