VTTW Board Index

On the surface it makes no sense, but with an expanded playoff it means more money. Trade a win over Troy St. for a loss to Texas? No biggie. The Horns created a sellout and higher ratings.

The sellout increased school revenue and higher ratings increased conference TV money. Dropping a couple of games now is not a detriment to a national title.

I'm not for it (nothing against either school), but the math seems to really, really work.

It’s always going to be about power and money in the end.

I'm against it. In fact, I think that Arkansas and Missouri should go back to the Big 12, a/k/a The Southwest Conference.

We could add Louisville and Georgia Tech. Or FSU.  NOT the tiglets.

If we expand again, I’d rather go to the East. We need a presence in NC and VA. Those are two big states within our footprint that would be very lucrative for TV purposes. If we could get one of UNC/NCSU/Duke and one of VPI/UVa, I’d take that and be happy.

I don’t want Texas. They don’t play well with others, and we already have a presence in the state anyway. OU is a great brand, but are in a relatively small state. It’s all about making more money, and that means adding SECN subscribers.

If we’re going to raid another conference, we should be looking at the ACC, not the Big 12.

A&M and Missouri will vote no.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/report-2-sec-schools-firmly-against-oklahoma-texas/ar-AAMpxRv?li=BBnb7Kz (https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/report-2-sec-schools-firmly-against-oklahoma-texas/ar-AAMpxRv?li=BBnb7Kz)

Texas seems to be super toxic. I used to be for a Virginia addition, but OU has a bigger brand than anyone in VA. NC State could have had Mizzou's spot, but they have never had their stuff together. North Carolina is a logical spot to grow, but it's tough.

As an aside, the Big 12 should grab UCF and Charlotte if they plan for the future. That won't happen, but those would be the smart long-term plays.

For me, the short horns are a big fat NO!

OK, yeah, I'd take them, if an ACC team was also selected, UNC would be a good pick - Clemson is a big NO, as would be Miami. 

BTW, you know if the SEC did go with 2 more teams that would drive a 9 game SEC schedule
One caveat I would add, is if this were to happen then the constant opposite division foe would have to go away, so that we would rotate through the West Div teams more often

Back when Mizzou and The Aggies were added, Texas and Oklahoma had the opportunity to be part of the expansion, but for competitive reasons they chose to turn tail and run like cowards. 

I say fizzle 'em.  They need the SEC a whole lot more than the SEC needs them.  Let them go to the PAChowevermanyschoolsthereareinitnow where their road games can start at 10:30 eastern on some obscure Fox affiliated station that 95% of Americas don't get with their TV package. 

Agree. I want neither. If you hold me at gunpoint, I’d take OU. But TX is a hard no. They ruin everything they touch. Let them in, and it’s just a matter of time before they’re demanding a bigger slice of the revenue, demanding they keep their own TV network, demanding their opponents get penalized for doing the “horns down” thing, etc.

Besides, didn’t they use the “poor SEC academics” excuse for not joining a decade ago? What’s changed since then? fizzle them. :bird:

There is no way the SEC takes Texas with their Longhorn Network deal in place.  It's an ESPN platform, which can be folded in to the SECN package, along with the revenue it creates to split equally, just like the SECN revenue.  The SEC Powers that be aren't stupid, and neither are the SEC presidents.  They don't take Texas unless the LHN is merged with SECN. 

Along those lines, the ESPN article states "One potential obstacle for such a move, at least anytime soon, is that Oklahoma and Texas signed a Big 12 grant-of-rights agreement, in which they granted their first- and second-tier media rights for football and men's basketball to the conference through June 30, 2025. That means the Big 12 would still own those schools' media rights for those sports -- even if they are no longer members -- until the agreement expires.

The Big 12's TV contracts with ESPN and Fox also expire in 2025. The Longhorn Network's deal with ESPN goes through 2031."

I know that money can solve anything but I don't see the Big 12 releasing them from that agreement. And I don't see the SEC agreeing to take them with that agreement still in place.

But money can conquer mountains. Or something like that.  :biggrin:

I don't see Texas and Oklahoma being "full fledged" members of the SEC until then, anyway. 

But if the SEC decides they want them before that they certainly have the power to "negotiate" a buyout that the Big12 can't refuse. 

And this is going to happen.  It wouldn't have been floated otherwise.  Mizzou and The Aggies are likely the only ones to oppose it, and even then, I don't know if Mizzou will actually vote against it when push comes to shove.  They need the expanded SEC share money as badly as everybody else does.  The Aggies?  Not really.  They have more money than just about anybody in the country. 

I have always heard that a school has veto power if they choose of any additions to the conference of a school in their state. Like SC-Clemson, KY-Louisville, GA-GT, etc. Will be interesting to see if that is indeed true and available to A&M if that is the case.

The A&M AD says that there is a gentleman's agreement to not let in a team from a state as a present SEC member.

As an attorney I will state the obvious: A gentleman's agreement ain't worth squat. I get paid for that sort of legalese.

Why would you speak up and remind people you're an attorney?

That would be kinda like me speaking up to remind people I'm a journalist.

Oh, wait...  :angel:

First droner's Liver and the rest of droner are figments of his imagination
However, for yourself, at least you spelled journalist correctly ...
 :dunno: :beer: :bowrofl: :rotfl: :secret: :dielaughing: :dance: :hi5: :inughout: :powert:

Do you mean s-n-a-k-e-i-n-t-h-e-g-r-a-s-s?

I think the Mississippi schools should oppose Texas. They're the obvious targets when Texas starts to Texas and become opposed to sharing.

The theory sounds plausible. Oklahoma wants out of the Big 12 because they are sick of 11:00 AM games. The Big 12 wouldn't help them and the TV network wouldn't budge.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/the-real-reason-oklahoma-wants-out-of-the-big-12/ar-AAMrDma?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 (https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/the-real-reason-oklahoma-wants-out-of-the-big-12/ar-AAMrDma?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531)

Wouldn't it be funny/ironic if the Big 12 inadvertently ran Oklahoma out of the conference?

In the SEC OU would still get at least 2 JP 11:00 KO games

That would also be funny.  :bowrofl:

Sources saying on Twitter that talks have been happening between TX, OU, and the SEC for the past 6 months, and that A&M was completely left out of the loop. Sounds like we did them dirty. :frown:

Let's assume A&M didn't know. That could be for a couple of reasons.

1) Perhaps no other schools knew either as the league office wanted to have their ducks in a row prior to presenting.

2) General underhandedness

I lean toward everyone knowing, and Kirk Bohl's story being misleading at best. You don't let the Horns and Sooners go down the path without having votes in place.

I also like to note the following.

Did you want to see a band with Richie Blackmore, Bruce Dickinson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Ginger Baker? Sure.

Did you want to be in a band with them? No.

This is way further along than was being put out yesterday.  It's pretty much done, and it wouldn't be to this point unless Sankey knew the votes are there to make it happen. 

The Superconference concept is here.  The SEC isn't going to stop with 18, look for a couple more schools to be added, too. 

And the ACC and Bigcan'tcountconference will follow suit. 

The ACC better gird their loins. You know the BIG has their eyes on ND, and the SEC has their eyes on several others.

Reports
... been in the works for 6 months
... A&M kept out until last week
... $73M buyout (per school) to leave the BIG12 in 2022
... SEC office will pay $100M of the buyout

Another nail in the proverbial coffin that is “traditional college sports”. Imo, of course.

Other conferences have, you bet, begin scrambling to catch up since this announcement was made public.

Reports indicate that the two schools will formally opt out of the package renewal Monday
Then it becomes when and how much
I suspect the buyout will end up less than the $73M each

Now reports that Kansas is courting the Big Can't Count
West Virginia won't be far behind for either the BCC or the ACC

Bottom Line: The Big 12 will not be a P5 conference going forward

As an aside, I bet the SEC goes after 2 ACC schools
Resulting in 16 schools divided between 2 conf & 4 Divs

You could be right about the buyout.

The ACC has never seemed interested in WVU and I’ll not sure what they bring to the table at this point.

In the near future, I do think that it’s possible you might see a 20 team SEC with no regular season crossover football games, only the SECC.

I like it!

SEC North:

Tennessee, Vandy, Mo, Ky, Cocks, Okie, Ark, Ole Piss

SEC South:

Turd, Barn, LSU, GA, FL, Texas, State, A&M

 :naughty:

The BIG could get value with UNC, and probably Clemson. I don't think UVA moves the athletics needle, as impressive as their academics are.

However, UNC likes running their little fiefdom.

I don't like it, but we should grab Clemson to forestall that grab, and then take FSU.

If the BIG has to take NC State and Duke with UNC they're not getting their money's worth.

From a competition standpoint Clemson, FSU, UNC, etc wouldn’t want to move to either the SEC or the Big 10 imo. That being said, things are in motion that could likely force schools to do things that will force them to make moves.

It will be interesting to watch the repercussions if this Texas/OU deal does indeed go through.

Competition standpoint is zero factor.  It's all about what can maximize the $$$$$$ from TV and marketing rights.  

With the football playoff soon going to a 16 team tourney, and it is coming, the SEC will still have an opportunity to put a minimum 4 teams, and as many as 6 or 7, teams in the playoff every year.  And getting to the playoff is the goal.  Get there you have a shot to win a natty. 

I completely agree. That’s what I was trying to express, although I didn’t word it very effectively I guess.

If you have access to a VQ account, go read the thread titled “ Texas Longhorn War Room Rivals Only Share”.

It’s a great read.

For those who don’t have access, it’s basically a rundown of the last week’s events and the cutthroat attitude that Texas and OU took in regards to the future of the Big12.

Keep calm!
All is well!

Yep.

In listening/reading the people I most trust, this whole thing started when the ACC reached out to Texas and Oklahoma, who in turn decided to make a run at the SEC before considering the ACC.  Looks like the ACC outsmarted themselves on this one. 

College football has been my favorite sport since going to Neyland for the first time and watching the Vols vs. UCSB in 1971.  At that time, the SEC was a 10 team Conference where winning the Conference and getting to the Sugar Bowl was huge. The National Champion was crowned via an evolving system that generally worked and always generated interesting discussions.

The regular season in college football, which is probably the greatest seasons in sports has been hanging on by a thread. What the plan looks to be now is 20 team conferences where two teams could conceivably play each other 3 times in a season. Rosters shift every year via the portal, throw in NIL and we are looking like the NFL on Saturdays.

I get it that times change, nothing stays the same, and money talks, but I fear there is a point not too far off where people start to lose interest? We can at least possible be a pod champion.

I'm not generally a Fudd who hates change just because it's change. But on this subject I agree. I have loved college football all my life, but with every major change I enjoy it just a little bit less. I go back and watch videos of the old games from the '80s and '90s -- not just UT games -- and yearn for the good ol' days.

Agree 100%...but those days are gone. I loved the days of listening to UT games on the radio and the picture that was drawn for you that made you feel like you were sitting on the 50 yard line. Not many can remember those days but the ones that can know what I'm talking about.

Too bad we have a TV guy doing radio play by play now who has no idea how to paint a picture.  Or pronounce the names correctly.  I still much prefer listening to games on radio, and still do Braves baseball games more often than not. 

Also enjoy listening to West Coast games as I go to bed via the Sirirus/XM app on my phone. 

Radio play-by-play in general is a lost art. I listen to other SEC broadcasts and I'm convinced Bob Kesling is one of the best in the SEC...which is really sad because he's just not good. Like you said, he's a TV guy. When he's doing TV, he does fine. But his radio broadcasts are almost intolerable. With John Ward, the words just flowed and you knew exactly what was going on before the play — I formation, receivers split to either side, etc. — and you also knew what was going on DURING the play. With Bob, there's no rhythm. Even worse, he'll be describing a play as if it was a mundane play and it'll wind up being a 15-20 yard gain. His only saving grace for the past 20 years has been Priest. I know a lot of people didn't like Tim. I did. But now he's gone.

And obviously John Ward was a cut above just about anyone to ever get behind a mic, but there were a lot of good ones who weren't replaced as they retired in the '80s and '90s.

Dad and I would listen to other broadcasts on random AM stations while driving back from hunting in Scott and/or Fentress County. Most had homers, but many could at least paint some sort of picture. Good times.

I think the future may hold good stuff as well. I envision a lot of streamed alternate broadcasts which could vary from educational to entertaining. I'd love to see a smart broadcast with a good high school coach or two. Network color guys are fine, but they give sanitized explanations. I'd tune in to hear a coach be blunt about a team picking on #52 because he's always out of position or something.

As somebody who has had literally hundreds of high school coaches on the air with me  at one time or another, be careful what you wish for.   Talk about coachspeak and cliches. Most of them would make Butch Jones sound like a professional  broadcaster.   

Just saying.....

There was a sporting goods store here that every year for years and years hosted a preseason BBQ for all the high school football coaches and staffs all over West TN about 2 weeks before the season kicked off.....It was held on Sat around noon and back in the 70's-80's there would be 35 or more schools and staffs attending.....You never heard so much BS in all your life...it got so deep you needed to  be wearing duck waders. And every school there (even though several schools played each other) was going 0-10 on the season....LOL

I rest my case, Your Honor.   

Herb's greatest challenges might be highly entertaining. I love Phil's story about the BBQ.