12 Things for the Big 12 to Consider on 12.12 Day
The Big 12 Conference is celebrating its annual 12.12 day on Tuesday. It’s December 12th, and being the marketing-focused folks they are, it’s a fun way to take a meaningless day and try to turn it into something.
The league is giving away prizes on its social media pages to create enthusiasm and momentum amongst its die-hard fans.
Now as the longtime, independent authority on all things Big 12, I only thought it would be right to add to the celebration of the day and give the Big 12 a list of 12 things to consider on 12.12 day.
1. Adding Oregon State and Washington State
I am starting to feel bad for these guys. They actually have decent football programs and have solid fan bases too. Heck, if we are seriously going to look at Gonzaga for basketball, which is a losing proposing for several reasons, these two programs are absolutely worth a look. It creates easier travel opportunities for our new friends out west and moves the Big 12 to 18, making it the largest Power conference in the country.
2. Sign a Lifetime Contract to Keep the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City
We know the Big 12 Tournament is staying in Kansas City into the next decade. That’s great news. But at this point, make it a lifetime contract. The eight Utah basketball fans who actually exist and want it in Vegas can get lost until they actually experience a conference tournament and everything Kansas City and the Power & Light District have to offer.
3. Find New Football Officials
Do I really need to explain this one? The league has its own parody Twitter account for the officials. Enough said.
4. Bring Back Farmageddon Annually
There’s not much the Big 12 screwed up under the new regime, but willingly giving up a rivalry like Farmageddon that has been played annually for over 100 years, when you’re desperate for decent rivalries, is a blunder. And it was completely avoidable. And you don’t need to take my word for it, look at the Farmageddon ratings from last month.
5. Four Pods in 16-Team Conference
It just makes too much sense. But as is often times the case, organizations are filled with people who need to prove their value. So someone radically overthought a simple concept to just give every team three annual football games and six annual basketball games, to build rivalries, and make travel easier. That’s too bad. But there is still time to fix it.
6. Hire Brett Yormark’s Twin Brother to be the Permanent SEC Villain
I mean, the guy looks like he was made for the job.
And plus, we can’t be the only SEC villains around these parts. We need a hand. And there’s no one we’d rather have by our side than… that guy.
7. Don’t follow the NBA with a Dopey In-Season Tournament
We know that Brett Yormark loves basketball and has an NBA background. But please God, do not try and develop an awful, meaningless, in-season tournament like the NBA is attempting to pull off right now.
The NBA might point to a decent ratings number, but it’s a total cheapening of the product for a ratings bump that doesn’t move the needle enough to justify the decision.
The Big 12 has the Big East-Big 12 Challenge and had the Big 12-SEC Challenge. Those are/were awesome and plenty good for mixing it up during the college basketball season.
8. A Notable Big 12 Basketball Game on 12.12 Day
There’s a way to make a splash. I know we are in non-conference play, but there’s got to be a creative way to add to the celebration of 12.12 day with a notable non-conference game (like Kansas vs. UConn two weeks ago) or, dare I say, dabble with an early league game to mix it up between two teams near the bottom of the previous season’s standings who normally wouldn’t get the eye balls or attention and put them on as a featured game on Big 12 Now.
9. Move the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Back
The decision to move the women’s tournament up a week so they can play at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City largely pre-dates the current administration, but it will be a bust for the women’s game. While I am likely to take my daughters to watch Big 12 women’s hoops in March, I happen to live in Kansas City. Thousands of Big 12 fans who would come for the men’s and women’s tournaments are going to have to choose. How many people can take off, and/or travel, book hotels, etc. for two long weekends in a row? It’s not realistic. And you know as well as I do, the vast majority, if forced to pick between the men’s and women’s game, will go with the men’s game. And the thousands of fans who would bounce back and forth between T-Mobile (men’s location) and Municipal Arena (women’s location) are not longer going to be able to do that this March. That’s a loss for the league and for the women’s game.
10. Take the Big 12 Baseball Tournament to the Field of Dreams
You want to talk about a destination for a non-revenue college sport? Boom. There you go, Big 12. Move the baseball tournament that’s currently played in the oversized and hollow Globe Life Field to Dyersville, Iowa and play on the Field of Dreams field for the Conference Tournament, just like MLB does for an annual game in July. They can put up stands for up to 8,000 fans, which Big 12 fans will flock to, and the atmosphere will be incredible and will be made for TV.
11. Fan Vote for Big 12 Eats
Kansas State fans are still upset they got stuck with the Wabash Cannon Dog at Big 12 Eats from the 2023 Big 12 Basketball Tournament. Give each fan base three options of food ideas to pick from and then let that be the food they go to battle with at this year’s Big 12 Tournament.
12. Big 12 Mexico Ticket Giveaway
Want to make a splash on 12.12 day?! Give away some tickets to the first Big 12 Mexico event between Kansas and Houston in December of 2024. Now we’re talking!
