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With high profile talk of conference shuffling, other Texas schools are also looking to get in on the action. Today, state Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, wrote on his blog, "Along with the departure of the University of Nebraska and the University of Colorado, a Texas A&M departure would leave the Big 12 with a mere nine schools, the fewest of all the major college athletic conferences. It would only make sense, then, for the Big 12 to add at least one other school to its conference, and the obvious choice is the University of Houston."

UH is the flagship university of the largest city in Texas and the third largest city in the nation. It is one of only three Tier One public universities in the state, and, much like the city of Houston, it is a thriving, diverse institution gaining more and more national prominence with each passing year. Including UH in the Big 12 would be mutually beneficial to both. The Big 12 would gain one of the nation’s largest television markets as well as an institution that is nationally competitive in all areas of academics and research, while UH would gain a conference affiliation indicative of its reputation of excellent that would immediately put the university as well as the city on the national stage along with the other fine Texas institutions already in the Big 12: the University of Texas, Texas Tech, and Baylor. Situated in the heart of one of the best areas for athletic recruiting in the nation, UH would be immediately competitive in all areas of athletics, especially football. Because the Big 12 is an automatic qualifying BCS conference, UH could very soon be playing on the national stage in BCS bowls, even national championships, against the other great football programs in the country.

As other conferences make clear, athletic conferences are only as good as its member schools. The Big 12 cannot maintain status quo: if they decide to remain a lopsided conference of only nine teams, many of whom may also be seeking to relocate to other conferences, it is only a matter of time before the Big 12 dissolves. We need to ensure that the Big 12 represents the best of what this area has to offer, and no other institution, inside or outside of Texas, can bring as much to the table in terms of size, television markets, academics, athletics, and alumni base as the University of Houston can. Go Coogs.

RGV Pony wrote:thing is, most of these guys do their best work when approached by friendly lobbyists representing people who have made significant campaign contributions. That, and/or people who are friendly or adverse to a bill they've authored or sponsored. Legislature isnt in session again for another year and a half, so unless people are ponying up $$ to their campaigns, or they have a specific axe to grind/horse in the race, I dont see them doing much other than saying thanks for your letter/call, keep in touch, come to my golf tournament.

also worth noting: on the Senate committee for higher ed sits two UH alums, Royce West & Judith Zaffirini. JZ is the chair

RGV Pony wrote:thing is, most of these guys do their best work when approached by friendly lobbyists representing people who have made significant campaign contributions. That, and/or people who are friendly or adverse to a bill they've authored or sponsored. Legislature isnt in session again for another year and a half, so unless people are ponying up $$ to their campaigns, or they have a specific axe to grind/horse in the race, I dont see them doing much other than saying thanks for your letter/call, keep in touch, come to my golf tournament.

also worth noting: on the Senate committee for higher ed sits two UH alums, Royce West & Judith Zaffirini. JZ is the chair