Haven't seen a thread on this...it looks like this will go down on August 22. I don't see how the Aggies think going to the best conference in the nation will benefit them, given their track record in the Big 12...Texas will still get the recruits they wan't, the aggies are just cementing their place in mediocrity. discuss.....
I don't blame A&M for several reasons for one the Big 12 is falling apart and them and the rest of the big 12 is being held on out on a limb by UT. With this Longhorn network coming out many believe it is unfair recruiting advantage, and personally I think Texas will become independent in a matter of years. A&M has got good recruits for years and until last year always finished mediocre. The SEC is still the best conference and gets the most national coverage. I am hoping Tech can get an offer from the PAC 10.
That sounds like our only hope. I'm glad Tech stood up to UT/ESPN last week when demanded the UT game be played on LHN.... I hate this whole realignment thing I think its bad for college football and it kills alot of fun out of the season but I cant blame atm for leaving the whole big 12 is collapsing.. aTm get ready to screwed by the big 12 refs throughout the season ala Nebreaska last year......
There is a little bit of this going on in the Texas/Big Ten thread, if you're interested. I think it's about time this had it's own thread, though.
tons of recent conversation about this already in this thread...which is a continuation of the discussion from last season: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=181792
Texas will not go indy, I'm sure of it. Texas' AD has said numerous times he doesn't want UT to go independent. If A&M does go to the SEC, Texas is moving west to the Pac 12. The Pac 12 network is consisted of 6 smaller regional networks. TLN could fall under this and add a 7th regional network (some things would change but the main thing would be that Texas still keeps its own network). So it works out for Texas, they get to keep their network and be in a conference, they get just what they wanted. Pac 12 would jump on it, although I'm sure their will be less equal revenue sharing, face it Texas is against equal revenue sharing, but they get the highest revenue generating athletic program in the country in their conference (meaning more cash for other programs). Add that with a new recruiting pipeline in the state of Texas, I don't see why they wouldn't do it. Then the BIG XII collapses and OU can swing to either coast, I personally think SEC would be a better fit. Another option is A&M leaves, the BIG XII brings in UH or TCU as a in-state school to replace A&M and then try and convince BYU (a whole new Utah market) to the BIG XII. That would keep the conference in tact. But it would be hard to convince a team who just recently went indy to rejoin a conference.
I think A&M to the SEC merits graduating from the year-old Texas thread to its own. Kind of surprised that wasn't the case already. I think it's a weak sister move. Good for them, but I (unfairly) look at them halfway as traitors for ditching the "true" Texas conference. Big 12's definitely dead man walking now. It is the best move for them, though, with UT removing a good bit of the money jar. Baylor's screwed, and they've been killing themselves of late to step up. I still wish the serious big boy programs would just break off, buck the NCAA, and have their own superleague. Make their own rules, be semi-pro, have a real playoff system. People talk about Bowl games being too big a draw, but there's no way a superleague of UT, OU, USC, UF, Miami, OSU, Michigan, Alabama, LSU, etc wouldn't KILL. Especially if they drop the NCAA kindergarten rules, let guys have agents and pay them. They'd suck every pro prospect in with straws.
http://blog.chron.com/aggies/2011/08/aggies-out-uh-in-for-the-big-12/ UH going to the Big 12 would be good for the Cougars. Even if the conference isn't as powerful as before it's still a lot better than CUSA, just for the BCS bid alone.
As a Cougar fan, I'm pretty torn. We've been hoping to break out of the minor leagues for some time now, but I'd strongly prefer writing a new tradition and story rather than rehashing the same old inferiority complexes from the SWC. The conference is likely doomed soon, anyway, and UH would probably be left out in the cold again once it dissolves with a new stadium mortgage to pay. On a personal level, I'm not a fan of the way UT and the conference conduct business, and I don't really want my alma mater sucked into that constant drama. On the other hand, autobid is autobid. The TV and bowl payouts are just so much higher in the B-12 that it would be fiscally irresponsible of the school NOT to join if offered. The new affiliation would go a long way toward boosting season ticket sales, gate returns, merch, buzz, everything. Everything about UH is on the rise, and it only makes sense for athletics to come along for the ride. In short: I don't want to sell UH's soul to the devil, but we could sure use the money. Ahhh, it'll probably never happen anyway. SOMEBODY will **** this up.
Well, you must remember, college football is all about money these days. Money is all that matters. Screw the fans, screw any past rivalries, just show me the money.
While on the surface that would work for football, it would never happen. Mainly because the NCAA's response would likely be to ban all other sports from those schools to compete in the NCAA sponsored tourneys. So essentially, you would be picking football athletes for all other athletes. Don't see that happening.
It is better to take the chance to prove oneself against the best and aspire to be one of them, rather than to give into fear, self-doubt and uncertainty while mired in mediocrity and wondering what if.
