The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

Bear in mind that Texas is God's gift to the rest of the country.

Babs eyes have been opened.

[Babs]

The good thing about Perry is that he does a good job poaching jobs from california and other places .

Only because he tells them they don't have to pay taxes AND then pays them off, too! And he wonders why the state's in the middle of a budget crisis.

[Goatnapper'96]

Arkansas' program has suffered since it left the SWC for SEC. They dropped from winning about about 70% of their games in the Holtz and Hatfield days to winning about 50%. They did have a pretty good season this last time but the near future doesn't look bright. Their Texas recruiting dropped off from about 60% to 10% of the team after making their move to the SEC. I think they would very much like to have better recruiting out of Texas again.



Yes, the A&M would be a big bargaining chip for the SEC for TV contracts.




I can't see Texas going independent unless USC or some other big program goes independent as well. At the point the independents might as well form up into a conference with whoever is left out of the Big 12 break up. The other sports have to go somewhere.



I don't think the idea of Texas forming a new conference is all that laughable if they can get ND, BYU, OU, OSU, KU, KSU, Tech, Missouri, and some other big program to join. If A&M left they could disband the Big 12 and drop Baylor and Iowa St in the process. A&M (and Rick Perry) would get all the blame for the breakup.

Personally I think it more likely that Arkanasas and BYU join the Big 12 than aTm bolts for the SEC or anyone else going independent. Independence works well for football, IMO, but it is a huge drag on every other sport.

[Babs]

Personally I think it more likely that Arkanasas and BYU join the Big 12 than aTm bolts for the SEC or anyone else going independent. Independence works well for football, IMO, but it is a huge drag on every other sport.

I don't know. Arkansas is awfully happy in the SEC.

[Uncle Ted]

Only because he tells them they don't have to pay taxes AND then pays them off, too! And he wonders why the state's in the middle of a budget crisis.

It seems these days are two ways to get out of a budget crisis: quickly grow the state GDP (Texas is growing at something like 3.8%) or go bankrupt. Lately 4 of every 10 net new jobs is created in Texas. Long term Texas has outpaced the rest of the country for job growth for the last 40+ years...



It helps to create a state where businesses want to be...

[Goatnapper'96]

I don't know. Arkansas is awfully happy in the SEC.

I said more likely, ESQUIRE!

[Uncle Ted]

I don't know. Arkansas is awfully happy in the SEC.

Yes, even though Arkansas can't seem to win a conference championship they seem to be pretty happy. I think it has something Wuap said about Texas really not being in the South.

[Babs]

It seems these days are two ways to get out of a budget crisis: quickly grow the state GDP (Texas is growing at something like 3.8%) or go bankrupt. Lately 4 of every 10 net new jobs is created in Texas. Long term Texas has outpaced the rest of the country for job growth for the last 40+ years...

Well, it's true that the U.S. job growth rate has only averaged 2%, while Texas's has averaged 3%; but keep in mind that the U.S. population growth has been about 9%, while Texas's has been 20%.

[Uncle Ted]

Well, it's true that the U.S. job growth rate has only averaged 2%, while Texas's has averaged 3%; but keep in mind that the U.S. population growth has been about 9%, while Texas's has been 20%.

And that explains why Texas' unemployment rate is still quite high but still very low compared to other states like California and why Texas has debt. Folks are moving to the where the jobs are and more folks means more tax revenue to pay down the new debt due to growth.

[Paperback Writer]

I don't think the idea of Texas forming a new conference is all that laughable if they can get ND, BYU, OU, OSU, KU, KSU, Tech, Missouri, and some other big program to join. If A&M left they could disband the Big 12 and drop Baylor and Iowa St in the process. A&M (and Rick Perry) would get all the blame for the breakup.

That's just the current Big 12 minus Iowa St and Baylor and adding Notre Dame and BYU (but you already knew that). So we're kicking the Baptists out and letting in the Catholics and Mormons. Can't we find a way to add SMU and perhaps Yeshiva University to rub it in?

But that's a very strong conference with 3-4 anchor programs - which is what the Big 12 was prior to Nebraska's departure. And this new conference is without the bottom feeders of Baylor and Iowa St. However, I still cannot fathom Texas and Texas A&M in different conferences. What I can picture though is an expanded Longhorn Network that includes A&M and OU. In other words, they might need each other. The Longhorn network might not be strong enough to survive on its own but get the Aggies and the Sooners on board (with the help of ESPN) and that might be enough. I do admit to being self-serving as I'd prefer to watch the Aggies and Sooners before the Longhorns. But such a channel would deliver the Houston, Dallas, Austin/San Antonio, OKC, and Tulsa markets - not a bad haul.

Of course, the Big 12 could do even better and placate A&M, and add BYU and Notre Dame and get back to 12 teams. The conference is still stuck with Baylor and Iowa St. but is in a better position: BYU > CU; Notre Dame > Nebraska. Yet Notre Dame remains a pipe dream. In the end: Jim Delaney > Dan Beebe.

[Uncle Ted]

However, I still cannot fathom Texas and Texas A&M in different conferences. What I can picture though is an expanded Longhorn Network that includes A&M and OU. In other words, they might need each other. The Longhorn network might not be strong enough to survive on its own but get the Aggies and the Sooners on board (with the help of ESPN) and that might be enough. I do admit to being self-serving as I'd prefer to watch the Aggies and Sooners before the Longhorns. But such a channel would deliver the Houston, Dallas, Austin/San Antonio, OKC, and Tulsa markets - not a bad haul.

Yes, I agree that it would be nice if A&M, OU, and Texas shared a network. I usually watch A&M or OU if BYU or Texas are not on. As it is now I am not going to be able to see two of UT's games this year because of the Longhorn Network. It seems there is no way to get it in the DFW area.

Of course, the Big 12 could do even better and placate A&M, and add BYU and Notre Dame and get back to 12 teams. The conference is still stuck with Baylor and Iowa St. but is in a better position: BYU > CU; Notre Dame > Nebraska. Yet Notre Dame remains a pipe dream. In the end: Jim Delaney > Dan Beebe.

Yes, it would be nice if the Big 12 was actually 12 teams again.

[Uncle Ted]

Longhorn Network, NCAA working on high school game kinks

There might be restrictions to the behemoth that is the Longhorn Network, after all.

And, naturally, it’s the NCAA who could be setting said restrictions.

Set to launch next month, the LHN is working with the NCAA on some final kinks to make sure they are fully compliant with NCAA bylaws regarding the broadcasting of high school games, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle writes today.

It’s a difficult task when prospective athletes are involved. And in Texas’ instance, that’s almost always the case.

NCAA spokesman Erik Christianson e-mailed the Chronicle that the NCAA is “engaged in a conversation with the entities to better understand their plans and what bylaws come into play.”

Chances are, Christianson is talking about bylaw 13.10 (titled Publicity). If you want to read the full rule, you can HERE, but what’s important to know is that a prospective athlete can’t be involved (in person, on film or audio) with a television or radio broadcast that might feature a coach from UT, or is organized by someone in the athletics department at UT.

ESPN can schedule the event. Texas cannot.

Additionally, the University Interscholastic League, a Texas-based inter-school organization founded by UT, prohibits live TV game broadcasts on Friday nights. Currently, the UIL has a television deal with Fox Sprots Net.

That means ESPN would have to pick up individual district games.

“ESPN will select the games based on what they feel is best,” UT athletics director DeLoss Dodds said. “We understand that this is a new world and that we’re leading the way in an area that is new to us and new to the NCAA and new to ESPN. Like everything else, we will do it in a first-class way, in the light of day, and we will do it the right way.”

It will be interesting to see where this goes.

[Paperback Writer]

“ESPN will select the games based on what they feel is best,” UT athletics director DeLoss Dodds said. “We understand that this is a new world and that we’re leading the way in an area that is new to us and new to the NCAA and new to ESPN. Like everything else, we will do it in a first-class way, in the light of day, and we will do it the right way.”

So ESPN will be selecting Texas prep games without regards to the players and high schools involved even though their paid subscribers (Longhorn fans) will want to see prep players who Texas is recruiting and have offered scholarships? And in order to watch Texas prep football, viewers will have to endure a host of Longhorn commericials touting UT and their football program. And that somehow won't be a recuriting advantage to the Longhorns who already enjoy a tremendous advantage in Texas prep recruiting?

But no worries, DeLoss Dodds has promised that it will be done "in the light of day, ... the right way"...for Texas. Nebraska already figured out how "in the light of day, the right way" works. Texas A&M has every right to be concerned about this.

[kccougar]

So ESPN will be selecting Texas prep games without regards to the players and high schools involved even though their paid subscribers (Longhorn fans) will want to see prep players who Texas is recruiting and have offered scholarships? And in order to watch Texas prep football, viewers will have to endure a host of Longhorn commericials touting UT and their football program. And that somehow won't be a recuriting advantage to the Longhorns who already enjoy a tremendous advantage in Texas prep recruiting?

But no worries, DeLoss Dodds has promised that it will be done "in the light of day, ... the right way"...for Texas. Nebraska already figured out how "in the light of day, the right way" works. Texas A&M has every right to be concerned about this.

I'm just waiting to see the high school football broadcast schedule for BYU's HD truck.

[Uncle Ted]

So ESPN will be selecting Texas prep games without regards to the players and high schools involved even though their paid subscribers (Longhorn fans) will want to see prep players who Texas is recruiting and have offered scholarships? And in order to watch Texas prep football, viewers will have to endure a host of Longhorn commericials touting UT and their football program. And that somehow won't be a recuriting advantage to the Longhorns who already enjoy a tremendous advantage in Texas prep recruiting?

But no worries, DeLoss Dodds has promised that it will be done "in the light of day, ... the right way"...for Texas. Nebraska already figured out how "in the light of day, the right way" works. Texas A&M has every right to be concerned about this.

You forgot the part about "in a first-class way".

BTW, it seems that OU doesn't want to be left out and is looking into a network of their own...

As Texas' Longhorn Network generates attention and controversy just over a month from launch, Oklahoma continues careful pursuit of its own network.

"We've had a great amount of interest for the prospects of an offer here," OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "We are interacting with a variety of different media companies."

The distraction is Castiglione works amid the backdrop of Texas' 20-year, $300 million partnership with ESPN. That's a sweetheart deal other schools will find practically impossible to match, a reality those schools' constituencies might find hard to accept.

"We know that we'll have potentially a different model than the one that people keep hearing about in regards to the University of Texas," Castiglione acknowledged. "We have to build one that's sustainable for the University of Oklahoma. This isn't like you can go out and just buy a network. This is a commodity. This is a very big undertaking...

"And so we understand what we are trying to develop here. We've been looking at this for several years."

What Castiglione keeps in mind is that ESPN's financial backing and production support provides Texas a unique safety net. The Longhorns don't lose anything but pride if people don't watch their programming.

[...]

When word leaked that Texas hoped to televise high school football games on its network, Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne reacted by saying: "I can't speak for the NCAA, but I would imagine the governing body will look into the use of a collegiate television network airing games of prospective student-athletes."

In fact, the NCAA has confirmed to the Houston Chronicle that it is "engaged in a conversation with the entities (ESPN and UT) to better understand their plans and what bylaws come into play."

[...]

Some believe the Longhorn Network could trigger a new round of realignment stress. Texas A&M regents, the Chronicle reported, have added a special session to their meeting this week to gather information about the network.

Perception was A&M leveraged realignment last year by threatening to split from Texas and join the Southeastern Conference. Could something like that happen all over again?

OU seems to follow UT around like a puppy.