In our last blog post, we mentioned the possibility of several different roadblocks delaying the Texas A&M to SEC move. Several different roadblocks have emerged and they seem to be coming from rival schools in the Big XII who aren't thrilled Texas A&M could be leaving the conference.
On Tuesday at 2:00 PM Central Time, the Texas House of Representatives Higher Education Committee led by representative Dan Branch will hold a hearing discussing "matters which pertain to high education, including collegiate athletics". Requested to speak at the meeting is Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin, Chairman of Texas A&M Board of Regents Richard A. Box, Big XII Conference Commissioner Dan Beebe, and Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive.
One interesting name that has surfaced in regards to an all out effort to keep A&M in the Big XII is Neal "Buddy" Jones. Neal "Buddy" Jones, born 1951, is a former Hill County prosecutor and state representative who, with Bill Miller, co-founded and still operates a successful lobby practice, Hillco Partners, in Austin.What has also come to our attention is Buddy Jones was a very prominent figure during last year's conference realignment fiasco. The Dallas Morning News obtained emails from Buddy Jones that documented this influence:
Jones, D-Hillsboro, was elected Hill County Attorney, then district attorney, and then won a term in the Texas House in 1981. He served one term there. After losing a 1982 state Senate race to Chet Edwards (now a U.S. Congressman from Waco), he became executive assistant to then-Speaker Gib Lewis, D-Fort Worth. His lobbying career began after that.
He earned his undergraduate and law degrees at Baylor University in Waco, and joined that institution's board of regents in 2004.
The Dallas Morning News has obtained e-mails sent by Baylor regent and prominent lobbyist Buddy Jones to Baylor alumni and supporters within the Texas legislature. E-mails and phone numbers of the members have been redacted.One such email read as follows:
BUDDY JONES E-MAILSAnd also in another email:
From: Buddy Jones
Date: June 4, 2010 10:49:12 AM CDT
To: ADDRESSES REDACTED
Subject: Baylor Alert
To: Baylor grads in the 81st Legislature:
I have a critical issue that directly affects Baylor and it is very time sensitive. The Big XII and PAC 10 are both meeting separately today. According to a recent newspaper report, the PAC 10 may well issue an invite to all the Big XII South schools to join the PAC 10 - WITH THE EXCEPTION OF BAYLOR. In our stead, the PAC 10 is rumored to substitute Colorado. In this scenario, Baylor gets left out and this would be a major, major setback for our University. Perhaps a setback of immense proportion. The mere rumor of Baylor being left behind is harmful.
We cannot let the other schools in Texas (A&M, U.T., Tech) leave the Big XII WITHOUT BAYLOR BEING INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. Long and short - if U.T., A&M and Tech demand that any move to any other conference include ALL TEXAS BASED TEAMS from the Big XII, we are golden. We need to be in a PACKAGE DEAL!
Here's what I am asking you to do today.
Please call the following:
1. Bill Jones - Former Chairman, A&M Board of Regents
2. Bill Powers - President, University of Texas at Austin (If unavailable ask for Nancy Brazzil, his E.A.);
3. Morris E. Foster - Chairman A&M Board of Regents of Salado, TX
4. Larry Anders - Chairman, Texas Tech Board of Regents
5. Kent Hance - Chancellor, Texas Tech
6. Dr. Mike McKinney , Chancellor, Texas A&M and
7. Colleen McHugh - Chairman, U.T. Board of Regents.
Here is the message to deliver:
• The four Texas schools in the Big XII conference have decades (if not a century) of history as being a family. The continuation of this almost sacred relationship is important to our State and to higher education in Texas.
• As the Big 10, PAC 10 and Big XII discuss re-alignment, the best possible scenario for these four schools (U.T., A&M, Tech and Baylor) is to stay in the Big XII Conference as it currently exists. That is the absolute BEST THING FOR ALL OF US - KEEP THE BIG XII INTACT.
• However, if some schools in the Big XII North feel compelled to go elsewhere (we hear rumors of Colorado, Missouri and Nebraska looking toward the Big 10), the next best scenario is to KEEP ALL SIX SCHOOLS FROM THE BIG XII SOUTH AS A PACKAGE DEAL. Do not leave Baylor out.
• There was a report today that the PAC 10 might extend an offer to invite five of the South schools to join the PAC 10 (Texas, A&M, Tech, Oklahoma and OSU). The report said Baylor would be replaced with Colorado. This is Armageddon for our University.
This would be devastating to Baylor and to the state of Texas. WE MUST STICK TOGETHER.
• Baylor is superior to Colorado academically. Baylor has athletic facilities superior to Colorado. Colorado doesn't participate in the number of sports that Baylor does. Baylor's overall record in all collegiate sports dwarfs that of Colorado. Our football, basketball (women's and men's), baseball, softball, track, tennis, golf programs are vastly superior to Colorado's. The Baptist church base extends across the country and certainly trumps the University of Colorado's local base limited to a small town in Colorado.
• I am asking you to commit to me to keeping all six schools from the Big XII South together if we can't keep the whole Big XII intact. BAYLOR MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE. Make it clear that when it comes to our four Texas schools, IT IS ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL!!
Please DO NOT BREAK UP the history and working relationship we have nurtured over the decades.
Will you commit to including all Texas schools in any scenario that arises? Will you commit to include Baylor in any package you consider?
Please put these calls in today if at all possible. We need to stop any bleeding that this PAC 10 offer might have caused for Baylor quickly.
Many, many thanks for your assistance. This could be a pivotal moment in Baylor's history.
Warmest regards,
Neal T. " Buddy" Jones
From: Buddy JonesFrom these emails, it is clear to think there was a strong push from some working in the Texas Legislature last year to keep all of the Texas schools together. Could it be another strong push this year to keep the status quo in order?
Date: June 6, 2010 10:15:38 AM CDT
To: The Honorable Davis John Hughes Bryan Paxton Ken Phillips Larry Taylor Larry Patrick Diane Harper-Brown Linda Dunnam Jim The Honorable Eiland Craig Shelton Mark Vaught Allen Bolton Valinda Kent Carol Watson Kirk Sibley David Anderson Doc Hancock Kelly
Cc: Stone Dary Ken Starr
Subject: Fwd: FW:
If you all don't think your efforts are paying dividends, think again. We have made great progress over the last 48 hours. Thanks to all of you for your great work. If Texas univ. will just continue to insist on all Texas schools sticking together as a unit we can win this thing.
Plus there is a chance that Neb. will stay in the Big 12 and that may shut down momentum for any school to leave.
Keep the faith.
Sent from my iPhone. Please excuse any typos.
The influence of politics and money to keep Texas A&M in the Big XII is a strong possibility. As previously mentioned, Neal "Buddy" Jones is the founder of HillCo Partners.
HillCo Partners is the premier full-service government affairs consultancy in Texas, focusing on legislative, public policy and regulatory matters. The firm has grown to encompass 13 lobbyists covering a broad range of expertise which includes healthcare, pharmaceuticals, energy, the environment, education, financial services, insurance, taxes, transportation and local government issues. We represent blue-chip clients in every major sector of the economy. Wherever government touches private business, HillCo is there.We have learned that not only is HillCo Partners founded by Baylor alum and Board of Regents member Buddy Jones, but may also receive funding from several University of Texas alumni and boosters. Friends of The Midnight Yell have sent out FOIA requests to discover this exact relationship. We will be reporting what we find in the future. However, the top donor that we know of to HillCo Partners? Baylor alum Bob J. Perry.
HillCo Partners was founded in 1998 by Neal T. “Buddy” Jones and William Miller. The firm is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Top donors to HillCo PAC, as of Jan. 1, 2010
A Texas Watchdog analysis of Texas Ethics Commission data
- Bob Perry, prominent homebuilder and major GOP donor: $1.2 million
- Stephen Jones, executive for the Dallas Cowboys and son of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, $295,500
- Jerry Jones Jr., head of marketing for the Dallas Cowboys and son of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, $131,585
- Neal T. "Buddy" Jones, co-founder and partner in HillCo, $119,500
- Good Government PAC, Corpus Christi-based PAC tied to major Democratic donor Mikal Watts, $100,000
- James "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, owner of Houston's Gallery Furniture stores, $75,000
- Charles Butt, scion of the HEB grocery store family, $68,500
- Dan Pearson, lobbyist for HillCo, $65,130
- Marc Samuels, HillCo partner, $56,500
- (Tie) Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys owner, and Paul Foster, head of Western Refining, both $55,000
- Bill Miller, HillCo co-founder and partner, $52,500
It is also interesting and of note to point out that 8 of 9 members on the Texas House of Representatives Committee on Higher Education have received campaign contributions from HillCo Partners in the past:
Contributions made by HillCo PAC, as of Jan. 1, 2010
. Branch Daniel H. 2/15/2002 $500
. Branch Daniel H. 9/17/2002 $500
. Branch Daniel H. 9/10/2003 $1,000
. Branch Daniel H. 10/25/2006 $1,000
. Branch Daniel H. 9/10/2007 $1,000
. Castro Joaquin 9/17/2007 $1,000
. Alonzo Roberto R. 12/6/2004 $1,000
. Alonzo Roberto R. 11/16/2006 $1,000
. Alonzo Roberto R. 10/15/2007 $1,000
. Alonzo Roberto R. 1/29/2008 $1,000
. Bonnen Dennis H. 11/12/2001 $500
. Bonnen Dennis H. 4/12/2002 $500
. Bonnen Dennis H. 11/11/2005 $500
. Bonnen Dennis H. 11/17/2005 $170
. Bonnen Dennis H. 10/13/2006 $1,000
. Bonnen Dennis H. 2/26/2008 $1,000
. Brown Frederick H. 9/7/2007 $1,000
. Brown Frederick H. 6/13/2008 $1,000
. Brown Frederick H. 9/21/2005 $250
. Howard Donna S. 9/12/2006 $5,000
. Howard Donna S. 6/24/2007 $1,000
. Howard Donna S. 12/22/2007 $2,500
. Howard Donna S. 10/6/2008 $1,500
. Lewis Tryon D. 12/11/2008 $1,000
. Patrick Diane 8/3/2006 $1,000
. Patrick Diane 9/30/2006 $1,000
. Patrick Diane 10/12/2006 $641
. Patrick Diane 8/3/2006 $1,000
. Patrick Diane 9/30/2006 $1,000
. Patrick Diane 10/12/2006 $641
. Patrick Diane 6/28/2007 $1,000
. Patrick Diane 9/29/2007 $1,000
. Patrick Diane 10/3/2007 $821
. Patrick Diane 2/29/2008 $1,616
. Patrick Diane 10/2/2008 $2,000
And where did each member of the committee attend school?
Dan Branch -- Southern Methodist University
Joaquin Castro -- Stanford University/Harvard Law School
Roberto Alonzo -- University of Texas at Austin
Dennis Bonnen -- St. Edwards University
Fred Brown -- Unknown, Bryan/College Station Representative
Donna Howard -- University of Texas at Austin
Eric Johnson -- Harvard University/Princeton University
Tyron Lewis -- University of Texas at Austin/ Baylor Law School
Diane Patrick -- Baylor University, University of North Texas
Committee chair Dan Branch talked to OrangeBloods.com and provided these quotes in relation to LAST YEAR'S hearing that was scheduled to occur involving conference realignment:
I asked Branch if the committee found that such a move wasn't in the best interest of Texas, what could the Legislature do about it?
"Ultimately, these are public institutions," Branch said. "The Legislature is responsible for funding and directing the ultimate policy of our public institutions.
"So I think it's important that the Legislature be advised. And so I want to create an opportunity on a timely basis to give the members of the House of Representatives the opportunity to ask questions and make sure they felt like this was in the best interest of the state of Texas.
"There's an argument that going to the SEC would be a good thing so that Texas' biggest schools would have a footprint in two major conferences, so I'm going into this with an open mind. But it seems to me it's the regents' responsibility to do what's in the best interest of Texas A&M as the flagship of that system. And it's the Legislature's responsibility to make sure it's in the best interest of the state of Texas."
Branch said there are really two points of interest that are critical to the state's view of a possible move by Texas A&M to the SEC.
"Part of that goes to you don't want another major conference coming undone by the action of one," Branch said. "So there's two parts to this. One, is this a good move for Texas A&M?
"And, more importantly, from our vantage point would there be a negative consequence to the University of Texas or Texas Tech University and even our private schools like Baylor - what effect it could have on them?"
It is also of interest to note what representative Branch said in relation to the University of Texas' contract with partner ESPN to create the Longhorn Network:
"I do not think this Legislature ought to penalize people that are going on and being successful in maximizing their assets and getting a higher return and finding revenues that are not a tax base."
"I certainly will do everything I can to make sure that people who take care of their institutions and raise them up and bring in more revenues and create value that somehow that wouldn’t be a detriment as they go through the appropriations process."
Hopefully, as documented here, tomorrow's meeting will actually be in the best interested for all parties involved and the state of Texas as a whole and only a fact finding mission, NOT with other intentions in mind to block Texas A&M what it believes is in it's best interest as a university.
We ask representative Branch this simple question: If the University of Texas is allowed to make deals based on what is best for it's university, why not allow Texas A&M to break from current relations and enter into new relations which it believes will benefit their university into the future? Please don't let your outside influences stand in the way of making a correct response.
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