The unfortunate thing is that the "forgotten five" (ISU, KU, KSU, Mizzou, and Baylor) were left in a position of being stranded in no-conference at all, or hoping to join Conference USA or the MWC or something, where they stood to lose significant revenue. ($8 million payout under old Big 12 scheme vs $1 payout under MWC scheme.)
They really had no option but to take the money Texas promised, because, even with the incredibly different payouts UT demanded, because they would have been financially bankrupt without it.
Absolutely correct. They had no choice, but you know they're all keeping their options wide open. I'm sure KU is burning up phone lines to the Big 10, SEC and maybe even the Pac. Mizzou will leave about a half second after they get their offer from the Big 10 - and I still believe that's on the horizon. Mizzou is too geographically well located to be left on the sidelines. Their athletics don't totally suck - they're far better than what we have at CU at the moment. Oklahoma and A&M, while financially better off than the rest of the little 9, have to be chafing under the overbearing influence of UT in the conference. Their only leverage comes from the fact that they *might* leave. Not a good situation to be in.
Tech, Baylor, ISU, KSU, and OSU are screwed, long term. They all better hope the Mack 10 sticks around for a long time because they won't have anyplace to land once it falls apart.
OU's president came out and stated that the Sooners did receive an invitation to join the SEC, but they have made it pretty clear that they don't have any desire (guts) to leave the University of Texas.
If that's truly the case, he's a moron. Seriously. That was an incredibly stupid move on his part. I wonder if he's blowing smoke on that issue, because I find it incrediby difficult to believe that anybody, much less a University President, could be that stupid.
If that's truly the case, he's a moron. Seriously. That was an incredibly stupid move on his part. I wonder if he's blowing smoke on that issue, because I find it incrediby difficult to believe that anybody, much less a University President, could be that stupid.
Look at their roster. I would guess about half of their players come from Texas. They need that connection to fuel their recruiting.
They also played Texas while in the Big 8; Texas has threatened to boycott any team from the South who leaves. That would seriously hurt OU recruiting.While that certainly was a concern for OU, I don't totally buy it. They had quite a few good years in the Big 8 with plenty of Texas talent. Little brother OSU holding them back sounds more plausible to me.
They also played Texas while in the Big 8; Texas has threatened to boycott any team from the South who leaves. That would seriously hurt OU recruiting.
They also played Texas while in the Big 8; Texas has threatened to boycott any team from the South who leaves. That would seriously hurt OU recruiting.
If push came to shove I don't think there is any way Texas would have dropped the OU game. It means quite a bit to UT. Especially now that game is being played in Jerry World. That was a hollow threat in the case of OU. If OU had gone to the SEC I am not convinced recruiting would have been impacted. Any perceived negatives regarding Texas recruiting would have been balanced out by moving to a far superior conference. I still think OU was more afraid of becoming a mid-tier program and likes being a big dog.
Agree. I think the threat to drop the aTm game was very real, though. That got the politicians to pressure Aggie into staying.
P.S. Sending a little rep your way. Welcome to the board.
I should have joined earlier.
Thanks for the welcome. I should have joined earlier.
Most people consider OU the big brother to OSU. But after spending considerable time in and around OKC and Tulsa at my previous job, it seemed to me that the overwhelming influence in the state's business world came from Ok-State, not OU. When you add in OSU's dominance in many non-revenue sports like golf and wrestling, I am not convinced any longer that OSU is the little brother. Amazing how football has such far-reaching influence.
Most people consider OU the big brother to OSU. But after spending considerable time in and around OKC and Tulsa at my previous job, it seemed to me that the overwhelming influence in the state's business world came from Ok-State, not OU. When you add in OSU's dominance in many non-revenue sports like golf and wrestling, I am not convinced any longer that OSU is the little brother. Amazing how football has such far-reaching influence.
Hollow threat or not, I think it scared OU. Recruiting would definitely be impacted. OU gets a huge number of players from Texas, a lack of exposure in Texas would truly hurt. It is true that they would be moving to a superior conference, but where would the players come from if they lose the Texas exposure?If push came to shove I don't think there is any way Texas would have dropped the OU game. It means quite a bit to UT. Especially now that game is being played in Jerry World. That was a hollow threat in the case of OU. If OU had gone to the SEC I am not convinced recruiting would have been impacted. Any perceived negatives regarding Texas recruiting would have been balanced out by moving to a far superior conference. I still think OU was more afraid of becoming a mid-tier program and likes being a big dog.
Hollow threat or not, I think it scared OU. Recruiting would definitely be impacted. OU gets a huge number of players from Texas, a lack of exposure in Texas would truly hurt. It is true that they would be moving to a superior conference, but where would the players come from if they lose the Texas exposure?
A&M is probably what killed the OU move due to their very real fear of losing the Texas game.It was a straw man to begin with. OU would have probably gone into the SEC with A&M. Problem solved. Actually, two problems solved one is that it keeps their recruiting link with Texas open, and two marginalizes UT.
If the door is still open on this deal, OU needs to move. OSU be damned.