The Acrimony continues.... I was suprised to read that OU and Texas decided to waive the 20M from the B12. I also found the threat to go to the SEC some what hollow since at the moment there is no offer and the conference expansion thing is maybe settled for a few years at least.
Of course OU and Texas waived their "share"... with the payout formula (more going to those on TV the most often) they know they will still get theirs, and can reap a PR bonanza from looking like good neighbors. A&M on the other hand HAD the opportunity to have GUARANTEED money... and our officials bought into the ridiculous idea that the Big XII could deliver on it's promises... Now we're just trying to MAKE them stand by what they said, and we look like the bad guys... I'm only surprised that A&M officials are actually trying to force the issue rather than slinking off into the shadows.
I don't blame you guys for wanting what was promised, and hopefully you'll get your money. I guess I'm confused as to when the money is due and if somebody has already told you that the deal is off and there is no 20M for you. Still think the threat to go to the SEC is a hollow one.
I'd agree the threat is probably not very real now... I can't believe they went along with all of this on a handshake back when we had the hammer in our hands, and could actually go...
I certainly don't have inside knowledge, but in my opinion the Aggies could easily get an SEC invitation if they wanted. It seems to me that after being in the shadow of Texas and Oklahoma that the Aggies are flexing their muscles in the new Big 12.
Bill, do you really think if A&M called Mike Slive today and said they wanted to come and start play ASAP that Slive would say yes? I don't believe that Slive and the SEC was all that eager to expand, and was only looking at it defensively should the B10 have gone to 16 teams along with an expanded PAC10 and an expired B12. With things calmed down for awhile now I don't believe the SEC would consider anybody right now.
You have a good point Terry. What I do think though is that if the Aggies wanted to leave the Big 12 that we would be back in the expansion mode. I hope it doesn't happen and that the Big 12 adds two to stay the Big 12. However I do think the Aggies hand is strengthened and that if the conference does fall apart they will go to the SEC.
All due respect to my brothers in College Station, at this point in time they don't have the resume to start another expansion round. If somebody else started it, like Texas, and it looked like the SEC would need to expand to maintain their position, sure A&M would be a good get for the SEC for the same reasons as before...access to the Texas market for the SEC. But they won't be a catalyst for a new round of expansion.
Terry, I never meant to say that the Aggies could trigger a whole new round by themselves. What I am saying is that if that mega conference thing raises it's ugly head again that I believe the Aggies could find a home in the SEC. Also I think the Big 12 is still fragile enough that if the Aggies were to leave it would be the end of the conference. I don't think that will happen and don't want it to happen, but it could. Thanks for posting those articles, I didn't know that Texas and Oklahoma were giving up their share of the money from Colorado and Nebraska. That's interesting.
My post probably gave that impression Terry but that is not really what I meant. I think Slive is very happy that the Big 12 stayed as a conference, however I also believe that if he thinks the Big 12 is going to fold that the SEC would bring in the Aggies and pursue Oklahoma. That's the camp I am in, I don't want to go to mega conferences, I like the number 12.
Interesting comment from A&M AD: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/campusrivalry/post/2010/09/texas-am-ad-was-concerned-aggies-were-not-ready-for-the-level-of-competition-in-sec-/1
Bill knows how to piss off the alums... that's for sure. Overall he's done a good job, but another few quotes like that, and he'll be on the bread line.