ST. LOUIS (AP) - A University of Missouri official says the
school hopes to join the SEC but would have preferred an offer from
the Big Ten.
The person, who is familiar with the discussions involving
conference affiliation, spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity
because the school has not commented publicly about its intentions.
Missouri curators voted unanimously Tuesday night to give
Chancellor Brady Deaton authority to look elsewhere rather than
immediately commit to the troubled Big 12 conference.
The Big 12 is down to 10 members and will lose Texas A&M to the
SEC next year.
Missouri hoped to join the Big Ten in 2010 but the league
instead chose Nebraska from the Big 12. The university official
says the Big Ten remains Missouri's top choice but that conference
"has no interest."

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-10-05-11 1418EDT