Big 12 interim commissioner Chuck Neinas: Notre Dame the only school that would add TV value

In a January memo to the Big 12 expansion committee, interim commissioner Chuck Neinas said Notre Dame is the only school the Big 12 could add that would “enhance the Big 12 value for television.”

The memo, obtained by The Oklahoman through an Open Records request, was sent to the committee as an agenda for a late January teleconference.

The expansion committee is made up of Oklahoma State president Burns Hargis, Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds and Kansas State president Kirk Shulz.

Here is a look at other items on the agenda and Neinas' responses:

If Notre Dame would become a partial member, how would that impact the current membership and what does it do to further expansion?

Neinas' response: “Both representatives of ESPN/ABC and Fox Sports indicated that Notre Dame's involvement with the Big 12 Conference would increase the value of the conference relative to future television and also improve the image of the conference nationwide.”

What value would a new member bring to the conference?

Neinas' response: “Our television partners agreed that the only new member that would enhance the Big 12 value for television was Notre Dame.”