“Give me liberty (from the Longhorn Network), or give me 11 regular season games.” -- Texas Tech, June 21, 2012.
Reportedly.
Yeah, the Big 12 looks all rosy on the surface, being on the verge of inking a huge payday and wisely aligned itself with the SEC for a new bowl game and all, but inner grumblings over Texas’ Longhorn Network apparently haven’t subsided.
RedRaiderSports reports an interesting story that Texas Tech is willing to cancel its Sept. 8 game against Division 1-A newcomer Texas State because it could be aired on the Longhorn Network.
Yes, the Red Raiders are apparently okay with playing 11 regular season games and absorbing any potential buyout for cancelling just as long as they don’t have to have a burnt orange logo next to their name.
“We are extremely disappointed,” a source told RRS. “Our hope is that the Texas State game will be played on a primary ESPN platform.”
Last year, the LHN approached Tech about airing its game against Texas, but the Red Raiders refused.
ESPN announced the game would be broadcast on one of its platforms earlier this month, but did not specify which. The WAC, of which Texas State will be a member this year, has the right to determine the broadcast partner for the game and has recognized the LHN as an official ESPN platform after the channel agreed to air all six UTSA home games this season.
So while Texas State would have no real issue with the broadcast, Texas Tech could have its hand forced. Understandably, they would have a problem with that.
Updated 6/22 @ 9:45 a.m.: Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com tweets that the LHN/ESPN will not pursue the Texas State-Texas Tech game. Whether the game will be broadcast through another channel remains to be seen, but the “development” isn’t much of a surprise given the instant brouhaha.