Teaxs A&M to leave Big 12

[ISUKappa]

We're obviously coming at this from two very different perspectives. My beef with aTm was that JUST LAST YEAR they pledged that they were solid in the new Big 12; they were committed to making it work for the next 10 years. That was a bald faced lie. The SEC didn't approach aTm, they went begging to the SEC, and have been purportedly working on this deal for the entire year under the table. They only reason it's taking as long as it has, is that the Big 12 (or Fox, really) could sue the SEC for tortious interference and both aTm and the SEC want to make sure their asses are covered. Not to mention Beebe is an idiot who didn't get more stringent penalties in place for those teams breaking contract and wishing to leave the conference. The longer aTm drags is out, the less they assume have to pay in "exit fees" (where exit fees are actually withheld revenue).

I feel like everyone wants us (and the other "forgotten" schools) to be pissed at Texas for the LHN and in general being the "big bully" of the conference (and yes, some are and feel aTm is totally in the right to leave). But aTm is the one who took their ball and left despite giving every assurance they were staying. I'd be annoyed with Mizzou or OU or any other school that did the same (including Texas). It's not so much that they're leaving, but how they went about it, especially knowing it could/would void the new TV deal with Fox. When all the crap went down last year, the forgotten schools pledged to give their share of the exit fees from NU and CU to Texas, OU and aTm to guarantee them the $20m/year they wanted. Texas and OU said thanks for the gesture, but that's not necessary. aTm said, we'll take the money!

I'm not saying Texas is blameless, but at least they're is still in the conference and are at least trying to make it work with what's left. Maybe it's because they don't have any other options right now aside from Independence and who knows what will happen to the rest of their sports if they go down that route. But they're here. Like I said, it sucks to be tied to Texas that way, but that's the reality of the situation as it stands and we have to do the best with that.

I miss the old Big 8, even if it meant putting up with NU and their overlord Osborne. Or better yet, we should have joined the Big 10 way back when when we had the chance. And I really don't want to have to give back our huge ass video screen (that was financed with the increased revenue from the revamped network deal), it looks so pretty in Jack Trice.

[AXOmom]

Yes, we are coming at it from different perspectives and will have to agree to disagree on most of it I suppose. Actually, the fact that I've spent this much time defending a school not in my conference that I have zero stake in or loyalty to is a very sad commentary on my obsession with college football. Obviously I need to get out more.

I'm going to guess that from A&M's perspective - all of that "we are committed to making it work for 10 years/solid on the Big 12" thing went out the window when Texas signed that network deal because they felt that this was a sign Texas wasn't really all that committed to the Big 12 and making it work for 10 years. I''ll speculate that they felt Texas backed out of that commitment first and all bets were off. Regardless, college football is what it is and as you said -mostly about money these days, so from the start, I wouldn't have assumed that agreement was worth the paper it was printed on - for anyone. Again, I have to think if Iowa State thought they could get into the Big X today - what would that agreement mean to your school? I'm guessing not a lot.

Bottom line my point is, if you are going to be pissed at A&M then you need to be pissed at Texas as well. If your aren't pissed at Texas then there's no reason to be pissed at A&M. They are acting in the same way on the same basis for the same reason. If you don't like the behavior of one - you shouldn't like the behavior of the other. I don't understand getting that upset with one and letting the other off the hook.

If you or your school feels Texas is committed to making your conference work and will make an effort to look after your best interests - what can I say. I think your trust is terribly misplaced, but its your school and your conference.

Yes, joining the Big 10 would have been a good decision for ISU in retrospect, but hindsight is 20/20. It seems odd to have ISU in one conference and Iowa in another. Who knows what may work out in the future. I do hope that the BYU thing works out. If not - I hope that regardless of whatever agreement your school signed, if another conference comes sniffing around (and I know that doesn't seem likely at the moment, but things can change quickly) they take a serious look.