Actually, I do have to correct you on your being misinformed on this one. Our governor, who is a Missouri grad, was asked his thoughts on Missouri joining the Big 10. At that point he said if we were asked we should go.
He then made a less than complimentary remark comparing academics at two Big 10 schools with academics at Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.
Many Missouri fans were excited about the possibility of joining the Big 10. However, university administrators were NEVER asked to apply for admission to the Big 10.
The nub's Tom Osborne, on the other hand, while "not trying to upset the balance and hoping to not have their hand forced" had been negotiating behind the scenes with the Big 10 for months.
Missouri did a horrible job from a public relations stand-point but did not "openly lobby" for admission to the Big 10 and I would ask you to provide proof otherwise. So far, the nubbin heads have been unable to do so.