Austin AS: Houston billionaire pushing for UH to join B12

[Pony Boss]

Cow said no. If cow doesn't want you in their conference, you ain't getting in. Hart should take the UT AD out for a few drinks to talk it over and get us in the Big 12.

Do we "push" for anything? (at all?)

What do you mean, Berger?

[ericdickerson4life]

He wants the legislature to force UH in.

This is an act of desperation. As desperate as Orsini's SMU2BIG12

A good portion of the state legislature are UH grads and Ferttita is a billionaire so...

So why hasn't it happened yet? Sounds like UH is a lock. But...

[CalallenStang]

He wants the legislature to force UH in.

This is an act of desperation. As desperate as Orsini's SMU2BIG12

A good portion of the state legislature are UH grads and Ferttita is a billionaire so...

So he will buy the votes of Texas, Texas Tech, and A&M grads that don't want their recruiting threatened?

[East Coast Mustang]

Herman is already stealing recruits from Texas in the AAC. 0% chance Texas let's them in the Big 12. A&M won't let another Texas team in the SEC, and the Big 10, Pac-12, and ACC would laugh at Houston's academic reputation.

[whitwiki]

I'd like to hear a new argument. I'm not sure academics really matter.

[sbsmith]

I'd like to hear a new argument. I'm not sure academics really matter.

You're not sure they matter or you don't want them to matter? Anyone that has followed realignment knows academics matter.

[East Coast Mustang]

I'd like to hear a new argument. I'm not sure academics really matter.

Big Ten supposedly wouldn't let in any schools that weren't AAU members. (Although, technically Nebraska lost their AAU status shortly after joining the Big Ten I believe)

[SMUfrat]

There is honestly a good chance UH moves up. Better chance than us. But I hope we both do.

[ReedFrawg]

What about UTEP, UTSA and TX State? There are other public, state schools in FBS.

[sbsmith]

There is honestly a good chance UH moves up. Better chance than us. But I hope we both do.

There really isn't a good chance that they move up, honestly they don't have anywhere to go unless a P5 conference gets raided and becomes desperate.

[PerunasHoof]

I think we are both stuck trying to make the best out of the American conference. Thankfully the conference has so far proven itself to be the best of the rest, so we just need to do well in it and start getting in the New Years bowl games. The rest is out of our control.

[Pony Grey Hair]

As much as I hate to say it, this latest blow up in basketball with the NCAA is likely to seal our fate of ever moving up to a P5 Conference. Obviously, the NCAA will never take its foot off of our neck and no conference wants the NCAA looking over their shoulder all the time. We are such woosies when it comes to the NCAA; we have tried to play nice and turn in any violation and take any punishment, we have let our image be defined by the NCAA. Funny thing is , we have played nice and still have been on probation about 4 times since DP and still are ranked one of the worst football programs in the FBS after 30 yrs; while TCU as only aspired to do what it takes to be in a P5 conference and has no NCAA probations since the SWC split and is the in school for students who used to go to SMU. Our problem has been one thing- lack of leadership and vision at the top as it relates to athletics. We will be similar to Austin College, Trinity, and Emory in a few years when we could have been Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Duke, Wake Forest or USC.

[whitwiki]

I'd like to hear a new argument. I'm not sure academics really matter.

You're not sure they matter or you don't want them to matter? Anyone that has followed realignment knows academics matter.

I certainly think they should matter, somewhat, but they are trivialized in all of college (revenue) sports. Why would conference management act any different behind the scenes?

Most people citing academics are speculative fans. The Big10 was rumored to have an AAU requirement, but I bet if a team delivered sufficient TV sets most any conference would come calling.

Academics seems to be an excuse more than anything.

To flip it around, SMU won't be invited anywhere just because of our academic standing.

[sbsmith]

Most people citing academics are speculative fans. The Big10 was rumored to have an AAU requirement, but I bet if a team delivered sufficient TV sets most any conference would come calling.

Academics seems to be an excuse more than anything.

To flip it around, SMU won't be invited anywhere just because of our academic standing.

All Big 10 schools are in the AAU except Nebraska who was a member for about a century before being kicked out. Maybe a conference would handwave academic merit if a prospective school brought enough TVs to the table but that certainly isn't absolute. Our academic standing really isn't that great from a realignment standpoint because we aren't a big time research school.

[EastStang]

First its all about TV sets. Big Ten has its own network. If adding a team the Big Ten added 10 Million cable must carry's for the Big Ten Network, they would jump in a second (see Maryland and Rutgers). However, SMU can't deliver that, nor can UH. Each is in a good sized market, but not enough to catch the eye of a conference vying for TV sets. Rutgers is the State University of NJ, and thus all NJ TV sets and some NY ones were added. Maryland got Baltimore, DC suburbs and DC as must carry's for the Big Ten Network. The only conferences that want Access to the Texas market are arguably the Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12. Pac-12 is biding their time waiting for the Big Fish. That leaves the ACC which added Louisville instead of a Texas school when it had the chance. And the Big Ten which is up to 16 teams and probably won't expand until others do. At this point, I think we're kind of stuck where we are absent a sizable shift in the landscape.