Jerry Jones is reportedly doing it for Arkansas and Notre Dame, so why the hell not have others stumping for (add school’s name here) inclusion in the undersized Big 12?
According to the Houston Chronicle, over two dozen Texas lawmakers are going public with their efforts to get the University of Houston a spot in the Big 12(-2). Two state representatives, Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) and Bill Callegari (R-Katy), penned a letter asking the conference to take under consideration the addition of the Cougars.
“For years, UH has served as the academic cornerstone of a burgeoning metropolis known for its nexus to state, national, and global commerce and culture,” the letter read. “UH is the third largest university in Texas, and is on track to rank among the top research universities in this state. Despite UH’s local and statewide prominence, the university does not belong to a strong BCS conference such as the Big 12. The Cougars, the City of Houston, and the State of Texas deserve better.”
Commissioner Dan Beebe is already on record as saying that going above the current 10-team constitution is not on the table right now. One argument that could be made against the addition of UH is that both Texas and Texas A&M already have the Houston television footprint covered. Coleman calls “BS” on that particular tack.
“If we look at viral networks -- viral being the expansion of something based on greater interest -- the problem with the argument being made (that Texas and Texas A&M already capture the Houston market for the Big 12) is that it’s based on a static circumstance,” Coleman said. “I just totally disagree that the interest is only in those two schools on television in the Houston region.
“UT and A&M have been trying to claim Houston forever. No disrespect to them, but they don’t have an undergraduate institution in Houston -- as much as they may want to have one. We have one.”
In addition to Houston, lawmakers are also pushing for the inclusion of TCU in the Big 12. TCU has been a member of the Mountain West conference since 2005.