Hatefest: That’ll be the Big 12 if Texas A&M is forced to stay
"Before I'm through, I'll impeach Mike Slive!" (AP photo)
OK, next question. What happens if Texas A&M is forced to stay in the Big 12-which-is-really-10-and-is-going-on-nine? Wouldn’t that be the grouchiest family this side of the Kardashians?
You’d have everybody hating Texas and its TV network. (Which perhaps will offer its own reality-based Kardashian spin-off: “Bruce Jenner and Lamar Odom take Bevo shopping on Rodeo Drive.”) You’d have everybody despising the Aggies for wanting to leave. You’d have Nebraska and Colorado … actually you wouldn’t, seeing as how they’re already gone. You’d have Oklahoma assessing options, and no school has the options OU does. You’d have Oklahoma State wondering what Oklahoma is doing.
You’d have a mess so panoramic that, at some point, somebody’s going to say: “Was it really such a great idea to threaten to go to court to keep this conference together?” And then everybody would start hating Baylor, who’s seen as the ringleader in the stop-the-Aggies-moving movement.
Me, I give this aggregation another year, tops.
Texas A&M is going to leave: That’s a given. It might cost the Aggies financially — an exit bribe, if you will — but they’re going. They hate Texas more than they love money. They’ve already been invited to join the SEC by unanimous vote. Try getting the diminished Big 12 to be unanimous on everything. Whatever Texas wants, everybody else doesn’t want.
(Switching conferences for a second, it’s kind of like Jim Valvano’s description of ACC meetings involving officials: If Dean Smith said he liked a ref, the other coaches would blackball the guy.)
The Aggies will wind up in the SEC soon enough. (Although the league has to be wondering, “What did we do to deserve this?” It was A&M that approached the SEC, not the other way around.) And the Big 12 will either find somebody of comparable worth or collapse. Lost in Wednesday’s Baylor-fueled furor was this little nugget from Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long: Not long ago, Long said, the Big 12 asked Arkansas if it would like to join.
Given that Arkansas was once in a league with Texas — it was called the Southwest Conference, as students of ancient history know — and wound up fleeing, that might have seemed a sign the Razorbacks wouldn’t be interested. (Which Long insists they aren’t. Nobody’s leaving the SEC now. Most everybody else wants into the SEC.) But it shows how desperate the Big 12 is.
Another year, tops. And then Texas and Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will be in the Pac-15 and Texas A&M will be based in the SEC West and Baylor will be threatening to sue everybody. But Baylor has, as its president, a man known for dragging out legal proceedings. His name is Kenneth Starr.
Hey, does Whitewater have a football team?
(Actually, Wisconsin-Whitewater does play football. It has won three of the past four Division III titles. Somebody investigate that program!)
By Mark Bradley
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92 comments Add your comment
Otto
September 8th, 2011
11:37 am
What Tx A&M brings to the markert? Seriously?
TV set sets, lots of the in Texas without the Drama of the Texas Longhorns.
Also add that the SEC would be the only conference with schools in 2 of the 3 top talent producing states (FL, TX, and CA).
BankRoll Tide!
September 8th, 2011
11:39 am
Considering the new military recruitment policy as a result of this recent “Hope & Change” nonsense, perhaps Texas A&M should another consonant to the beginning of its team nickname.
“How about an ‘F,’ Pat?”
Maybe that is what Jan Kemp would do.
Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute
September 8th, 2011
11:39 am
All college football is filled with guys like me.
TomB
September 8th, 2011
11:44 am
Like I said Otto, money is the only thing A&M brings to the SEC. We might as well pay the players, ban the NCAA and have a semi professional league. The hypocrisy of college presidents today is astounding.
Les Davis
September 8th, 2011
11:44 am
OK, football clearly drives everything else. But Baylor did end up 36th in Director’s Cup for overall
sports; 6th in the Big 12, champions in basketball, tennis, track, softball – in other words, they are very competitive in all sports with football in the best position in years. But, of course, it is $$$$.
ATLBadger
September 8th, 2011
11:45 am
Nice UW-Whitewater reference!
Jefferson
September 8th, 2011
11:45 am
Let’s at least grasp the situation instead of fanning the flames. Baylor has NOT threatened to sue anyone. They simply clarified for Dan Beebe, who conveyed an incorrect message to A&M’s President and Mike Slive, that while the Big XII agreed not to sue A&M or the SEC (that’s what was voted on by the member schools), that didn’t waive the legal rights of the individual schools. That’s just one act in a long line of incompetence by the Big XII commish. Unfortunately for A&M, the SEC extended the invitation based upon the understanding that each school would waive their legal rights to sue either of the two parties. Why would any school waive their rights when the future is incredibly unpredictable, and some schools may lose 10’s of millions of dollars after their conference implodes? Furthermore, why would the SEC require this unprecedented stipulation while inviting a fellow member unless they had some concern of their own or the invited parties behavior? Why not simply waive it, or have A&M provide the SEC with indemnification and be done with it? Both the SEC and A&M have as much ability to solve this as Baylor, Iowa St., KU, or KState.
Grantland Rice
September 8th, 2011
11:45 am
How long until JJ throws buckets of money at the SEC and the SECC game is moved to Jerry World?
DawgDad
September 8th, 2011
11:47 am
Texas has been a cancer within the Big-12. It’s bullying tactics were a main motivator for Nebraska leaving the conference, and I can’t believe any school in the Conference is happy with them. The Big-8 entered into a Faustian bargain when it absorbed the remnants of the SWC. There’s a lesson to be learned here for the SEC and other conferences: Be VERY careful what you wish for, and who you do business with.
Otto
September 8th, 2011
11:53 am
TomB, yes the players should be paid but not because they’re semi pro but because they give up so much time for the game, when are they going to work. Further if they do get in a job in a college town the NCAA is on them for getting some unfair benefit from an alum or friend of the program. A cost of living allowance would be a good thing. Further they can’t talk to recruiters when a multi million dollar job is on the line. Guidance encouraged me to network in my future job field and to keep my options open in as many fields as possible.
The hypocrisy is centered in the NCAA.
Grantland Rice
September 8th, 2011
11:57 am
Don’t forget to pay the women’s volleyball and lacrosse teams too!
Mike
September 8th, 2011
12:01 pm
I agree, Mark. This house of cards has been ready to collapse as soon as Texas got the keys to the city. How forcing A&M to stay will help is beyond me. I dont see why Baylor is so worried. The 4 Superconference model will never happen. The Big East will see to that. They are in trouble of losing teams if the ACC and Big 10 (and SEC if the WVU rumors are true) decide to expand. In a self preservation move, the Big East is looking at picking up the Big 12 remnants. The PAC12 and Big 10 are the only conferences that would benefit from going to 16 teams anyway. The way I see this shaking out is:
SEC picks up A&M and then WVU from the Big East leaving the Big East with 8 teams.
PAC12 becomes the first superconference adding OU, OSU, Texas, and Texas Tech.
Big 10 becomes second superconference adding Missouri, ND, Syracuse, and Pitt.
Down to 6 football members, the Big East sweeps up Baylor, Kansas, Kansas St., Iowa St. to get back to 10. Then they add SMU and Houston from Conference USA to make 12 (just in case the ACC comes calling). They split into East/West divisions.
The ACC stays put as there really isnt anyone left they can pry away unless they can get Louisville and Connecticut from the Big East. Then they would stop at 14, and the Big East would be left at 10.
As a side note, the MWC will replace the Big 12 as the sixth automatic qualifier and BYU will rejoin the conference.
Joey
September 8th, 2011
12:03 pm
Mark, Slick Willie didn’t help with Starr’s dragged-out legal process with his “depends on what the meaning of the word is, is.” Just being slick.
He was so bad, what almost never happens, happened. He was disbarred.
GTBob
September 8th, 2011
12:04 pm
Don’t forget to pay the women’s volleyball and lacrosse teams too!
It’s a funny thought but it would have to happen if they started paying football players and the pay would have to be equal for everyone.
@Grantland Rice
September 8th, 2011
12:04 pm
Some new horses for the equestrian program would be nice, too. And hay is getting expensive. There is nothing more riveting than an equestrian match/show/game…whatever. Go Dawgs on horses!
Joey
September 8th, 2011
12:07 pm
Curious George, don’t look now but your ACC is gaining on us, what with longtime cheater, NC State, Ga Tech (twice), and UNC.
Glass houses . . .
Rufus1
September 8th, 2011
12:13 pm
College Football Welfare…
Baylor wants college football welfare and just like any welfare recipient, doesn’t want to “fend” for themselves.
TomB
September 8th, 2011
12:16 pm
No, Otto, I respectfully disagree. While I don’t dispute your NCAA hypocrisy, I believe fully that the major blame lies with the Universities. Remember these kids are suppose to be student athletes, and the student part is suppose to come first. This, unfortunately is not the case anymore. The reason you are seeing a drive for expansion is for one reason only, and that is to enrich their respective athletic programs. Just look at the athletic budgets of some of these SEC schools. This has nothing to do with academics so you in essence have University Presidents talking out of both sides of their mouth. In one sentence they espouse the academic side stressing that we are for developing today’s student athletes in preparation the for the real world. But in essence their actions demonstrate the polar opposite of this message. These decisions are never made with academics in mind. Bringing in Texas A&M to the SEC is all about TV money. What do they do with this money? They pay their coaches ever increasing amounts of money, pad their athletic programs with not one dime going to academics. So you tell me where the hypocrisy properly belongs?
robodawg
September 8th, 2011
12:16 pm
What DID we (the SEC) do to deserve this?! Now we get to travel to College Station every now and then? At least we’ll have that all important access to a TV market. But don’t think for a second they’re doing this for the fans.
BTW, Atlanta is considered an “ACC market” b/c Tech is located here. That’s why instead of the biggest game of the week on ABC’s regional coverage, we get to watch Boston College play Maryland.
And now onto the games...
September 8th, 2011
12:17 pm
More of the same in Athens. SC scores early and often onto a romp of Uga
37-24
Ga tech amazes again in passing efficiency throwing 10-15 for 240 yards and rolls to a 42-21 win
robodawg
September 8th, 2011
12:20 pm
Mark, so is Texas’ end game really to join the PAC-whatever? I wonder how their fans are feeling about all this. (Or the Sooner fans for that matter.)
Dr. Phil
September 8th, 2011
12:31 pm
There is certainly enough talent in Texas for A&M to field a competitive program. Adding A&M to the SEC should lure some of that Texas talent to other SEC schools. It would be a good move. I served with quite a few Aggies in the Army. That is a lively and dedicated fan base.
Mark Bradley
September 8th, 2011
12:32 pm
I don’t think Texas has an endgame. I think Texas is content to do whatever. It’s got its network.
7576DAWG
September 8th, 2011
12:45 pm
Texas A & M is doing nothing different than Baylor did to the South West Conference to help form the Big -12. What hypocrites. I certainly don’t blame Texas A & M wanting to go to a conference that treat their members as equals but they can only blame themselves when they signed the new contract last summer. It would have been an easy move if they had not done that.
Tide Rising
September 8th, 2011
12:46 pm
mark,
How and why is it that no big 12 members sued when Nebraska and Colorado left last year but all of a sudden they now want to sue if A&M leaves? Anyone know how or why this is?
Beast from the East
September 8th, 2011
12:47 pm
Mark,
Heard Schlabach on the radio this morning and he made mention that the NCAA needs someone like Goodell to help with these type situations.
It’s becoming a free for all out there in the world of college ahtletics. Most schools are out for themselves when it comes to conference affiliation, apparel contracts, television contracts, etc. The rich will only get richer and the poor will be left by the wayside. I’m no socialist, by any means, but it could really be damaging for many universities in the long run if they’re not able to land in one of the futuristic “super conferences”.
I think it might be a good idea. Your thoughts?
Dr. Phil
September 8th, 2011
12:48 pm
TomB, you are exactly right. Many top recruits view college football as the pathway to the NFL and big money. Coaches play on this and use it as a recruiting incentive. So, we have individuals showboating on the field, who have no affinity for the university or the educational opportunity they are offered. In the recent tv special, Herschel Walker said that he owed his success in life to his high school coach and to the University of Georgia. That kind of respect for the institution is lacking these days. Walker left early for a big contract and admitted that was a huge mistake. The other problem is with university presidents who too frequently are politicians and not educators. Gee and Adams are prime examples. If university presidents raised admission standards for athletes to the level of regular students, most of these behavior issues would disappear and perhaps restore meaning the term “student athlete.”
Tide Rising
September 8th, 2011
12:50 pm
For the record I was initially glad that Baylor was going to sue A&M to keep them since I think the SEC is fine as a 12 member league. Then someone reminded me that Baylor helped engineer the the destruction of the old swc and Baylor being included along with Texas, A&M, and Tex Tech in the new big 12. They left out members like Houston, SMU, Rice, and TCU. It was all politics as then Governor Ann Richards held up the deal unless Baylor was allowed to go with the other big 3 to the big 12. Screw you Baylor is what a lot of people must be saying now that remember that.
Theron Sapp
September 8th, 2011
12:53 pm
Mr. Bradley, any idea why the SEC reportedly will not consider more schools from its current states? Wouldn’t FSU be better than, say, Missouri? Having Auburn and Alabama doesn’t seem to have hurt the conference too much.
SEC WEST
September 8th, 2011
12:57 pm
Mark,
Not everyone wants in the SEC. Those not wanting: Oklahoma, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Maryland and Missouri (unless they have no other options). Teams wanting in: A&M, FSU, Clemson, Louisville, and West Virginia. Fence sitters: GT (Some of their fans want in badly, others absolutely not we want the Big Ten or stay ACC).
More seem to want in the Big Ten than the SEC. Thinking of Syracuse, Rutgers, Maryland, GT?, etc.
Tom Webster
September 8th, 2011
1:04 pm
I see all the comments that it is about money. Our coach at Tennessee said that it wasn’t about money it was about how much.
. We have a smart coach in Knoxville.
T3
September 8th, 2011
1:14 pm
IF……….TXAM is legally forced to stay in the BIG12,
BIG12 football is going to be…MUST…SEE…TV.
Bad blood makes for compelling football games,
and there will be LOADS of it in the BIG12.
Old Dawg
September 8th, 2011
1:17 pm
glsjunior: Sewanee still has a football team, and it struggles in D-III.
On the A&M subject, despite the Dallas and Houston TV markets, the Aggies really don’t add anything to the SEC. In fact, travel schedules etc will be create nightmarish budgets for women’s and non-revenue sports. Sure, the SEC has a huge TV contract but does the conference really want to lose money with the addition of another team?
Other than Virginia Tech, I can’t think of a school that would add anything to the SEC. Clemson and FSU are out because of the schools from their states already in the conference. And who’s really considering Louisville and similar programs?
Let’s hold on to what we got and let the Big 12 fit this out in court.
And, to hell with Texas!!!!!!!!!!!!
RamblinLonghorn
September 8th, 2011
1:19 pm
Enjoy the Aggies dawgs, they are kindred spirits: Delusion and envy define both programs.
R
September 8th, 2011
1:55 pm
Even money Ken Starr will somehow bring up a cigar in his argument against TAMU.
ckgator
September 8th, 2011
3:02 pm
@ SEC West – FSU does NOT want into the SEC. They far and away have the easy road to the BCS from their compfy seat in the ACC.
@ Herschel Talker: You are a loyal and demented individual, and part of what makes college football fanage so fun.
Go Gators!
K Wills
September 8th, 2011
6:17 pm
‘Ramlinbuzz’…..If you did your research you will find that TAM is a much more interesting and tradition rich school than ANYONE in fhe SEC. I detest TAM, but they are very rich, very large, very tradition rich…much more so than the SEC. As a mater of fact, TAM has a high academic rating, large endowment, good sports programs, 50000 students on their main Campus, a unique marching band, many unique traditions…I actually believe that TAM is much too much quality of a University to be going to the SEC where low academic standards, probation, and low entrance standards for athletes is the standard. But, having said that, I detest TAM. They can be very dangerous and intimidating to visiting fans…just ask the Rice Owl Band and the SMU Cheerleaders. I sincerely hope they are permitted to join the SEC quickly, like at the end of this week. I look forward to their departure and good riddance of the constant jealousy, whining, and bickering. I thought Nebraska was bad, but TAM is right up there with them.
K Wills
September 8th, 2011
6:21 pm
Tom Webster, you’re Coach couldn’t be too smart if he chooses to be at Tennessee where Freshmen have to be taught what shoes and toothbrushes and deodorant is.
K Wills
September 8th, 2011
6:26 pm
Tide Rising , I remember very well how Baylor who was one of the most undeserving schools got the nod to join and much more deserving schools like my school (UH)…Baylor has contributed less even than they contributed to the SWC whereas UH won several league Championships and several major bowls and was nationally ranked most years and had fantastic basketball teams (remember the phi slamma jamm?), really good track/swimming/basketball teams. So, yes I am still smarting from that backhand even after 16 years.
browndog
September 8th, 2011
8:00 pm
My understand is that the SEC has NO penalty for any member wishing to leave the conference. Says a lot, doesn’t it? No school would ever consider leaving the SEC today to go to another conference, just too much money involved.
Gatormeat
September 9th, 2011
8:06 am
RamblinLonghorn, as much as it hurts me to say anything good about the dogs, I remember them meeting your undefeated Longhorns in a Cotton Bowl when that game still mattered and sending Texas home with a loss. You guys stay in the Big 12 or go west to the Pac 12, you would not make it here in the SEC with the big boys like Florida, Alabama, and LSU
Big Albany Dawg
September 9th, 2011
3:20 pm
Really???
I understand the money part, but why A&M and not Texas or Oklahoma? That would be like another leage inviting Ky or Vandy into it’s league.