Big 12 talk is back thanks to Texas.

[True Bearcat]

http://espn.go.com/college-football/...exas-longhorns

[Lobot]

And Mack Brown resigns... I give up.

[Lobot]

OK for those who missed the drama, Here's what happened at the Texas Banquet.

Power, Patterson (new AD) and Mack all spoke at the banquet. It had all the makings of a eulogy until..During the Middle of the banquet, Nick Saban's agents leaks the fact that Saban has agreed to a contract extension with Bama to Kirk Herbstreit which is then corroborated by Cecil Hurt, reporter. Twitter explodes. Everyone at the banquet knew Texas had just been used and trolled by Saban's agent Jimmy Sexton.

Mack then spoke about the bowl game and next year. He is remaining as coach for now.

Now to me, this doesn't mean the Saban to Texas crowd was wrong, it means to me that Texas had a shot at Saban and fumbled the contract.

In any case for us it means the merry go round goes on for another year and the musical chairs have stopped, depending on what Patterson's opinion of expansion and LHN are.

Saban is now up to 7M/yr.

[Lobot]

Get your popcorn ready... Powers, Dodds, Mack are all in the dias schedule tonight on for the Texas football banquet. Live on LHN.

[RedDog]

Doesn't appear likely but I'm all in if it were to happen. MUUUCH better than other scenarios we have been discussing. Our market is our best selling point, both from the TV value and the recruiting access. If we can determine that this is a possibility, I would roll the dice and wait rather than jump at a BIG12 risk. Those conferences are headed in opposite directions and it sure would be nice for us to be able to get involved in a proactive, vibrant conference rather than chase the history of a conference on the decline.

[BigDawg]

I've started to think the ACC is still possible (Not probably, but it is still on the table IMO). There is lots of smoke about them trying to start up their own network. If that were to happen, I wouldn't be surprised if they added UC to get into the Ohio markets to add a major slice of revenue, one they probably don't get without Ohio being added. That is by far the best market out there that they are not already in that is part of their existing footprint.

So I could see them adding UC and possibly UConn. That gets them to 16 or 17 schools (With ND not being in the mix in football).

[Lobot]

UT things: Bill Powers got a vote of confidence from the Regents. Unexpected, this is. He will be meeting with Mack Brown "in the next short period of time" ??

[insomniaisevil]

I couldn't agree more with all this below. It's all about the money...and this is where the money is.

Have we lost sight of how much help it would be to grow the revenue by 10 overnight? This helps the entire sports program. This is a very very good thing.

Group, I feel we are over complicating this, it is very simple. It boils down to the almighty dollar.

REALITY CHECK:

THE ACC IS OUT FOR US! They have locked the schools into a HUGE buyout clause, that even the B1G or SEC can't touch. As the only way for us to be invites is if someone leaves, which based on above this not going to happen.

TELEVISION: The B1G did not grab Maryland and Rutgers because of the school's but because of their location, but because of the television markets. Even though their are not a lot of people tuned in to watch Rutgers Football, but now you have the B1G network in the New York, Maryland and DC markets.

Cincinnati is ranked 31st in the television markets.

B1G EXPANSION: Not going to happen for us, not with the 800 pound Gorilla 90 miles north.

BIG 12: Is our best option. However, there are 10 schools in the BIG 12, as such 10 schools are sharing a $300M TV Contract, $30M per school. So if we are to get an invite 2 things will have to happen:
1) The BIG 12 commissioner contacts ESPN and asks "By adding Cincinnati, will it increase our television contract to at least $350m-$400M?" $31-$36M per to get approval from the other schools.
2) ESPN Asks their sponsors "By adding Cincinnati, will this increase my revenue to $500M for broadcasting BIG 12 Games?

We are definitely the BEST viable candidate for any BIG 5 Conference expansion. But we need to focus on 3 key things

1) Keeping Whit Babcock! Keeping Whit Babcock! Keeping Whit Babcock!
2) Complete the Stadium Renovation driving Corporate sponsorship
3) Selling out games against old Conference USA opponents.

Bottom Line, if we are not in 1 of the 5 big conferences, in 5 years when the Newness of the Stadium revamp is over, we will fall into mediocrity.

[London 'Cat]

With all due respect London Cat, I don't buy your theory. Texas wants its cake and eat it too, regardless of who is in control there. They will never relinquish power and revenue they have already negotiated. They could care less if the rest of the conference is financially strong or competitive. They certainly don't need us and whatever you perceive that we bring to the party. They remain one of the biggest plums for another healthier more lucrative conference to pluck. I have no idea what developments are still to come, but they will eventually achieve there objective of playing in a better conference AND retaining all their financial and TV perks.

You may also be right. But Texas has nowhere to go. Unless the B1G wants to expand to 16 teams, perhaps adding Texas and Oklahoma, it makes no sense for Texas to move elsewhere.

[Bearcattitue92]

Reality Check

Group, I feel we are over complicating this, it is very simple. It boils down to the almighty dollar.

REALITY CHECK:

THE ACC IS OUT FOR US! They have locked the schools into a HUGE buyout clause, that even the B1G or SEC can't touch. As the only way for us to be invites is if someone leaves, which based on above this not going to happen.

TELEVISION: The B1G did not grab Maryland and Rutgers because of the school's but because of their location, but because of the television markets. Even though their are not a lot of people tuned in to watch Rutgers Football, but now you have the B1G network in the New York, Maryland and DC markets.

Cincinnati is ranked 31st in the television markets.

B1G EXPANSION: Not going to happen for us, not with the 800 pound Gorilla 90 miles north.

BIG 12: Is our best option. However, there are 10 schools in the BIG 12, as such 10 schools are sharing a $300M TV Contract, $30M per school. So if we are to get an invite 2 things will have to happen:
1) The BIG 12 commissioner contacts ESPN and asks "By adding Cincinnati, will it increase our television contract to at least $350m-$400M?" $31-$36M per to get approval from the other schools.
2) ESPN Asks their sponsors "By adding Cincinnati, will this increase my revenue to $500M for broadcasting BIG 12 Games?

We are definitely the BEST viable candidate for any BIG 5 Conference expansion. But we need to focus on 3 key things

1) Keeping Whit Babcock! Keeping Whit Babcock! Keeping Whit Babcock!
2) Complete the Stadium Renovation driving Corporate sponsorship
3) Selling out games against old Conference USA opponents.

Bottom Line, if we are not in 1 of the 5 big conferences, in 5 years when the Newness of the Stadium revamp is over, we will fall into mediocrity.

[RedDog]

With all due respect London Cat, I don't buy your theory. Texas wants its cake and eat it too, regardless of who is in control there. They will never relinquish power and revenue they have already negotiated. They could care less if the rest of the conference is financially strong or competitive. They certainly don't need us and whatever you perceive that we bring to the party. They remain one of the biggest plums for another healthier more lucrative conference to pluck. I have no idea what developments are still to come, but they will eventually achieve there objective of playing in a better conference AND retaining all their financial and TV perks.

[1977 BearCat]

My theory is that the Board of Trustees at Texas (and maybe Oklahoma too, but not due to actions of the OU AD/coaches, etc.) feel that the former TX AD, Coach Brown and Coach Barnes are largely responsible for the weakening of the Big XII conference. And now, Texas is experiencing a recruiting disadvantage due to the perceived weaker conference. Further, Oklahoma State and Baylor seem to be building big momentum that Texas and Oklahoma perceive as a threat to their alpha-dog status in the conference. So, the idea is to start fresh and perhaps be a little less selfish with revenue sharing and other matters to allow all programs in the conference to succeed also, thereby raising its own profile by becoming the champion of a stronger conference. If this requires the addition of a program like UC or some others to replace what has been lost in TAM and Mizzou, the conference overall and the alpha-dog schools may welcome those additions.

I base my theory purely on speculation and conjecture, admittedly, but the way things are developing leads me to this theory.

If that happens, Austin will have been ground zero for an invasion of body snatchers!

[London 'Cat]

My theory is that the Board of Trustees at Texas (and maybe Oklahoma too, but not due to actions of the OU AD/coaches, etc.) feel that the former TX AD, Coach Brown and Coach Barnes are largely responsible for the weakening of the Big XII conference. And now, Texas is experiencing a recruiting disadvantage due to the perceived weaker conference. Further, Oklahoma State and Baylor seem to be building big momentum that Texas and Oklahoma perceive as a threat to their alpha-dog status in the conference. So, the idea is to start fresh and perhaps be a little less selfish with revenue sharing and other matters to allow all programs in the conference to succeed also, thereby raising its own profile by becoming the champion of a stronger conference. If this requires the addition of a program like UC or some others to replace what has been lost in TAM and Mizzou, the conference overall and the alpha-dog schools may welcome those additions.

I base my theory purely on speculation and conjecture, admittedly, but the way things are developing leads me to this theory.

[blackattack]

Without Texas and OU, who seemingly are sure to bolt, whats left that's appealing? .

Just curious, where are Texas and OU going to go? They're not going to the SEC or the PAC-12, that ship has sailed. The B1G?......can you picture the control freaks that run the athletic dept in Austin, TX playing second or third fiddle to the folks in Ann Arbor and Columbus.........yea I want to see that.

[RedDog]

That would make more sense to me. Plus being a cornerstone would give us a greater voice, more input and certainly a better footprint for the conference. Not likely to happen but a good thought anyway.