Texas A&M leaving Big 12

[Chad C]

I'm out! Hook'em

[lnester]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6909072/texas-aggies-spokesman-denies-school-sent-withdrawal-letter-big-12

This is like inviting yourself to a party where you are not wanted. How can A&M leave the Big 12 without an invitation (written or oral) to the SEC?

[Jeremy]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...-letter-big-12

This is like inviting yourself to a party where you are not wanted. How can A&M leave the Big 12 without an invitation (written or oral) to the SEC?

Not an aggie or longhorn. The way I understand it the SEC will not officially extend an invite to the aggies until they officially leave. That keeps the SEC in the free and clear of lawsuit for breaking up the Big 12. If the aggies leave there is already an invite.

[Smart]

If you want put aside your differences and admit that we could lose something special, say goodbye, and remember the good times POST UP!

I guess I have mixed emotions here, but why didn't A&M think about "losing something special" on their side when they decided to leave. I think it sounds pretty self serving to leave the conference then sit back and request somebody to admit they are losing something special.

I am certainly going to miss the games but like it was said above, it's just a college game.....life will go on.

[Wulver]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...-letter-big-12

This is like inviting yourself to a party where you are not wanted. How can A&M leave the Big 12 without an invitation (written or oral) to the SEC?

Since this is about the actual thread I will oblige. Texas A&M says "We are leaving the Big 12". Once that happens we get an invite or we apply to the SEC. If they say no, then we go independent (not happening), beg to come back to Big12 with egg on our face (more likely), or join any of the other conferences that will have us.

The lone fact that there is no way we would have done any of this without knowing full well how that vote will go.

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M said Tuesday it has not sent a letter of withdrawal to the Big 12 Conference.


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The brief statement by school spokesman Jason Cook comes a day after The New York Times said in a story posted on its Web site Monday night that university president R. Bowen Loftin sent a letter to Missouri chancellor and Big 12 board chairman Brady Deaton to inform the league it was leaving. The report cited two unidentified college officials with direct knowledge of the decision.

Cook declined to comment further on the newspaper report.

The university said Monday it had received a letter from Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe outlining the withdrawal procedure should the Aggies decide to leave the league.

Cook said on Monday that the letter "outlines the withdrawal procedures according to the financial provisions of the Big 12 bylaws and mutual waivers of legal claims." He wouldn't provide any other details of the letter or comment on what A&M's next step might be.

The Aggies are interested in joining the Southeastern Conference. Loftin sent a letter to the Big 12 last week formally telling Beebe they are exploring their options and asked for the conference to outline the process if they decide to leave.

The league's board of directors addressed the possible departure of the Aggies last weekend.


SEC blog
ESPN.com's Chris Low and Edward Aschoff write about all things SEC football in the conference blog.

• Blog network: College Football Nation


"I certainly appreciate the discussion among the Big 12 presidents/chancellors and the expression of their desire for Texas A&M to remain in the conference," Loftin said in a statement Monday afternoon before The New York Times report. "We all agree that Texas A&M is an extremely valuable institution; thus, it is incumbent upon me, as the president of the university, to ensure that we are in a position to enhance our national visibility and future financial opportunity."

Loftin added this is a "complex and long-term decision," but "it is not our intent to prolong our conference exploration for an extended period of time."

The SEC said earlier this month it was happy with its current 12-school membership but left the door open to expansion. Loftin then received authority from the board of regents to take any action he deems necessary in terms of realignment.

There is concern that a departure by the Aggies could jeopardize the future of the Big 12, which is down to 10 teams after Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12) left the league in July 2010. Loftin has said the Aggies would consider how their departure would impact the future of the Big 12 before any decision is made.

The Big 12 would need to find a team to replace the Aggies if they exit the conference and there has been a lot of speculation about possible schools. So far, the only school to publicly express interest in moving to the Big 12 is SMU. Athletic director Steve Orsini said he's had informal talks with Big 12 officials for some time to inform them of the school's improvements and growth.

In the letter Loftin sent to the Big 12 last week, he said if the Aggies leave, they would want to do it in a manner that complies with league bylaws. He also has said financial concerns will factor into any decision to leave. The school likely would face an exit fee.

The Big 12, including Texas A&M, agreed to a 13-year television deal with Fox Sports in April worth more than $1 billion. There is a chance the contract could be voided if the Aggies leave the conference, which could lead to legal issues for Texas A&M and its new league.

The Big 12 declined to comment on Monday's letter outlining the procedures the Aggies would need to follow if they decide to leave the league.


Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

[SKLOSS]

Since this is about the actual thread I will oblige. Texas A&M says "We are leaving the Big 12". Once that happens we get an invite or we apply to the SEC. If they say no, then we go independent (not happening), beg to come back to Big12 with egg on our face (more likely), or join any of the other conferences that will have us.

The lone fact that there is no way we would have done any of this without knowing full well how that vote will go.

like i said earlier, i don't see Bowen/A&M turning in a notice to leave without insurance from the SEC. waaay too much to lose by not being in a conference at all.

[Wulver]

I guess I have mixed emotions here, but why didn't A&M think about "losing something special" on their side when they decided to leave. I think it sounds pretty self serving to leave the conference then sit back and request somebody to admit they are losing something special.

I am certainly going to miss the games but like it was said above. It's just a college game.

I think you are making the following assumptions:

The decision to leave is unanimous.

That the decision was an easy one.

That despite what the decision was we won't remember old times.

[Burntorange Bowhunter]

Now hear this....they have not said they are leaving. I think the Big 12 is making their push for them to stay.

[Wulver]

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Texas A&M said Tuesday it has not sent a letter of withdrawal to the Big 12 Conference.

Yeah I know, after all this crap and the stupid writer at the NY Times had it wrong.

[CaptainDave]

Let me ask you this. What did Nebraska leaving have to do with the Big 12? The Big 12 got a new billion dollar TV contract.

The have no conference championship game (better for teams wanting to win a National Title).

Teams can add another home game (OOC) and make more money.

I don't see where Nebraska had any thing to do with making Texas A&M make the jump to the SEC. Nebraska thought they would be the 1 or 2 dominate program like they where in the Big 8 and once they realized they where irreverent in the Big 12 they wanted to exit ASAP and found a home in the Big 10.

Come on now, you know Nebraska leaving created uncertainty, with Colorado soon to follow. No different than Arkansas leaving the SWC.

Honestly, I don't really care, however, you can't sit back and say that UT shouldn't share a little of the blame for what's happening now.

[Jeremy]

Now hear this....they have not said they are leaving. I think the Big 12 is making their push for them to stay.

Hunch? Will Texas even come close to an agreement on what A&M wants? Is Dan on his way out with him making promises to certain schools last yr and then turning around and trying to make more promises this yr? Seems to me he doesnt have a back bone at all.

[SKLOSS]

I guess I have mixed emotions here, but why didn't A&M think about "losing something special" on their side when they decided to leave. I think it sounds pretty self serving to leave the conference then sit back and request somebody to admit they are losing something special.
I am certainly going to miss the games but like it was said above, it's just a college game.....life will go on.

why would you think they didn't? how could they not discuss losing the biggest money making game of the year (aside from making a conference championship which has been very likely for the past decade)? there is more to this move than football games. granted, football is the cash cow for all schools, but this move is more than that.

i for one will miss the rival should it come to that.

[Smart]

why would you think they didn't? how could they not discuss losing the biggest money making game of the year (aside from making a conference championship which has been very likely for the past decade)? there is more to this move than football games. granted, football is the cash cow for all schools, but this move is more than that.

i for one will miss the rival should it come to that.

I'm sure they thought about it some but obviously it wasn't important enough to sway the decision...

[Dave]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/st...-letter-big-12

This is like inviting yourself to a party where you are not wanted. How can A&M leave the Big 12 without an invitation (written or oral) to the SEC?

The same way a head coach say's they aren't looking at other schools and then two weeks later takes a job with another school. Lots of back room deals between agents.

There were major lawsuit threats from Baylor to several SEC schools and the SEC it self threatening the SEC for tampering with a contract just prior to the last SEC presidents meeting. This is why they decided not to vote on inviting A&M. Key point, there wasn't a failed vote to invite A&M, there was no vote at all. There is a big difference.

As far as T-day and A&M v. Texas I really hope the game continues. Unfortunately I think it will go away in the near term because there are a lot of hurt feelings on both sides right now. In the long term it's way to big a money maker not to go on. An SEC A&M v. Big 12 UT on T-day is just too big a money maker from everyone involved to leave it on the shelf for very long. Add to that pressure, or legislation, from the state and it will come back.