As we continue our all-expansion, all-the-time coverage of the world of college football — personally, I’m just thankful the season doesn’t start in three weeks — the man who some most all in College Station will solely blame for the latest round of conference apocalypse has poked his head through/above the smoke and spoken.
DeLoss Dodds, athletic director at Texas, has been relatively and eerily quiet, at least publicly, since rumors of Texas A&M’s departure from the Big 12 surfaced recently. Speaking to Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman, Dodds broke that silence and relayed what pretty much what everyone else with any lick of sense is thinking right now: his in-state rival has one foot out the door and is headed to the SEC.
Again, at least publicly, Dodds doesn’t or won’t begrudge A&M if or when they leave their current conference.
“They’ve got to do what’s best for them,” Dodds told Bohls. “We’re going to look at every option we’ve got, and we’re going to end up in a good place. That’s what we do. We’re good at that.”
(Writer’s note: Don’t be alarmed. That sound you just heard was merely every other member of the Big 12, both current and former, simultaneously gritting their teeth and swearing under their breath over those last two-and-a-half sentences.)
Dodds also doesn’t see the Aggies’ departure as a death knell for the Big 12, saying he would be comfortable with nine schools right now but his optimum number for the conference is 10 — and we’re assuming commissioner Dan Beebe would agree, although he’d likely agree if Dodds said he’d prefer 100 kajillion members.
Interestingly, though, Bohls left the following tweet out of his blog post on the talk with Dodds:
Texas AD DeLoss Dodds told me the UT staff “is working on 20 names” for possible replacements for Texas A&M.
Was Dodds referring to replacing A&M on future schedules? Or is Dodds referring to his UT staff working on a list of about 20 schools to possibly replace A&M as a conference member? If it’s the latter, there’s little left to the imagination as to why Nebraska and, probably, Texas A&M have shed their Big 12 robes for other conferences. And why the Aggies likely wouldn’t be the last.
Surely, though, Dodds is referring to the former scenario, right? Right???
The fact ONE school is working on replacing Texas A&M is a clear indication that this really is a story of 1 team managing a conference.
Imagine if USC was looking for teams to expand the Pac-12. Do you think UCLA or any other school would be glad about that? Imagine Alabama, Michigan, or Ohio State doing this!
Let’s be real now. EVERY school in the Big 12 is doing the same! so the Texas AD said it publicly! Dan Beebe asks his mbrs all the time for their input. Texas is just smarter than the rest and good for them for doing their due diligence and protecting their interests. Surely it’s reasonable for the members to have a say as to who gets accepted, right? Right?? Oh yea, it’s more than reasonable! It’s required before a new member can join. the existing prez crew will have to vote. those presidents don’t so the leg work. their staffs do.
Must be fun living in that fantasy.
Just like the reports that the Big XII had 10 committed members.
Just like the reports A&M was staying in the Big XII.
Texas is the only school looking for new members, I can guarantee that. Don’t be foolish.
Texas will fall on its own sword soon enough. Oklahoma is the elite team in that conference anyhow.
What will be real funny, is if A&M wins the conference this year, and texas has another bad year. Then A&M leaves.
Fantasy is thinking that conferences don’t have rules or votes and just ingorantly “blaming Texas”. Even lowly Kansas and Iowa State have a say on who joins.
You hate Texas. Go on and hate Texas, but don’t let it hamper your intellect when you post!
Fact is fact. And hating can’t change that.
If the local newspaper in Kansas asks their AD about the conference losing a mbr, he’s gonna the same thing here. C’mon folks.. we’re better than this!
Looks like BYU is a good bet to be a future member of the Big 12. Not a bad replacement, if you ask me.
I think this could be a good thing in the long run. It will make the conference less Texas-centric.
centexhorn says:
I think this could be a good thing in the long run. It will make the conference less Texas-centric.
Au contraire, with A & M leaving, the conference will become more Texas- centric.
People who blame Dodds are idiots. The agricult may be whining about unfair treatment at this point, but (a) they’d be doing the same thing if they had anywhere close to the same value, and (b) they have zero room to talk about inequality in the Big 12 conference, as they bought 100% into the unequal revenue-sharing deal that worked to their favor. Also, they’re liars who are in breach of contract.
This isn’t to say I won’t be glad to see the ags leave. They’re such weirdo rubes.
Is there no oversight of UT? Does Texas not have some kind of state board of higher ed or regents or whatwver? Why are they letting ut trample on the rest of the state schools?
A proposal that would put an end to all this mess is described in the new book, “It’s Possible! Realignment and Playoffs – College Football’s Opportunity,” by Scott N. Galloway.
The whole conference hopping is so ridiculous. In no other athletic competition of note, NFL, MLB, NBA, high school athletic associations or Little League does this kind of self-centeredness go on. It is the major flaw of college sports and it why there is a BCS and not a playoff.