NOTE: This is written by an unabashed Texas A&M supporter, and focuses primarily on Texas A&M and concerns of Texas A&M fans. So if it seems biased and whatnot, you're right. Forget rose-tinted glasses, mine are maroon.
The idea is that the Big XII is Lazarus, and the University of Texas is Jesus. Lazarus was in the grave for days until Jesus came to the rescue and told him to come out and join the party, and now Texas has come and rolled away the tombstone so that the Big XII may live once more. Such is, and will be, the perception of the public at large regarding this situation. But is this how it really happened? That story will probably never make it out, but I think that Aggies can take heart in the fact that their university went through this process admirably, making the decision in the end that they felt was most beneficial to the university.
From the start, Texas A&M approached the conference realignment talks deliberately, ready to hear out all options. Their professed goal was to keep the Big XII intact with its current members. But once Colorado left for the Pac-10 and Nebraska moved to the Big 10, the Big XII was no longer the Big XII that A&M and others were previously committed to. When it became clear that some sort of changes were coming about, the speculations of more widespread realignment became even stronger.
It's still unclear when and to whom specific offers were made by different conferences, but it is clear that there was obvious interest on many different sides. The talk of members of the Big XII South moving into a revamped Pac-10 dominated most of the news, but the rumors of SEC interest in Texas A&M added even more intrigue into the equation.
Texas A&M now held a wild card. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech essentially folded and put their chips in with Texas, allowing the boys in Austin to decide their fates. And Texas was dropping tells all over the place, depending on when and with whom you checked in with. One minute they're on the verge of joining the Pac-10, the next their committed to the Big XII. But through it all A&M played close to the chest. Sure, there were rumors that they were leaning one way or another, but most of that was pure guesswork. The only thing known about A&M was that it held options that no one else did.
Skip ahead to the end. Texas rejects the Pac-10's offer. Others come out and say that they're with the Big XII, including Texas A&M. The easy assumption is that Texas decided that the Big XII is the place to be, and the rest followed suit. I can't imagine that it happened just like that. With Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, possibly. But I highly doubt that A&M stayed just because big brother said so. Larry Scott, commissioner of the Pac-10, said in a statement "that the remaining 10 schools in the Big XII intend to stay together."
There is no way that Texas would be able to attempt to keep Texas A&M in by strong-arming them into a decision. A&M held the power at this particular juncture. If they decided to bolt for the SEC before Texas made a final decision, Texas almost assuredly would have left for the Pac-10, along with its lackeys. Had A&M left after Texas decided to stay, the Big XII would have had to scramble to fill the league back to at least ten in order to keep its automatic BCS bid. It seems quite clear that those in charge at each of the remaining schools and other continued to meet, and came to a consensus that they would carry on with the Big XII. What happened behind closed doors is a mystery, but it's obviously not the "Texas decided and the rest followed suit" that is being painted right now.
Again, I can't speak for the other South schools, but it's my belief that Texas A&M University went through this process deliberately and practically. It did not rush to a decision, nor did it rely on others to decide its fate. I believe that those in charge made a decision, and they made that decision based on what they believed was best for the university, not on the whims of others.
Share your thoughts below, and look for a follow-up article regarding other concerns specifically of Aggie fans.
They may have made the "best" decision for the University but that won't be sure for another few years. Frankly, in my opinion, I believe the SEC would have been a better fit, but obviously, opinions don't matter. I have read reports and am closely connected to many alumni who donate millions of dollars a year to the school and have said that they will significantly decrease that amount. I think the decision went beyond what many people think and I believe it will have more repercussions than what is expected. My two cents.
ReplyDeleteA&M stayed because Texas president powers and commissioner Beebe were able to work out a TV deal that would essentially give the aggies, horns, and sooners roughly 20 million. And the other schools between 14-17 million which is basically what the SEC has for their deal. Of course the longhorns get to have their own network as well which will give them 3-5 million. So the aggies stayed with help from UT cuz they knew the aggies were jeopardizing the rivalry. Think about it.. the SEC is clearly a better choice for A&M. They'd be the top research school in the conference, and be in the best conference to be in for sports. But once the same TV deal was made an theyd be getting the same amount of money, may as well stay and keep the rivalry and traditions strong.
ReplyDeleteI dont think that the rivalry would have gone anywhere, it just would have become an out of conference game, and still could have been played on Turkey Day. Assuming we would have played the Hogs roughly the same time in the Southwest Classic, We just would have moved our conference games ahead a week and moved Texas to the end, while however rare, is not unheard of. I think staying in the Little 10 was entirely based on money but im still not a fan of the longhorn network crap. thats such a recruiting base. its ridiculous. Where's our network? if your gonna say Texas deserves one then so does any other school which continuously pulls in national championships. congrats to the track teams on back to back btw. As far as competition goes I believe that the SEC would have been better and while it may have taken some time to gain a foothold in their level of play football wise, it would have been great for all our athletic programs in the end, and a nice little recruiting bonus to boot. $0.02
ReplyDeleteThe essence of this is that pretty much everyone wanted to keep the Big XII together. The big TV deal is what allowed that to happen, and from the reports I've read, it's becoming more and more apparent that outside forces had a lot to do with it. Did Texas influence A&M's decision? Of course, they were a factor. But what I'm saying is that Texas didn't have control over A&M, at the end of the day A&M was making its own decision. Also, the rivalry probably would have continued regardless, unless Texas got their panties in a wad and started crying in a corner saying we weren't playing nice.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous people-identify yourselves.
Phillip-
ReplyDeletelol the second anonymous is phillip morello.. like the blog btw! I only the rivalry was in jeopardy cuz reports were saying that texas would in fact have wadded panties. I also read reports saying multiple outside sources came in to save/rescue the big twelve (businessmen, other presidents and AD's) because they felt that the ncaa would lose control with 4 megaconferences.
Texas IS wadded panties. plain and simple. old, crusty, dirty, wadded panties.
ReplyDeleteWadded panties that win lots of games.
ReplyDelete