Texas A&M officially leaves the Big 12

[OUHoops]

Let the dominoes roll.

http://www.tamu.edu/athletics/conferenceChange.html

TEXAS A&M TO SEEK AFFILIATION WITH ANOTHER ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

NEWS RELEASE - August 31, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M University today officially notified the Big 12 Conference that the institution will submit an application to join another athletic conference. Should this application be accepted, Texas A&M will end its membership in the Big 12 Conference effective June 30, 2012.


"After much thought and consideration, and pursuant to the action of the (Texas A&M University System) Board of Regents authorizing me to take action related to Texas A&M University's athletic conference alignment, I have determined it is in the best interest of Texas A&M to make application to join another athletic conference," President R. Bowen Loftin wrote to Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe in the letter dated August 31, 2011.

"We appreciate the Big 12's willingness to engage in a dialogue to end our relationship through a mutually agreeable settlement," Loftin added. "We, too, desire that this process be as amicable and prompt as possible and result in a resolution of all outstanding issues, including mutual waivers by Texas A&M and the conference on behalf of all the remaining members."

Texas A&M has participated in intercollegiate athletics as a member of the Big 12 since the conference's founding 16 years ago. Last season, the Aggies claimed nine Big 12 championships and four national team titles, both of which were school-bests. Since joining the Big 12 prior to the 1996-97 athletic season, Texas A&M has won 55 conference championships, including 32 in the last five years.

Texas A&M finished eighth in the prestigious Director's Cup all-sport rankings a year ago, tallying its most points ever and leading all Big 12 schools. In the inaugural Capital One Cup, which rates teams' final rankings, the Aggies were the top-ranking university from the Big 12. The Aggie women finished second with five top-10 finishes, while the Aggie men finished tied for third with five top-10 finishes.

"As I have indicated throughout this process, we are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs," Loftin said. "This is a 100-year decision that we have addressed carefully and methodically. Texas A&M is an extraordinary institution, and we look forward to what the future may hold for Aggies worldwide."

While Loftin did not specify an application timeline in his letter to the Big 12, he previously indicated that he does not intend to prolong the application process for an extended period of time.

 

[thebigabd]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSLlZh9yelk[/ame]

 

[bocabull]

Awesome. They belong in the SEC with the other rubes. This will just mean more money for OU & Texas while A&M will continue their mediocrity in another conference.

I wish Okie State would go with them and this possibly opens up that door with A&M splitting from Texas.

The best possible outcome would be for the Big 12 to add Notre Dame and allow them to keep their own TV deal and stick with 10 teams. Not sure if this can be pulled off with Notre Dame wanting to keep their historical rivalries on the schedule.

When all is said and done I think teams that expand over 12 teams are going to regret it. Even the 12 team model has shown flaws as it has flopped in the ACC.

 

[campbest]

Awesome. They belong in the SEC with the other rubes. This will just mean more money for OU & Texas while A&M will continue their mediocrity in another conference.

I wish Okie State would go with them and this possibly opens up that door with A&M splitting from Texas.

The best possible outcome would be for the Big 12 to add Notre Dame and allow them to keep their own TV deal and stick with 10 teams. Not sure if this can be pulled off with Notre Dame wanting to keep their historical rivalries on the schedule.

When all is said and done I think teams that expand over 12 teams are going to regret it. Even the 12 team model has shown flaws as it has flopped in the ACC.

Notre Dame is not coming to the Big XII.

Time to fire up the phone lines and get in touch with Larry Scott again, West Coast = Best Coast.

 

[tycat947]

Awesome. They belong in the SEC with the other rubes. This will just mean more money for OU & Texas while A&M will continue their mediocrity in another conference.

I wish Okie State would go with them and this possibly opens up that door with A&M splitting from Texas.

The best possible outcome would be for the Big 12 to add Notre Dame and allow them to keep their own TV deal and stick with 10 teams. Not sure if this can be pulled off with Notre Dame wanting to keep their historical rivalries on the schedule.

When all is said and done I think teams that expand over 12 teams are going to regret it. Even the 12 team model has shown flaws as it has flopped in the ACC.

The Big 12 bubba heads to the SEC bubbas! Buh Bye!

 

[bocabull]

Actually camp I read an article from a UT insider that said Texas was in deep discussions with Notre Dame and BYU pitching the idea to them of the Big XII allowing teams to have their own network/TV contracts while belonging to the conference. So you get the conference benefits while still being able to monetize your brand individually.

For example Notre Dame could keep their NBC contract for their home games and use the conference network for road games.

The deal would be short term in nature. 5 years or so to test the model. It made a lot of sense.

 

[thebigabd]

I still think the best model (given this A&M news) is:

Big 12 North
Memphis
Kansas
Kansas State
Iowa State
Missouri
Oklahoma State
TCU

Big 12 South
Oklahoma
Texas
Baylor
Texas Tech
South Florida
Central Florida
New Mexico

TCU, New Mexico, South Florida, and Central Florida will all grow by being in a major conference. They will no longer be in a conference that does not appeal to elite players, and they are from fertile recruiting areas.

Essentially, you add new markets in Florida, Tennessee, and New Mexico while still keeping it a power league and working in OU and UT's favor.

It would be OU's and UT's league in football, and wide open in basketball.

This way OU is giving other schools the opportunity to come into a power conference and grow, while at the same time leaving it in a position to benefit OU and UT.

I don't think OU and UT should go join someone elses party and play 3rd fiddle to USC, Florida, Alabama, etc. We should just add new teams that add some value to the league.

 

[bocabull]

ABD, adding 5 inferior brands does nothing but dilute value. Why would you want to subsidize low budget programs like New Mexico, TCU and Memphis?


Fewer high profile brands that share based on performance is the model that will work best over the long term. The true capitalist model. Let the SEC and Big 10 have their socialism equal sharing programs. I hope OU ends up in the performance model.

A conference with OU football and Kansas Basketball along with Texas and Notre Dame would generate as much revenue as these 12-16 team conferences and the majority of that revenue would flow to the 4 marquee teams.

 

[thebigabd]

ABD, adding 5 inferior brands does nothing but dilute value. Why would you want to subsidize low budget programs like New Mexico, TCU and Memphis?

-Memphis adds a championship caliber basketball program.
-New Mexico adds a very good basketball program with a high profile coach and a potentially good football program.
-TCU is playing championship caliber football right now.

They add competitive value to the league, and competitive value will translate into financial value. Good sports = big money.

New Mexico, TCU, Memphis, Central Florida, and South Florida will all bring in more revenue for joining the Big 12, and they all add competitive value to the league. All those teams will recruit better. They will sell more tickets. They will raise their local and national profiles.

Adding Tampa, Orlando, Albuquerque, Dallas, and Memphis to our league could only be positive.

 

[sperry]

-Memphis adds a championship caliber basketball program.
-New Mexico adds a very good basketball program with a high profile coach and a potentially good football program.
-TCU is playing championship caliber football right now.

They add competitive value to the league, and competitive value will translate into financial value. Good sports = big money.

New Mexico, TCU, Memphis, Central Florida, and South Florida will all bring in more revenue for joining the Big 12, and they all add competitive value to the league. All those teams will recruit better. They will sell more tickets. They will raise their local and national profiles.

Adding Tampa, Orlando, Albuquerque, Dallas, and Memphis to our league could only be positive.

Those schools add no national appeal, are poor academically, and are really just poor overall. They don't even have much support from their own alumni. Luring Notre Dame and BYU is really the only way I can see for the conference to survive, and Notre Dame just feels like a pipe dream. It's time for OU to bail.

 

[thebigabd]

Those schools add no national appeal, are poor academically, and are really just poor overall. They don't even have much support from their own alumni. Luring Notre Dame and BYU is really the only way I can see for the conference to survive, and Notre Dame just feels like a pipe dream. It's time for OU to bail.

Fine, lets go play 3rd fiddle nationally to UT, Alabama, and Florida. Or to USC, UT, and Oregon.

 

[coolm]

Those schools add no national appeal, are poor academically, and are really just poor overall. They don't even have much support from their own alumni. Luring Notre Dame and BYU is really the only way I can see for the conference to survive, and Notre Dame just feels like a pipe dream. It's time for OU to bail.

yeah. what sperry said.

 

[WTSooner]

Fine, lets go play 3rd fiddle nationally to UT, Alabama, and Florida. Or to USC, UT, and Oregon.

Agreed. OU and UT can survive/thrive with just about anybody else in the conference. I'd prefer a 12 team conference in order to get the Championship game back, but if not, keep it at 10. ND isn't coming. And while I probably wouldn't add all of the schools you suggested above, I don't mind the idea of adding 1-3 of them. Louisville is another option.

 

[thebigabd]

Agreed. OU and UT can survive/thrive with just about anybody else in the conference. I'd prefer a 12 team conference in order to get the Championship game back, but if not, keep it at 10. ND isn't coming. And while I probably wouldn't add all of the schools you suggested above, I don't mind the idea of adding 1-3 of them. Louisville is another option.

Ya, I forgot about Louisville. You could bring them in instead of TCU or New Mexico.

I think the Florida schools would be good though, same as Memphis.

 

[stoops4pres]

-Memphis adds a championship caliber basketball program.
-New Mexico adds a very good basketball program with a high profile coach and a potentially good football program.
-TCU is playing championship caliber football right now.

They add competitive value to the league, and competitive value will translate into financial value. Good sports = big money.

New Mexico, TCU, Memphis, Central Florida, and South Florida will all bring in more revenue for joining the Big 12, and they all add competitive value to the league. All those teams will recruit better. They will sell more tickets. They will raise their local and national profiles.

Adding Tampa, Orlando, Albuquerque, Dallas, and Memphis to our league could only be positive.

I see your point, but last year's realignment talk proved that basketball means little in the grand scheme of things... Just ask KU.

New Mexico, TCU, and Memphis would not bring much--if at all--to the table.

And New Mexico has hardly any potential to succeed in football. Regardless of conference affiliation.

 

[stoops4pres]

Fine, lets go play 3rd fiddle nationally to UT, Alabama, and Florida. Or to USC, UT, and Oregon.

Not sure what you are trying to say... Define "3rd fiddle"?

 

[thebigabd]

Not sure what you are trying to say... Define "3rd fiddle"?

I am saying that if you jump ship to join someone elses party, then it is clear demonstration that you arent as big time as you thought. OU and UT are not good enough to lure mid-level programs (Louisville, Memphis, South Florida, etc) to replace sucky programs like A&M and Colorado.

You are basically saying, "Ok Florida, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee.... we arent good enough to attract anyone or be the featured team in our league, so we are going to come leech off your success".....

 

[Sooner04]

Actually camp I read an article from a UT insider that said Texas was in deep discussions with Notre Dame and BYU pitching the idea to them of the Big XII allowing teams to have their own network/TV contracts while belonging to the conference. So you get the conference benefits while still being able to monetize your brand individually.

For example Notre Dame could keep their NBC contract for their home games and use the conference network for road games.

The deal would be short term in nature. 5 years or so to test the model. It made a lot of sense.

The exposure from a deal like that would mean bonzo bucks for all parties involved. Coup of the century if it were to happen.

 

[stoops4pres]

I am saying that if you jump ship to join someone elses party, then it is clear demonstration that you arent as big time as you thought. OU and UT are not good enough to lure mid-level programs (Louisville, Memphis, South Florida, etc) to replace sucky programs like A&M and Colorado.

You are basically saying, "Ok Florida, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee.... we arent good enough to attract anyone or be the featured team in our league, so we are going to come leech off your success".....

First off, just because OU, or Texas jumped ship, would not mean they are not good enough to lure mid-level programs. These programs you speak of would jump if the Big 12 were to remain intact.

As for your second paragraph, I disagree. I don't think perception would be that way at all. Even if it were, OU could just destroy that flawed perception by beating them consistently.

 

[SoonerNorm]

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