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Missouri Director of Athletics Mike Alden, University President Gary Forsee and Chancelllor Dr. Brady J. Deaton addressed the media on Tuesday afternoon, answering questions about recent developments in the Big 12 Conference.

"We didn't know a few days ago if we we're going to have the Big 12 together. Clearly, there was a lot of discussion about, gosh, what happens if only five of us are left? That sort of thing.

MU OFFICIALS ADMITTED THAT NO OFFER WAS EVER MADE BY THE BIG 10 CONFERENCE TO INVITE MISSOURI INTO THE LEAGUE.  FOR NOW, ALL THE SPECULATION IS OVER...

"We're committed to the Big 12 for the foreseeable future. We're in this for the long haul. We're not anticipating any discussions with other conferences."

WHILE TEXAS IS POISED FOR A MAJOR INCREASE IN REVENUE, FUELED BY THE EXPECTED FORMATION OF IT'S OWN TELEVISION NETWORK, MANY FINANCIAL QUESTIONS REMAIN UNANSWERED.    NO TV AGREEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE. BUT MIKE ALDEN EXPECTS THAT MIZZOU WILL ALSO CASH IN.

"The results of that are going to be a significantly increased television package, not only relative to revenue but also to exposure opportunities."

WITH NEBRASKA LEAVING THE BIG 12 FOR THE BIG 10 BEGINNING IN 2011, AND COLORADO BOLTING FOR THE PAC TEN IN 2012, PENALTIES OF ABOUT 20 MILLION DOLLARS WILL COME FROM THOSE SCHOOLS. ACCORDING TO BIG 12 COMMISSIONER DAN BEBEE, THAT MONEY WOULD NOT GO TO MIZZOU OR THE OTHER FOUR SCHOOLS NOT COURTED BY OTHER CONFERENCES. BUT ALDEN SEEMED TO DISAGREE.

"For those folks that have suggested that that's something that's on the table, that we're not going to get those, I hadn't heard that and none of us in our league would believe that."

AS FOR FOOTBALL, EACH OF THE TEN REMAINING TEAMS IN THE BIG 12 WOULD LIKELY PLAY EACH OTHER EVERY SEASON. THAT MEANS FOR THE TIGERS, A DATE WITH TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA EVERY FALL. IT ALSO MEANS ONLY THREE NON-CONFERENCE GAMES AND NO BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MISSOURI STILL HAS A HOME IN THE BIG 12.

"You asked if that was a cause for celebration. Yes, I think it's great because the Big 12 Conference continues to hang together."