We tell clients all the time in media training that they do not have to answer every question posed to them by the news media.
Some questions are just dumb, but others can involve personal or legal matters. What they say to the media can be used in court against them.
Unfortunately, The Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, Bob Bowlsby, has not gone through Bottom Line Communications media training.
If he had he would not felt compelled to answer a question that will likely come back to bite him for years to come.
On the “Dan Patrick” radio show Bowlsby was asked a hypothetical question.
In BLC training we tell clients to simply not answer hypothetical questions. It is a dangerous road to try and answer hypothetical questions. “If you were the CEO of British Petroleum how would you have dealt with the Gulf oil spill?”
In fact, we tell them to respond by saying, “Chris (guest host Chris Maddox), that’s a hypothetical question and I really don’t answer hypothetical questions, but I will say….”
Bowlsby was asked hypothetically by Maddox if he were part of the College Football Playoff committee, which of his league’s teams would he have voted for into the fourth playoff spot?
“Chris, me choosing one team in the Big 12 over another is like asking which one of my children do I like better,” is the response Bowlsby should have said.
Instead, he proclaimed he would have voted for TCU vs. Baylor. He then gave a lengthy response supporting his decision, but the damage was done.
His answer was guaranteed to upset everyone associated with Baylor. Baylor fans were already upset by not finishing in the top four, but now their commissioner even admits he would not have voted for them? That stings!
Our question: Why even go down that road? Many Baylor fans feel strongly that their team should have been ranked higher than TCU because they beat the Horned Frogs in a head-to-head matchup during the season.
A more suitable answer by Bowlsby would have been “Chris, I am confident that that either Big 12 team could hold their own against any teams in the country. Unfortunately, neither one was given the opportunity, and I hope we can change that going forward.”
Instead, Bowlsby picked one child over another. Now he will have to live with that statement for years.
CHICKENS COMING TO ROOST FOR THE BIG 12
The Big 12 did this to themselves. By serving to every whim of the University of Texas they alienated four universities and their fan bases.
For years fans knew ten teams weren’t going to be enough. But of course the powers that be said the same marking slogans over and over again.
One true Champion, Round Robin, toughest conference in America and last but not least ten is the perfect number. All propaganda that has backfired in their faces.
Anyone who watches college football knows the Big 12 is now the third conference. Not only is the SEC better but so is the Pac 12.
If expansion is on the table it still will take years for the teams to get on board. Not to mention a conference title game. And who will they take? My guess is they will take two small schools who Texas approves. UTEP, SMU, New Mexico maybe even LA Tech. No big names, no one raided from the four other major conferences.
The Big 12′s chickens are coming home to roost.