Talking season in college football officially got started on Tuesday morning in Metro Dallas. The Big 12 began its two-day event with commissioner Brett Yormark giving his state of the conference address.
He came out swinging.
The 58-year-old Indiana alum called out Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, doubled down on the league’s proposed 5+11 College Football Playoff model, and even threw what could be considered a shot at the SEC with a conference depth comment.
“Once again, I believe the Big 12 will be the deepest football conference in America,” Yormark said. “No league offers the competitive balance that we do. Last season, the Big 12 led the nation in fourth quarter lead changes and go-ahead scores in the final minute of conference games, and this year our star power (especially at quarterback) will be on full display.”
“We also boast one of the nation’s top coaching lineups, from Hall of Famers to rising stars. I fully expect the Big 12 to earn multiple College Football Playoff bids this year and to show once again that we can compete with anyone.”
Alrighty, then.
Talking season is the time of year where every roster is improved and all programs across the national landscape have optimism. That works the same for administrators. These lead-off speeches serve as way for conference leaders to speak directly to their constituents and explain why their conference is heading in the right direction. Yorkmark is quite the salesman and was even participating in chatting back-and-forth conversations with every media member that asked the Big 12 leader a question at The Star.
This is unlikely to be last time over the next three weeks that we hear college commissioners fire a jab at another league. At SEC Spring Meetings just over a month ago, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey took a perceived shot at ACC commissioner Jim Phillips after public comments about what to do with the future of the College Football Playoff.
“I don’t need lectures from others about good of the game. I don’t lecture others about good of the game,” Sankey said. “And coordinating press releases about good of the game, you know, OK, you can issue your press statement, but I’m actually looking for ideas to move us forward.”
This is talking season.
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