Non-Key Tweets

[BlueHen]

True but it's a completely different situation. ACC was making moves for football purposes. B12 potentially making moves for network purposes. We all know the ACC was shortsighted in this one.

Agreed. The B1G showed the correct blueprint for expansion when it opted for a greater footprint and came east, it looks like the Big XII is working off of that blueprint.

 

[djct1999]

Texas politics means nothing to Boren and OU.

Or tv execs.

 

[noeynox]

I like that Boren has specifically said that research has to rule the decision. This may be directed at anyone looking at Houston. My only fear is that Texas gets pressure to push for Houston. Oklahoma and the others may not like it, but they'd take Houston if it meant they'd get expansion and a network (kind of like the ACC BBall teams caving to the FBall schools). We may have supporters (like we did in the ACC), but I don't think we have anyone that would come out shooting for us. I wish it was ESPN, but I don't think we can count on them. We seem to be in a good spot right now, but we've seen that change before.

I agree. In my heart of hearts i'm hoping we supplant Cincinnati as 11, then from there que sera, sera. I have to believe from a conference network perspective we may be the best overall choice. Sure we have factors working against us as well. Fingers crossed.

 

[BlueHen]

Texas politics means nothing to Boren and OU.

Perhaps not, but if Texas decides that the only way it will agree on the LHN and expansion is if one of the expansion adds is Houston, Boren and Oklahoma might compromise.
Of course, that could result in Cincy getting bumped and UConn getting a bid along with Houston

 

[djct1999]

Perhaps not, but if Texas decides that the only way it will agree on the LHN and expansion is if one of the expansion adds is Houston, Boren and Oklahoma might compromise.
Of course, that could result in Cincy getting bumped and UConn getting a bid along with Houston

Boren doesn't have to compromise. He has as many options as Texas. That's what this is partially about. It's a power play by Boren to get on an even playing field with Texas. If they don't oblige, Boren is gone to just as green pastures.

 

[BlueHen]

Boren doesn't have to compromise. He has as many options as Texas. That's what this is partially about. It's a power play by Boren to get on an even playing field with Texas. If they don't oblige, Boren is gone to just as green pastures.

That doesn't mean that he won't compromise. Getting a network, and expansion, and 1 of his 2 desired teams might be enough.

 

[djct1999]

That doesn't mean that he won't compromise. Getting a network, and expansion, and 1 of his 2 desired teams might be enough.

For Boren to compromise, the first team has to be byu or uconn. I am not sure they would even get a network adding cincy and Houston. A compromise with the second two teams would be only for a championship game with assurances that Ou is off to the sec or b1g when this current deal is up. To me, Texas has more to lose in that scenario than OU.

 

[djct1999]

That doesn't mean that he won't compromise. Getting a network, and expansion, and 1 of his 2 desired teams might be enough.

For Boren to compromise, the first team has to be byu or uconn. I am not sure they would even get a network adding cincy and Houston. A compromise with the second two teams would be only for a championship game with assurances that Ou is off to the sec or b1g when this current deal is up. To me, Texas has more to lose in that scenario than OU.

 

[BlueHen]

For Boren to compromise, the first team has to be byu or uconn. I am not sure they would even get a network adding cincy and Houston. A compromise with the second two teams would be only for a championship game with assurances that Ou is off to the sec or b1g when this current deal is up. To me, Texas has more to lose in that scenario than OU.

You post as if you are sure. Do you have a source that we should know about? Is this a 'Key' discussion.

 

[MattMang23]

I like that Boren has specifically said that research has to rule the decision. This may be directed at anyone looking at Houston. My only fear is that Texas gets pressure to push for Houston. Oklahoma and the others may not like it, but they'd take Houston if it meant they'd get expansion and a network (kind of like the ACC BBall teams caving to the FBall schools). We may have supporters (like we did in the ACC), but I don't think we have anyone that would come out shooting for us. I wish it was ESPN, but I don't think we can count on them. We seem to be in a good spot right now, but we've seen that change before.

I can see it now. OU suggests us, Texas suggests Houston and they meet in the middle with BYU. CR rule #1

 

[businesslawyer]

All this smoke saying UConn is getting a lifeline is giving me an eerie sense of deja vu. We heard all this in 2012 and those rumors had us going to a basketball-centric league in our general geographical area.

Which is why you shouldn't be paying any attention to it unless you can accept that it's like reading and commenting on science fiction

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

I can see it now. OU suggests us, Texas suggests Houston and they meet in the middle with BYU. CR rule #1

BYU presents other problems, namely the no competition on Sundays thing.

 

[uchusky32]

Boren doesn't have to compromise. He has as many options as Texas. That's what this is partially about. It's a power play by Boren to get on an even playing field with Texas. If they don't oblige, Boren is gone to just as green pastures.

Just don't see networks paying for an overlapping market if Houston. The Houston talking heads can scream all they want bit Houston is already watching or paying for B12/Texas content.

 

[djct1999]

You post as if you are sure. Do you have a source that we should know about? Is this a 'Key' discussion.

Lets assume the big 12 implodes. OU goes to the SEC. Lets assume Texas goes to the ACC with a sweetheart deal similar to ND. I am really not sure that is sustainable for Texas. On top of that, they will be sandwiched by SEC money in OU and Texas A&M. They really can evolve(regress) to being the third wheel in that region. In my opinion, Texas needs the Big12 and OU far more than vice versa.

 

[MattMang23]

BYU presents other problems, namely the no competition on Sundays thing.

Ehhh. That can all be worked around. I think that's way overblown. They haven't been competing on Sundays forever and the MWC found a way to accommodate them. WCC does now. At worst, they assure a BXII conference network has better ratings on weeknights if they play basketball on a Monday rather than Sunday.

 

[dwalks93]

Boren is pushing the "hard data" numbers because he knows it will result in the teams Oklahoma prefers.

Not sure how UT can successfully argue they should get their LHN money up front while at the same time arguing for a team like Houston which produces less money in a network. Is UT going to take less than full the $15 million up front for Houston over a UConn/Cincy/BYU? Last team I saw pull a move like that was ND in the Big East and we all saw how that ended.

IMO B12 expansion is network based and the financials conducted by the independent firm will be the penultimate determinate. This is not the same situation as the ACC with Louisville so hopefully the outcome is different.

 

[Chin Diesel]

The compromise to get Houston in to the Big12 is expanding to 14.

UConn, UCF/USF together or one of them, possibly Cincy then who cares if Houston comes along.

If you can get the Noetheast, Central Florida and possibly Ohio, you can afford another mega Texas market.

 

[MattMang23]

But Daniel Figurelli says they're in!

 

[uconnphil2016]

Hard for me to wrap my mind around the notion of wanting to get anything related to central Florida

 

[djct1999]

Ehhh. That can all be worked around. I think that's way overblown. They haven't been competing on Sundays forever and the MWC found a way to accommodate them. WCC does now. At worst, they assure a BXII conference network has better ratings on weeknights if they play basketball on a Monday rather than Sunday.

I agree. The only thing that truly comes into play is if BYU makes it to the basketball conference finals which is currently on a Sunday. Other than that, good scheduling can get around Sundays.

 

[MattMang23]

I agree. The only thing that truly comes into play is if BYU makes it to the basketball conference finals which is currently on a Sunday. Other than that, good scheduling can get around Sundays.

Doubleheaders Saturday! Problem solved!

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Not a tweet and technically not non-key in source (but no new key information), and didn't want to start a new thread:

http://www.houstonpress.com/news/bi...sity-of-houston-on-outside-looking-in-8165919

BIG XII EXPANSION RUMORS HAVE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON ON OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

UConn brings the northeast marketplace, another solid TV story (the Huskies are bigger in New York than Rutgers, who parlayed geography into a Big Ten invite) and wildly successful basketball programs, men's and women's.

Where there is smoke...when actual, established journalists start to mention UConn as a XII candidate, something, hopefully, positive is going on. Even better, this has to get other conferneces to start thinking about UConn. the B1G maybe able to wait if they believe that the XII will fold no matter what in 10 years as they are a lock to be a P4 conference. The ACC on the other hand can't. If the XII gets a network in place first, especially with a flag in the NYC TV market with UConn, the ACC's future does not look good.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Texas politics means nothing to Boren and OU.

Texas politics due matter, just ask Colorado Nebraska & A&M. Should political forces force the XII to throw Houston a lifeline versus UConn, it means that Oklahoma is likely off to the SEC or B1G within the next decade followed by Kansas to the B1G and OK St to the SEC. That loss diminishes the value of the XII greatly and will likely drive Texas to another conference, also.

 

[uchusky32]

Texas politics due matter, just ask Colorado Nebraska & A&M. Should political forces force the XII to throw Houston a lifeline versus UConn, it means that Oklahoma is likely off to the SEC or B1G within the next decade followed by Kansas to the B1G and OK St to the SEC. That loss diminishes the value of the XII greatly and will likely drive Texas to another conference, also.

Here's the thing. Texas could play politics but that's not going to make Fox/ESPN pay out more money for an area that's already paying for the network. Someone is going to have
to prove that Houston gets more paying boxes. I don't believe they can do that.

The politics Texas can play is the LHN won't go away if no Houston. OU wont be the only school to bolt so will KU and if the ACC is smart they take Uconn/UC and WV and create they're own network. Because if OU bolts the GOR is done.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

OK, just to draw it out, say the XII gets a network in place before the ACC by adding UConn and Cincinnati. In the race to a P4, the B1G and SEC are locks while the PAC is safe due to its location and thus when the GOR expires, the ACC is picked apart. What will the P4 configuration look like? This is my thought. I think the bigger questions are 1) where does ND go assuming they have to join a conference 100% and 2) are UNC and Duke a package? I also think with the ACC pushed back to G4 status, the XII will pluck an additional Northeast school to keep UConn from being on an island and no one school can control NYC on its own.

· XII – at 12 (UConn & Cincy), adds 4 to get to 16: 1) Louisville, 2) Pittsburgh, 3) Syracuse, 4) Clemson

· B1G – at 14, adds 6 to get to 20: 1) UVA, 2) UNC, 3) Duke, 4) G Tech, 5) FSU, 6) ND

· PAC – at 12, adds 4 to get to 16: 1) SD State, 2) BYU, 3) UNLV, 4) Colorado St

· SEC – at 14, adds 2 to get to 16: 1) V Tech, 2) NC State

Thus, the XII would be split North/South:

· North: 1) UConn, 2) Syracuse, 3) Pittsburgh, 4) West Virginia, 5) Cincinnati, 6) Louisville, 7) Oklahoma, 8) Oklahoma St

· South: 1) Iowa St, 2) Kansas, 3) Kansas St, 4) Texas Tech, 5) Texas, 6) Baylor, 7) TCU, 8) Clemson