Texas A&M might want to act like grown-ups before doing something they'll regret
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So if this is how it ends, Texas A&M copy-catting a toddler and wanting to take its ball and play with the other kids, what a horrible look.
The Big 12 has issues. We all know that. It’s been kept together so far mostly by Texas’ selfishness and the other schools’ lack of better options, and that’s no way for a long-term marriage to work. A&M’s frustration is understandable, but the way they’re dealing with it is weak.
Nebraska and Colorado left for better situations. Both of them. They did it with back channels, and they found options that are better for their schools and athletic programs in most every conceivable way. Good for them.
What A&M is threatening to do will be seen differently. They had their chance last summer to bolt. They decided to stay, and one year later are whining about it.
Whether this is a power-play or legitimate is still somewhat up for debate, but the fact that it’s gone far enough for a Texas politician to publicly talk about conversations being had and school administrators sending out cryptic messages means it is obviously serious.
But here’s the thing: A&M won’t be in a better situation if they leave for the SEC.
A lot of these screw-you feelings they’re having right now toward the Big 12 figure to be washed away once they start losing by three touchdowns against Alabama.
If the goal is to win conference and national championships, then the Big 12 provides by far the best option.
Part of the brilliance of Texas and Oklahoma staying in the league is that, on years they’re operating at close to capacity, they essentially have to win only one game — the one against each other — to be in the national championship.
A&M is in that next tier. In the SEC, they’ll be closer to Ole Miss than Alabama.
Financially, they don’t figure to gain all that much. The Big 12 has another TV negotiation coming up, and any difference in the league payouts needs to be considered with what is likely a lesser standing within the SEC.
The excitement of going to a new league would almost certainly create some nice initial donations, but over time, money follows success, and that success will be much more attainable in the Big 12 with the added bonus of playing traditional rivals.
Look, the Big 12 has a lot of issues. We all recognize that. And if A&M decides it’s better off in another league, good for them.
It’s just that they’ll look like babies doing it this way, and they’ll probably end up playing in a lot of Music City Bowls.
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Dave Feit
9 months, 1 week agoAm I understanding your point to be that A&M should shut it and live with Texas’s power plays because going through OU, OSU, UT, and the members of the Little VI is an easier road to BCS glory than the SEC meat grinder? Interesting.
David Zook
9 months, 1 week agoThere is more to the story than you wrote. The straw that broke the back is the Longhorn TV Network and ESPN. ESPN will produce and distribute the network for the next 20 years at the tune of $300 million and they need content to drive viewership.
ESPN has floated the idea out there that they want to start broadcasting high school football games of high school players who have committed, but haven’t signed with UT. ESPN believes this would be good content for Longhorn fans, but it would give UT a sizable competitive advantage. A&M, Tech, OU, Baylor, and OSU will never stand for that.
In the contract between UT and ESPN, there is a provision that UT and ESPN will make every effort to broadcast two football games each year on the Longhorn Network.
ESPN has already approached Tech to be one of the games and for obvious reasons Tech declined. Then ESPN proceeded to tell Tech that their game with UT may not be carried by ESPN or ABC.
The Longhorn Network is poison that will kill the Big 12-2.
josh terry
9 months, 1 week ago@dave feit- I think his point is that A&M’s pride is getting in the way of reason. They should deal with the issues of their league instead of running away from the Big 12. He’s saying they look like a kid throwing a tantrum instead of a prestigious university. The only way A&M comes out ahead is if they go to the SEC and dominate, which is very unlikely. If they go to the SEC and become a middle of the road team they loose a ton of clout, they gain a bad reputation for running from texas, and become just another team. They should stay and fight.