Conference expansion update: Everything revolves around Texas, again
September 5, 2011 3:06 PM
Here's my conference expansion update: Everything revolves around Texas -- again. http://nyti.ms/nvh3b1
A few conference expansion nuggets: 1) Nothing happens with the Pac-12 and UT-OU until A&M to the SEC becomes official. (Tue or Wed).
Nugget #2 Oklahoma reached out to the Pac-12 more than two weeks ago. This wasn't sudden.
Nugget 3) Larry Scott did NOT go zip around Big 12 country and meet with schools while in Dallas area for ORE-LSU.
4) Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini told me: "I don't see that happening at all at this point" in regards to legislative involvement.
5) The Big East has reached out to multiple Big 12 universities and offered a soft landing in case Big 12 folds.
6) For Texas to go, they'd need to "fold" TT to their network to fit Pac-12 model. This is feasible, as ESPN and Pac-12 have good rapport.
7) The Pac-12 presidents haven't discussed UT-OU-TT-OSU. There's a chance -- and I don't know how much of one -- they may have no interest.
8) There's no clear answer to the question: "Would the Pac-12 take OU-OSU without UT-TT?" Why? See previous tweet.
Good question. Seems as if they thought it was too risky. Makes sense, right? RT @Jeffacka: @ Where does this leave BYU?
BYU is fine. They're independent, where they wanted. RT @Jeffacka: @ It does make sense, but will BYU be left out in the cold?
As for Big 10 and Texas, Delany said yesterday he's not going to be reactive. There's a dueling network problem, too.
PeteThamelNYT
A few conference expansion nuggets: 1) Nothing happens with the Pac-12 and UT-OU until A&M to the SEC becomes official. (Tue or Wed).
Nugget #2 Oklahoma reached out to the Pac-12 more than two weeks ago. This wasn't sudden.
Nugget 3) Larry Scott did NOT go zip around Big 12 country and meet with schools while in Dallas area for ORE-LSU.
4) Texas State Senator Judith Zaffirini told me: "I don't see that happening at all at this point" in regards to legislative involvement.
5) The Big East has reached out to multiple Big 12 universities and offered a soft landing in case Big 12 folds.
6) For Texas to go, they'd need to "fold" TT to their network to fit Pac-12 model. This is feasible, as ESPN and Pac-12 have good rapport.
7) The Pac-12 presidents haven't discussed UT-OU-TT-OSU. There's a chance -- and I don't know how much of one -- they may have no interest.
8) There's no clear answer to the question: "Would the Pac-12 take OU-OSU without UT-TT?" Why? See previous tweet.
Good question. Seems as if they thought it was too risky. Makes sense, right? RT @Jeffacka: @ Where does this leave BYU?
BYU is fine. They're independent, where they wanted. RT @Jeffacka: @ It does make sense, but will BYU be left out in the cold?
As for Big 10 and Texas, Delany said yesterday he's not going to be reactive. There's a dueling network problem, too.
PeteThamelNYT
Filed under: College Football
