The news this week is that the PAC-12 will not be expanding and so at least for now the “Big 4” of the Big 12 are staying put. Oklahoma started this latest storyline, expected to take Oklahoma State and leave for the PAC-12 and essentially force Texas to split off or bow down, bringing Tech along for the ride. OU - finally after all this time - flexing their muscle and saying, “We don’t follow Texas anymore. Texas can follow us.”
But a funny thing happened. Texas refused to tear up their $300 million Longhorn Network deal. No, Texas decided that if that’s how it would have to be, then they would pass. “Good luck, Oklahoma. We’ll miss playing you, but we understand you have to go if you have to go.”
Then a downright HYSTERICAL thing happened. The PAC-12 rejected OU. As it turns out, the PAC-12 didn’t want the Oklahoma schools without Texas. That’s gotta’ sting a little.
The reason I’m taking delight here isn’t that I want to prove Texas dominance over OU. A 59-41-5 record against them does that. It’s because they crowed about it. If Oklahoma had quietly gone to the PAC-12 and inquired and it hadn’t worked out, I’d feel legitimately bad for them. But that’s not how it went down.
Three weeks ago when OU President David Boren said “There is no school in the Big 12 more active than we are right now” and “I don’t think OU is going to be a wallflower when all is said and done” he was declaring independence from Texas. He threw out veiled threats like “"I think we remain a very influential member of the conference. I'll just put it that way.” When Bob Stoops then said that the Texas-OU game wasn’t necessary the gauntlet had been thrown. He apparenlty wasn't going to be a wallflower, either. The Sooners forgot one thing, though… they weren’t invited.
Texas hasn’t done this. Texas has a concrete offer from the ACC to come be the flagship football program of their conference and keep the Longhorn Network as it is. You don’t hear the Longhorns shouting it from the rooftops. Texas has never publicly talked about leaving the Big 12 and for the most part have kept quiet while everyone else blames them and says they should share the LHN wealth. Well, thanks to a failed Sooner power play, DeLoss Dodds can be clear. "I don't think our network is in play," Texas' athletic director said Wednesday. "Our network is our network. Anybody can do one.” You know WHY anyone can do one? Because the Big 12 schools VOTED to let anyone do one. Get over it and find a way to make it work for you. There’s a lot of TV money out there, people. Quit whining and start working.
So now it appears that Oklahoma’s chest-puffing days are behind them. Maybe it’s temporary. Maybe a time comes when the rivalries get torn apart and the teams go their separate ways. OU overestimated their pull. That’s forgivable. Doing it in public isn’t. Say what you will about the Horns, but Texas isn’t running up the score.
The Sooners were the so-so girl that the PAC-12 was talking to in order to get to the hot chick. That invitation “back to their place” just didn’t hold up for OU when the prom queen wasn’t interested.
You know who that makes you at this dance, David Boren? A wallflower.
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