A&M To SEC Not a Done Deal -- Yet

It appears that the rest of the college football world has caught up to the story that has been in the making for several weeks.

Will Texas A&M become the 13th Man in the SEC?  It appears so.  But not so fast my friend -- things are at least 11 days from becoming official, and a lot can change in 11 days.

A lot has seemed to already change in the past 48-72 hours.

Texas governor Rick Perry, and future GOP candidate for 2012, broke the story to everyone nationally yesterday evening with this simple line:

"I'll be real honest with you. I just read about it the same time as y'all did. ... As far as I know, conversations are being had. That's frankly all I know. I just refer you to the university and the decision makers over there."

Hope he is more prepared for another announcement this weekend.   Who would have thought evil, former Texas A&M Yell Leader Rick Perry that many thought crushed the Texas A&M deal to the SEC a year ago would not only announce to the college football world Texas A&M is serious this time, but also give his blessing to the deal in one simple phrase? Change we can believe in.  


Shortly thereafter, Texas A&M released his own statement that put the writing on the wall for everyone: 

“President Loftin is committed to doing what is best for Texas A&M not only now, but also into the future. We continue to have wide-ranging conversations regarding all aspects of the university, including both academics and athletics.”

Let's see you try and twist those words Dan Beebe.   


In the past 24 hours, this story largely has turned into a fore-gone conclusion.  One Texas A&M fan site even went so far as proclaiming the deal is done -- but you can't count your touchdowns when you are in the redzone.  Especially in the preseason.  


The date circled on many Aggie calendars now appears to be Monday, August 22nd when the Texas A&M Board of Regents is scheduled to meet.  This meeting has been scheduled for a while -- to approve Texas A&M's future budget which as we know in recent weeks is a pretty big task in itself.  However, discussion involving Texas A&M and a potential move to the Southeastern Conference just might make its way onto the agenda and be discussed.  An "official" vote on a move might not take place then, but an unofficial hand count and decision could be reached.  That, along with another unofficial hand count among current SEC members taking place some time before could be all that stands in the way of an "official" and "formal" offer extended to Texas A&M.  


What factors could hold the Aggies back in making the move?  Like we said, 11 days is a long time for the rest of Big XII conference members to meet just like last season and work a deal to get A&M to stay.  However, I don't see how any "deal" could be reached that would make Aggie leaders think twice.  We've come way beyond that point.  Lawmakers shouldn't give the Aggies any trouble either.  Rick Perry has basically given his blessing to the deal and the Texas Legislature won't meet again til 2013.  


What could hold the Aggies up are two things: the FOX TV deal that was made a few months ago for increased revenue to the conference for selling 2nd tier rights and scheduling conflicts within the Southeastern conference for the 2012-2013 academic year.  It isn't as easy as just giving the rest of the nine Big XII conference members A&M's share of the pie for FOX's TV money -- Texas A&M was included in the deal and FOX payed for coverage of A&M football.  The value of the league as a whole decreases without A&M.  There isn't another team, not a University of Houston or Southern Methodist University, that is of value as Texas A&M is to the league.  While it's been said before the SEC would add Texas A&M and the Aggies alone as a 13th team, creating a schedule not just for football but for ALL sports would be a major hurdle to clear, not only for conference games, but already scheduled out-of-conference games as well.  Puts the entire NCAA schedule for 2012-2013 into a paper shredder.  There is not many athletic directors who would like Bill Byrne.  Exit fee's as a whole shouldn't be a problem -- Texas A&M has enough evidence on the Big XII and certain members breaching previous agreements.  Also, I'm sure if that was the only hurdle to clear there would be numerous donors and boosters who would be happy to assist.  But with a quick move wanted, this deal couldn't be snagged up in a lawyer's office in Houston or Dallas.  


Why is Texas A&M even considering this move?  Just today in news that seems to be lost in the headlines, the NCAA Board of Directors pretty much made a ruling that banned high school student-athletes from appearing on networks affiliated with a particular school and conference:  

“The presidents … directed the staff to apply NCAA recruiting rules concerning publicity of prospective student-athletes to institutional and conference networks and broadcasts, which will provide time to evaluate the proper application of NCAA rules. The NCAA is holding a meeting on Aug. 22 with representatives from broadcast networks and several conferences to discuss the issue.”

Again, Texas A&M issued a quick response:

"Last week, I joined with my fellow members of the Big 12 Board of Directors in strongly requesting that the NCAA Board of Directors issue a moratorium regarding the broadcast of high school content on institutional media platforms. We are pleased that the NCAA addressed this issue quickly. This is a decision that we believe is in the best interests of prospective student-athletes, as well as the entire NCAA membership.”

 

However, this was never the real purpose behind Texas A&M's pursuit of the SEC.  Far from it.  In fact, it may be a win-win as Aggies get to move to the conference they want and the Longhorns fail to gain a recruiting advantage (any way you slice it) in airing high school content.  So much for thinking about the kids, Mack.  

As we showed you on Sunday night, the University of Texas broke a promise that was agreed to last year when the Big XII was saved that stated a school's network could not broadcast more than one live varsity football game per yer.  In the university's signed contract with ESPN and IMG, the created Longhorn Network expressed mutual interest in showing NO LESS THAN 2 games per year.  And remember, than contract was signed on December 24th.  Merry Christmas to you.  

As many Southeastern Conference schools will learn, Texas A&M has an Honor Code that states: 

"An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those that do".  

This is a pure example of preserving the Honor Code every Aggie lives by everything single day of their lives.  From that moment on it was made clear to the rest of the Big XII the University of Texas and their network was not interested in keeping promises but effectively slapping every conference member in the face.  They were here to collect their money and not care about the stability and overall long-term stability of the Big XII.  It was a failed re-marriage from the very beginning built on lies, not solid foundation.  And with the pace and swiftness at which the Longhorns and their network was moving to become profitable -- to collect ESPN's $295 million and then get their own 70% of profit -- someone had to stand up.  And Texas A&M did, and packed up their bags and will leave the Big XII.  It's not entirely about the Longhorns having their own network produced by ESPN.  It's not about the money.  It's not about whiny Aggies finally wanting to be better than "big brother" and crawl out behind the Longhorn's shadows.  It's about the LONG-term future of an athletic program that is moving with it's own swiftness in becoming one of the best in the country.  Don't believe me?  Please look at the 2010-2011 Learfield Director's Cup Standings (8th) and Capitol One Cup Standings (3rd overall).  The University of Texas made it clear less than six months from the Big XII conference being saved that this deal wasn't build to last and when you have everyone out for themselves, how could you grow and prosper together as a conference as the PAC12 has done under Larry Scott?  You can't.  And if everyone is out for themselves, it looks like the Aggies have made the safest move of all in the most prominent conference in college sports that will provide the stability the Aggies strive for, the equal footing of all conference members in revenue sharing, the leadership of the best conference commissioner in college athletics in Mike Slive, and the increased marketing and exposure overall that the university will receive in reaching new outlets out east.  Oh yeah, and ALL SEC members are about to get a hefty pay raise in renegotiation of their TV rights with addition of at least two new members.  

The Aggies can't and won't let this opportunity be passed by again.  The Southeastern Conference and Mike Slive is STILL listening and will bend over backwards to get you there.  How much greater respect for a school can be shown?  Respect that has been lacking in A&M's current conference that will cause them to leave. 

As we look to a brighter future, we can simply ask you one question: 

Are You Ready?