Scott has wanted to expand so long as everything went his way. It appeared to be going that way twice within the last 15 months, but both times things got too messy and the general agreed upon course of action was not to budge on special concessions, which cost them last year, and, maybe in an attempt to save face, removed themselves this year.
When this looked good both times, things were working together smoothly.
Everybody wanted this for the money. Once the money started going from equal shares to uneven fractions, those who disliked based upon compe ion voiced their concerns, which, as commissioner, Scott acted upon.
It wouldn't surprise me if the SEC goes after Oklahoma/Oklahoma State with A&M and Missouri. Gains markets and footholds and adds four quality football programs and solidifies them as the unquestioned and unrivaled king of football. Not sure why OU wants to got from a top-3 guaranteed place amongst the Pac-16 to top-5/6/7 amongst the SEC, but hey, maybe they hate Texas' special concessions and ego that much.
SEC wouldn't do that. They have been trying to avoid legal action this whole time, and it looks like they can finally add A&M without any headaches.
Reports are out there that they've already got an unofficial invite. Besides 13 is a tough number to work with.
Certainly true.
Definitely true, but it could be done for a season. Slive said he'd do it.
Slive on 13 members.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive issued a statement on Monday night saying that he is “optimistic” that Texas A&M will be able to join the conference and that it has begun to look at scheduling for 13 teams in 2012-13. Here’s the full text of Slive’s release:
“In the 78 year history of the SEC, the conference had accepted the membership applications of only two ins utions—Arkansas and South Carolina. Texas A&M is now the third. We remain optimistic that Texas A&M will be a member of the SEC and have started to look at schedules for 2012-13 involving thirteen teams.
“As I said over the past year or so, the SEC has had no particular interest in expansion. We were, and are, happy with 12 teams. If Texas A&M’s President, Dr. Bowen Loftin had not called me in late July, we had no plans to explore adding an ins ution.
“However, when President Loftin called we became interested. Texas A&M is an outstanding academic ins ution with an exceptional athletic program, passionate fans and wonderful traditions. While the SEC wasn’t thinking about expansion, it was impossible not to be interested in Texas A&M. As you can see from the unanimous vote of our twelve Presidents/Chancellors, we would very much like to have Texas A&M as a member of our conference.
“When Texas A&M joins our conference, we don’t have immediate plans for a 14th member. We aren’t thinking in terms of numbers. We think about the strength of the SEC and the attractiveness of Texas A&M as an ins ution.”
I get that, yet every two minutes the crawler on the bottom of my tv says that some paper in Birmingham is reporting that the sec presidents have informally agreed to invite Missouri.
yeah. I really don't understand why ESPN releases things like that when they are proven wrong time after time.
I hope the big12 stays together and we leave ASAP. Get this over with already
If it were just ESPN I wouldn't believe it, but the fact that theyre quoting a paper in sec turf gives it some credibility IMHO.
Definitely agree with you here.
That's true, I just don't see it.
Even if they were willing to take Mizzou, I'm sure it was with the anticipation that the BIG12 was going to collapse, I doubt they would extend an invite now opening themselves up to even more litigation threats.
Plus, Mizzou might even prefer to stay in a Big12 tbh.
as interesting and fun as a Pac-16 with 4 pod conference sounded, I still wouldnt mind seeing a re-vamped Big 12. They can still be a very strong conference if they add BYU, TCU, and Houston, to replace A&M, Colorado, and Nebraska.
however, I think they should bring back 2 divisions, and have Texas and OU be the headliner of each. something like this...
Big-12 Divison 1
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
BYU
Kansas
Missouri
Houston
Big-12 Divison 2
Texas
Texas Tech
TCU
Kansas State
Iowa State
Baylor
I think that this could most definitely turn out to be a strong conference, if they indeed intend to try to keep the Big-12 together.
That's a decent conference. Texas and OU would most likely insist on an uneven playing field though.
inarguably the 2nd strongest football conference
BYU, as well. They have their own network to look out for.
I'm not convinced Missouri stays longterm. Maybe add New Mexico in their place.
"BYU, TCU, and Houston, to replace A&M, Colorado, and Nebraska"
-That just hurts my head thinking out. It probably isn't unrealistic at this point.
West Virginia and Louisville may be options as well
but if mizzou leaves and the big 12 has to add 4 team it is almost no way it won't be watered down
pac-12
No way UT lets U of H in. No way.
It'll likely be BYU, Louisville, TCU, Boise State if 4 teams needed.
works fine for me. definitely a very strong football conference. concerns over BSUs lack of audience IMO is more than made up for by the other audiences.
Louisville will add a lot to basketball
The Pac turning them down explains a lot regarding Boren's recent statements.
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