B12 Contacted BYU, ND and Pitt

[byucougar1]

Last night it was reported Austin's station KXAN that the Big12 had initiated contact with these teams. Note this is an inquiry and not an offer. It was also noted that A&M may make a formal announcement to leave by next Thursday.

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[GolfDiveNCougs]

Well, it can't be much (any) later than Thursday, that's the deadline.

[Cougarbib]

Although all Big 12 Presidents indicated that they would like A&M to stay, they have to be growing weary of the annual drama. We have not heard of The Big 12 making some big concession to keep them and it is not clear that there is even any big concession that A&M even wants. They just seem to want to 1-up Texas and an SEC invite is about the only way to convince themselves that they have done so. Hopefully for A&M they will be able to compete in the SEC. Quite frankly, they have been mediocre in the Big 12. To really 1-up Texas, it is just like us and the Utes. It gets settled on the field head-to-head and in national rankings, Bowl wins, and National Championships. When was the last time A&M won one?

I did not hear of any hard-ball attempts to keep A&M in the conference. They will just need to write a severance check for the other teams to share - with most likely a provision that whomever replaces A&M or if teams are added to get back to 12, they won't get any of that $10-20M. No lawsuits against the SEC being postured and Texas Politicians seem to think that having SEC and Big 12 teams is good for the state.

Unless the SEC gets weak-kneed, A&M is gone. And then it is anyone's best guess what dominoes start to fall after that. Last time everyone counted the Big 12 out and judged their commish as incompetent, he kicked the PAC right in the cup and the can and they got stuck with Utah and Colorado. It is a long-shot, but if Big 12 pulls off ND, Pitt, and BYU, three Independence minded teams over time if I remember Pitt history correctly, they will have the most innovative and in-tune conference in college football, and will be capable of grabbing 4 more teams any time they desire to do so.

Remember - the SEC is locked into a very long TV contract, and the Big 12 will be renegotiating their's much sooner - and TV rules in this brave new world.

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[BroncoBot]

Although all Big 12 Presidents indicated that they would like A&M to stay, they have to be growing weary of the annual drama. We have not heard of The Big 12 making some big concession to keep them and it is not clear that there is even any big concession that A&M even wants. They just seem to want to 1-up Texas and an SEC invite is about the only way to convince themselves that they have done so. Hopefully for A&M they will be able to compete in the SEC. Quite frankly, they have been mediocre in the Big 12. To really 1-up Texas, it is just like us and the Utes. It gets settled on the field head-to-head and in national rankings, Bowl wins, and National Championships. When was the last time A&M won one?

I did not hear of any hard-ball attempts to keep A&M in the conference. They will just need to write a severance check for the other teams to share - with most likely a provision that whomever replaces A&M or if teams are added to get back to 12, they won't get any of that $10-20M. No lawsuits against the SEC being postured and Texas Politicians seem to think that having SEC and Big 12 teams is good for the state.

Unless the SEC gets weak-kneed, A&M is gone. And then it is anyone's best guess what dominoes start to fall after that. Last time everyone counted the Big 12 out and judged their commish as incompetent, he kicked the PAC right in the cup and the can and they got stuck with Utah and Colorado. It is a long-shot, but if Big 12 pulls off ND, Pitt, and BYU, three Independence minded teams over time if I remember Pitt history correctly, they will have the most innovative and in-tune conference in college football, and will be capable of grabbing 4 more teams any time they desire to do so.

Remember - the SEC is locked into a very long TV contract, and the Big 12 will be renegotiating their's much sooner - and TV rules in this brave new world.

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This last phrase is the key. If the big xii lets BYU keep their BYUtv rights and negotiate their own network (that's the only way that ND joins as well) then I'm fine with being part of the party. Otherwise I'd advise staying away from the big xii. Who knows what the next tv contract is going to bring for the rest of the teams in that conference.