Don’t Count Out the Big 12
Call me crazy, but all this breathless talk about the certain end of the Big 12 and the dawn of superconferences has got me thinking–maybe we should all just take a deep breath.
I know it’s less fun to consider this, but the Big 12 just might survive. Here’s why I think so.
Say what you want about Oklahoma being in the driver’s seat, it’s not true. Who cares if they and OSU want to go to the Pac-12? What matters is if the Pac-12 wants them. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott has said he is not interested in expanding (take that for what it’s worth). And why would they want the Oklahoma schools without Texas? That pod system everyone has been talking about only works if Texas (and Texas Tech) come along, which means, once again, Texas is in the driver’s seat and that it’s in Oklahoma and OSU’s interests to get something worked out with the Longhorn Network if they all want to go west.
Despite what the Aggies may think, even if they do escape to the SEC, they are hardly irreplaceable.
Mack Brown said today he is quite concerned about leaving the Big 12 and making it harder for parents and high school coaches to see the Longhorns play. I know Mack isn’t calling the shots on this one, but his opinion certainly matters. The fact that he’s so outspoken against this (or shall we say: in favor of slowing down this discussion) tells me at least that a deal with the Pac-12 is hardly close.
All that happened today with the OU and Texas boards of regents is that they authorized their respective school presidents to take some action. For Texas, the mandate is even more narrow. Bill Powers is authorized to explore options only, another sign a deal is far from done. Here’s what Powers said after the meeting: “This is an ongoing process. We will comment when the process is over, and right now we will just do what is best for the students, for the university and for our student-athletes.” Sounds a lot like what Mack was saying: “Right now, with regional leagues the parents can go see their kids play and that is really important. We better start considering what is in the best interest of the players, or at some point they are going to get so frustrated it is not going to be fun for them.”
OU president David Boren says he has not told the Big 12 Oklahoma is leaving, and Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe, in his press conference, sounded pretty upbeat: ”It is my opinion that the case for the Big 12 … continues to be as strong today for our current members as it was last year.”
Last, we’ve been here before. Last year there was all this talk about the impending death of the Big 12. We pronounced it all but dead on these pages. Lo and behold, it survived! And it may yet again.
Let’s remember, the Big 12 is where Texas wants to stay. DeLoss Dodds has already put the equal revenue sharing offer on the table, which gives schools like Baylor and Kansas and K-State and, yes, Oklahoma State, even more incentive to lean on Oklahoma to stay.
This whole conference realignment moves fast, and it’s tempting to get caught up in it all. But the Big 12 isn’t yet dead. In fact, it just may live on.
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8 Comments
Equal revenue sharing plan…I think not. It only covers tier 1and 2 rights. And, it’s the first time “equal” has ever come out of UT’s mouth…but it’s not equal! Texas owns this whole mess…every other conference shares revenue equally. The Big 12 would be strong if UT would have agreed last year to do the same!
As a Longhorn (class of ’71) living in Southern California, I would love it if Texas joins the PAC 12.
And, congrats to the so called underrated football team(by the pols and sports community) for their awesome victory against UCLA (finally!).
Written from the eyes of a true Texan.
Rick, can you explain how Texas owns this whole mess when TAMU is the one who started the process to leave? And let’s not forget that UT offered to share a network with TAMU but they refused!
So it’s neither us being selfish (we offered network time and $ sharing with TAMU) nor is it us starting the conference re-alignment process (that would be Colorado, Nebraska, and TAMU).
And let’s not forget Baylor trying to lobby the Texas Legislature to prevent TAMU and UT from leaving the Big 12. That sure isn’t trying to get more than they deserve, is it?!
People say UT started this, but what they’re really saying is “We don’t like UT making money, so let’s leave and then blame it on Texas for being successful!” You’re like the socialist who complains that Apple doesn’t share its revenues with him.
Pretty simple…if the Big 12 had equal revenue sharing, this wouldn’t be happening. Texas has stood in the way of that since day one. You had your way for 15 years…now, things are changing.
Comparing it to Apple is crazy. Things are different in the business world. It is not common practice to share profits with others. In college athletics, it is common…every other major conference does it!
You are right that UT should not be alone in this, Nebraska/OU/A&M all voted in a block for years to make sure they all received more of the revenue. The LHN changed their thinking.
And, no you didn’t offer the LHN to the Aggies…nice try. That’s is so wrong, it’s not funny.
I’m so sick of everyone blaming UT for this mess – especially the Aggies. It’s not UT’s fault that they didn’t have enough foresight to join in on a network venture.
Also, let’s not forget that UT isn’t the only institution in the Big XII with it’s own network. The difference between LHN and the other networks is that somebody actually offered to pay UT for its network and put it on TV. And that’s, somehow, UT’s fault.
And if the Aggies want to cry about fairness, ask them why they weren’t crying about it last summer when they basically demanded to get more money than most of the other schools in the conference as incentive not to bolt to the SEC.
@Rick..
I would recommend looking back into your crystal ball.. Deloss Dodds had a meeting in College Station with your former AD to specifically discuss LHN and if this was something TAMU would want to be a part of. That was five years ago. Do not blame Texas for TAMU being short sighted. The simple fact of the matter is that NOONE thought Texas could pull this off. And when Texas did pull it off it became an issue. Everyone in the BIG XII knew Texas was developing its own network because, realistically, over the last 7 years, Texas and OU have been driving the BIG XII brand. And Texas has been bringing in the Lions share of the revenue because of our winning BCS bowl games. When was the last time TAMU generated MORE revenue for the conference than Texas or OU?
If you want to blame someone, blame your marketing dept. for not developing your brand to a National level, blame your coaches for not putting a quality product on the field (except for last year: which was a good year for A&M). Do not blame Texas.
I vote to bring TCU, UH, and SMU into the conference. All are good programs; SMU is finally becoming more competitive and UH looks to be a real contender in Conf-USA. And we all know how good the TCU program has become over the last 5 years. Gary Patterson has done an outstanding job there Ft. Worth and their baseball program is top notch as well.
I am a ‘Horn, Ph.D., 1965, but have worked at A&M for years. To blame A&M or Texas is a waste of time. The truth is that A&M wanted to go to the SEC and was heavily urged along by LSU, at one time the second “rival”, next to UT. This was really independent of UT and the LHN. So, it looks like everyone is getting “druthers”! UT and OU keep the Big 12 going, which is their desire and A&M goes to the SEC, which was it’s desire. The Big 12 will eventually invite some more schools to replace A&M, Colorado and Nebraska. Let’s just move ahead and assure they are good ones.