"COLLEGE STATION, Texas
Texas A&M will leave the Big 12 to join the Southeastern Conference (SEC), ESPN reported Saturday, quoting a "high ranking source" from the Aggies.
The source said Clemson, Florida State and Missouri were also "likely to join.""
I think the Big 10 will tender Missouri a better offer. Maybe instead of worrying about who to take from the Big East or Notre Dam*, they should ask Iowa State. Then the Big 10/12 can grab Pitt and West Virginia when another Big East team fails to sell out their Big Bowl tickets and the Big East loses more credibility.
Then the SEC can grab 3 from the ACC.
With 16 in the SEC and an easy potential for 16 in the Big Ten the Pac 12 can grab 2 or 4 more from the Little 12 and the rest have to parlay for themselves. Can you say Boise Who?
Paul in PA
I have no idea why the SEC would want FSU and Clemson. Neither add to the TV viewership area.
I feel sorry for Texas A&M if they think they are going to go over there and compete right away.
The Big 12
He11, I still miss the SWC.
I spent a good portion of my freshman year in college drinking with the two big white dudes on each side of Hakeem Olajuwon.
The Big 12
How did you end up in Maryland?
Paul,
Texas and ESPN really have nothing to do with it, its just business.
I always thought that those aggies are a crazy bunch, now they have removed all doubt.
My area is about half A&M and half UT and I have not spoken to anyone that is for this move.
There goes Thanksgiving.
I see a new batch of aggie jokes coming.
Randy
The Big 12
James,
That was one heck of a basketball team right there. "Phi Slamma Jamma", they were fun to watch.
Too bad they did not have destiny on their side like NC State did.
Randy
Seems like a poor choice on A&M's part. They are only 3 games over .500 in the past nine seasons and there are no whipping boys in the SEC like Kansas and Iowa State.
Missing the OU/Nebraska game will be big for me and I'm sure the TU/TAMU games is the same in Texas.
But this will just be the first in a fall of dominoes should TAMU go through with the move.
But dang, I am just so ready for college ball. So let the games begin.
Randy, The Texas ESPN Deal Mocks The Big 12 Conference
In my mind they should all leave Texas, because in essence Texas has left them.
Then Texas can join the SEC.
One might assume that ESPN wants control over the NCAA for it's own profits.
Paul in PA
Randy, The Texas ESPN Deal Mocks The Big 12 Conference
Are you referring to the new UT network?
I know Texas A&M was upset that it could be used as a recruiting tool, but the NCAA took care of that when it ruled that Texas could not show High School sports on their network.
Which is a pretty silly ruling if you ask me. A lot of people in Texas like High School football (and other sports), and would have loved to view the games on TV.
Would it have given Texas an advantage over Texas A&M (or other schools for that matter)for recruits?
Maybe, maybe not.
In my opinion, this was clearly a money driven deal on A&M's part, and the Texas Network was just an excuse.
Texas A&M will be hard pressed to make a Bowl game in the SEC, they were better off where they were.
SEC Votes No To Texas A&M
Seems it was a Texas A&M push all the way and not an SEC invite.
So the Big 12 gets to whimper along for a year at least a few teams short.
Paul in PA
Stephen
> How did you end up in Maryland?
I grew up around DC (VA suburbs).
Spent one year at UH and then transferred to University of Oregon when my parents moved to Seattle to cut down on the distance so I could get home a few more times a year.
After college I moved back to DC to work for the National Conservative Political Action Committee. At 25 when I got fed up with politics I took a surveying job in suburban Maryland and have been here ever since.
I loved Texas and probably would have moved back years ago if it weren't for the pesky degree requirement. Plus a good friend of mine (a reformed lawyer) from UH now owns two bars in Houston and one on Galveston Island where I can drink for free.
Tommy is 100% right. The SEC should have no interest in Clemson or FSU. They wouldn't do anything to the TV audience --> Therefore, no increase in MONEY. That is what this is all about, MONEY, nothing else.
Larry P
> I feel sorry for Texas A&M if they think they are going to go over there and compete right away.
This has nothing to do with what happens on the field. It is 100% about the money. The administrators who are making these decisions couldn't care less if the teams lost every game for the next decade so long as the net revenue goes up.
Larry
The Big 12
> James,
>
> That was one heck of a basketball team right there. "Phi Slamma Jamma", they were fun to watch.
>
> Too bad they did not have destiny on their side like NC State did.
>
> Randy
James,
Sorry about my Wolfpack beating up on your Phi Slamma Jamma. (Ok, not really but I had to pretend for a moment or two, right?)
Go Wolfpack.
Larry P
(Class of '80)
Totally agree that Texas and ESPN killed the Big 12 but Texas is the main reason demanding all the control when it was formed in the mid 1990's. The other schools should have kicked them to the curb at that time but saw too many dollar signs and didn't see what was coming.
I am a Mizzou fan and would love for them to go to the Big 10(12) or the SEC. Either would be fine as long as the money is divided evenly. Texas has just too much control of the money in the Big 12 but right now it is great to see them struggle.
I would like to see TexA&M, Okla, Okla St. and Mizzou all go to the SEC. This would introduce all new markets in Okla, Texas (Dallas & Houston) and Missouri (KC & StL). Makes the most sense for larger area and introduction to market share and plenty of regional rivals stay in tact and introduce new ones with Ark and LSU.
I like the idea of total realignment of all conferences and just make them regions. This would include a playoff system similar to that of other Divisions of football in the NCAA.
