The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[ERCougar]

It is in our genes. You may say that we follow the admonition on Paul.

Clark is the funniest person on this board.

[Paperback Writer]

Recruiting. If you're in the Big 12 South, all your annual matchups are in Texas and Oklahoma. That's where all the exposure is, and A&M can't compete for recruits in either state. They can't compete in the neighboring SEC states because those kids are SEC snobs. They're hoping that if they get some exposure in Arkansas and Mississippi, plus pick up the SEC label, they'll start to have more luck.

Agree its for recruiting but I have a different take on it. It's correct in that Texas A&M has been having difficulty recruiting against UT and OU. But I think one point needs to be clarified- the recruits the Aggies seek are in Texas not in Oklahoma or the SEC. Since Bob Stoops got behind the wheel, OU has pretty much locked down Oklahoma recruiting (and I wish Nebraska could snare a couple more Okie all-conference/all-American players like they did before Stoops took over).

And there's truth in that neighboring states are SEC snobs (because the SEC is playing the best football). In my view, what Texas A&M wants to do is to try to turn Texas prepsters into SEC snobs. That why Texas A&M can pitch to a Texas blue-chipper to come to College Station and play in the SEC against the very best rather than go to Austin or Norman and play in a medicore Big-12. LSU and Alabama are already using this approach. So while the Aggies will try to get the occassional recuit from neighboring SEC states, the prize will remain Texas and with the Aggies in the SEC they will have a greater differentiator than they posses currently. The Aggies need to do something as they are continually being out-recruited by OU and UT. I think the Aggies are betting that they could compete with LSU, Bama, and Auburn if they could sign many of the players that are currently going to OU and UT.

Edit: After re-reading Babs post, I think she may be saying the same thing so my take may not be any different.

[shoganai]

I will let someone more in tune with the USC perspective, DDD or Sipi, speak to this. As someone familiar with the P10 though I would be open mouth shocked to see USC leave the Pac. Even for more money.

One of the myths about the Pac these days is that it's free from some of the political strife you see in the Big East, Big 12, etc.

There are actually some pretty significant divides, mostly between the Oregon/Washington bunch and the LA and Arizona schools. For example, regardless of what happened with Utah, if it was up to USC, UCLA, ASU and AZ to decide, BYU would have been in the Pac as early as the 1996 season.

Now, I'm not predicting that USC will jump ship (although they did pull a Texas A&M and threatened to leave back in the late 70s), but it wouldn't be the MOST shocking thing to every happen in college sports either.

Ten years is an eternity in the big-business world of college sports, and what is true today will not necessarily be true tomorrow. You don't have to have a very long memory to realize that.

[dabrockster]

If the Big 12 begins to fall apart and UT decides then it wants to either have a Super-Conference with other Big schools or go Independent, I wonder what Jerry Jones is thinking about that new stadium and the creation of a new Bowl for this Super-Conference or UT as an Indy... That could make it even more interesting...


Just something that popped into my head while I was eating my delish Lean Cuisine Microwavable cannoli's..

[Paperback Writer]

If the Big 12 begins to fall apart and UT decides then it wants to either have a Super-Conference with other Big schools or go Independent, I wonder what Jerry Jones is thinking about that new stadium and the creation of a new Bowl for this Super-Conference or UT as an Indy... That could make it even more interesting...

Cowboys Stadium already hosts the Cotton Bowl. Any bowl game played at Jerry's place will most likely feature the SEC (as the Cotton Bowl does-SEC vs Big12) since Jerry is an Arkansas alum. If the Big 12 bites the dust, perhaps the Cotton Bowl will morph into a SEC vs OU, UT, ND, or BYU.

But I think it's only a matter of time before the Cotton Bowl joins the BCS NC rotation.

[CardiacCoug]

Agree its for recruiting but I have a different take on it. It's correct in that Texas A&M has been having difficulty recruiting against UT and OU. But I think one point needs to be clarified- the recruits the Aggies seek are in Texas not in Oklahoma or the SEC. Since Bob Stoops got behind the wheel, OU has pretty much locked down Oklahoma recruiting (and I wish Nebraska could snare a couple more Okie all-conference/all-American players like they did before Stoops took over).

And there's truth in that neighboring states are SEC snobs (because the SEC is playing the best football). In my view, what Texas A&M wants to do is to try to turn Texas prepsters into SEC snobs. That why Texas A&M can pitch to a Texas blue-chipper to come to College Station and play in the SEC against the very best rather than go to Austin or Norman and play in a medicore Big-12. LSU and Alabama are already using this approach. So while the Aggies will try to get the occassional recuit from neighboring SEC states, the prize will remain Texas and with the Aggies in the SEC they will have a greater differentiator than they posses currently. The Aggies need to do something as they are continually being out-recruited by OU and UT. I think the Aggies are betting that they could compete with LSU, Bama, and Auburn if they could sign many of the players that are currently going to OU and UT.

Edit: After re-reading Babs post, I think she may be saying the same thing so my take may not be any different.

Right. Joseph Addai was a good example of a kid from Houston who is the type of kid that Texas A&M has to get.

Instead he goes to LSU and becomes one of the all-time leading rushers there.

And LSU recruiters can go to kids in Houston and say, "Look if you want to play in the NFL like Joseph Addai you are much better off playing in the SEC than going to the wasteland of College Station."

[Color Me Badd Fan]

The Super Pac can still happen without Texas. If OU and OSU buy in then Scott won't have any problem find another two schools to come along as well.

What's the point for OU? Why would OU want anything to do with a Super Pac without Texas? OU would rather just go to the SEC which I'm sure would be more than happy to have them.

Sorry, a Super Pac is impossible without Texas. Unless you think a Super Pac would simply include schools the SEC and Big 10 don't care for. And the only quality athletic program would be Kansas and the Pac would have to fight the Big East for them.

[Hot Lunch]

What's the point for OU? Why would OU want anything to do with a Super Pac without Texas? OU would rather just go to the SEC which I'm sure would be more than happy to have them.

Sorry, a Super Pac is impossible without Texas.

Not sure what in my post called for a "good hell". I didn't say what OU would or wouldn't prefer. All I did was point out that the super Pac could still happen. Thanks for a being a dick about it though.

[Color Me Badd Fan]

Not sure what in my post called for a "good hell". I didn't say what OU would or wouldn't prefer. All I did was point out that the super Pac could still happen. Thanks for a being a dick about it though.

A Super Pac is not a Super Pac if teams like K-State and Baylor are added. I'm sure the Pac 10 members had to hold their noses simply to add Colorado and Utah, but it had to be done to get to 12 members.

I agree with others in the thread who mentioned that there's a lot for aTm to gain by joining the SEC. I think it would be a big recruiting edge for aTm over Texas to tell the kids that they should go and play with the big boys. Texas aligning with the Pac doesn't hold the same sway. The only way Texas to the Pac happens is if aTm is along for the ride. Otherwise Texas is at a disadvantage.

The Super Pac is dead if aTm goes to the SEC. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Texas felt like it had to follow suit. Just imagine a 16 team SEC with aTm, OU, Texas and Florida State (a dormant power that's rising again) joining the mix. They'd crush the rest of college football.

[Moliere]

aTm simply wants to have some achievement to hold over UT. They are the little brother and them getting invited to the SEC will give them and their fanbase something to hold over the UT faithful. None of this (or at least very little) is about recruiting, money, or anything else, it's about being invited somewhere that UT isn't.

[CardiacCoug]

The Super Pac is dead if aTm goes to the SEC. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Texas felt like it had to follow suit. Just imagine a 16 team SEC with aTm, OU, Texas and Florida State (a dormant power that's rising again) joining the mix. They'd crush the rest of college football.

They would crush each other and every team in the conference would end up with 2 losses and would be watching while Ohio State plays the PAC-12 champ for the National Championship.

Not sure why Texas and OU would want to share the spotlight with the rest of the SEC. Weren't they happy to avoid a conference championship game because it was just another chance to get knocked out of the National Championship picture?

[Color Me Badd Fan]

They would crush each other and every team in the conference would end up with 2 losses and would be watching while Ohio State plays the PAC-12 champ for the National Championship.

Not sure why Texas and OU would want to share the spotlight with the rest of the SEC. Weren't they happy to avoid a conference championship game because it was just another chance to get knocked out of the National Championship picture?

A 2 loss LSU team won the BCS title a few years ago. The SEC is already the toughest conference in the country and it's won 5 titles in a row. With aTm and Texas they would have control over 2 of the 3 biggest recruiting hotbeds. I think some teams, most notably USC, would get along fine but it would depend even more on proximity to talent than ever before and I think the SEC would have more national reach than it currently has.

[TheAzzuri]

aTm simply wants to have some achievement to hold over UT. They are the little brother and them getting invited to the SEC will give them and their fanbase something to hold over the UT faithful. None of this (or at least very little) is about recruiting, money, or anything else, it's about being invited somewhere that UT isn't.

This may be the same thing as you are saying, but I think more than having something that UT doesn't have, it's about not being in UT's shadow anymore.

[Paperback Writer]

aTm simply wants to have some achievement to hold over UT. They are the little brother and them getting invited to the SEC will give them and their fanbase something to hold over the UT faithful. None of this (or at least very little) is about recruiting, money, or anything else, it's about being invited somewhere that UT isn't.

UT can go to the SEC any time it wants and would be welcomed with open arms. But UT is too elitest for the SEC and would never join. It's always been the case that UT was too accomplished for the SEC. This is in regards to academics not football. If anything, the tea sippers in Austin will be quipping that the Aggies belong in the SEC which is far beneath the privileged Longhorns.

Apologize in advance to Longhorn sympathizers for the condescending tone (but it may not be too far off the mark). The University of Texas - Austin is one of the best state schools out there in regards to academics. They are by far the best in the Big 12 (with Texas A&M coming in 2nd).

[Coach McGuirk]

From ESPN SEC blogger Chris Low,

It’s not a matter of if, but when.

The recent rumblings in the state of Texas only reinforce that belief.

The SEC isn’t going to be confined to 12 teams for much longer, and the chances that Texas A&M will be one of the teams joining the newly expanded SEC are right up there with the chances that the SEC will have something to say about the national championship race this season … again.

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/po...re-sec-expands