The Longhorn Network is on the air and the Aggies are on their way out. The times, they are a-changin’.
As Longhorn fans, we have collectively kept quiet. We’ve sheepishly hung our heads and shrugged our shoulders – nearly apologetic when the topic of the Longhorn Network pops up… and so the shouting continues: “Texas has ruined the conference.” And again, we say nothing.
Well, no more.
First of all, let’s all remember that there would BE no conference without Texas. Our bags were packed. We were headed for the PAC-10 and we were taking Oklahoma, OSU and Tech with us. A&M was splitting off and going to the SEC. It was practically a done deal. Texas would get a nice chunk of big conference TV money AND they would still have been able to have their own network. So what happened? The Big 12 and its other members begged us not to go. They offered us a bigger piece of the pie if we stayed. Texas put a roof over the heads of Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State and Baylor. Did they get a sweet deal in the process? Sure. This is America. The biggest contributions get the biggest compensation. But guess what – each one of those schools is also getting more money this year than they did last. EVERYONE got more money. Texas just got… more more.
And now I’m hearing grumbling from Oklahoma – from a column in yesterday’s Tulsa World:
“OU, like those who still want to make the Big 12 work, is reportedly fed up with Texas seeing how far it can push the others around with tactics like the Longhorn Network.” The columnist suggests that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State may be next to look for greener pastures.
Where to begin?
TACTICS like the Longhorn Network? It’s not like this came as some big surprise. This was a major part of the discussions on keeping the conference together – it wasn’t snuck in the back door. The conference bylaws were re-written to allow ANY school to do this. You want to start the Sooner Network? Do it. (In fact, they’re talking about it.) Just because the Cyclone Network broadcast live from Ames would have zero interest doesn’t mean Texas did something wrong.
I’m standing up. I’m rejecting this “Texas as evil empire” idea.
If other schools (who agreed to and even PUSHED the current revenue split) are unhappy now and want to run for the hills, it is THEY being selfish. And calling for other schools to be “fed up” with the Longhorns so-called superiority and look for other options is irresponsible and FAR worse than anything Texas has done here. Make no mistake - in College Station it’s all about A&M. They’re not lifting a finger to help Baylor. Nobody’s mentioning that the Aggies get more money in the current arrangement than Missouri (which they absolutely do) because right now there’s only one villain. If the Oklahoma schools start looking for another home it’s not for the greater good, it’s because they’re jealous of the deal that they themselves brokered with the Longhorns just 14 months ago. I’m not saying the folks in Austin are being philanthropic here, but the simple truth is that without Texas none of the lower-profile schools would even have a home right now. I don’t hear Kansas State complaining about Texas. They’re happy to have more money than they’ve ever had and a place in a BCS conference.
You want to see messy? Keep bad-mouthing the school that pays all the bills. Maybe then it will be Texas that gets “fed up”… and then where will all those smaller schools be? Oh, that’s right… nobody but Texas seems to care.
