The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Sizzle]

I'm probably off base in this, but if aTm goes, I am 90% sure that the Big 12 extends an invite to BYU. Unfortunately, I'm only about 50% sure that BYU would accept. I think there are definitely some aspects of Independence that BYU really really likes.

[LiveCoug]

I'm probably off base in this, but if aTm goes, I am 90% sure that the Big 12 extends an invite to BYU. Unfortunately, I'm only about 50% sure that BYU would accept. I think there are definitely some aspects of Independence that BYU really really likes.

Yup. This is unfortunately what will happen.

[Uncle Ted]

I'm probably off base in this, but if aTm goes, I am 90% sure that the Big 12 extends an invite to BYU. Unfortunately, I'm only about 50% sure that BYU would accept. I think there are definitely some aspects of Independence that BYU really really likes.

BYU may like its independence but in the end it may really come down to what ESPN likes. They are currently paying the bills. If ESPN doesn't like the idea of super conferences then it may prefer that the Big 12 become more stable which may require adding teams like BYU.

[Goatnapper'96]

Yup. This is unfortunately what will happen.

Good gawd I know you are our loveable Eeyore, but where does anyone imagine that BYU would choose to stay independent? BYU likes independence because their own only frame of reference of comparison is the WAC or the MWC.

[LiveCoug]

Good gawd I know you are our loveable Eeyore, but where does anyone imagine that BYU would choose to stay independent? BYU likes independence because their own only frame of reference of comparison is the WAC or the MWC.

Seriously? I really think BYU is in love with the independence idea. Exposure for the church and all that. In their minds, I believe that they feel that they need to give independence the old college try for a few years before cutting the cord. I hope to the high heavens that they wouldn't turn down a Big 12 invite, but I'm guessing they will (unless we get major, major concessions). This isn't just pessimism speaking.

[falafel]

Yup. This is unfortunately what will happen.

I don't know. BYU doesn't have a single independent season under its belt yet. The idea can't be that ingrained at this point. I think BYU would accept a B12 invite if they were given the sorts of promises they wanted all along from the MWC re BYUtv broadcast rights.

[LiveCoug]

I don't know. BYU doesn't have a single independent season under its belt yet. The idea can't be that ingrained at this point. I think BYU would accept a B12 invite if they were given the sorts of promises they wanted all along from the MWC re BYUtv broadcast rights.

Makes sense to me.

[Uncle Ted]

Twitter full of tweets about Texas scheduling a second game on lhn. Lots of writers tweeting that this is evidence aTm is gone.

Chip Brown on the 2nd LHN game... Note the part about showing highlights from high school football games.

Talked to Burke Magnus, ESPN senior vice president in charge of college programming, and he said there will be a second game on the Longhorn Network that meets all the new guidelines put in place by the Big 12.

In other words, Magnus has received assurances from a school that it will agree to appear on LHN, that the Big 12 has signed off on it and that there was no arm-twisting.

"As long as the opponent is on board, then the conference will support it, and that's what we've still been told," Magnus said of ESPN's plan to show a second game. "We think there's a solution there that we can get with one of Texas' opponents where they will see the value proposition of agreeing to the game. And then when that gets done, that's when we will announce it."

Look for that game to be either Kansas (Oct. 29) or Kansas State (Nov. 19), according to sources.

--ESPN gave the media a tour of its LHN studios on I-35, just north of campus, today and introduced all the people who will make it run.

--After the ceremony, Magnus took questions and said LHN does plan to show high school highlights on whatever basis is permissible.

"I don't know that that's been fully determined or not," Magnus said. "Some of the statements that have been made have been conflicting. Some say games. Some say content. So I think we have to vet that out. We would plan to do that. The network is going to have a bottom line ticker, not unlike other ESPN networks. I think reporting on high school scores in the context of a news ticker is something we plan to do and can not be put in the same bucket as doing games."

The first day of the Longhorn Network is Aug. 26, the first day of high school football in Texas. So there could be highlights from high school games on LHN that night, Magnus said.

"I would anticipate highlights from that night being on. It might be the next day or two days later, but reporting on news of high school events in the context of a news and information program is something that I don't think is intended to be swept up into this. That would be an interesting positino to stake out. That's an example of something that needs a little more clarity.

"You've got the issues of news and information, and then you've got the issues of - like the Big Ten Network has done and we've done and other outlets have done - signing day coverage. What form will that take? Thank goodness we have until February to figure that out. But whether you can go specifically talk to a guy - whether it's when he's signed or verbaled - it's all territory that needs to be vetted."

--Magnus also said there will be 10 men's basketball games on LHN, including some conference games.

--Magnus said announcements are coming soon about who will carry LHN and said it's not out of the ordinary for agreements to come down to the final days before launch.

"We talk to the carriers daily," Magnus said. "Eight days is an eternity in these types of situations. It's not that we haven't started. We've been working, but still a lot of time left on the clock."

--The LHN talent - Lowell Galindo, Samantha Steele and Kevin Dunn - were introduced as well as Stephanie Druley, who will be in charge of day-to-day operations. All talked about how happy they were to be a part of launching the network.

Galindo, who had been based in Charlotte, N.C., with ESPNU, grew up in Texas and is happy to be back in the state raising his two young children.

"We feel a lot like the players at Texas right now," Galindo said. "We haven't done anything and are looking forward to the chance to show what we can do."

Steele, who grew up in Phoenix, said she took the job because she was so impressed by the people at Texas, including Mack Brown.

"Texas is the only school I would align myself with in this way," Steele said. "I'm going to do my job like I've done it before. I'm going to be honest and make it about people."

Dunn grew up in Austin and after working the past four years in New York for CBS College Sports and the MSG Network, is happy to be home.

Stephanie Druley said, "We are definitely taking their (Texas') direction on what we can show (from practice). I grew up in Texas and I don't want to show OU what Texas is working on. There are only a certain number of periods (from practice) we can show."

[SteelBlue]

Good gawd I know you are our loveable Eeyore, but where does anyone imagine that BYU would choose to stay independent? BYU likes independence because their own only frame of reference of comparison is the WAC or the MWC.

Has anyone seen this?:

GSwaim BigTime TV/Radio
There were talks between #BYU and #Big12 thru a mediary, and Cougars will stay indy for now.
5 hours ago

Says his source is a Utah journalist. I think Jay Drew was on his radio show recently but I could be wrong about that.

[Sizzle]

Good gawd I know you are our loveable Eeyore, but where does anyone imagine that BYU would choose to stay independent? BYU likes independence because their own only frame of reference of comparison is the WAC or the MWC.

These would be the reasons I would cite:

1) BYU is different, and likes it. Few schools are as closely tied to a religion as BYU is, and even fewer have a national presence in football. The only other is the only other major presence as an Independent (Notre Dame).
2) BYU likes the flexibility in scheduling. I know they like ability to travel across the country and play games that fans from out of state are able to attend.
3) BYU has been the "Texas" of their conference for my lifetime. How willing are they going to be to go from being the top dog in the conference to a not-so-top dog. Issues like Sunday play may be a big issue for the Cougs.

If "Exposure" for the Church really is the top goal, then I could see an argument being made that the Big 12 is the best way to provide additional exposure for the Church. There are countless other benefits IMO from joining the Big 12 that would outweigh, at least in my mind, the few pros of staying independent. But I'm not on the board at BYU, so what I think is best, and what they think is best, isn't always aligned.

[Uncle Ted]

Some pictures of the LHN...

[LiveCoug]

Has anyone seen this?:



Says his source is a Utah journalist. I think Jay Drew was on his radio show recently but I could be wrong about that.

Hopefully the "for now" = a couple weeks.

[LiveCoug]

Some pictures of the LHN...

I can't believe they stole our guy.

[Babs]

S

lol. Remember the visual media classroom in high school?

[Uncle Ted]

Has anyone seen this?:



Says his source is a Utah journalist. I think Jay Drew was on his radio show recently but I could be wrong about that.

There is some crazy stuff out there on twitter like:

MJ4Sports Matt Jackson
Take it for what it's worth, A&M held a private dinner for their top boosters last night. Boosters were told Aggies, OU, Mizz, VaTech to SEC
2 hours ago.

The signal to noise ratio is very low on twitter.