Kirk Herbstreit Is an Idiot: Pac-10 Is Stronger Than Big 12 in Football?

Thank God Craig James was on the line to correct Kirk Herbstreit’s obscene comments on Thursday evening, June 10, on ESPN.

That comment? That Pacific-10 Conference football is stronger than Big 12 football.

It made James laugh on the phone during a live telecast on ESPN.

It just made me mad—although I can agree with the humor James would find in such a comment.

Herbstreit, meanwhile, got defensive, and quickly asked, “Who does the Big 12 have beyond Texas and Oklahoma?”

You’ve got to be kidding me, Herbstreit.

To be perfectly honest, I completely agree with James’ response—something along the lines of USC being good in the Pac-10, but even the Trojans struggled in conference play in 2009.

Yes, the SEC is—no doubt about it—the powerhouse of college football.

But to suggest that the Pac-10 is second to the SEC and that the Big 12 doesn’t even come close is more than just pathetic—it’s a blatant lie.

If Herbstreit and others want to believe that nonsense, go right ahead.

Unfortunately, I believe thinking along those lines has caused a majority of the chaos in the Big 12 to begin with—as half of these athletic directors in the conference really don’t realize just how powerful the Big 12 truly is.

That, or they are feeling overlooked.

Regardless, dominoes are beginning to fall. But that doesn’t mean the Big 12 is doomed.

Yet, at least.

Could the Big 12 stay intact by keeping everyone else on board beyond Colorado and Nebraska, either becoming the new Big Ten, or expanding by adding teams such as Boise State and TCU to create a new Big 12 Conference?

Sure, anything is possible right about now.

I’m still shocked that so many changes have already begun to occur, but at the same time, it’s come to be expected in a sports world—and world in general for that matter—that is focused entirely on finances.

Show me the money.

That’s all it’s about, but that still doesn’t mean Herbstreit was right in his off-the-wall comment.

Whether the losses of Nebraska and Colorado dissolve the conference or not, one thing is certain: The Big 12 is a stronger football conference than the Pac-10.

Hands down.

At the same time, don’t get me wrong: This isn’t the first time Herbstreit has said something stupid on national television.

Sadly, it won’t be the last either…

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at [e-mail]

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