OSU's Burns Hargis Responds To Big 12 Talk

Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis chimed in on all the Big 12 conference talk in a statement released Saturday.

Saturday, September 3rd 2011, 2:58 pm

By: News 9

OSU's Burns Hargis Responds To Big 12 Talk

News9.com

STILLWATER, Oklahoma—One day after learning that OU will decide in the next three weeks if its future is with the Big 12 Conference or not, Oklahoma State spoke out with its point of view.

In a statement released Saturday, Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis talked about where the Cowboys stand in the midst of the conference uncertainty:

"We want to be clear that we worked actively to encourage Texas A&M to remain in the Big 12 Conference and regret they decided to leave. We are moving ahead. Oklahoma State University's athletic program has never been stronger from top to bottom, putting us in a position to explore and pursue options, including the possible expansion of our current conference. We are in close communications with our colleagues at the University of Oklahoma and expect a decision soon that will be in the best interest of our institutions and the state of Oklahoma."

The statement comes after Texas A&M announced on August 31 that it had decided to officially withdraw from the Big 12 Conference.

Then on Friday, OU President David Boren told the Associated Press that multiple conferences have shown interest in the Sooners and he expects to decide whether to leave the Big 12 or not within the next three weeks.

Boren said the University of Oklahoma is seeking conference stability with "partners that are both outstanding athletically and academically as well because a conference that's strong is not only stable but it's one in which there are multiple relationships, along with sports, between the university members."

Regardless of what happens in the end, one thing is certain, these statements only reinforce the instability within the Big 12 Conference.

It's anyone's guess as to what will happen in the end, but we know that by the end of the season, Texas A&M is out which leaves the conference in question.