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ESPN responds to Big 12, commissioner Bob Bowlsby
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ESPN has responded to a cease-and-desist letter sent by Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby.
Wednesday night, Bowlsby sent a cease-and-desist letter to the network, alleging that ESPN was “involved in manipulating other conferences to go after our members.” That statement came a few days after Texas and Oklahoma formally announced their intentions to leave the Big 12.
If the Big 12 implodes, ESPN would also not be liable for the remaining four years of its agreement with the conference. The World Wide Leader is also the primary rights holder for the AAC, but at a much lesser cost.
Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby to AP: “I have absolute certainty they (ESPN) have been involved in manipulating other conferences to go after our members.”
The Big 12 has sent a cease-and-desist letter to ESPN, as first reported by @PeteThamel
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoAP) July 28, 2021
Bowlsby said he had “irrefutable” proof that ESPN was attempting to manipulate current Big 12 members into joining another conference. ESPN denied any wrongdoing.
On Thursday, the network released a statement of its own. The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach shared the message on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1420828847323365378?s=20
“The accusations you have made are entirely without merit. Apart from a single vague allegation that ESPN has been ‘actively engaged in discussions with at least one other’ unnamed conference, which ESPN disputes, your letter consists entirely of unsubstantiated speculation and legal conclusions,” the letter states. “To be clear, ESPN has engaged in no wrongful conduct and, thus, there is nothing to ‘cease and desist.'”
Both sides are digging in the heels.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB