The Lions' Pride

The posters over on the Gigem site are beyond happy about this, with talks of a 13-team SEC in 2012, or going independent.

I am obsessed with reading about the future of super conferences and how this could start the dominoes. I fear where it can lead and I am excited at the same time. It could shake a lot of ways for the Big Ten.

Texas A&M and OU among others knew what it was getting itself into with the Big 12-2 as far as Texas. Kansas, Missouri, Okie light, Iowa State, Baylor ... don't have anywhere else to go and had to go along with it.

The Big 10 + 2 has some sort of academic standard when it comes to inviting schools. I believe they have to have big research funding and have a strong academic reputation. That is why Mizzou isn't in the league. JMO, the Big 10 raids the ACC when it comes to expansion. There are two or four academic fits from there without question. They might not help football, but two of them help with baseball and all four help with basketball.

I'm not a real fan of the way Texas has gone about its business. They act like Notre Dame acts. Notre Dame can act any way they want since they are an independant. Texas is in a conference and still acts like their stuff don't stink.

I like the idea that Texas A&M is going to take off and head elsewhere. the landscape will have to shift again as they move to the SEC. I wouldn't be against A&M joining the Big10, but that would be a really long road trip for an away game. it doesn't fit the geographical landscape, but I think in today's age that doesn't matter anymore.

As far as the Big10 expanding to 14, nobody really sticks out to me as who I believe they HAVE to have. Obviously Notre Dame would bring in the money and they are in the historical Big10 landscape. Others than I think could fit are the obvious ones from the Big East like Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College. If the Big10 wanted to look towards the ACC then Virginia and Maryland would be good fits. But I don't think Virginia would go unless Virgina Tech headed to the SEC.

It will be interesting to see how this begins to unfold over the next 6-8 months.

We already have two of the most pompous schools and fan bases in American in the Big 10. Do you want the top two in the country? PSU is probably at least third in the pecking order as far as who runs the BIG. Not sure you want to be fourth if those clown come.

Yes, you can form a lacrosse league with those schools, which would be interesting.

I don't think Virgina cares what VT does. Virginia politicians had to force UVA into taking VT into the ACC in the first place. UVA cares much more about what UNC and Duke does if you believe their alumni.

Personally, I don't care for any of Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse or BC. All have pretty crappy athletic departments that bleed cash. I would eliminate Pitt on already having that geography covered.

ATM is going to be in the SEC. The SEC sees Texas doors, and supposedly FSU is in talks with them about joining.

I wouldn't be shocked if the SEC added Mizzou and VA Tech to complete a 16 team super conference.

Everyone seems to think the SEC and aTm is a done deal and today's actions make the tea leaves even easier to read. We will see about the 16 teams.

I understand your skepticism, but I live in TX, and I know a lot of aTm folks; they are ALL convinced (and thrilled) that the school is going to the SEC.

They are tired of UT strong-arming them, and the SEC is drooling to get a foothold in TX for recruiting and broadcast purposes (among other reasons).

The effort to televise HS games was the last straw. ALL signs point to aTm going to the SEC. Now it's just a matter of whether the conference adds 1 or 3 additional teams along with the Aggies.

Edit: My understanding is that aTm is the main reason that the PAC16 didn't happen. The aggies were never on-board with the PAC move; they wanted to go to the SEC and separate themselves from UT. That complicated matters to the point that the deal fell apart (just my understanding - could be wrong).

You definitely make a valid point.

We will just have to wait and see.

Edit to add:

aTm letter to B12-2 -> sounds like: "We both know that this is over. What is it going to take to make this amicable?"

Dear Commissioner Beebe:
As you know, the Texas A&M Board of Regents has authorized me to take action relating to Texas A&M University's ("Texas A&M") conference alignment. While this letter is not a notice of Texas A&M's withdrawal from the Big 12 Conference (the "Conference"), we are exploring our options. There has been a great deal of speculation and comment in the media about Texas A&M leaving the Conference, including discussions of other institutions joining the Conference.
If Texas A&M withdraws from the Conference, we want to do so in a way that complies with the Bylaws and is supportive of your efforts to seek a new member of the Conference. We would appreciate your conferring with the other member institutions and outlining for us the process to be followed by Texas A&M should it withdraw from the Conference.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
R. Bowen Loftin
President

I don't think the Pac 12 is done.

I think they're trying to lure Texas and Oklahoma into the conference. Who the next 2 remains to be seen.

Teams that I think would be in the mix (not necessarily sure if they'd bring what the conference would want).

Fresno State
Boise State (I'm fairly certain the only thing they bring to the table is football, as everything else including academics is subpar)
BYU perhaps
Oklahoma State
Kansas

I think when the dust settles, we'll have 4 major conferences of 16 teams. The question is, who is the first one to make that move, and who is the one that gets left picking the scraps.