Big 12 in 2016

[RedDog]

Contrary to some opinion, I still think this past weekend significantly turned some heads. Houstons huge win vaulted them to #6 in the country. Houston had a huge crowd and their current spending spree is impressive. Our sparse attendance and crappy play turned heads also but not in a positive way. In this "what have done for me lately" world, current developments weigh heavier than all the other logic we have been using to rationalize our position. I still say if its 2 teams, its Houston and BYU. If its 4 we are in. That's just my opinion supported only by reading all the Big 12 banter, but those guys are the poorest excuse for leadership I can remember. That are so disjointed and self serving, they can't even decide whats in their own best interest let alone the Conferences best interest. Its sad that we have to prostitute ourselves to such a group in order to survive as a major player.

[blackattack]

This ^^^^^^^^^^. Well said RedDog. Every blog out there has "insiders" that claim that UC is #11.........I have never believed that. I especially don't believe it after this past weekend.

[coach]

I see it as the complete opposite. If there was already angst about adding another Texas school for both control and recruiting reasons, this only furthers that feeling. Obviously, the odds are that Tom Herman leaves for mucho dinero so Houston's staying power as a top 25 program is not a sure thing. See Kevin Sumlin. There was already cause among a number of the other schools re: the impact it will have on recruiting that area.

[TheDog]

So this is a ridiculous article from Dodds. He's not liking us very much lately for some reason.

http://www.cbssports.com/college-foo...d-byu-houston/

This is an opinion piece made to look like real journalism. Again, the sources are too generic and not specific and only included to give the reader a sense there is validity to the claims in the article.

[bearcatbret]

Why Houston just played their way out of the Big 12 - http://www.smokingmusket.com/2016/9/...g-12-expansion

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/spor...tand/89953932/
American Conference Power Ratings - UC is at number 4.

[RedDog]

That smoking musket article is such weak and bass ackward logic it is comical. Then again, coming from this Big 12 group, maybe its consistent with their insecurity.So your saying they only want to add patsies and W's and not schools that might actually strengthen the league and God forbid win conference games??? They don't want anymore recruiting competition, they just want to expand their recruiting footprint to help their struggling blue bloods? Hello???? WTF???? How near sighted can they be if they don't want the schools that enhance their product the most. They are afraid they won't be able to recruit Houston anymore? Get a life! How about a little vision and not just a knee jerk snap shot over reaction.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing for Houston inclusion, just trying to build an argument that their current successes can be anything but helpful to their cause. The arguments contrary just don't hold water to me and wreak of inferiority complexes and programs trying to cling to the past and insecure about their future.

[coach]

I think it's important to consider that the existing b12 has seen a deterioration in their recruiting results the past 4 or 5 years. Some of it is perceived as dilution from adding tcu to an already crowded market(benefit tcu), while some of it is the loss of members and overall strength of neighboring conferences like the sec(benefit a&m, bama and lsu). With that as the setting, houston has now been holding their own the past couple years with Herman. With Herman gone, likely not the long term trend unless....... UH upgraded to p5.

[RedDog]

Good points. So your saying that their recruiting struggles are more reality than just paranoia? That does put a different slant on things and support their need to expand their footprint to Ohio and further West.

[red_n_black_attack]

Good points. So your saying that their recruiting struggles are more reality than just paranoia? That does put a different slant on things and support their need to expand their footprint to Ohio and further West.

Yes, if adding two teams, BYU and UC strike balance of adding more viewers for streaming and new recruiting area. BYU, Ohio and further east if expanding by four to perhaps Florida and Connecticut. By the next round of media contracts, streaming will be important.

[bearcatbret]

I know that the pundits have an agenda. One can read it in every article written. Houston may be the most current hot thing but they do not bring anything else to the table. All those categories stated for selecting schools Houston fails at most of them. If expansion occurs, UC most be included because of all of the criteria plus a partner to WVU. So, if the Big 12 survives as a conference with TX and OK, Houston adds nothing. However, if TX and OK both leave, then Houston makes some sense. However, expand now without Houston and if in the future, TX and OK leave, then add Houston.

[coach]

Good points. So your saying that their recruiting struggles are more reality than just paranoia? That does put a different slant on things and support their need to expand their footprint to Ohio and further West.

Look, if Oklahoma won that game saturday against Houston, all would be well. The issue would be under the table so to speak. However, for those close to ground zero the beating Oklahoma took, combined with Texas's struggles of the past several years are an unacknowledged slippage in where those two programs have always been. Tcu and Baylor have become a player now in recruiting where they once were not, A & M clearly is, and now Houston. I think the others of the group like Osu, Isu, etc. also feel the shrinkage of their recruiting influence with all these teams added. I would agree that this is a tough group to call, but to me it's just another signal that the conference has got to get out of the Texas/Ok vortex or it will not survive.

[98bearcat]

All I hear is the whole process is at a HUGE impasse... TX and TT have stuck their heads in the ground and stated that if Houston is not one of the first 2 schools in they are voting "no" on every other option the other schools want. So for a BYU / UC invite to Big12 all other 8 schools would have to vote yes on those 2, and I don't think we can get there. I don't know if OK and other schools bow down to TX wishes, AGAIN, and I think the other schools will only let UH in if TX will agree to extend the GOR to 2030+... but I also feel OK has no desire to extend the GOR because they want to have options come 2024. At this point, doing nothing and staying at 10 schools might be what big12 decides, or BYU/UH if anything with a GOR extension... I'm plain tired with the whole process and just want to enjoy this weeks game, but it's so hard to ignore all the media chatter going on this week.... arghhhh!!!

[blackattack]

All I hear is the whole process is at a HUGE impasse... TX and TT have stuck their heads in the ground and stated that if Houston is not one of the first 2 schools in they are voting "no" on every other option the other schools want. So for a BYU / UC invite to Big12 all other 8 schools would have to vote yes on those 2, and I don't think we can get there. I don't know if OK and other schools bow down to TX wishes, AGAIN, and I think the other schools will only let UH in if TX will agree to extend the GOR to 2030+... but I also feel OK has no desire to extend the GOR because they want to have options come 2024. At this point, doing nothing and staying at 10 schools might be what big12 decides, or BYU/UH if anything with a GOR extension... I'm plain tired with the whole process and just want to enjoy this weeks game, but it's so hard to ignore all the media chatter going on this week.... arghhhh!!!

Wait a second I'm confused............I thought UC was the undisputed #11 for expansion?? Oh that's right I forgot..... UC is Oklahoma's #11. Since Texas runs the Big12 and ALWAYS gets their way, I assumed all along that if Texas didn't get their way, they would just shut the whole expansion process down. That's where this is headed.
Like I said in an earlier post, we will be sitting here a year from now waiting on the Big12 to do something. Don't get your hopes up.

[Lobot]

I'm beginning to agree with Blackattack. I'm trying more to load up on articles than offer theories at this point but here's my current theory.

I think they might end up expanding by 4 simply because they can't reach a consensus on 2. If Texas and TTU hold their ground, they can't expand by 2 because those two schools want 1 of the 2 to be Houston. If everyone else holds their ground, Houston's never getting in. To get around the impasse, the conference could expand by 4. I'm going to go with UC, BYU, Houston and UConn. This will piss off ESPN and FOX and probably embroil the league in a never ending lawsuit from at least ESPN. While I wouldn't put it past the conference to do this anyway because they haven't done anything people have expected so far, It's not smart business on their part. That leaves us with the option of 0 teams. I'm beginning to think this is the most likely option right now simply because Texas is being an stubborn asshat us usual. I think the rest of the conference has realized at this point that Texas does not consider themselves part of the future of the league past 2024 and will veto anything thrown on the table by UT outright. So we're probably stuck.

[Rational Cat]

The ineptitude of the Big 12 is mind numbing. When the Big 10 and the ACC expanded, it just pretty much happened. No public beauty pageant.

The Big 12 has been vetting UC for 2 years now, and still it's as if every day is a new tryout.

Almost feel as if the winner of the UH-UC game in a few weeks gets the invite. Which is a shame, because it really shouldn't mean anything in the long run.

All seem to have forgotten that UC went to the Orange Bowl and Sugar Bowl in back to back years, not all that long ago. That doesn't count though. because BK is no longer here. I'd bet my last dollar that Tom Herman isn't going to be at UH for any longer than BK was at UC, but the media types never mention that.