APSince Texas A&M’s departure for the SEC, Texas has decided that it will play a different opponent every year on Thanksgiving Day rather than stick with a series with the Aggies as a nonconference game.
This year’s game will be against TCU on Thursday and it appears the Longhorns are interested in having a rotation of Big 12 opponents come to Austin every year going forward on the holiday weekend. According to the Dallas Morning News, Texas Tech will come to Austin on Thanksgiving to play in 2013. Next year’s Big 12 schedule is expect to be released later this week — perhaps tomorrow — so confirmation of that report should be coming in short order.
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby told DMN reporter Chuck Carlton this weekend that the league is looking into the long-term feasibility of the idea, but that it had been worked out for the next few years.
“It creates a dynamic in the schedule that’s a challenge,” Bowlsby said. “It’s easy to make it so they play every Thanksgiving. It’s not easy to make it so they play every Thanksgiving at home, which is what they want. So that requires other accommodations.
“But at least in the near term we think we have it done.”
Bowlsby said earlier this year upon taking the job as Big 12 commissioner that he would not serve as a puppet for the likes of Texas and Oklahoma, yet Texas is getting approval on a request. Bowlsby said that most schools prefer not to play on Thanksgiving Day.
Special treatment for the Longhorns? Perhaps, but the decision’s reportedly been made — at least for the next few years.
Lmao, shorthorns have to play at HOME every Thanksgiving??? F them……..
Someone please enlighten me, why would the Big 12 agree to such a selfish demand? Texas can’t go independent without somewhere to park their non revenue sports, and they can’t join another conference unless they give up the Longhorn Network. And they’re not going to walk away from their conference’s Sugar Bowl deal with the SEC. The Big 12 will never be stable as long as this arrogance is tolerated.
Texas Tech, TCU and Baylor all want to play Texas at the end of the year. This seems like a rather democratic solution for all TX schools.
Now, if it involves the other Big 12 schools, I don’t think it’s fair to the players or fans to travel from Tallahassee on a holiday.
I like the way you think!
Is it really that hard for Texas to travel by bus about three hours to Fort Worth to play TCU (45 min by plane)? A short flight to play Texas Tech…I’m a fan of Texas it’s special demands will ultimately be the end of the big 12(10)
One thing not mentioned here is the Formula One Grand Prix in Austin that was just held this weekend. If Austin keeps that date it would be best if the Longhorns are out of town every week before thanksgiving. There are only so many hotel rooms in the area and the city would not be able to maximize their economic opportunities. Combine the two and it seems fair.
So instead of working to keep the long standing rivalry of Texas and Texas A&M alive, they want to get special treatment. Way to give a middle finger to all the alums who I’m sure want the rivalry to resume, or did until johnny football happened. Thanks and gig’em.
Can’t understand why Nebraska, A&M, and Mizzou were so anxious to get out of such a democracy as the Big XII.
-QG
@manik56 – The LOLhorns don’t play the weekend before Thanksgiving. It’s a bye weekend for them. Always has been, always will be.
I hope they enjoy those tough games with TCU, Tech, and Baylor.
A&M meanwhile, will be playing LSU on Thanksgiving now.
Well written article, Ben.
This is what a partnership with the University of Texas looks like.
Texas Tech:
Show some spine. Actions like this only reinforce the notion that you are Texas’ lapdog.
TCU:
Good job. Your one season into the Big 12 and you’ve already assumed the role of House Boy.
What’s next? Adding Rice and SMU as members #11 and #12? Is it 2012 or have we traveled back in time to 1988? I really can’t tell.
Garbage conference.
After the pac turned ok down, didn’t they spin it to: we will stay in the 12, only if texas is put on a leash? Ok should have joined the sec when it had a chance and some dignity. Only a fool thinks ut’s arrogance has limits, or can be contained.
Norm, agreed
The PAC-12 wanted Texas and OU. They are viewed as academic peers. The PAC-12 did not Tech nor OSU. Same reasoning, PAC-12 viewed Tech and OSU as not having the academics. Since OU and OSU are tied at the hip by the Oklahoma legislature, the best move for both schools would be the SEC.
Texas has always and always will be about control. They have to be the dominant partner in everything they do. The B1G, PAC-12 and ACC all know this.
Why would the B1G take a struggling athletic program in Maryland and a mid major like Rutgers over Texas?
Answer, the B1G knows what Texas is and wanted no part of Texas in their conference.
PAC-12 is the same, Texas wants it’s LHN outside of conference guidelines and procedures, but have access to the PAC-12 regional networks for TV. PAC-12 said no.
Texas could be all dressed up and no where to go should the conference musical chairs stop and Texas doesn’t have a seat. Pure Schadenfreude.
Just what you’d expect from a school that has a uterus for a logo.
Ok State would co-rule the Pac12 with Oregon, they should have left……
Hrm…. I don’t see the big deal… if Texas wants to play a home game every Thanksgiving, just let them buy one…
Since money talks, they just need to start offering cash and keep raising the amount until someone says “ok”…
That would be fair enough…
(but I am thinking that isn’t how it is going to go down, is it?)
~Jim
Well, hell yes, let’s give those narcisstistic minions whatever they want or they’re going to take their marbles and go home…I wish the hell they would go home and quit bothering the rest of the world of reality…an arrogant bunch of misfits…
I love hearing all the jealous aggies and other lower tier Texas schools rant and cry about THE UNIVERSITY of TEXAS. Bottom line is we are above all you losers.
The big 12 wouldn’t exist without Texas and Oklahoma. Live with it. Also Texas never tried to go to any other conference but the the PAC 12. Their stupid tv deal screwed that up. I wish they would have gone with Oklahoma. That way all the other second tier schools could have been fighting to get to the WAC or Mac or con USA. Nobody else wants them.
Lol A&M is better than Texas this year. Sorry.
Barbeax- looks like they will be for a long time. Texas had become inept, when you already think your the best, there is no room to improve.
Why does the U.T. athletic dept embarrassing their fan base….why?
Why does the U.T. athletic dept KEEP embarrassing their fan base….why?
Here we go again, UT has to have it way. So much
for “we want to be a good conference member” if
the don’t get their way they will leave the Big 12
for the PAC 12 along with their LHN which has
been a money loser for ESPN. I hope they do
leave and the rest of the conference will not have
to put up with a”big BABY”
NCAA should do a real search of the UT program
to much money is like if there is smoke there must be fire.
I’m a Baylor guy and I don’t understand all the fuss. The Big 12 makes a lot of money with a Thanksgiving Day game and they should make sure they don’t lose it. Without A&M, the only options are to rotate it around. Since most of the schools don’t have interest in that and Texas does, why not. Where’s the harm. Everybody wins this way. Plus the other schools benefit off of UT’s national brand (no pun intended). I fail to see the negative except for emotional fans who can’t stand UT in the first place.
There’s the lap dog Bear, ready to do Texas’ bidding again.
Don’t you remember the mid-90′s when they tried to leave you behind?
Keep on fighting the good fight for a school that doesn’t give a rat’s behind about you. It is so becoming of you.
Come on Aggies and Longhorns kiss and make up. This is a great series. I know you’re both in different conferences but there has to be a way to make this game work on Thanksgiving day.
@hor2012
The Aggies have made every attempt to keep the series alive. DeLoss Dodds has made it very clear that he has no interest in playing the Aggies now, in any sport.
Grow up man, this series is the 3rd most played series in CFB, 100+ yrs. You’d think they’d love a game on the schedule everyyear that they have 65% chance of winning (historic UT win % in UTvA&M) The series is bigger than 1 man’s ego. Texas can easily get out of their cupcake noncof game commitments if they wanted to, Dodds just doesn’t want to.
Remember Dodds, you’re the one that had the Big XII teetering on collapse with your LHN (which is a total joke of a network), the Aggies did what any program would do, go to the best, most stable conference in CFB, in leiu of “going down with the ship”
Shit, even OU and Nebraska have renewed their rivalry across conference lines.
Oh how the sun shines through, and things become so much clearer…
False statements and behind the scenes actions will eventually be seen for what they are when arrogance and entitlement are viewed as a God given right.
The horn fans need to put a leash on their AD, and univesity officials that don’t take action against him, nor take a long hard look in the mirror, and reevaluate the university’s approach to conference relations. The fact of the matter is drastic change is coming on the 40 acres in just a few short years, as Dodds, Brown, Garrido, and Barnes aren’t getting any younger. When the time comes for each of them to step down, the next generation of coaches and administrators will have one heck of a job on their hands of dealing with the backlash of their conference peers and leadership. Better make sure those short-lists are being carefully vetted, because your conference mates are quietly collecting dry powder.
Lots of venom towards the University. Looks like a lot of jealousy to me. Texas brings more to the Big 12 than any other school. It’s the number one brand in all of college sports and has been for awhile. Texas isn’t requesting anything unusual especially since the school is known for playing on Thanksgiving.
Texas is destroying the Big 12 with their demands but they have been playing around with their control since the Big 12 started. and recently they have been destroying the conference, four teams leaving in four years and lower quality teams coming in and cowing. When Nebraska and Colorado were basically forced out for not knuckling under to Texas (Nebraska is much happier now thank you Texas) Texas, Oklahoma and A&M dictated that they would get the split of exit fees which turned out a lot less than they wanted. and then made the little seven take whatever was leftover. Now A&M has left as well as Missouri. Not much left of the original Big 8 that merged with SWC four Texas schools. Texas went on to losing season for them and haven’t been the power team in football since. I wish Kansas State could have been in the National title game, great coach and good man in Snyder. West Virginia came cruising in with terrrific offensive weapon until they hit some teams who actually play defense, Texas was running up and down the field with them so much for defense.
Texas wants what they want and everyone, including the new commissioner roll over and give it to them. ESPN and LHN is such a joke, ESPN has to be regretting that deal but Texas was strong the year of the contract and since then not so hot.