One of the first stops for interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas is in College Station to pay a visit to Texas A&M and try one last Hail Mary to keep the Aggies from leaving for the SEC.
It’s a long shot. “I would say the odds are against it, but sometimes a 100-to-1 shot comes home,” Neinas said during his introductory press conference on Friday. But, as far as choices are concerned, the Big 12′s primary goal is to give the sales pitch to the Aggies one last time.
The same can’t be said for A&M. Earlier this week, the school’s chief communications officer Jason Cook said via Twitter “TAMU has made our intentions perfectly clear. We do not intend to be a member of the Big 12 past this season.”
That’s a message from the top down. During Saturday’s game between A&M and Oklahoma State, Aggie president R. Bowen Loftin told Dennis Dodd of CBSSports that he expects his school to move forward to the SEC without the threat of litigation from other members of the Big 12.
“I think the legal issues are basically gone,” Loftin said. ”I expect to be in the SEC soon.”
Not that the likes of Baylor and Iowa State, who were withholding their right to wave litigation, had much of a case anyway. Proving damages as a result of A&M’s departure looked to be difficult –Kristi Dosh of BusinessofCollegeSports.com does a really great job of breaking down the case HERE – and A&M appears to have assurance that their exit will not directly result in the crumbling of the Big 12.
“I joined the teleconference on Thursday evening of the Big 12 directors,” Loftin said. “They were firmly committed to going forward without us with nine teams.”
The Big 12 will, however, need to pick up a 10th team to avoid financial penalties with the Big 12 Network and to remain a viable product for ESPN and FOX. Who that 10th member will be is still uncertain at this time.
Neinas, and I imagine every member of the Big 12, wants it to be A&M.
But 100-to-1 still feels a bit generous.
Good luck in the SEC basement A&M…Vandy and Ole Miss are waiting for ya!
Understand A&M’s issue with UT and their network, but certainly A&M is NOT going to have the recruiting base or athletes to compete with the top dogs of the SEC.
But having A&M in the conference will help the other SEC team recruit in Texas, so understand why the SEC would want a Texas team in the conference.
Better cinch up your Jock straps boys… The SEC likes to try to welcome new kids on the block with a ass whooping… We have a couple of members who can’t back up the talk, so TAMU can get in some licks.
Seriously:
TAMU will make a very good SEC team and I look forward to their addition to the SEC West.
I can see why the SEC would want a team in Texas to gain more access to the great recruiting there. And I know A&M is fed up with Texas being catered to by the Big 12. But from a competitive standpoint this is going to be a tough move for A&M. Are A&M fans really ready for the reality that winning half their conference games will be a good season?