re: Anyone else see LSU and A&M becoming huge rivals?

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There has been great mystery about why Baylor and Texas Tech were selected to join Texas A&M and UT in the creation of the Big 12. Speculation was that Gov. Ann Richards and Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock forced their selection, but you say that was not true. What did happen?

I never heard from Richards on this subject. She may have talked with some of our regents or officials at other universities, but she never contacted me, and no one ever told me that Richards was interested in the Big 12.

Bullock did convene a meeting to discuss realignment with officials from UT and A&M. Bullock’s major concern was that A&M might be moving to the SEC and thereby would diminish the new Big 12. I made it very clear that UT favored A&M, Baylor and Tech joining the Big 12, along with UT. I supported these schools joining the Big 12 because they had a record of good attendance at athletic events and were of high academic quality.

There is no question in my mind that Baylor was admitted to the Big 12 based on its own qualifications, not on political intervention. With regard to this issue, Bullock was as light-handed with me as I had ever seen him, and when Bullock really wanted something to happen, he was anything but light-handed.

You also write that UT first was asked to join the SEC back in 1989. You decided that UT wouldn’t depart the SWC without Texas A&M leaving with you. You say that you and the then-A&M president realized your schools “were joined at the hip.” Do the schools see it that way now?

UT and A&M have gone their separate ways with regard to athletics. However, they still collaborate on numerous academic and research endeavors, share a common mission within higher education, are both of vital importance to the state of Texas, and have many additional interests in common.

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