Link: Big 12 Commish taking TAMU to SEC rumors "Very Seriously"

[WMack4Bama]

Link here

“I’ll put it this way, I’m taking it very seriously,” Beebe told the Austin American Statesman of A&M’s flirtation with the SEC. “I’ve been talking to a number of people. Obviously, there are a significant number of Aggie supporters who are interested in going in that (SEC) direction.

“There’s a huge risk if an institution leaves its geographic proximity and rivalries. In the long run, it can create a lot of problems.”

But Beebe has his own problems to deal with. The root of A&M’s re-aroused displeasure with the Big 12 coincidentally coincided with the Longhorn Network’s desire to air high school and Big 12 sporting events on the network. Trying to keep Texas happy, while keeping the other nine conference members equally satisfied, or even approximately so, is proving to be an uphill battle.

But Beebe has kept his conference together before. If A&M departs, Beebe will have to work to keep a slowly deteriorating group bound together once again. When and how Beebe faces that challenge is beginning to turn into an unbearable question mark.

“I don’t know if this could go down in a month or a year or in weeks,” a source told the Statesman. “But it’s taken on a life of its own. I would just tell A&M to be careful what you wish for.”

And with exit fees remaining the same for A&M as they did for Nebraska and Colorado, the Aggies will be wishing for an expensive buyout, so to speak.

In either case, Beebe is prepared to move forward as at least a nine-team conference if A&M does decide to part ways. That is assuming, of course, that the SEC doesn’t snatch Oklahoma at the same time.

“You always have to think about all the possibilities,” he said of any possible expansion. “Twelve was always the maximum number of teams that were desired, but that’s as far as I can go publicly.”

Me too Mr. Commish...Me too...for different reasons, but still...me too

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Link here



Me too Mr. Commish...Me too...for different reasons, but still...me too

We need to stay even-numbered and OU looks logical, although MO would probably be a better choice for several reasons. I've heard OU is joined at the hip with OKU, but, then, I heard the same about UT and aTm last year. Somehow the hips got unjoined...

 

[AlexanderFan]

Time to crank up a regional SEC network, take A&M and Oklahoma for the West, and Va Tech and Free Shoes for the East and let the rest of the chips fall where they may. The best part about being first is you get your pick of the crop.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

It appears we're headed to the formation of "Super Conferences" which IMO will continue to hurt the non-automatic qualifying conferences chances of playing for a BCS title. The quality of opponents will really be even more of a disparity and will or should be a MAJOR issue.

 

[BAMA1979]

It appears we're headed to the formation of "Super Conferences" which IMO will continue to hurt the non-automatic qualifying conferences chances of playing for a BCS title. The quality of opponents will really be even more of a disparity and will or should be a MAJOR issue.

Good...and based on televisions rating from other BCS Bowls with these teams, a lot of other people agree.

 

[J4Bama]

I hope they break us and Auburn into different divisions if this happens.

 

[TideEngineer08]

I hope they break us and Auburn into different divisions if this happens.

I do as well. Of course, if they add a team from the East, it's a moot point, everyone will stay where they are. But if a West division team must move east, then let it be Auburn. They are the farthest east team in the division (even more east than Vanderbilt). They have traditional rivalries with Georgia (which they've maintained), Florida, and Tennessee (which were lost on a year to year basis after the move to 12 teams in 1992. They can have those yearly rivalries back, and we'll play them on a rotational basis. I'm tired of the idiocy that frankly spews from both sides of this "rivalry." They obsess over everything to do with Alabama. Perhaps a break in the series will calm that nonsense.

It probably won't happen that way, but that's my choice. The game with Tennessee is much more important to me than the Auburn game.

 

[CullmanTide]

Texas and the Big 12 are starting to show fear.

 

[TideEngineer08]

Texas and the Big 12 are starting to show fear.

You can bet Texas likes this least of all. They've got all of the Big 12 under their heel - except Oklahoma. And Oklahoma isn't going to challenge them, because there is no need to. Nebraska was never a threat and that's why they left. They had lost the power they once held over the old Big 8.

If A&M ever breaks free from that, the floodgates are wide open to the SEC in the state of Texas. This is the Longhorns worst nightmare - simultaneously seeing A&M rise up from the shadows they've been in since forever, and seeing the SEC have a fixed presence in the state of Texas.

I find it so interesting that so many Texas fans are saying that A&M will regret this and that they can't make it in the SEC. It almost sounds like an abusive husband telling his wife that she is nothing and can't survive without him when she threatens to divorce him.

 

[TrampLineman]

You can bet Texas likes this least of all. They've got all of the Big 12 under their heel - except Oklahoma. And Oklahoma isn't going to challenge them, because there is no need to. Nebraska was never a threat and that's why they left. They had lost the power they once held over the old Big 8.

If A&M ever breaks free from that, the floodgates are wide open to the SEC in the state of Texas. This is the Longhorns worst nightmare - simultaneously seeing A&M rise up from the shadows they've been in since forever, and seeing the SEC have a fixed presence in the state of Texas.

I find it so interesting that so many Texas fans are saying that A&M will regret this and that they can't make it in the SEC. It almost sounds like an abusive husband telling his wife that she is nothing and can't survive without him when she threatens to divorce him.

I agree. I welcome aTm AND OU to join the West and move the barn to the East. That would give us 14 with no need to add an East team like VT or F$U whom I think neither will join. Especially F$U because they are STILL in a gravy conference with no big time threats with BCS ties. I think the teams will pull a power play and either try to destroy the LHN and force UT to stay in the Big12 or bail on UT and force them to go Independent. JMHO.

And I REALLY agree that there is NO WAY aTm and OU couldnt do it BIG TIME in the SEC. Adding a premier team and another solid team to the SEC would only make us ALL make more money. The SEC makes sure its teams stay happy and want to stay in the SEC. Any UT fan that thinks aTm couldnt make it is just showing their "hatred". There is no reason for them to think they cant make it. Not a good one anyways. I'd love for the SEC to open into Texas, would only help our recruiting there.

 

[RollTideMang]

I do as well. Of course, if they add a team from the East, it's a moot point, everyone will stay where they are. But if a West division team must move east, then let it be Auburn. They are the farthest east team in the division (even more east than Vanderbilt). They have traditional rivalries with Georgia (which they've maintained), Florida, and Tennessee (which were lost on a year to year basis after the move to 12 teams in 1992. They can have those yearly rivalries back, and we'll play them on a rotational basis. I'm tired of the idiocy that frankly spews from both sides of this "rivalry." They obsess over everything to do with Alabama. Perhaps a break in the series will calm that nonsense.

It probably won't happen that way, but that's my choice. The game with Tennessee is much more important to me than the Auburn game.

Just think how much heat would be caused by a UA vs AU SEC championship game. I think probably more than a normal iron bowl.

 

[WMack4Bama]

I respectfully disagree

I hope they break us and Auburn into different divisions if this happens.

 

[Giant Squid]

Adding TAMU would be redundant. The SEC already has a school with moronic traditions that defines itself through an inferiority complex toward the state's better known, far more successful university.

 

[JD95]

I respectfully disagree

I also disagree. Wishing for Auburn to be in a different division is like admitting you're scared to play them. And I'd rather just beat them every year!

 

[TrampLineman]

I also disagree. Wishing for Auburn to be in a different division is like admitting you're scared to play them. And I'd rather just beat them every year!

Not really. I'm fairly certain we'd play the barn every year even if they were moved to the East as well. Its not my reason for wanting them moved. I just like the fact that we'd have OU and aTm (if it happens) in the West, and still get to play the likes of UcheaT and the barn along with the rest of the West. It would also boost the East moving the barn over as the West would just be "too stacked". Moving the barn would be alot better for the conference than adding VT or Clemson. We have no shot at F$U.

 

[BamaFossil]

IF the SEC expands, stop at 14. Don't even consider going to 16 at this point in time. Reason: Contract negotiations for TV rights. Expansion to 14... or even stopping at 13... allows the SEC to reopen contract negotiations for broadcasting rights. Expand to 16 now and the SEC has emptied its chamber after the next round of negotiations. Expand to 14 and the SEC has another round in the chamber if and when the SEC TV deal is again eclipsed by lesser conferences.

As to which team to add (besides aTm)... I'm hoping for VaTech. If not them, then NCSU. Objective: expand the SEC footprint. That doesn't happen if Clemson, FSU, or GaTech is added.

Other considerations... Okie has a great program but I'm not sure how many new TV sets they bring to the table. And if Okie Lite is a requirement to get Okie, that's a non-starter. Missouri brings the TV sets (yes, they're mostly turned off or turned onto pro sports...) but they seem to me more in love with the Big Ten. WV doesn't bring many new TV sets but I like their fans...

 

[TrampLineman]

NC State I doubt would leave the ACC. They wont lose their rivals in UNC, Wake, and Dookie.

I'm hearing 103.3 in Dallas is saying its a "done deal". Guess we'll see.

 

[bamamick]

I agree completely. PLEASE stop at 14! Any more than that and we would cease to be a conference that has the kind of cohesiveness that this one does. I don't want to lose any of our rivalries. If we stop at 14 we can go to 9 conference games and everything stays as it is now, a formula that has certainly proven it's worth.

STOP AT 14!!!!!!!

 

[TheTradition]

Texas A&M Rivals site reporting A&M is a done deal to the SEC. Supposed to be made official August 22nd.

Texas A&M Football Basketball and Recruiting: AggieYell.com

 

[CullmanTide]

You can bet Texas likes this least of all. They've got all of the Big 12 under their heel - except Oklahoma. And Oklahoma isn't going to challenge them, because there is no need to. Nebraska was never a threat and that's why they left. They had lost the power they once held over the old Big 8.

If A&M ever breaks free from that, the floodgates are wide open to the SEC in the state of Texas. This is the Longhorns worst nightmare - simultaneously seeing A&M rise up from the shadows they've been in since forever, and seeing the SEC have a fixed presence in the state of Texas.

I find it so interesting that so many Texas fans are saying that A&M will regret this and that they can't make it in the SEC. It almost sounds like an abusive husband telling his wife that she is nothing and can't survive without him when she threatens to divorce him.

Excellent post TE. I couldn't agree more.