More on Jones' involvement On Wednesday we told you about the story by Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World in which a source familiar with the thinking of Dallas Cowboys owner (and Arkansas alum) Jerry Jones said that Jones wanted Arkansas to play in the same conference as Texas and Texas A&M and that Jones “sees the Big 12 expanding with Arkansas and Notre Dame.” Nowhere in Keegan’s story does he write that Jones is actively trying to make a match.
Yet that’s what has been reported, so much so that the Cowboys issued a statement denying that Jones has been involved in any discussions regarding conference realignment. However, a source confirmed to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com that Jones does have interest in bringing Arkansas to the Big 12. Moreover, Jones’ son, Stephen, said in a TV interview that Arkansas fits as a natural rival in the conference.
On Thursday, we told you about Chip Brown’s tweet that Arkansas had put out feelers about joining the Big 12 but didn’t have the votes to approve the move. A source close to Jones told Brown that Jones “has nothing to do with Arkansas’ decision making and couldn’t be further from anything having to do with college realignment.” Still, if the Big 12 came to Jones and said it would add Arkansas if Jones could guarantee the Hogs $20 million in revenue, who’s to say he would say no?
Tags: big 12, jerry jones, realignment
