re: Thank You Mike Slive... The Texas Trainwreck.

Wow... just wow. I have always been interested in what happened in the big 12. From and outsiders view lookingin I always thought it was an abusive relationship that Missouri and aTm had with texas.

For that matter I thought it was nebraska that was the big 8 leader. I remember reading the press clipping of Nebraska firing shot at Texas saying they were greedy and Texas response was " they mad we took their top spot."

Then there was the whole injunction by baylor against aTm. Oh and how it was sa d Missouri felt the sec was too stupid for them and how they wanted big 10 or nothing else, that Mizzou did not want to be in the SEC at all.

So many different angle that I would love to analyze and get more details on, Texas said aTm mad because they got dominated in the overall series.

Texas fans also said when B10 comes calling they are dropping the SEC, that once a run away always a runaway.

Then there was Arky whole take on it apparently they once shared the same home with Texas and hated one another.

Pretty much, what was the intricacies of the break up? What was really the point of no return for aTm, Missouri and Arky?

In a way kind of few sorry for Texas who profess to doing everything they could to things together.

I also remember seeing the post game interviewed after their final game with Nebraska. Coach Mack seems genuinely sad to be unable to play games with Neb.

On the flip slid, aTm genuinely seem to be relieved to go and extremely happy to be in the Sec given their coverage of it.

Missouri entry in contrast appeared to be quiet.

Am I wrong?

That was a damn good read. Thanks for sharing..

Good read

frick texass

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What was really the point of no return for aTm, Missouri and Arky?

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I can't speak for the other two, but the point of no return for A&M was when the LHN contract leaked. There were MANY really big problems with it that had nothing to do with money:

First of all, not only did the LHN intend to show recruit's games on the network, but they were planning to abuse the connection between the horns and UIL to put the state championship on the network. Luckily the NCAA agreed with us that was bull.

Secondly, when the Big 12 previously discussed the creation of tier 3 networks the idea was that they would get ONE football game. Well then in clear terms the LHN contract stated that not only did ESPN expect more, but CONTRACTUALLY Texas had to use their leverage to push for up to THREE games. And they eventually did just that. So they agreed to different terms with ESPN than the Big 12 approved behind EVERYONE's back, and they expected to just force everyone to deal with these new terms when they came to light.

Third, when the LHN contract was finalized teams in the Big 12 were paid based on how many times their games aired. It was supposed to be a merit system as better teams would get on TV more. But then the LHN gave a way for a Kansas or an ISU to agree by contract to be on TV BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED even if they didn't earn that spot through quality of play. This basically ruined how the Big 12 payout worked and this wasn't fixed until A&M left.

Finally (and most importantly), to get those extra games on the LHN to put pressure on cable networks, Texas and ESPN were allowed to use a shared conference resource- the Tier 1 contract with ESPN- to subsidize the LHN.

What I mean by this is that ESPN paid for a certain number of chances at the best Big 12 games with the Tier 1 contract, just like CBS does with the SEC. What games they didn't pick for ABC or ESPN then Fox got to pick through because they had the Big 12 Tier 2 contract. What Fox didn't pick was supposed to fall to Tier 3 channels like the LHN.

But what Texas and ESPN did, was TRADE those top spots with Fox to guarantee Fox would pass on certain games so that the LHN could know what games they would get months in advance for negotiations with cable companies. That means the primary Big 12 media contract, which was designed to give access to exposure for all Big 12 teams, was turned into another bargaining chip for Texas. In fact this year they traded the Ole Miss game (which would have been on ESPN or Fox certainly) for Texas and Tech's Thanksgiving game (which was normally an ABC game). Did Tech or any Big 12 team get financially rewarded for this trade of Big 12 assets? frick no they weren't. Even worse, no other Big 12 Tier 3 network has the opportunity to trade Tier 1 games for Tier 3 games like Texas does, so their whole argument of "just go make your own network" is very hollow because no network gets the built-in advantages of the LHN.

So we left rather than deal with that BS.

Sorry for the wall of text, but if you read it all you have a better understanding of the real reasons we left better than 99% of Texas fans.

I don't think that's true. Maybe a few clueless idiots but not many.

We haven't been in the conference long enough to experience this "Bama fricking up your schedule". I'm not making lite of it, as LSU fans may have a good and legit grievance.

The people in favor of Texas' entry say the SEC won't allow the bs that Texas brings. This may be true, but it won't stop them from trying, and trying hard. It would be inevitable, so why put a great and peaceful conference through hell by including them? Bama, from what I can see, is happy to co-exist within the conference, Texas has proven time and time again they don't give a frick about co-existing for the betterment of everyone. They are ruthless.

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Oh, I don’t think there’s any question about getting him,” McCombs said. “When Mack came there, our budgets were an issue. They’re not an issue now.

“Hell, all the money that’s not in the Vatican is up at UT. If that’s a problem, then I’m a part of the problem.”

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To all y'all that wonder why some Aggies throw up money all the time,here is why. This is what we have had to deal with and it's an automatic thing now. I am hoping it goes away now that we are in a conference that while they may hate their rivals they still support everyone in the big picture.

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And to think, some on here still want Texas in the SEC if and when expansion happens

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That will never happen. Aggies, Mizzou and Arkansas would vote it down immediately.

All three of us have lived through the sips and know the poison that they exude.

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The people in favor of Texas' entry say the SEC won't allow the bs that Texas brings

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Nebraska thought the same thing:

"If we let Texas into our conference, they should be SOOO appreciative we bailed them out of the SWC they should be a team player. Even if not we are a top 10 program so we will just keep them in their place."

End result is Texas brings along two kids the Big 8 never wanted, Texas pushes to move all the major conference events to Texas, and Nebraska leaves their native conference for the Big1G.

Texas is like a force of nature, a hurricane. They don't care how many titles your program or conference won, or how great they were without Texas. Once they are added all that matters is Texas.

Heck some of the Texas fans I have seen push for a move to SEC argue that "once we are in we can clean it up from the inside!" They will never be an equal partner, never accept someone else's decisions.