The PAC 10 expansion groundswell

[Paperback Writer]

Dodds stopped this for 2 reasons,

1. Dodds questioned that Scott could really get 20m a year for 16 schools. (Hindsight says Scott could have done it)
2. Dodds asked Scott for the PAC10 to pay the 4 schools exit fees to the Big 12. Scott said, we will loan you the money and Dodds said, that isn't the point, we have the money.

Another factor that Dodds said gave him pause but didn't stop him was they were going to piss off the Texas legislature. A press conference to announce the move to the PAC10 was scheduled for a tuesday, the TX legislature was to meet Wednesday. A congressman told Dodds he would be wise to wait till the legislature met.

In my view, Dodds is minimizing the influence of the Texas legislature - perhaps things have changed in the 15 years since the Big 12 was formed. Back then the Texas legislature and then governor (Ann Richards) compelled the Big 12 to accept Baylor rather than Houston or TCU. I would think the Texas legislature and current governor Rick Perry (an Aggie alum) would have a big say on keeping Texas A&M and UT in the same conference (as well as Texas Tech) and saving Baylor from outer darkness.

Also worth mentioning is that UT does not want to open the door any further to the SEC for recruiting in the Lone Star State. With A&M in the SEC and UT in the PAC-16, A&M would have a better chance at signing blue chip talent that typically flocks to Austin. Arkansas and LSU would also swoop in as well.

Last, I could see UT in the PAC-16 but not OU. OU and it's ugly cousin (OK St.) are a much better fit in the SEC. I suppose OU could continue to follow UT's lead but not so sure that's guaranteed. I wonder which conference OU (and OK St.) would choose if it came down to following UT (and Tech) to the PAC-16 or A&M (and possibly Florida St.) to the SEC. That would leave UT in the PAC-12/16 without either of it's rivals.

In the end, I think UT stays in the Big 12 and doesn't go independent unless Tech and A&M have spots in the SEC. Right now, UT can have it's cake and eat it too. The Longhorns get to play in a conference with it's rivals and the scheduling that's necessary for non-football sports. And they get to have their own TV network. UT is the largest revenue producing and most profitable sports program. What else do the Longhorns need? They have it pretty good already - and the Longhorns know it.

[LA Ute]

Could you be a little more specific?

I really believe that BYU is going to be watched very closely over the next couple of years by many programs. If BYU is successful, they very could be the domino that changes the football landscape, again.

[falafel]

It wasn't that funny.

[Surfah]

Again. Could you be a little more specific?

I am speculating a bit, but if you don't think other schools aren't watching BYU's independence experiment with interest you're wrong. And if you don't think BYU has changed the landscape of college football before, you're wrong again.

[Coach McGuirk]

In my view, Dodds is minimizing the influence of the Texas legislature - perhaps things have changed in the 15 years since the Big 12 was formed. Back then the Texas legislature and then governor (Ann Richards) compelled the Big 12 to accept Baylor rather than Houston or TCU. I would think the Texas legislature and current governor Rick Perry (an Aggie alum) would have a big say on keeping Texas A&M and UT in the same conference (as well as Texas Tech) and saving Baylor from outer darkness.

Also worth mentioning is that UT does not want to open the door any further to the SEC for recruiting in the Lone Star State. With A&M in the SEC and UT in the PAC-16, A&M would have a better chance at signing blue chip talent that typically flocks to Austin. Arkansas and LSU would also swoop in as well.

Last, I could see UT in the PAC-16 but not OU. OU and it's ugly cousin (OK St.) are a much better fit in the SEC. I suppose OU could continue to follow UT's lead but not so sure that's guaranteed. I wonder which conference OU (and OK St.) would choose if it came down to following UT (and Tech) to the PAC-16 or A&M (and possibly Florida St.) to the SEC. That would leave UT in the PAC-12/16 without either of it's rivals.

In the end, I think UT stays in the Big 12 and doesn't go independent unless Tech and A&M have spots in the SEC. Right now, UT can have it's cake and eat it too. The Longhorns get to play in a conference with it's rivals and the scheduling that's necessary for non-football sports. And they get to have their own TV network. UT is the largest revenue producing and most profitable sports program. What else do the Longhorns need? They have it pretty good already - and the Longhorns know it.

Not sure where your info is coming from but it speaks against everything that was being reported by people close to the story.

OU told dodds, "we go where you go". OSU was a throw in at the request of OU and TT was for UT. Scott didn't need or want them but was willing in order to grab the cash cows. A&M told UT you go to PAC, we are going to SEC. Scott had Utah waiting in the ready for any team that backed out or if the plan failed all together. When UT came back, A&M was still leaning to going to SEC. Texas told them that was fine, do it and they would never see a game against UT again, ever, no matter where, no matter the sport.

The only part I agree with is that UT has everything it needs now. 15m a year from longhorn tv and another 17 from Big 12. They are good to go for the foreseeable future. I wouldn't expect UT to move to independence until after 2020, if at all.

[Flattop]

Again. Could you be a little more specific?

I am speculating a bit, but if you don't think other schools aren't watching BYU's independence experiment with interest you're wrong. And if you don't think BYU has changed the landscape of college football before, you're wrong again.

So, schools who have been watching Notre Dame and think it is past time that institution joined a conference will be looking at BYU to see if somehow Independence will work out for them?

[Surfah]

So, schools who have been watching Notre Dame and think it is past time that institution joined a conference will be looking at BYU to see if somehow Independence will work out for them?

Yes.

[il Padrino Ute]

Again. Could you be a little more specific?

I am speculating a bit, but if you don't think other schools aren't watching BYU's independence experiment with interest you're wrong. And if you don't think BYU has changed the landscape of college football before, you're wrong again.

Surfah is correct. It's all BYU's fault that the BCS exists.

[Surfah]

Surfah is correct. It's all BYU's fault that the BCS exists.

Just think, you wouldn't have any BCS victories without BYU getting snubbed by the Bowl Alliance.

[Mormon Red Death]

Again. Could you be a little more specific?

I am speculating a bit, but if you don't think other schools aren't watching BYU's independence experiment with interest you're wrong. And if you don't think BYU has changed the landscape of college football before, you're wrong again.

For a bigtime school to go independant especially a state school it is pretty far flung.

If Texas goes indy. Its two biggest rivals would be pissed. Not to mention the state legislature. Where would they play other sports?

No Team in SEC goes as they all have it too good where they are. Same for the Big 10 +2.

What team in the ACC or Big East has the cache? Fla St? Certainly not Miami.

PAC-12 The only team that could pull it off would be USC but then they would lose all their current conference mates, educational ties, and if the other conference members snuff them who do they play?

If I had to guess the next teams to consider the byu route (FB indy BB&others smaller conference) I would say Air Force, Hawaii (mostly done already) and that's it.

[LA Ute]

Again. Could you be a little more specific?

I am speculating a bit, but if you don't think other schools aren't watching BYU's independence experiment with interest you're wrong. And if you don't think BYU has changed the landscape of college football before, you're wrong again.

And if you don't see why others would at least smile at those thoughts, you're wrong too!

[Coach McGuirk]

For a bigtime school to go independant especially a state school it is pretty far flung.

If Texas goes indy. Its two biggest rivals would be pissed. Not to mention the state legislature. Where would they play other sports?

No Team in SEC goes as they all have it too good where they are. Same for the Big 10 +2.

What team in the ACC or Big East has the cache? Fla St? Certainly not Miami.

PAC-12 The only team that could pull it off would be USC but then they would lose all their current conference mates, educational ties, and if the other conference members snuff them who do they play?

If I had to guess the next teams to consider the byu route (FB indy BB&others smaller conference) I would say Air Force, Hawaii (mostly done already) and that's it.

I mostly agree with this, but this is the ace that the likes of UT, USC, and a few others can hold to get what they want in negotiations with their conference mates.

[il Padrino Ute]

Just think, you wouldn't have any BCS victories without BYU getting snubbed by the Bowl Alliance.

A small consolation, as the BCS is still the worse thing to happen to college football.

[Surfah]

A small consolation, as the BCS is still the worse thing to happen to college football.

How about you're now in a BCS conference because of BYU?

[il Padrino Ute]

How about you're now in a BCS conference because of BYU?

The BCS still sucks. As long as about half of all teams are immediately out of contention for the recognized national championship before the season starts, I will continue to think that the BCS is the worst thing to happen to college football.