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May be a very stupid question, but I am trying to think outside the box on these conference realignment scenarios. Here goes:

If SMU really wants in on the Big 12, is there a way to basically 'purchase' that spot vacated by TAMU? The Ags will no doubt have to pay the penalty for leaving, whcih some have estimated at 17-19 million bucks. The Big 12, under its bylaws, sought to withhold an estimated $19.4 million from Nebraska and between $15-$20 million from Colorado, but each settled for much less (I believe each school paid in the range of $9 million).

So I guess the question is, and I know that Memphis had tried this in the past with the Big East, but can we buy our way in? Offer to pay/match TAMU's penalties?

There are no such things as stupid questions, and actually is an interesting idea.

Hey A&M, tell us what the exit fee is and we pay for it if you get us in.

I don't think it's a stupid question, but it may well be a stupid use of funds. I am not convinced that the Big 12 is really the place we want to be, and shelling out cash that could be used to make us more attractive to a more stable conference might be the better move. Keep improving facilities, keep up the recruiting pressure and spend some $$ on serious marketing and we can find ourselves in a better situation. I just don't see the Big 12 being around much beyond the next couple years, so why buy into a grenade with the pin already pulled?

Do you think A&M has any pull with the conference now? Cmon man. They'll be lucky to schedule any big 12 team in any sport for the next decade.

You're a lawyer, you should know:
There are no stupid questions when you are paying me for my time.
Jeez, how many lawyers we got on this board anyway? LOL.
Seriously, though, I wouldn't say it is a crazy notion, but how do you offer them something that they want while getting what you need? Do we offer to pass up Big XII money for a couple or years? How do we do this without seeming cheap, or even open bribary? Are we offering them cash? There are other schools who may be able to find a booster, or ten, to match what we give, I know we are 'SMU' and all, but do we want it in an open bidding war?
In Memphis' case, Fred Smith offered them a $10/M year in endoresments through FedEx. So the Big East would have gotten 10M/year, FedEx get publicity, and Memphis gets in a major conference. It's a classic deal. It's bribary, too, but it's also a deal. And the BE didn't go for it.

My guess is someone, whether GT or SO, have put it in similiar terms to the Big XII, as in "What's it gonna take?" I'm sure Beebe or someone patted them on the knee and smiled.

IF we got into the big 12....not sure we would ever get to play a game in the big 12.

I could see them letting us in but before we actually get their UT and OU bolting causing the demise.

it was the lawyer in me that got me thinking about what we have to do to make this happen...which reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:

Do you know why California has the most attorneys and New Jersey has the most toxic waste dumps?

New Jersey got first pick.

ponyinNC wrote:it was the lawyer in me that got me thinking about what we have to do to make this happen...which reminds me of one of my favorite jokes:

Do you know why California has the most attorneys and New Jersey has the most toxic waste dumps?

New Jersey got first pick.

Classic!

my impression of this conference hopping business is that there is alwasys a big entrance fee set by the conference that is never counted against any contractual exit fees paid by the school leaving.