A&M gets rejected by SEC

[thebigabd]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...fied-current-alignment-extend-invite-texas-am

 

[Soonerman]

I don't think it's over quite yet.

 

[boksooner]

If the SEC were to invite any school that is a member of another conference, they could be sued for tampering. A&M must officially leave the Big XII and then apply to be a member of the SEC. The statement released by the SEC is merely to cover themselves from a legal standpoint. The SEC still wants into Texas, so they will take A&M if/when they apply.

A&M could have to pay $30 million to exit the Big XII. They will argue that somehow the Longhorn Network invalidated their agreement and then they would not have to pay.

The other interesting complication is that ESPN has a contract with both the Big XII and SEC. They have a huge conflict of interest. If A&M goes to the SEC, ESPN must renegotiate the payout, per their contract with the SEC. If the Big XII drops below 10 members, it invalidates ESPN's contract. ESPN could be seen as inducing A&M to go to the SEC in violation of their good faith clause in their contract with the Big XII. Here is an article explaining things much better than I could. http://outkickthecoverage.com/how-espn-is-complicating-am-to-sec-deal.php

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

I don't think it's over quite yet.

This.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I don't think it's over quite yet.

I don't think it's over, either. But I do think that A&M has made themselves look like fools by letting this all play out in public. They should have kept their mouths shut until they were ready to resign from the Big XII.

 

[sys]

The other interesting complication is that ESPN has a contract with both the Big XII and SEC. They have a huge conflict of interest. If A&M goes to the SEC, ESPN must renegotiate the payout, per their contract with the SEC. If the Big XII drops below 10 members, it invalidates ESPN's contract. ESPN could be seen as inducing A&M to go to the SEC in violation of their good faith clause in their contract with the Big XII. Here is an article explaining things much better than I could. http://outkickthecoverage.com/how-espn-is-complicating-am-to-sec-deal.php

the espn angle is interesting, but i believe the author is in error regarding his assumptions. the espn contract for the big 12's first tier rights is in its final years, and pays well below current market value. if a&m leaving were to void their deal with the big 12, they would have to pay substantially more to the big 12, even without a&m, to retain those rights.

combined with having to renegotiate with the sec, the two renegotiations would likely cost espn 100-200 million more than if a&m remains in the big 12.


all assuming that the article is correct regarding the contract renegotiations with both the big 12 & the sec.

 

[boksooner]

the espn angle is interesting, but i believe the author is in error regarding his assumptions. the espn contract for the big 12's first tier rights is in its final years, and pays well below current market value. if a&m leaving were to void their deal with the big 12, they would have to pay substantially more to the big 12, even without a&m, to retain those rights.

combined with having to renegotiate with the sec, the two renegotiations would likely cost espn 100-200 million more than if a&m remains in the big 12.


all assuming that the article is correct regarding the contract renegotiations with both the big 12 & the sec.

The real question is whether the move would invalidate Fox's contract. That could cause an interesting situation between the two networks, especially with Fox paying what is arguably above market value for 2nd tier rights. That would hurt the Big XII a lot more than if ESPN's contract was void.

 

[sys]

The real question is whether the move would invalidate Fox's contract. That could cause an interesting situation between the two networks, especially with Fox paying what is arguably above market value for 2nd tier rights. That would hurt the Big XII a lot more than if ESPN's contract was void.

yes, definitely.

 

[campbest]

If the SEC were to invite any school that is a member of another conference, they could be sued for tampering. A&M must officially leave the Big XII and then apply to be a member of the SEC. The statement released by the SEC is merely to cover themselves from a legal standpoint. The SEC still wants into Texas, so they will take A&M if/when they apply.

A&M could have to pay $30 million to exit the Big XII. They will argue that somehow the Longhorn Network invalidated their agreement and then they would not have to pay.

The other interesting complication is that ESPN has a contract with both the Big XII and SEC. They have a huge conflict of interest. If A&M goes to the SEC, ESPN must renegotiate the payout, per their contract with the SEC. If the Big XII drops below 10 members, it invalidates ESPN's contract. ESPN could be seen as inducing A&M to go to the SEC in violation of their good faith clause in their contract with the Big XII. Here is an article explaining things much better than I could. http://outkickthecoverage.com/how-espn-is-complicating-am-to-sec-deal.php

This is a big deal for an athletic department which was effectively hoarding funds from the university a few years ago.

 

[BigTime]

 

[CoachTalk]

Im not sure they will have to pay anything... If I remember correctly, no formal agreement was signed with the BIG 12. It was only a verbal pact from everyone to stay together for 10 yrs.

Now the deal with the TV's may cost them to get out of...

Maybe I'm mistaken though...

 

[Sawyer]

Who do they pay if there is no Big 12?