JimboF

Man, that was a really cool video to watch. Thanks for posting it on here!

This is the way I view the situation in general -- there are essentially a couple groups of schools these days, one group that has universities with resources to compete for national titles on a fairly regular basis, as well as one that includes schools whose athletic teams should focus on winning conference championships and bowl games, and attaining postseason tournament berths. I earned my bachelor's degree from UT-Austin and my master's degree from Texas State. I expect UT-Austin to win a team national title (men's or women's) in some sport each school year, whereas I feel like Texas State should realistically be competing for conference titles, bowl victories, and spots in postseason tournaments. Texas State can still hang conference championship banners from the rafters, and I think it's certainly something to be proud of. I believe North Texas has won three bowl games in its history, so perhaps UNT should be angling for winning bowl games in three consecutive seasons or making the NCAA tournament three straight years. I mean, what's wrong with that?

I have to say it's been great communicating with everyone on this site. I was looking for a place to communicate with others about Pac 12 expansion as it relates to various Texas schools, and you all have been very informative and receptive. You guys are beginning to turn me into a UNT fan, even though I have no connection to the school besides attending a football game in Denton in 2018 against Florida Atlantic. Thanks for everything so far!

I'm surprised inside information regarding UNT potentially angling for the Pac isn't currently out there. I imagine it'd be really tough to keep such secrets under wraps for long, which leads me to believe UNT might be satisfied remaining in the AAC.

I mean, if Texas State had won a bowl game each of the last five seasons (rather than two seasons), then they'd certainly warrant a full share from the beginning. However, the reality is the Bobcats' potential currently outweighs their past and present achievements.

I think a half share for Texas State is acceptable, as long as it increases by 10 percent every year until they're at 100 percent in 2031.

Yeah, based on what I've read during recent years, departing schools typically pay about 60 percent (or more) of the exit fees after negotiations. That's a big deduction though.

Call me relentlessly hopeful, but I'd love to see Texas State and North Texas join the Pac as a pair. I think it'd be great for their long-term athletic future.

I was reading a new Reddit thread today regarding chatter from out west concerning UNT reportedly having a group of wealthy donors ready to cover the AAC exit fees if/when UNT joins the Pac. If so, we'd likely see UNT and Texas State both going to the Pac, perhaps with Saint Mary's also joining for non-football sports. Now I'm even more intrigued!

I also recall how impressed I was with North Texas' football teams during the early 2000s when they were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

Well, I'm almost 54 years old, so Rice's accomplishments that I mentioned didn't seem that long ago to me.

I looked online and was also reminded that Rice football won an outright conference championship (CUSA) in 2008. Not bad! I don't think their basketball teams have won much of anything as long as I can remember though.

Rice won a baseball national championship in 2003, and they won three bowl games (and had two 10-win seasons) under David Bailiff from 2007-2017. Their ceiling isn't very high, but if they have the right head coaches in place, they're capable of doing well.

I guess one way to prevent Texas State from potentially "leapfrogging" North Texas and joining the Pac is to invite them into the AAC. Texas State would assuredly love to be in the same conference with North Texas, UTSA, and Rice. However, maybe the best long-term option for both Texas State and North Texas involves joining the Pac as a pair.

As for Cal and Stanford, it seems like their situation may be untenable in the long run. It may not happen, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them eventually join the new Pac rather than continuing to travel as much as a commercial flight crew.