Started By
Message
Hey A&M, I have a Big 12 question
Posted on 1/31/16 at 8:55 pm
Posted on 1/31/16 at 8:55 pm
Reading all this stuff about Baylor intrigued me. Is it true that Houston was originally supposed to be in the Big 12 (just a few years removed from Andre Ware winning the Heisman when the B12 was formed), but the governor of Texas at the time was a Baylor grad and blocked A&M, UT and Tech from joining without Baylor?
For you younger kids - Houston in the 70s and 80s was legit.
For you younger kids - Houston in the 70s and 80s was legit.
This post was edited on 1/31/16 at 8:56 pm
7
Posted on 1/31/16 at 8:56 pm to anc
Wouldn't surprise me. The more I read about Baylor, the more I realize they're full on tPOS.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:00 pm to anc
I always heard the same story except replace UH with TCU. I am younger though. Ann Richards was a Baylor grad and governor at the time though and pushed very hard for Baylor to get the spot, that much seems to be accepted
This post was edited on 1/31/16 at 9:01 pm
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:01 pm to ShaneTheLegLechler
That sounds right... TCU, SMU, UH, and Rice became also ran after that. TCU has recovered and UH is on the rise. SMU and Rice and now doormats
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:02 pm to anc
quote:
For you younger kids - Houston in the 70s and 80s was legit.
Yes, Andre Ware used to literally talk defenses to death so well he actually won a Heisman
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:02 pm to anc
UT and A&M were actively seeking a new conference home, and that search didn't include anyone else. When Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock (former Tech basketball player and Baylor law grad) got wind of what was happening, he used his leverage to force UT and A&M to take Baylor and Tech along with them. UH, TCU, SMU, and Rice simply didn't have the power. Had no political pressure been applied, they would have all been left behind. So, no, Baylor didn't get picked instead of UH--it wasn't an either or situation, as UH was never even in the game.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:03 pm to anc
Like Shane, I've always heard that story, but with regard to TCU being in.
Either way, the general consensus is that political pressure is the primary reason Baylor made it into the conference to begin with.
Either way, the general consensus is that political pressure is the primary reason Baylor made it into the conference to begin with.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:03 pm to anc
Anne Richards
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:05 pm to anc
I have no idea what you said.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:06 pm to twk
quote:
UT and A&M were actively seeking a new conference home, and that search didn't include anyone else. When Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock (former Tech basketball player and Baylor law grad) got wind of what was happening, he used his leverage to force UT and A&M to take Baylor and Tech along with them. UH, TCU, SMU, and Rice simply didn't have the power. Had no political pressure been applied, they would have all been left behind. So, no, Baylor didn't get picked instead of UH--it wasn't an either or situation, as UH was never even in the game.
This.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:08 pm to twk
I just read a little bit more about it.
Seems like the timing was good for Baylor as they had an alum in the governor's mansion. It was TCU instead of Houston - but Houston had the best argument for being a quality member, as they had a Heisman winner, another great QB in Warren Moon and wasn't too far removed from the Fly Slamma Jamma days in basketball.
SMU had no chance because they were coming off the death penalty.
Also just read that Texas originally was going to the Pac 10 in the early 90s - but Stanford blocked it because it would have threatened their dominance in the non-revenue sports. Pac 10 bylaws require unanimous consent for expansion.
If Stanford wouldn't have done that, it was likely we would have had A&M instead of South Carolina during the '92 expansion.
Seems like the timing was good for Baylor as they had an alum in the governor's mansion. It was TCU instead of Houston - but Houston had the best argument for being a quality member, as they had a Heisman winner, another great QB in Warren Moon and wasn't too far removed from the Fly Slamma Jamma days in basketball.
SMU had no chance because they were coming off the death penalty.
Also just read that Texas originally was going to the Pac 10 in the early 90s - but Stanford blocked it because it would have threatened their dominance in the non-revenue sports. Pac 10 bylaws require unanimous consent for expansion.
If Stanford wouldn't have done that, it was likely we would have had A&M instead of South Carolina during the '92 expansion.
Posted on 1/31/16 at 9:58 pm to CJM
quote:
The more I read about Baylor, the more I realize they're full on tPOS
just like their pres. ken starr. he's a douche big time
Posted on 1/31/16 at 10:08 pm to twk
quote:
UT and A&M were actively seeking a new conference home, and that search didn't include anyone else.
This is correct.
Posted on 2/1/16 at 12:04 am to ShaneTheLegLechler
quote:
Ann Richards was a Baylor grad and governor at the time though and pushed very hard for Baylor to get the spot, that much seems to be accepted
Wrong, wrong, WRONG!
Everyone always blames Ann Richards, but she had very little to do with it. The person behind it was Bob Bullock, alumni of both Texas Tech and Baylor.
Fun fact, Bob Bullock got us the necessary votes from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in order to get Reed Arena built. In exchange, A&M had to stop flirting with the SEC and accept the Big8's invitation (Big8 move was not happening if both UT AND A&M weren't included, especially after Baylor and Tech invited themselves).
Posted on 2/1/16 at 12:13 am to greenbastard
The SA Express News had a good summary of what exactly went down, but the article isn't on their website. Luckily, other boards copied and pasted on their boards before it got taken down from the original source.
* by Mark Wangrin
Express-News Staff Writer
* by Mark Wangrin
Express-News Staff Writer
Posted on 2/1/16 at 7:19 am to greenbastard
Bob Bullock that pulled all the strings....not Ann Richards. Folks outside Texas have an understandably difficult time understanding the governor of Texas has very limited power as compared to the Lieutenant Governor. It's a response to reconstruction.....governor has very little power and the legislature only meets once every two years and only for sixty days. Lieutenant governor sets the agenda of the legislature....so nothing gets debated without the lieutenant governor's blessing. And there is limited time to pass any laws.....so few debated let alone get passed unless there is a real consensus they are needed.
Posted on 2/1/16 at 9:05 am to harley spoon
Yes, the big decision maker in Texas is the Lt. Gov but the Gov. has big political pull.
Lt. Gov Bullock threatened A&M with building another veterinary medicine school at Tech and the Gov held up plans for Reed Arena (new basketball facility) if Baylor and Tech did not go to the Big 12 with A&M and Texas.
A&M wanted a facility to be fashioned towards basketball only but Ma Richards (left wing liberal) forced the building to be a multi-purpose facility. It was A&M's money but Ma had big political muscle.
That was the big scare when A&M was headed toward the SEC, a Highland Park (read limousine liberal Rhino with a tu base) state representative started to call for hearings, he was shut down by Gov Rick Perry. The Rhino was planning a race for Attorney General and eventually lost to a guy who is under investigation. The Rhino was probably a better candidate but Aggies remembered him in the election and he is now unemployed.
Lt. Gov Bullock threatened A&M with building another veterinary medicine school at Tech and the Gov held up plans for Reed Arena (new basketball facility) if Baylor and Tech did not go to the Big 12 with A&M and Texas.
A&M wanted a facility to be fashioned towards basketball only but Ma Richards (left wing liberal) forced the building to be a multi-purpose facility. It was A&M's money but Ma had big political muscle.
That was the big scare when A&M was headed toward the SEC, a Highland Park (read limousine liberal Rhino with a tu base) state representative started to call for hearings, he was shut down by Gov Rick Perry. The Rhino was planning a race for Attorney General and eventually lost to a guy who is under investigation. The Rhino was probably a better candidate but Aggies remembered him in the election and he is now unemployed.
Posted on 2/1/16 at 9:31 am to twk
Bob Bullock was the most powerful man in Texas until his death.
Him turning on Ann Richards is what lost her the election to George W. Bush in 1994.
For over 30 years, he ran unopposed for Lieutenant Governor (President of the Texas Senate)
Him turning on Ann Richards is what lost her the election to George W. Bush in 1994.
For over 30 years, he ran unopposed for Lieutenant Governor (President of the Texas Senate)
This post was edited on 2/1/16 at 9:34 am
Posted on 2/1/16 at 9:33 am to anc
Warren Moon went to Washington.
You're thinking of Andre Ware.
You're thinking of Andre Ware.
Posted on 2/1/16 at 9:53 am to greenbastard
We should have held our ground and went to the SEC when the SWC imploded.
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News