Baylor Legal Firm

[DeepGreen]

Looks like Baylor has their firm lined up if legal action is needed against the Big 12 or it's members. Trust me, this guy is a heavy hitter. Free service, no less!

"September 11, 2011

Umphrey offers firm's help if Baylor files suit

Bob West column for Sunday, September 11

The Port Arthur News

PORT ARTHUR — Baylor University president Ken Starr has one very heavy hitter in his corner, if he indeed intends to pursue legal action against Texas A&M for leaving the Big 12 Conference. High powered Beaumont attorney Walter Umphrey, who made a $10 million donation to Baylor a few years ago that led to the school’s Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center, e-mailed Starr Thursday morning that the services of the Provost-Umphrey Law Firm are available to Baylor at no charge to assist with any forthcoming litigation. Umphrey, of course, understands better than most that if the Big 12 falls apart, which is happening at this very moment, Baylor stands to lose millions from a 10-year TV contract the Big 12 signed with FOX last year. The school would also likely be relegated to a second-echelon conference, which would seriously impact its future revenue in football and basketball. “A contract is a contract and all those Big 12 schools signed one that they would stay together for 10 years,” Umphrey said. “It’s sad. This is all about money. There is total disregard for traditions, for rivalries, for parents of football players and for students who can’t afford travel all over the place to watch their sons and their team play.”

Umphrey and Ken Starr don’t need my amateur legal advice, but one thing I’d pursue in any kind of settlement is the guarantee of Texas A&M playing at least two to three games in Waco over the next decade."

Edited September 13, 2011 by DeepGreen

[Travis]

I understand Baylor doing what they are doing... though, given the opportunity they would do it too.

But, couldn't Baylor's posturing only blackball them in the future?

[NM Green]

Baylor is grasping at straws. Who on earth in Mean Green gear could have sympathy for a team and fans who have to travel all over the place to see their sons and daughters play. Cry me a river already. Welcome to life in the Sun Belt, Big West, WAC and Mountain West. Oh wait, you are about to be welcomed to the Mountain West. Enjoy Reno, Boise and Laramie.

Go Mean Green!!!!!

P.S. - Let's climb the Mountain (West) first.

[Rudy]

If Dan Bebe would just boot t.u. out of the conference, all of the problems would be solved.

[GrayEagle]

If Dan Bebe would just boot t.u. out of the conference, all of the problems would be solved.

I'm missing something in the translation. Booting Texas out is not going to bring A&M back. It's also not going to attract anyone else worth their salt to the Big 12.

Like it or not (and I don't by the way) the Longhorns are probably powerful enough to keep a conference together and likely keep the automatic bid for the Big 12. I'd wager that a conference of Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Brigham Young, Houston and North Texas would be enough to keep the status quo for now. If Missouri doesn't go to the SEC that would bring it back to ten again. With the exception of Baylor, all would be big universities in sizable markets and large numbers of alumni.

[UNT90]

Let's be serious. We have zero shot at a big 6 conference. Zero, ziP, nada. We were not able to sell out the 1st game in a new stadium. Still a long, long way to go.

Edited September 13, 2011 by UNT90

[DeepGreen]

Recently, various articles include Texas Tech going wherever UT goes or wherever Oklahoma and Oklahoma St go (PAC 12). Why is Tech included in all of these conference moves? Why is everyone so enamoured with Texas Tech?

[UNT90]

Recently, various articles include Texas Tech going wherever UT goes or wherever Oklahoma and Oklahoma St go (PAC 12). Why is Tech included in all of these conference moves? Why is everyone so enamoured with Texas Tech?

Because they have built a program in Lubbock. Because they sell out their 50k plus stadium for every home game. Because they were recently ranked as high as #2 in the nation late in the season.

Bash a certain ex-Tech coach all you want, but he changed TTech's college football destiny

[UNTMike81]

Sad part is they ran the coach that gave TT the ability to be relevant in conference realignment out on a rail. TT's programs will soon fall back into mediocrity.

UNT has to make huge progress, Olympic Gold medal progress to get into a big 6 conference.

[NT80]

The Boring Bears only got into the Big12 with political ties and pressure. Now they are using threats to stay in the Big12. They have no value to better conferences. Maybe the WAC will want them?

[Eagle1855]

Isn't the internet fun?

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1994_1185849

"We are certainly saddened by the demise of the Southwest Conference," Powers said. "I think it was something that was going to happen sooner or later.

Oh the irony...

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Because they have built a program in Lubbock. Because they sell out their 50k plus stadium for every home game. Because they were recently ranked as high as #2 in the nation late in the season.

Bash a certain ex-Tech coach all you want, but he changed TTech's college football destiny

Plus, when they ran him off, they were able to hire another nationally known coach - and, didn't have to look at Texas high schools.

Tech has beaten schools in many different conferences now. They've been to bowl games now for 11 straight seasons, and have had 18 winning seasons in a row.

They've beaten schools from the Big Ten three times in bowl games (Minnesota, Michigan State, and Northwestern) and schools from the ACC twice (Clemson and Virginia), and on from the Pac-10 (California) during that span.

Tech is a well-known entity. Not even Texas or Texas A&M boast as many bowl seasons in a row as Tech.

[Rudy]

I'm missing something in the translation. Booting Texas out is not going to bring A&M back. It's also not going to attract anyone else worth their salt to the Big 12.

Like it or not (and I don't by the way) the Longhorns are probably powerful enough to keep a conference together and likely keep the automatic bid for the Big 12. I'd wager that a conference of Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Brigham Young, Houston and North Texas would be enough to keep the status quo for now. If Missouri doesn't go to the SEC that would bring it back to ten again. With the exception of Baylor, all would be big universities in sizable markets and large numbers of alumni.

All of these programs are leaving the Big XII because of the Longwhorns' arrogance. If they were gone, then all of the other programs would stay, and you could easily find a replacement for t.u. It was the same thing back in the days of the SWC. Arkansas got tired of it and said bye bye.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

It was telling that the Texas contingent lowered themselves to go up to Norman and beg OU to stay - or, at least to keep their annual game.

That is how desperate things are becoming in Austin. They took on a buttload of complaints from alumni and fans being unable to see the Rice game. And, no major carrier has signed on since for Longhorn Network - not after the announcement of UTSA's home slate, or the addition of Kansas.

And, here was the Kansas deal - ESPN will pay them $4 million dollars to go on it. Tech was offered $5 million and said, no thanks.

That Tech said no quickly shows that football truly is king of college sports. Kansas' basketball program has won more conference and national titles than Tech's football program could ever dream.

But, as it stands, it is Tech that had the upper hand in landing in a good BCS conference when the Big 12 implodes. And, it is because their football program has been successful for so long.

Tech saying no also shows how little influence Texas has in the conference. A $5 million payday would go a long way at any school these days. Tech feels comfortable enough about their future to turn it down. They must know much more about their future than people realize.

Remember, their new AD was the assistant AD at OU for years. There's no doubt that behind the scene OU's AD is likely looking out for his former charge.

From that perspective, you have to wonder who Rick Villareal's friends are around the college landscape who might help us. Let's keep our fingers crossed that he's working the phones now to places like the MWC and to schools who wouldn't mind lobbying for their old pal Rick.