5 replies to this topic

[dag]

you seem to have a foothold on this realignment. what is your gut telling you? sec, big 12, or pac-10

[HeyMoe]

I don't have connections. Hell, the money I donate to the 12th Man Foundation is barely enough to pay for toilet in the men's room. They did promise to name the toilet after me though.

This is however, the kind of thing that's going to get thrown at A&M now that it's out in the open that we're flirting with the SEC. How intense it gets depends largely on whether the deal falls apart if A&M balks. If A&M leaving doesn't affect the deal, then the attitude of everyone else might be "good riddance". But if the deals off without A&M, then can A&M take the heat they're going to get from all sides? I suspect not.

And another thing; this is it for A&M and the SEC. This is our last chance. If we don't go now, we never will.

Well, here we are. I think the bottom line is that Texas underestimated the feistiness of A&M on this deal. So did I. Texas simply thought that A&M would follow along as they've always done, grumbling and grousing but assuming their place walking a half-step behind them. So did I. Late Wednesday night this thing was 90% PAC per Looch. Then the SEC supporters went to work and turned the tide. This is also I think a result of technology. 40 years ago this would have been decided over brisket at Tom's and nobody would have any idea what happened until it was over. Now you'd swear somebody is hiding under the desk with a blackberry sending this shit out as fast as it happens. If some BOR member cuts the cheese it's on YouTube in seconds.

So what's next? IMHO I would guess;

* Texas sticks to their guns on the PAC deal. A&M takes it's guns to the SEC. Baylor puts a gun in it's mouth.

* Texas accepts the Beebe Plan. It's what they've wanted all along . The Lost Four are deliriously happy. Mizzou promises to be very quiet in meetings from now on. " You won't even know we're here", they say. A&M has a problem. The unequal revenue sharing and the prospect of Bevo TV should be a complete non starter for them. They have to be smart enough to get ahead of the story though. If Texas announces they support the Beebe Plan, A&M needs to immediately call a press conference and denounce the plan as little more than ""The New and Improved Big 12.......now with more Bevo Greed!". And go to the SEC. If they don't shout out their reasons loudly and often then they're branded as the School That broke Up The big 12.

* Texas accepts the Beebe plan, but with no Bevo TV and with equal revenue sharing. This is where they can really fuck A&M. Especially if Texas says it's either the Beebe Plan or we're off to independence or the Big 10. A&M gets set upon by the combined legislative might of Texas, TT and Baylor. They also get savaged by every media outlet in Texas. In addition, the Lost Four, having been given CPR by the now suddenly benevolent Bevo, put what pressure they can on A&M.(don't think Cornyn and Hutchinson won't get talked to by Kansas and Okie senators). I don't see how A&M stands up to it all. The Aggies have to give up their SEC dreams. Probably forever.

* Will OU follow A&M to the SEC? I doubt it. but if they did it presents Texas with an interesting dilemma. How do you punish them? Don't play either of them? Never happen.

* Texas goes independent. Our resident Horns will have to expound on how realistic this is at this point.

* Texas goes to the SEC with A&M. Going to the SEC has always been the longest shot with Texas but consider; with A&M and Texas together the SEC tv contract becomes insane. 22 mil a year? Not only that but the SEC allows schools to set up their own network. If the two schools have mended fences at that point why not go in together.....form The Lone Star Sports Network to broadcast the two schools events? Tech would go absolutely insane. Texas and A&M would be lighting cigars with $100 bills. Another benefit to Texas would be to negate any A&M recruiting advantage. Not only that but Oklahoma's recruiting would be hurt, something that would help both schools. This scenario requires Bevo to swallow an enormous amount of pride, not to mention eating a fair amount of crow.

* One more possibility. Texas barges into the SEC offices and says they'll go to the SEC, but only with Oklahoma, not A&M. A cruel scenario for us i know, but not likely. After all, they're our Friends in the State Capitol.

[Thethreeyardout]

Was Bill Byrne in College Station yesterday?

[HeyMoe]

Apparently in Idaho on family biz. I guess you can do this in the 21st century; fly fish while using your cell and laptop to negotiate with the SEC. Notice Dodds and Brown both went to a ballgame yesterday. Either that or it's all on the BORs and Presidents now for both schools.

[Thethreeyardout]

don't the BOR's of the member SEC schools have to similarly get involved?


I am really asking, and you make a good point about technology being in place to make meetings possible, but then why did the SEC guy fly to College Station?

The more I think about this, the more I think the SEC might be the best place for you all and, like RK posted somewhere else, the rivalry would actually be more meaningful on a national stage.

[HeyMoe]

don't the BOR's of the member SEC schools have to similarly get involved?


I am really asking, and you make a good point about technology being in place to make meetings possible, but then why did the SEC guy fly to College Station?

The more I think about this, the more I think the SEC might be the best place for you all and, like RK posted somewhere else, the rivalry would actually be more meaningful on a national stage.

I'm assuming he was in College Station to either make his pitch and hear a "we'll get back to you", or he was brought in like Lee Smith to close out the deal by the pro-SEC folks.