Missouri AD Mike Alden says Big 12 still MU's focus

COLUMBIA — Mike Alden reiterated his previous position on Missouri’s conference alignment, speaking to reporters before Saturday’s game against Western Illinois.

“I think that you guys have got to remember, (MU Chancellor) Brady (Deaton) is our chair of the Big 12, and he’s going to continue to do everything he can to keep the Big 12 together,” Alden said. “I understand there’s a lot of things going on out there, but that’s his primary focus, is to do what he thinks he can to keep that together.”

Alden said he had no reason to believe there was any truth to the ESPN report that Syracuse and Pittsburgh have applied to join the Athletic Coast Conference.

“I don’t know much about that, other than what people would tweet or text,” Alden said. “I don’t know the validity of that one way or the other. You guys may actually know more than I do, I just caught a tweet on that, but it just lends back to the fragility of college athletics.”

The ESPN report also said that as many as 10 schools have approached the ACC, but Alden said he didn't know if MU was one of them.

"I don't know about that, that's not my role," he said.

More news is expected Monday, as both the Oklahoma and Texas boards of regents will hold meetings to discuss their school’s conference affiliations. Alden said he didn’t know what he expected to come out of those meetings but that he and Deaton were still confident in Missouri’s position.

“If it (the Big 12) explodes, he (Deaton) likes where Mizzou stands,” Alden said. “I agree with that.”