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The paper is trash talking the Longhorns and what is up for Big 12, i.e. BYU. Some kudos for SMU along with the Cougars.

http://www.chron.com/sports/justice/art ... 144474.php

The author of that article is spot on. A&M has greatly improved their situation for the long term. As far as UT? He is right. UT doesnt want the likes of SMU, Houston, or TCU being in the Big 12 and competing with them on more equal footing for recruits in Texas. That had a lot to do with the break up of the old SWC which was orchestrated mostly in secret by Mr. Deloss Dodds.

Great article that sums things up nicely. I really want to see us in a BCS conference before the music stops on all the realignment, but I am not convinced that the Big 12 is the best place to be despite some of the obvious draws to it. All it takes is a UT or OU temper tantrum and the whole thing implodes and we're back to square one. I think we need to push into the big time, and I like the commitment of the admin to do it, I'm just not sure the Big 12 is the best choice. The only value in it I see is to prove for a year or two that we can hang at the BCS level and try to get an invite from a more stable conference and maybe shore up some cash with the extra exposure. And I must say, I'm still struggling with the concept of anyone being outsmarted by an Aggie!

He is an alumnus of UT.

I think this whole conference realignment is about to blow up soon as the SEC will start by taking an ACC team along with A&M for their east division. This will bring a Big East team to the ACC and open up another Big East spot. Oklahoma to PAC 12 ? There are rumors about this. Well, we will see now how interested the Sooners are in staying with Texas after the Aggies really leave. Will there be more ? Sure a lot more. If SMU keeps developing, and starts MARKETING our program like I hear they are finally starting to do, SMU will have a place somewhere in a bcs conference in time.....Big 12 or elsewhere who knows ? But I'm not worried about the Big 12 spot now if it goes to BYU. If OU/OSU go elsewhere, Texas will go independent. So the Big 12 is logical now, but maybe not in the future.

I wish SMU can somehow end up with the PAC-12 (maybe 16 in a couple of years). One can dream!

westexSMU wrote:I think this whole conference realignment is about to blow up soon as the SEC will start by taking an ACC team along with A&M for their east division. This will bring a Big East team to the ACC and open up another Big East spot. Oklahoma to PAC 12 ? There are rumors about this.

Yup.

Look, the Big East has got to be sweating, if they have any brains. Once the SEC takes it's two teams, the BE will most likely lose at least one team, maybe more, and this from a league still fighting to keep a BCS bid. It is entirely possible, if the ACC and the Big XII are aggressive, that the Big East gets absolutely gutted. If that happens, even if SMU doesn't get a bid to the Big XII, that Conference USA actually wakes the heck up and goes after the remaining BE schools, goes to 16 schools, and aggessively pursues a BCS bid as a conference. Not likely, but 1-100 possible.

The BE is definitely sweating. They are the lowest hanging fruit, next to the ACC and amazingly the Big XII. The issue for them is not watering down their hoops brand and keeping their football brand alive. In that end, is the ACC any better a destination for Syracuse, Pitt or WVA than the Big East? Not sure that it is? The Big XII would be a bigger concern. Because the Big XII with UT, KU, OU, and OSU has a hoops and football presence in UT, OU, MO, OSU. However, WVA was one play away from a National Title game appearance a few years ago, coming out of the Big East. They would be a doormat in the Big XII. They'll be a lot of what iffing going on the next month.

westexSMU wrote:I think this whole conference realignment is about to blow up soon as the SEC will start by taking an ACC team along with A&M for their east division. This will bring a Big East team to the ACC and open up another Big East spot. Oklahoma to PAC 12 ? There are rumors about this. Well, we will see now how interested the Sooners are in staying with Texas after the Aggies really leave. Will there be more ? Sure a lot more. If SMU keeps developing, and starts MARKETING our program like I hear they are finally starting to do, SMU will have a place somewhere in a bcs conference in time.....Big 12 or elsewhere who knows ? But I'm not worried about the Big 12 spot now if it goes to BYU. If OU/OSU go elsewhere, Texas will go independent. So the Big 12 is logical now, but maybe not in the future.

As for the Big East & the Big 12 - I see only one surviving as a major football conference, but which one? The key lies with Texas. If Texas wants the Big 12 to survive & thrive, then Oklahoma will probably go along for the ride and the Big 12 may add BYU in addition to some Big East teams like Pitt & WVU.

However, my thought is that Texas would rather go independent or go to the Pac 12 then keep the Big12 together. If this is the prevailing sentiment, then Big 12 expansion will proceed at glacial speed. Schools like BYU will ask for assurances from UT & OU of conference stability - and won't get any. Big 12 member schools like Kansas will start looking around at alternatives like the Big East.

My prediction for the Big 12 - Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Iowa State are about to get the SMU / Rice / Houston / TCU Southwest Conference treatment.

West Coast Johnny wrote: My prediction for the Big 12 - Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Iowa State are about to get the SMU / Rice / Houston / TCU Southwest Conference treatment.

That is an ok group if you get rid of Rice. They have no real commitment to sports-especially FB.

GO PONIES!!!

I really believe we should lobby the Big East along with Houston, UCF and Memphis/Tulsa/ECU. Even if it lasts only a few years, that will improve our status for the future. Great BBall monies and we could do pretty well in their football league. I like it better than the Big 12.

Of course we would be an absolute doormat in bball.

GO PONIES!!!

redpony wrote:Of course we would be an absolute doormat in bball.

GO PONIES!!!

We've been pretty good in that role in the WAC and CUSA too

Oh well, some of the things teams will do for $$$$.

GO PONIES!!!

Comet wrote:I wish SMU can somehow end up with the PAC-12 (maybe 16 in a couple of years). One can dream!

Me too! Then I might actually be able to see some of the games in person.