PonyFans.com

Terrible reporting.......

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... QD9G8O1DG1

Among topics discussed was how the Big 12 could operate with fewer teams, the person said, and the consequences such as possible litigation should there be a mass exodus that could leave some teams behind.

Is it possible UT, OU, ATM looking at moving on their own b/c potential legal issues if there was a mass group exit?

at least RC's shootin' em straight:

Slocum said any decision A&M makes will be based purely on its financial impact, and not on more intangible elements, like preserving traditions and rivalries.

Don't forget education reasons.

Wow. That sure made it sound like A&M will be making the split from Texas.

I also just heard that A&M's athletic department budget is in shambles. Could be that they can't afford to be in a conference with Texas, especially if UT is still going forward with their own special tv deal. I have a sneaking suspicion that is the hold up with the Pac-10(11) offers as well. Dodds suddenly wants to keep the Big 12 together when two days ago they were going to be the school to bolt if Nebraska couldn't meet his deadline? It's got to be about his tv network.

And here it is. Chip Brown:

http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1093010

One thing that should be reassuring to Texas A&M is that in a move to the Pac-10 Texas all but loses its chance to start its own TV network.

That was a point of contention for A&M, which has an athletic department $16 million in debt and had to borrow that money from the school's general fund to pay it off.

That became a big rift at A&M between the administration and athletics department and may have contributed to the forced resignation of A&M president Elsa Murano, who wanted the athletic department to be more diligent in paying the loan back.

A&M was not excited about having Texas, with its $125 million in revenue and its coffers overflowing, starting a TV network and adding yet another revenue stream that A&M couldn't match.

But with all schools belonging to a conference network (with no ability to start their own network) in the Pac-16, all schools would be on an equal revenue-sharing playing field. A&M's worries probably subside.

This whole deal is about money.
The schools want more and got to a certain negotiating point.
TV guys come in -- new and old.
Privately, the schools start thinking about other possibilities to make themselves more $.
Then they start wondering if anyone might be bluffing / working on better deal.

New PAC 16 Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTbc98uq ... _embedded#!