I guess the Texas leadership should have thought about that before they so blatantly started the "ME" club, and decided no one else in their "conference" was worth a hill of beans. Why is everyone so bent that we are leaving now? NU and CU left with pats on the back and well wishes... (ok maybe not that nice but you catch my drift). I mean according to the way Texas has been acting this year, they are the only ones that matter, so why do they suddenly care what A&M does??? Over the years I've heard a lot about how the rivalry is one way. OU is your true rival, not us. Good luck with that. (Terry, this is not directed at you... I'm really speaking about some of your fellow grads/fans I know up here.)
Is there any other team from Texas lying in the weeds ready to jump to the SEC with A&M? It the SEC wanted to go to 14 teams, it seems they could solve that problem by adding both A&M and TT although I am not sure how much TT would add to the SEC. A&M would be a good addition. Not sure how keen Florida would be to add FSU to the mix; ditto South Carolina re Clemson since being the only state member of the SEC enhances their recruiting in state. It would be sad to see the A&M/Texas rivalry end as it is a great, longstanding, rivalry with a colorful history; both schools mention the other in their fight songs; clash of cultures aking to M vs. MSU.
Bobda, I did read one person that thought there would be two teams from Texas. However it was not what I would call a credible site. More likely a team from the ACC like Va Tech. My personal opinion is that it will still happen with the Aggies but I sure don't know who the 14th team would be.
Two hurdles cleared today: 1) The board has given the president the power to "adjust" our conference affiliation as he sees fit. 2) The meeting tomorrow with the Higher Ed board has been cancelled. Bob, I'm not aware of any other teams in Texas the SEC is interested in other than Texas who has NO interest in going that way.
So Scott, do you still see this happening? If so how do you see the time frame? A lot of SEC fans would like to see the Aggies in the SEC.
Bill, Yep... full speed ahead. ESPN is doing their best to make us look bad, but our leaders have had enough, and are pressing forward. I suspect the timing totally resides with the SEC. You have to decide who the 14th team will be and when you want it all to come together. kp... no, the F-word was already hired by a bunch of big cigars while we were still searching for a new AD. He had to take what he got. And boy did we "take it"! :evil:
Whew, I was about to say if that writer thought that was a great hire he doesn't know college football. By the way, Scott, the reason I am not wanting the SEC to expand has nothing to do with A&M. I am just not sure what the superconference thing does for anyone. The TV networks get to negotiate with fewer organizations, I guess. :?
kp, I differ with you for two reasons. First and foremost I think the Aggies would be a great addition to the SEC and they would fit with us well. Second, while I think the mega conferences will take something away from some rivalries, I also think it is inevitable and if the SEC strikes first with the teams we want that is not a bad thing.
kp, I have no problem with you liking your conference like it is... even if you just didn't want us moving in I would understand. I'm not a big fan of the superconference model, except for two things: 1. It will get us closer to a possible playoff. 2. It will probably allow the new conferences to abandon the inept NCAA. I like playing all the teams in your league, but I guess that's a thing of the past. So... I'll take what comes and hope for the best.
Does that include LSU? Are you willing to forgive and forget how they screwed you over on that last contract? :!: :!:
My memory may be slipping Terry but if you are referring to LSU dropping the Aggies, I believe that was brought about by the increased number of SEC games played by each team every year. To the best of my knowledge LSU would welcome playing the Aggies every year.
Terry, as I think you know, I respect you very much. However you are asking a lot of questions here as to the Aggies, but it seems to me you should be asking some questions as to why Nebraska, Colorado and now Texas A & M want to leave the conference. The first two were long time members of the old Big 8 and the Aggies were part of the SWC with Texas forever. While SEC teams will kill each other on the field, recruiting and antagonism toward each others fans. To the best of my knowledge what we do as a conference benefits all teams. That doesn't seem to be true in the Big 12 and it appears a lot of teams want to leave Texas behind. I even read somewhere that Oklahoma was negotiating with the Big 10 recently. Perhaps Texas should take a look at Texas??
Bill I'm just a little ticked at this turn of events. A&M/UT has been a great rivalry, my family has graduates from both schools and there has always made for a great Thanksgiving weekend. Now that's poof! The Neb deal was inevitable from the day they formed the B12, Neb had been the big dog in the Big 8 and got everything they wanted and when Texas came in things changed and they never liked it, they also never liked the fact that they could only beat Texas 1 time in all their years in the B12 and that Texas beat one of their best teams ever in the first B12 Championship games costing them a Nat'l Title shot. Colorado don't really care about those guys they are nor relevant and I don't think Texas had anything to do with them leaving. They have wanted to be in the Pac10 for a long time. I am not absolving Texas of anything, the Longhorn Network and unequal revenue sharing is a problem and I admit we've shown arrogance in dealing with this.
I'll echo what Dave said, we will be always grateful. And I don't blame you for being upset as a fan, but I also have to say that if I was in the Aggies shoes I would have to feel like they do with the LHN and other factors. So let me ask you this, do you think that Texas is aiming at becoming an independent? That is a rumor making the rounds also.
No I really don't think they are aiming to become and independent. I do think they are doing what they think is best for UT in terms of taking advantage of what is available to them financially. Thus we have the LHN, seriously do you think if Jeremy Foley had been approached with a 300 Million dollar offer from ESPN to create a Fla based Gator Network they would have said no? That said we are already one of the richest Athletic programs in the country, so it's too bad the search for even more revenue ended up like this. I do believe that Texas wants the B12 to survive, even if they went independent in football they would have to have a conference to play all their other sports. Even the Irish couldn't make it as an independent in non-football sports and that is why we joined the Big East. I am not sure whether or not the B12 will replace Texas A&M, I think they should and there are a number of teams that would fit the bill from a program standpoint like TCU, Houston and Louisville. I really think all of those teams would work great. None of them bring in the "TV sets" that everybody desires but they all would make a lot of sense for the conference and have good programs already or in Houston's case a situation where they are poised to grow their programs. I think Texas would only go independent if the B12 just fell apart.
Bill, LSU had a 10 year contract with us for home and home games. They broke it and then refused to pay the penalty fees. We would have had to sue them in Louisiana courts, so that was a dead end... They can't get out of this deal... so we won't mind some payback at Kyle in the next few years. Terry, No one can blame Texas for looking out for Texas, but they created this situation. Money aside, the ESPN monster that is being created should scare everyone that enjoys college football. ESPN is now a major "booster" of Texas, and can in no way assure anyone that they will remain unbiased with regard to reporting on Texas or their rivals. The "articles" that have been coming out this week have only reinforced this fact. When you invest $300 million, you are going to make sure that investment looks as good as possible and slam anyone who threatens them...
Terry, I do not know this for a fact, but I don't believe it would have done ESPN any good to come to the Gators with that deal because I don't think SEC rules would have allowed it to happen. While I don't blame Texas for looking out for themselves, I do believe being in a conference it becomes necessary to give up some things you might do as an independent. So if what I think is right then Foley would have had to make a decision between being in the SEC and not being in the SEC before saying yes or no to ESPN.