Report: OU & Texas reach out to join SEC

[Cyclones1969]

Or.......he had something on them, and they're coming to the table to make it right

I’m still amazed that people really think he made those public statements, and filed a cease and desist order, as a bluff.

 

[NorthCyd]

I've seen this quoted but they left out the best part. "Maybe your fanbase would rather lose to Alabama than TCU."
Burn muthafuka!

 

[Cloneon]

Bowlsby had some interesting comments today. He said the Big 12 and ESPN have agreed not to escalate things publicly. He also said the remaining 8 teams won't lose as much TV revenue without OU and Texas as previously thought. So some good news for a change!

https://www.kansas.com/article253201728.html

Two things:
1. The actual numbers support that statement
2. I wouldn't trust ESPN with a 10 foot pole now.

 

[JM4CY]

I've seen this quoted but they left out the best part. "Maybe your fanbase would rather lose to Alabama than TCU."
Burn muthafuka!

Every road game either one of them play (sans KU) is gonna be glorious as hell. Especially in the student sections. Drunk students don’t need much of an excuse to get rowdy as hell, and if state senators are dropping bombs, I can only imagine what is going to happen on Saturdays this fall.

 

[knowlesjam]

Two things:
1. The actual numbers support that statement
2. I wouldn't trust ESPN with a 10 foot pole now.

Texas numbers may go up for games against Bama, LSU, Georgia, etc., but others are going to go into the tank. Texas always benefited from playing in prime times, despite pedestrian teams. As an average SEC team, welcome to more 11 AM times, longer travel, and less national coverage. Still think that OU does well...as long as recruiting continues at a high level.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Texas numbers may go up for games against Bama, LSU, Georgia, etc., but others are going to go into the tank. Texas always benefited from playing in prime times, despite pedestrian teams. As an average SEC team, welcome to more 11 AM times, longer travel, and less national coverage. Still think that OU does well...as long as recruiting continues at a high level.

Youre crazy if you don’t think they’re going to initially be putting their shiny new toy in prime spots.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Bowlsby had some interesting comments today. He said the Big 12 and ESPN have agreed not to escalate things publicly. He also said the remaining 8 teams won't lose as much TV revenue without OU and Texas as previously thought. So some good news for a change!

https://www.kansas.com/article253201728.html

Also threw a bucket of cold water on playoff expansion. Normally I'd be disappointed, but if it screws some SEC teams, I'm totally on board.

 

[JM4CY]

Or.......he had something on them, and they're coming to the table to make it right

Agreed. I’m not so sure ESPN wants to “make it right” (I have serious doubts about their character) but clearly ole Bobby has something to play that’s substantial enough for ESPN to play the hush hush game. Otherwise I would think that monster would blast him out of the water.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Agreed. I’m not so sure ESPN wants to “make it right” (I have serious doubts about their character) but clearly ole Bobby has something to play that’s substantial enough for ESPN to play the hush hush game. Otherwise I would think that monster would blast him out of the water.

Yep, and also, we are stuck dealing with them until 2025, and probably don't want to completely exclude them from the bidding for a new contract afterwards, so it's best to have the hard conversations behind closed doors.

 

[JRE1975]

How did Bowlsby in the background not even crack a smile as this senator was roasting the UT President?

 

[jbhtexas]

Yep, and also, we are stuck dealing with them until 2025, and probably don't want to completely exclude them from the bidding for a new contract afterwards, so it's best to have the hard conversations behind closed doors.

I would love to exclude ESPN from any future media contracts.

Somehow, the ESPN "cycle" has to be broken. The Big 8 needs a media partner that is actually interested in promoting the Big 8 teams, and not simply treating them as cannon fodder to be manipulated for the benefit of the SEC.

Bowlsby could be a hero if he could be on the cutting edge of convincing another media company to become a major player in college sports and creating some stability. With Pac-12, Big Ten, and Big 8 media rights all coming due in 2024/2025 (and ESPN holds partial rights in all of those conferences), there is a ripe opportunity for a new media company to jump in. If ESPN just buys everything up, we can continue to look forward to the same instability and manipulation until they get their NFL-lite.

 

[CascadeClone]

Bowlsby could be a hero if he could be on the cutting edge of convincing another media company to become a major player in college sports and creating some stability. With Pac-12, Big Ten, and Big 8 media rights all coming due in 2024/2025 (and ESPN holds partial rights in all of those conferences), there is a ripe opportunity for a new media company to jump in. If ESPN just buys everything up, we can continue to look forward to the same instability and manipulation until they get their NFL-lite.

I don't see BoBo being that hero. Much more likely to be the Pac12 guy Kliakov (sp) based on his background, location, and career arc. That said, BoBo likely has a big network amongst the B1G players, so he may be able to help facilitate some access and trust for Kliakov if they were to work together on such a thing.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I would love to exclude ESPN from any future media contracts.

Somehow, the ESPN "cycle" has to be broken. The Big 8 needs a media partner that is actually interested in promoting the Big 8 teams, and not simply treating them as cannon fodder to be manipulated for the benefit of the SEC.

Bowlsby could be a hero if he could be on the cutting edge of convincing another media company to become a major player in college sports and creating some stability. With Pac-12, Big Ten, and Big 8 media rights all coming due in 2024/2025 (and ESPN holds partial rights in all of those conferences), there is a ripe opportunity for a new media company to jump in. If ESPN just buys everything up, we can continue to look forward to the same instability and manipulation until they get their NFL-lite.

I would too, but excluding a bidder from an extremely exclusive group of media options would almost certainly lower the price of the final contract.

 

[RealisticCy]

Youre crazy if you don’t think they’re going to initially be putting their shiny new toy in prime spots.

Agreed, and I'm excited for it.....put them on in primetime against Alabama, OU, and Georgia every year. Eventually the entire country will know them as that team that always gets crushed. They can go 7-5 in perpetuity, switch coaches every three years, and eventually everyone in the SEC will hate them like A&M does.

 

[Lexclone]

Agreed, and I'm excited for it.....put them on in primetime against Alabama, OU, and Georgia every year. Eventually the entire country will know them as that team that always gets crushed. They can go 7-5 in perpetuity, switch coaches every three years, and eventually destroy the conference like all of their other conferences.

FIFY

 

[BCClone]

I don't see BoBo being that hero. Much more likely to be the Pac12 guy Kliakov (sp) based on his background, location, and career arc. That said, BoBo likely has a big network amongst the B1G players, so he may be able to help facilitate some access and trust for Kliakov if they were to work together on such a thing.

I think it may be more the ADs than bob. The remaining 8 are mostly of the smaller ADs and have had to scramble and be creative with situations. They will be the ones to think outside the box more than BB will, he is old school and wasn't that aggressive in the first place.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

The more I think about it, the more I like it! The B1G and the Pac don't want us anyway, so fug 'em! Plus, I like the 8 Big Xii teams that will be left behind, so let's grab Cincinnati and Houston and call CBS to network the Big Xii like they did the SEC for so many years at a reduced rate. Win-Win for everybody!

This won't pay the bills.

 

[JM4CY]

I think it may be more the ADs than bob. The remaining 8 are mostly of the smaller ADs and have had to scramble and be creative with situations. They will be the ones to think outside the box more than BB will, he is old school and wasn't that aggressive in the first place.

I would have to think all of them, or atleast Jamie, are watching him like a hawk right now. (Hate that analogy but you know what I mean)

 

[Die4Cy]

Agreed, and I'm excited for it.....put them on in primetime against Alabama, OU, and Georgia every year. Eventually the entire country will know them as that team that always gets crushed. They can go 7-5 in perpetuity, switch coaches every three years, and eventually everyone in the SEC will hate them like A&M does.

They are going to morph into the current iteration of Tennessee, aren't they?

Be viewed as an also ran with the unreasonable fan base that no high profile coach wants to go to because of the dysfunction there.

 

[BCClone]

I would have to think all of them, or atleast Jamie, are watching him like a hawk right now. (Hate that analogy but you know what I mean)

So not paying attention to them at all your saying. Maybe having an eagle eye on him, focused like a laser, something that instills careful attention more than a hawk.