Texas A&M Officially Out.....

[Pony_Law]

Just saw on Sports center that Aggies have denied announcing they are leaving the conference

[SMU 46]

From what I understand, Orsini has been working diligently over the past year and a half, if not longer, in marketing SMU not only to AQ conferences but internally. If anything, it's a great sign that SMU as a whole is committed to achieving AQ status. GT and SO do not go public to state the obvious just to appease alumni unless they've done their homework and are willing to back it up. I believe one article said they even commissioned a study to show how the DFW TV market is broken down between SEC and Big 12 viewers.

[Hoop Fan]

I'd like to believe the notion that surely RG wouldn't comment publicly unless there was a very good chance, but look at history folks. RG is the guy who tied us to Rice and Tulane in the first place. He missed the bus on the original CUSA (when TCU went and before Louiville and Cincy left), and then the MWC. He moved at a glacial pace in making changes to admissions process etc. What about his history with realignment and athletics issues give you the least bit of indication that he is actually 'out in front' on this? Put me in the camp that thinks the comments by RG and SO were to appease alums and to actually try to elicit some support from the City of Dallas. its a good angle, to appeal to civic pride and economic impact of visitors, we should have been emphasizing it years ago. I think its a bit late to be effective now that A&M is out the door and the decisions are already in motion.

[Junior]

According to ESPN and a New York Times article just posted......I'm still skeptical and I'll believe it when I see it

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... conference

*Sorry if this has been posted already. Hard to keep track of what has and what hasn't

Agree. Everyone is trying to be the first to announce that it's "official", for no other reason than to scoop everyone else.

[LA_Mustang]

I totally agree. I can't imagine Turner and Orsini would put this out there without some serious intel. What would be the point of getting all of us excited at the possibility if they hadn't received indications that this might or will happen? Plus, the fact that C James went on Sportscenter publicly promoting SMU is a big indicator, IMO.

[Topper]

as much as I like all the posters on this board, NONE of us know what is going to happen or what other schools or league commissioners are thinking, so I wish these blanket statements like "UT does not want other teams from Texas" would stop.

How do you know that? Do you have Deloss Dodds on your speed dial? Has anyone from UT said that, ever? If so, I'll eat crow, but I'd at least like to see a link or something.

It is common sense that UT doesn't want to compete with anyone, much less SMU, TCU, Rice and Baylor in BCS recruiting in Texas. Baylor only got into the Big 12 because it happened to own the Governor and Lieut Governor at the time of the break up. Texas football was in the dumps when the SWC broke up. Now they own the state so far as recruiting is concerned. I honestly believe that if we make it into the Big 12 it will be partly because the Big 12 is a stop gap until the big re-alignment of college football is worked out.

[ericdickerson4life]

Why would A&M announce they are leaving before they ever receive an official invite? I maybe young but I've learned you don't count your chickens before they hatch. What if, but the slightest chance the SEC changes it's mind (short term or long term)? They can't get a commitment from the 14th school this year? All sorts of scenarios. They would look foolish, nay I say down right idiotic to say they are leaving and then be stuck. Having to either beg the B12 to allow them to stay, until they get an invite, or go independent without really planning for that scenario.

Albeit I think they are going and it's a done deal but why accept before receiving an invite? Just wait and be patient. Don't pee down your leg like my dog when she gets excited about something!

[Hoop Fan]

I totally agree. I can't imagine Turner and Orsini would put this out there without some serious intel. What would be the point of getting all of us excited at the possibility if they hadn't received indications that this might or will happen? Plus, the fact that C James went on Sportscenter publicly promoting SMU is a big indicator, IMO.

Maybe i am underestimating Orsini, but I think you are overestimating Turner. He's left us at the alter too many times for me to be confident in what he is doing on this issue.

[ponydawg]

Why would A&M announce they are leaving before they ever receive an official invite?

Lawyers. SEC won't send invite until aTm leaves. Protects them from potential law suits.

[ericdickerson4life]

Awww, I see. Makes sense. Damn lawyers.

So who's the 14th and when do we hear them announced?

[Nacho]

there is some smoke here.
i have to believe that the big 12 would tell orsini and turner to cool it and that they were going in a different direction if smu was not being seriously considered.
i think byu smu and uofh are the players in this. one two or all three may get in. we'll see.

[Hoop Fan]

If anything, it's a great sign that SMU as a whole is committed to achieving AQ status.

this sounds good, but really? Was there any question? Any school with a D-1 athletic department would actually have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to be going all out for AQ status. It says alot that we need 'signs' to take comfort that Turner wants AQ status, would you ever for second wonder that if you were a TCU alum?

[Samurai Stang]

Put me in the camp that thinks the comments by RG and SO were to appease alums and to actually try to elicit some support from the City of Dallas.

SMU alumni are not the type one would traditionally believe are in need of appeasement. True, there are the devoted, but they are not ones to riot.

If appeasement is the only goal, a token effort would have sufficed. The extent to which SMU has made its desires known would, in the event of being rejected by the Big 12, actually serve more to disappoint fans than encourage them. Where no rejection would have ever taken place, there would now be public embarrassment.

Were it a small effort by Turner and Orsini, I might be persuaded to believe appeasement were the root cause for their actions. As they have been extremely active, thereby opening SMU to criticism, I believe it is otherwise.

[ponyinNC]

Could it have been a desperation move? I certainly hope not. If there were little or no chance, i would hope that we would be smart enough to do everything behind closed doors.

All speculation, but perhaps we were told by B12 to put our name out there to see if any traction or momentum builds for SMU and Dallas. It certainly has, at least in the media and on comment boards. A measuring stick if you will to test the waters of public opinion...

[LA_Mustang]

this sounds good, but really? Was there any question? Any school with a D-1 athletic department would actually have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to be going all out for AQ status. It says alot that we need 'signs' to take comfort that Turner wants AQ status, would you ever for second wonder that if you were a TCU alum?

You make a good point, HF. And maybe I am giving Turner too much credit but hopefully Orsini has convinced him this would cement his legacy to get SMU back into major college athletics.