Report: Oklahoma to apply for PAC-12 membership

NT80 · September 13, 2011

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/oklahoma-sooners/20110912-report-oklahoma-to-apply-for-pac-12-membership.ece

Eagle1855 · September 13, 2011

Both of these teams are largely made up of Texas players. So it makes you wonder how thats going to look, moving forward, if neither has any regularly-scheduled games in this State. Also, if parents coming to watch their kids play is a big deal, what kid is going to go to OSU, where their closest game is in Norman, and after that, Colorado?

Edited September 13, 2011 by Eagle1855

KRAM1 · September 13, 2011

Both of these teams are largely made up of Texas players. So it makes you wonder how thats going to look, moving forward, if neither has any regularly-scheduled games in this State. Also, if parents coming to watch their kids play is a big deal, what kid is going to go to OSU, where their closest game is in Norman, and after that, Colorado?

This is why I have wanted the Big XII to find a way to stay together. But, every day it is looking more and more like that is not going to happen. OU & OSU moving to the Pac-12 will not hamper their Texas recruiting any more than a break-up of the Big XII would. Nor, will it hurt any more than it will hurt A&M going to the SEC.

I really hate to see this happen, but looks like a "done deal". If the Big XII stays together, it may be an entirely different conference and much less "powerful" than ever. There are rumors that Texas will also head to the Pac-12. This is really not good, in my opinion, for college football.

The Fake Lonnie Finch · September 13, 2011

Kids who want to win will go anywhere. This isn't 1977. It's 2011. The internet and cable/satellite TV make every team accessible.

OU sells on its name alone and has for decades. They've been pulling kids from both coasts and all over the map for decades. Even John Blake during their terrible years picked up Roy Williams from Northern California and Ontei Jones from South Florida.

Their current Heisman candidate QB is from New Mexico; though OU doesn't play either school from New Mexico. Texas school being closer to his New Mexican family didn't stop him from going to OU. Three of OU's starters - two on offense and one on defense, are from California. OU hasn't played a regular season game in California since...2005. And, before that, 1997.

OU will be fine if they end up in a conference without Texas. They'll still recruit the entire country, including Texas.

OSU will be fine as well. If everyone's theory about driving distances held, the stadiums at all Texas schools would be sold out. They aren't - except for Texas and Texas A&M. If a kid has a shot at UTEP or Oklahoma State, he likely going to go to Oklahoma State since they are winning now. Winning does that for your school.

The truth is, kids will pick winning schools. Distance doesn't matter. Florida State's QB last year was a kid from Colleyville. Florida State never plays in Texas. It doesn't matter. Florida State is a nationally known name.

There's a kid from Frisco who is a back-up QB for Florida State. And, their kicker is from Houston. Distance didn't seem to matter for those kids and their families; winning did.

Again, not everyone in Texas is from Texas. Go look at census figures on the subject. Because the economy of Texas has been so good, people have relocated to it from all over the United States. But - again and again and again - their loyalties are not to Texas schools or professional teams. You've got Packer and Browns and Steelers watching parties at bars all over major Texas cities. People move here, but they don't forget their roots.

This all aggravates old Texas people. But, they should have accepted the reality that not everyone in Texas supports Texas college football teams when the SWC was killed. Sorry, old Texas people. Texas isn't diverse just because it has a bunch of Mexicans, Pakistanis, and Koreans. It's diverse athletics-wise as well.

In short, it doesn't matter how big UT is or how much money it has. Other schools don't care. They'll go where they want, and the recruiting will be just fine. Texas is discovering how little clout they have, and how many people in high places they've alienated over the past few years.

Edited September 13, 2011 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

clonefan · September 13, 2011

well ISU may as well start looking towards the big east in hopes of an invite. hopefully the man of steele can give us a good season the rest of the way so we look more attractive to them. i really hope we dont lose our AQ status but its definitely a possibility

Eagle1855 · September 13, 2011

sigh.

ColoradoEagle · September 13, 2011

UNTLifer · September 13, 2011

That is hilarious.

MCMLXXX · September 13, 2011

I really hate to see this happen, but looks like a "done deal". If the Big XII stays together, it may be an entirely different conference and much less "powerful" than ever. There are rumors that Texas will also head to the Pac-12. This is really not good, in my opinion, for college football.

Texas and Notre Dame are negotiating with the Big 10 as a package deal. This will allow the LHN to survive briefly and ultimately become Big Ten Network 2. By making it a package deal they hope to obtain leverage that allows them to keep some of their existing perks. At least that is what I have heard from sources. Of course there is the Tech problem that can be resolved by getting OU to bring along not just OSU but Tech and likely Kansas to the PAC 12-16.

El Paso Eagle · September 13, 2011

Damn, those Baylor lawyers are going to be busy :hot:

oldguystudent · September 13, 2011

So everybody leaves the Big XII but Texas. Will the Longhorns then be stuck playing with themselves on television?

El Paso Eagle · September 13, 2011

So everybody leaves the Big XII but Texas. Will the Longhorns then be stuck playing with themselves on television?

I think you meant "playing ....., no, on second thought I think your right :startle:

Eagle1855 · September 13, 2011

So everybody leaves the Big XII but Texas. Will the Longhorns then be stuck playing with themselves on television?

Haha.

No, they'll go to whatever conference they think is the next-best alternative to the Big 12 that will allow them to keep the cash cow (get it?) that is the LHN.

Which I'm now hearing is...the ACC??

Edited September 13, 2011 by Eagle1855