Rivalry revival unlikely for Jayhawks-Tigers, Longhorns-Aggies in Big 12-SEC series
Conference realignment and bitterness on the part of some schools has ended at least two of the best college rivalries around, and there doesn't appear to be hope of renewing those grudge matches any time soon.
When the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference began discussing an annual series on he hardwood featuring all the Big 12 teams and most of the 14 programs in the SEC, it was hoped it might get Kansas and Missouri and Texas and Texas A&M on the court together again beginning in the 2013-14 season.
But Kansas and Texas remain bitter about their old rivals leaving the Big 12 for the SEC last year and they appear to be standing firm on decisions not to schedule the Tigers and Aggies in the future.
Scheduling for the proposed Big 12-SEC series would be done at the conference level, but Jim Marchiony, KU's associate athletic director for public affairs told the Kansas City Star the conference's aren't likely to force the issue.
"Both conferences know their schools well enough to know what their wishes are," Marchiony told the paper.
Missouri athletic director Mike Alden has maintained the Tigers would like to continue the series with Kansas, known as the Border War. Its one of the oldest and most contentious rivalries in the nation and in both basketball and football.
A&M bolted the Big 12 after years of living Texas' shadow and in response to the formation of the Longhorn network, which was seen by most other schools in the Big 12 as another example of Texas getting what Texas wants.
Kyle Ringo covers Colorado and the Pac-12 Conference for the Daily Camera in Boulder. Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleRingo
