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Conference realignment
here is another kicker
maybe super conferences are closer than we thought. What do you think? projections where they will go? if they actually go?
I think just the fact that they are looking marks the end of the Big 12. There is no way Tech or Kansas/ K-state keep sitting around waiting for their fate to be decided. Word is Tech already has a place lined up and is just waiting.
DD born 1.25.15
Re: Conference realignment
TTC #1 since 08/11 IUI#2 = BFP!
Where would Tech go?
Mizzou could go SEC...
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My guess is Tech will go to the PAC 12. I don't think academically they fit the big 10. I have a feeling PAC 12 is trying to woo several current big 12 teams including OU, OSU and Tech. I question whether they are really interested in Texas. I don't think they want to touch the longhorn network, and honestly I don't know how much flexibility Texas has to change their current situation with the network to make it palatable to any conference. But Texas would pull in more TV markets and money so PAC 12 might be willing to work with ESPN and the Longhorns.
I think mizzou is really wanting the Big 10. The SEC talk is just noise. They would be a much better fit in the Big 10 than the SEC, and I think regionally they don't make any sense for the SEC. Texas A&M is already adding quite a few miles to the sec.
Also, I'm all for a group of 4 "super conferences". Maybe then we'd finally get some sort of playoff.
I find it quite intriguing you are correct. Mostly I think the NCAA football system as it stands is crap. BCS is a big joke and I think super confrences is the best way to turn those tables for the better. I find the Big 12 to be ridiculously unstable and if our demise is for the better of college football then great.
OSU has also spoken up that they are ready to look at other options. I think all in all, this is a good thing.
Definitely has a lot to do with the Longhorn Network, I think.
As a K-Stater, we are hoping that they speak up soon because it's an every man for himself type situation and if you don't advocate for your own program, then you'll be left in the dust. I can't imagine KU or KSU playing in Conference USA.....
Super conferences are closer and the good thing would definitely be a playoff type situation!
What's your school? I can't remember right now.
The thing is SEC won't allow networks like the lhn nor will the PAC 12 or the big 10 for the solidarity of the conference. The closest is the PAC 12 where they have regional networks shared by schools. (which I think is the best chance Texas has for ending up on a conference after this if they share the network with Tech and maybe the OK schools). Schools may want it but they have to want it more than a conference. It can happen for sure but I think its a lot riskier than teams want right now.
Texas got a good deal I can't blame them for taking it. I don't like how they are blatantly disregarding the agreement and parameters we set for the network last year. Their disregard for the agreement with the Big 12 is I think the primary reason we decided we were fed up with them. Texas kept pushing and we were tired of having to push back. I am also not a fan of ESPN's involvement in the network. I think it makes ESPN vested in one team doing better than the rest, and not conducive to fair reporting. I think ESPN should have to follow ncaa rules on all their channels now. Besides the fact there is still a good chance of will flop people in Austin can't even watch the lhn.
EDITED for clarity. My phone hates formatting on this forum.
I thought distance wasn't/shouldn't be an issue?
And that "fit" is all relative?
TI, IUIs, IVF = c/ps and BFNs
Actually I think we culturally fit in the SEC and I think most Mizzou fans will tell you they fit better in the Big 10. That is my opinion. Many SEC fans have said the same thing. You disagree, but won't say why.
I never said distance wasn't and issue. Just not the primary focus. I acknowledged we did add distance, but not near as much as Mizzou. And again, WE would be the ones primarily effected by the travel.
I never said that I think Mizzou is a good fit for the SEC, in fact, I don't.
I just think it is ironic that those are your two main points.
FWIW, Columbia is much closer to most current SEC schools than College Station is.
TI, IUIs, IVF = c/ps and BFNs
And I think you are the queen of circular arguments.
Interesting! I didn't know that about the other conferences not allowing that. I can see where they're coming from, but can also see how schools might start pushing for it anyway if/when the Longhorn network does well. Thanks for the info!
ETA: I'm a K-Stater.
I think her main issue with us is that we're Aggies, since she's a self-proclaimed UT fan. Which is fine, I wish she'd just own it. I can actually respect "I don't want you in the SEC because I'm a UT fan and think A&M sucks."
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She's not an Auburn fan?
Mizzou is a terrible fit for the the SEC. Geographically, it straddles the south and the midwest, but if you look at the "natural rivals" of Mizzou, those are Illinois (Big Ten) and Kansas (Big Twelve). If Mizzou is going to go anywhere,it's should be either of those.
A&M geographically doesn't fit in the profile of the SEC. It would be a huge PITA to travel there and most conferences try to have travel partners so it allows the student-athletes to get to/from school and competitions in the most efficient way possible.
Texas Tech going to the Pac-12 is a big fat joke and will never happen. They just added Utah and Colorado.
The biggest factor is media presence. The Big Ten actually looked at adding Rutgers and Syracuse because of the media presence those schools represent in NYC. Delaney took Nebraska because it's a somewhat natural fit for the Big 10, but Nebraska was taken as a consolation prize. Rutgers and Syracuse turned down offers from the Big 10 because the travel expense would suck, particularly for Syracuse.
So going back to the SEC and adding A&M or Tech moving, and it's my understanding that Slive is similar to Delaney (of the Big 10) in that they both want to grow the conference in the business sense, Tech and A&M offer nothing in terms of media presence. They are both in tiny towns, and the largest markets in Texas (Houston and Dallas) have diverse loyalties.
I don't think Tech will be moving and if A&M doesn't go to the SEC, I won't be that surprised. I think it's a big game of chicken, mostly for political purposes.
FWIW, I e-mailed DH (he used to work for a Big East school and was part of a conference comission reviewing and studying the possible entries/exits of the conferences). This is his opinion:
A&M wants into the SEC. If there isn't a lawsuit, then the SEC will issue the invite and that would cause Mizzou to go to the SEC. The basis of a possibe lawsuit is that the other Big 12 schools, if they decide to stay together, could sue A&M if A&M's leaving costs the Big 12 their existing TV deal. A&M agreed to stay in the conference which got the TV deal in the first place, and if they leave and Fox pulls the deal, then the conference could sue and keep A&M from moving to a different conference. A&M also would have to pay a huge leaving fee.
Mizzou would go to the SEC because it doesn't "offer" anything to the Big 10.
If Texas went to the Pac-12, then it would have to take Texas Tech as a partner deal. It's a political move, similar to what happened with Baylor when it joined the Big 12 and when VaTech moved to the ACC.
And Kansas (!) and K-State (!!) would get Big East invites. Even though geographically it's a PITA, it's becoming increasingly irrelevant. KU and K-State don't have anywhere to go, so the Big East would want to get them to increase their marketing footprint and KU would add to an already strong basketball conference. TCU is joining the Big East starting next year - football and TV drives everything, which is why Kansas isn't being talked about for the other major conferences despite being one of the top basketball programs in the country, year after year.
Obviously I was mistaken about the markets - my husband was not. But then again, he does this stuff for a living, so I trust what he says. I wasn't aware of all the crap behind the scenes (because talking about possible recruits and the upcoming season is way more fun than talking about where the schools are going).
Anyway, his mention of Kansas and K-State to the Big East is what surprised me the most.
I believe Texas wanted to go to the PAC-12 last year but A&M decided to stay and thus the LHN came about. I think that the PAC-12 would be willing to work with the ESPN/LHN because of the revenue it could bring the PAC-12. I would love to have OU, OSU, Texas and Tech join the PAC and become the Pac-16. I'm thinking Texas wants to go Pac-12 but we want OU to make the move since we're already the bad guy in the Big 12. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the LHN in general but I guarantee you it will not be the last network dedicated to one school. Actually I would have loved to have a TEXAS network that would focus on all schools and show HS football games.
[burnt orange glasses]I know I'll probably get flamed for this but oh well... What the SEC will soon discover is that A&M thinks very highly of themselves and you can't always argue with them. They do not like to admit their faults. Many aggies believe their program is on par with the Alabama's, OU's and Texas. While their fan base is very loyal I really cannot see them becoming a true part of SEC where they support ALL SEC teams. They think they are bringing in tons of benefits to the SEC. I really don't think the SEC needs that much help from A&M. A&M may help get them access to recruits in the state of Texas. [/burnt orange glasses]
I read the "intro" post yesterday, and she lists UT as one of her teams she follows. It's NBD, but I think that's where some of her, um, fiery-ness is coming from...
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Oh, and 2 more things...D/FW has a huge amount of Aggie alums...huge. I used to have a link, but of course I can't find it now when I need it.
And name me a school that doesn't think they can compete?? Especially when they're consistently in the Top 25? (14 times in the last 25 years, comparable to Texas, 17 times in the last 25 years).
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Based on what I have read and the actions of the university with the "will they or won't they" I'm getting that sense. The alumni seem to be exceedingly loyal, but maybe the loyalty seems to be from pride from being alumni and not necessarily their championship heritage (save the track teams and women's basketball). Or maybe it's a "little brother syndrome" since when people think of college sports in Texas, UT is the one that comes up the most.
When I think of the business side and how the overall program fits into the SEC, I just don't see it. The whole thing just seems as kind of a "f*ck you" to Texas. (Of course, this is from someone who has no vested interest in where the university goes since neither my DH or myself have ties to Texas, except for our one friend who works at Baylor Athletics.)
Ok, I lied...1 more thing
...
We want to go our own way. Why is that wrong? Maybe we'll get killed in the SEC, maybe we won't. But we want the opportunity to map our own future. Regardless of where you think we "belong," why is that ridiculous?
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meh. I think a lot of it is we want our own identity outside the state of Texas. I think we are very proud and loyal fans, but most Aggies I talk to don't think we are on par with Bama, LSU etc in football. They don't think we will do well the moment we step foot into the SEC. I think most Aggies think this is a way to remarket ourselves to recruits. A&M and UT in the same state, in the same conference did not benefit our recruiting at all. We have a very great and unique atmosphere, that got us a lot of talent. Going to the SEC will give us a lot of recruiting tools.
The will they won't they crap didn't come from us. (and yes I get why you say that) For the last 2 months it has been clear to me that we would not be in the Big 12 next year. BUT because Texas and Baylor got their legal teams together and pressured A&M as well as every SEC team with legal action if we left we had to change direction on our approach. SEC had to make it clear we courted them not the other way around. And we had to make that clear as well for the SEC to be willing to vote us in, along with covering all our bases legally. And the media had a LOT to do with that. ESPN has a big stake in what we do. We mess up a bunch of their contracts with the move, and it was in their best interest to stay in the Big 12 so their spin was naturally in favor of that.
On the business side of things we were tired of being the ones fighting Texas all the time. That is why Nebraska left last year we just waited a year. But when we realized that Texas was going to keep pushing the envelope on everything, it became time to look elsewhere. SEC was fiscally a good move apparently for both sides.