The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[TripletDaddy]

Probably about the same as TCU feels going to the Big East or Utah in the PAC. In other words, not relevant in the decision making process. You go if invited and you recognize your natural place in the pecking order. Then you go about rearranging yourself to a higher rung. That's how I would approach it.

[Surfah]

I don't mean to irritate; this is a serious question. Apart from Texas fans like Lebowski and Ted (I say that affectionately, guys) how do BYU fans feel about being in the same conference with Texas? It sure looks like they are firmly planted in the Big 12 as the "big dog at the dish," and that prospect can't feel good to a lot of Y fans.

BYU will be 3-0 against Texas after this year. That's how I feel about it.

[Uncle Ted]

I don't mean to irritate; this is a serious question. Apart from Texas fans like Lebowski and Ted (I say that affectionately, guys) how do BYU fans feel about being in the same conference with Texas? It sure looks like they are firmly planted in the Big 12 as the "big dog at the dish," and that prospect can't feel good to a lot of Y fans.

Texas likes BYU. Why did Texas schedule those games with us and introduce us to their friends at Notre Dame to schedule some more? It's OU that BYU has to worry about.

[Surfah]

Texas likes BYU. Why did Texas schedule those games with us and introduce us to their friends at Notre Dame to schedule some more? It's OU that BYU has to worry about.

BYU is 2-0 against Oklahoma. That's how I feel about that.

[Uncle Ted]

BYU is 2-0 against Oklahoma. That's how I feel about that.

[LA Ute]

Probably about the same as TCU feels going to the Big East or Utah in the PAC. In other words, not relevant in the decision making process. You go if invited and you recognize your natural place in the pecking order. Then you go about rearranging yourself to a higher rung. That's how I would approach it.

That makes sense. Texas' apparent willingness to work its will on the rest of the Big 12 would worry me a bit but the other benefits of Bg 12 membership would compensate for that.

[pellegrino]

Probably about the same as TCU feels going to the Big East or Utah in the PAC. In other words, not relevant in the decision making process. You go if invited and you recognize your natural place in the pecking order. Then you go about rearranging yourself to a higher rung. That's how I would approach it.

besides, schools have ups and downs. It will be interesting to see what happens to Texas after Mack Brown retires or moves on. Prior to his arrival they hadn't really been a force in CFB for a good decade. All the money in the world can't guarantee success after Mack leaves.

[EuropeanFootballMale]

BYU will be 3-0 against Texas after this year. That's how I feel about it.

BYU is 2-0 against Oklahoma. That's how I feel about that.

BYU pwns Big12!!!!

[TripletDaddy]

That makes sense. Texas' apparent willingness to work its will on the rest of the Big 12 would worry me a bit but the other benefits of Bg 12 membership would compensate for that.

Other than forming its own network, I don't really see Texas doing more than a lot of gum flapping. The plan to showcase HS games was shot down quickly. And BYU already has it's own network so Texas isn't in the business of telling other schools to not do such.

What else has Texas done to impose its will? I realize that this is a popular recent meme, but almost always proferred by Texas fans (sips) or insecure Aggie. Texas is the alpha in that conference, followed by Oklahoma. That is the reality. It can't factor into the decision because it is the same reality in all BCS conferences with th possible exception of the Big East, which has no real football alpha.

If anything, texas willingness to allow BYU to keep its network is a plus, not a negative.

[Uncle Ted]

HOW ESPN IS COMPLICATING TEXAS A&M TO SEC DEAL

OKTC has learned that one of the major points of discussion at today's SEC president's meeting was the potential contractual fallout of A&M's addition to the SEC. In particular the conflicting positions of ESPN in regards to its Big 12 television deal and its existing SEC television deal. That is, ESPN has conflicting good faith obligations to both conferences. Why are these obligations conflicting? Because OKTC has heard from multiple sources that the television deals between the Big 12 and ESPN is void as soon as the membership falls below ten.

So if Texas A&M bolts for the SEC then the Big 12's TV deal with ESPN doesn't exist anymore. (FYI, Fox is presently paying $90 million a year to the Big 12 while ESPN is paying $65 million a year. But, and this a key distinction, Fox has no conflict here since it doesn't carry SEC games.)

Okay, wrap your minds around that. That's a major revelation and would explain why the Big 12 is working so hard to find a new member.

Now add this complexity that has the SEC worried -- the addition of A&M to the SEC would require ESPN to pay more money for television rights fees under the SEC's existing contract with ESPN. So what you've got is a situation where you could argue ESPN is inducing A&M to bolt the Big 12 in favor of the SEC. The big problem here? That's a major contractual conflict for ESPN, since part of the reason A&M would be leaving would be the inducement of more money from the SEC, money that would be coming from ESPN.

Yep, ESPN's television deals have so monopolized college athletics that its a major road bump in any conference realignment.

So the SEC is now worried that it could end up in a large lawsuit featuring the Big 12, the SEC, and ESPN over A&M's departure. (Keep in mind that Fox also has a major interest here. Will Fox continue its commitment to the Big 12 with only nine members? No idea. It was Fox and ESPN's stepping up to the plate with the same television payouts when Nebraska and Colorado left that kept the Big 12 -- now ten -- together.)

OKTC hasn't read the entirety of the Big 12's agreements with ESPN, but every contract has a boilerplate "good faith" provision that obligates a party to act in the best interests of its partners. Would it be in good faith for ESPN to be negotiating with the SEC about increased payouts to a current Big 12 member that would lead to an invalidation of the Big 12 contract when that member leaps? Of course not.

So ESPN is in an awful position, it may well have to pledge that its going to keep its payments to the Big 12 members the same regardless of membership numbers in order to avoid a breach of contract lawsuit for inducing a member to leave the conference and kill the Fox and ESPN deals.

Ouch.

[...]

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

HOW ESPN IS COMPLICATING TEXAS A&M TO SEC DEAL

Of everything in this thread that sounds like the biggest glimpse of hope for BYU. Does ESPN have enough juice to force the B12 to invite BYU before A&M bolts? Does ESPN have enough juice to force BYU to accept the invite?

[Mormon Red Death]

Other than forming its own network, I don't really see Texas doing more than a lot of gum flapping. The plan to showcase HS games was shot down quickly. And BYU already has it's own network so Texas isn't in the business of telling other schools to not do such.

What else has Texas done to impose its will? I realize that this is a popular recent meme, but almost always proferred by Texas fans (sips) or insecure Aggie. Texas is the alpha in that conference, followed by Oklahoma. That is the reality. It can't factor into the decision because it is the same reality in all BCS conferences with th possible exception of the Big East, which has no real football alpha.

If anything, texas willingness to allow BYU to keep its network is a plus, not a negative.

its funny on the mwc board the other schools used to always complain that Utah and byu were making all the decisions from the conference. For the life of me I cant think of anything where the utah schools did to impose their will on conference.

[TripletDaddy]

its funny on the mwc board the other schools used to always complain that Utah and byu were making all the decisions from the conference. For the life of me I cant think of anything where the utah schools did to impose their will on conference.

In fairness, BYU did receive concessions on the Sunday play issue. Just a guess, but I would imagine given the shared demographics between the two schools, Utah wasn't overly offended by the lack of Sunday play, either. Beyond that, I would agree. During the Crowton era, BYU wasn't imposing much of anything on anyone. Not without vodka and a VCR, anyway

[TripletDaddy]

Of everything in this thread that sounds like the biggest glimpse of hope for BYU. Does ESPN have enough juice to force the B12 to invite BYU before A&M bolts? Does ESPN have enough juice to force BYU to accept the invite?

Good angle, actually. And makes sense.

"you need a new school immediately...say hello to my little friend..."

[LA Ute]

Other than forming its own network, I don't really see Texas doing more than a lot of gum flapping. The plan to showcase HS games was shot down quickly. And BYU already has it's own network so Texas isn't in the business of telling other schools to not do such.

What else has Texas done to impose its will? I realize that this is a popular recent meme, but almost always proferred by Texas fans (sips) or insecure Aggie. Texas is the alpha in that conference, followed by Oklahoma. That is the reality. It can't factor into the decision because it is the same reality in all BCS conferences with th possible exception of the Big East, which has no real football alpha.

If anything, texas willingness to allow BYU to keep its network is a plus, not a negative.

I was thinking of last year's "give us what we want or we might bolt to the PAC-16" drama. I have no other examples.