A&M turned down sec

[mookie2001]

Ok so aggy gets the 2010 conference saving championship


I'll chalk it up on the big board with the other moral victories

[fyatuk]

Why do you think they left? Just because they profited from it 'immensely' doesn't mean it was a fair model, or best for them (as their leaving for another conference shows). Texas likes to lock their rivals into inferior positions (they're looking out for number 1, which is understandable). Don't try to pretend you're a benevolent savior of the little guys in the conference, though; that's laughable.

Just a nitpick, but really you mean "evenly" not "fairly" (as do many of the articles about it) A "fair" deal would give more money to the people who bring in the most money, which is how the Big 12 has operated (although too topheavy to be fair). The other conferences giver everyone the same amount of money to create a more even playing field.

[Thompson]

That would be a fair deal, but that's not exactly how the old contract was structured. I think UT earned the most regardless of who brought in the most revenue for the Big 12 (though perhaps for the duration of the Big 12 it just so happened that it was Texas that brought in the most anyway). Nebraska is currently not a powerhouse, but even if they return to that status I don't know how much that would be taken into account in the old agreement (I think Texas would still have earned more).

[fyatuk]

I've never seen the contracts so I was just guessing as to it's setup. UT is likely to bring in the most money in any conference it's in quite frankly, no matter what the cir stances. It's scary that way.

[mwjames]

at Texas agreeing to pay A&M the same amount of money annually to stay in the Big12. Say what you want but A&M called Texas' bluff and resulted in A&M making $20 million annually with the new deal...

I wouldn't exactly say A&M called Texas's bluff. Texas said publicly from day 1 that their preference was to stay in the Big 12, if there was any possibility of it staying a viable league. When it looked like that was not an option (and admit it, nearly everyone thought the Big 12 was done), they windows shopped. When an option came up that would keep the Big 12-2 together, Texas agreed immediately, proving themselves completely honest. A&M independently window shopped as well, and tried to find their best option. I applaud them for that rather than just following Texas and assuming big brother knows best. I wouldn't say anyone called anyone's bluff though.

They voted for it because they had to find a home somewhere, and at the time it was the best they could do. You sometimes have to make compromises in life, and just because you sign up for something doesn't mean you're thrilled with every detail.

When Texas joined the Big 8, Nebraska was the big dog. Nebraska created the unequal revenue sharing and was thrilled with it because they made more money than everyone else. Remember, the 90s was a very down period for Texas football. They were not the powerhouse. Now that they are, they make more money by Nebraska's own rules because Nebraska is in the midst of a down decade. And Nebraska is crying about it. Hypocritic much?

Really? You're going to mock Nebraska for 'taking their ball and going home' after Texas threatened to never play A&M in any sport if they broke off and went to the SEC? Pot... kettle.

Did this actually happen? I heard it only as rumors. Not saying it definitively didn't, I'm just unsure.

Apparently Texas does. They tell the remaining members of the Big 12, "Give us, Oklahoma and A&M the money from Nebraska and Colorado, and our own television network," then announce through their minions that 'Texas saved the Big 12.'

Texas did ask for their own TV network and got it, but Texas demanding the penalty money is 100% false. Bill Powers: "There have been reports that there's going to be a special deal for some of us using penalty money or other money to guarantee Texas and possibly other schools particular value. We were not part of that. We have heard about that. We're not part of it. That was not part of our consideration and we oppose that kind of deal. We will be distributing money in the Big 12 according to the normal Big 12 distribution." This was during the press release where Texas announced they would be staying in the Big 12-2. Those 5 schools got together and agreed independently on the money distribution issue because they know it is in their best interests to keep the conference together by appeasing the bigger schools than to go it alone. They make a lot more money in a Big12-2 with unequal revenue sharing than in a Conference USA, WAC, MWC, MAC, Sun Belt, etc. Texas had nothing to do with that though.

[Brutalis]

Texas turned down the sec for atm you mean.

[K-State Spur]

Texas said publicly from day 1 that their preference was to stay in the Big 12, if there was any possibility of it staying a viable league. When it looked like that was not an option (and admit it, nearly everyone thought the Big 12 was done), they windows shopped.

Calling BS here. The Big 12 only lost any long term viability when Texas began window shopping as a negotiating ploy. It blew up in their face a little bit and cost the league Nebraska (nobody cares about Colorado) - but they did manage to salvage their own little private BCS league in the end.

I don't have a problem with Texas looking out for #1, it's a good gig if you can get it. I just don't like the spin that they were playing the hand that they were dealt...TEXAS WAS THE DEALER.