Rick Perry Texas Gov says A&M considering SEC

[parialex]

Dawg06,

You're part right. We do not provide access to the Houston market, because the Big 12 already has access to the Houston market. In spades. However, it's not a binary thing. The Horns have part of the market. The Aggies have part of the market. We have part of the market. But while we don't provide access to the market, we help solidify it. And given that they're about to lose a lot of said market to the SEC, that's not valueless. LaTech provides much more of the Shreveport market, but it's also a notably smaller market. BYU provides the Provo and part of the SLC market, but they provide bits of markets across the country due to their religious affiliation.

There are various Pros and Cons for UH inclusion into the Big 12, but the market is in the "Pro" column. A part of the Houston market is bigger than most of most markets. This is probably not sufficient to get us into the conference, but it's far from valueless. It's one of the reasons that conferences do double-up on the markets they already have access to, sometimes.

[parialex]

I probably spent a week in that area every month because of my job and I still can't believe all the fan support.

It goes a long way towards explaining exactly why a school with so few students supports Division I-A athletics to begin with. Very impressive for a small, private school.

And I say this as someone who loves to hate on the Golden Hurricane, though that might change now that Toad Graham is gone. Maybe. Their alumni fans still seem to be snots (even if they're not as bad as SMU).

[Dawg06]

According to your great theory if a football powerhouse is covered in your market then their is no economic incentive. If LSU is covered in the CELA market then according to your theory why should a conference even think about trying to get a foothold in that market.

Tulsa has a foothold in their hometown market. Next time you are there walk down the street and count the number of Tulsa merchandise you see compared to the other schools. I promise you will see a 10:1 ratio, especially since they started improving their programs.

I probably spent a week in that area every month because of my job and I still can't believe all the fan support.

You aren't comprehending what I'm saying. Tech can claim North Louisiana. ULM can claim Northeast Louisiana. LSU can claim the whole state. If the SEC were to invite Tech, we would add no additional market to the SEC. It doesn't matter how much support we have in North Louisiana. However, if the Big XII were to invite Tech, then we would add the North Louisiana market. I can't break it down any simpler than that.

With the AQ conferences, it's all about adding additional tv sets and boosting tv numbers. This is why the Big XII will expand their footprint when replacing teams. Neither Houston nor Tulsa would add any additional tv sets to the Big XII because the Big XII already has claim to those markets. That doesn't mean C-USA can't claim them too. That's how C-USA got a good tv deal.

[Dr Twister]

What does any of that have to do with this discussion, and what does CELA represent?

Economic markets have a whole lot to do with why schools are selected into a conference. Ever wonder why El Paso was selected over Tech???

If I'm a company looking to expand were do you want to go, same falls true for athletic conferences. They are looking for a school with both a strong economic market as well as fan support, I love my alma mater but we have struggled in both. People in north Louisiana are fleeing for better job opportunities in other states and their really just aren't any major corporations rushing to do business there to make it an attractive market. This along with all those educational budget cuts would scare the hell out of me if I'm a conference commissioner.

[Dr Twister]

Dawg06,

You're part right. We do not provide access to the Houston market, because the Big 12 already has access to the Houston market. In spades. However, it's not a binary thing. The Horns have part of the market. The Aggies have part of the market. We have part of the market. But while we don't provide access to the market, we help solidify it. And given that they're about to lose a lot of said market to the SEC, that's not valueless. LaTech provides much more of the Shreveport market, but it's also a notably smaller market. BYU provides the Provo and part of the SLC market, but they provide bits of markets across the country due to their religious affiliation.

There are various Pros and Cons for UH inclusion into the Big 12, but the market is in the "Pro" column. A part of the Houston market is bigger than most of most markets. This is probably not sufficient to get us into the conference, but it's far from valueless. It's one of the reasons that conferences do double-up on the markets they already have access to, sometimes.

Big Pro for Houston is their current track record. Yes, they dropped the ball last year after starting out well, but they still have had a better success ratio than Tech. Still waiting to see Tech take down that #5 team like Houston did in 2009 (IT COMING FOLKS ITS COMING) but its yet to happen and fans aren't going to tune in to watch Tech get the living crap kicked out of them by the likes of Texas and Oklahoma

[Dawg06]

Dawg06,

You're part right. We do not provide access to the Houston market, because the Big 12 already has access to the Houston market. In spades. However, it's not a binary thing. The Horns have part of the market. The Aggies have part of the market. We have part of the market. But while we don't provide access to the market, we help solidify it. And given that they're about to lose a lot of said market to the SEC, that's not valueless. LaTech provides much more of the Shreveport market, but it's also a notably smaller market. BYU provides the Provo and part of the SLC market, but they provide bits of markets across the country due to their religious affiliation.

There are various Pros and Cons for UH inclusion into the Big 12, but the market is in the "Pro" column. A part of the Houston market is bigger than most of most markets. This is probably not sufficient to get us into the conference, but it's far from valueless. It's one of the reasons that conferences do double-up on the markets they already have access to, sometimes.

When the Big XII and Longhorn Network negotiate their tv deals, they claim the entire Houston market. They don't say, "Well, UT gets 25%, A&M gets 20%, UH gets 15%, etc." You think that the Longhorn Network got $300 million by claiming a slice of the Houston market? No. I assume The Longhorn Network will be on everybody's cable in Houston and the State Texas regardless of whether they support the Longhorns or not. They'll make so much money per tv set.

Which conferences have recently "doubled-up" to secure a market? The WAC doesn't count because we won't make any tv revenue. In today's environment, it's all about adding new markets to boost the tv deals. This is why Houston will be at the bottom of the Big XII's list behind BYU, Air Force, etc.

BTW there is only one market in the State of Utah. By adding BYU, the Big XII would add the entire State of Utah to its market.

[Dawg06]

Economic markets have a whole lot to do with why schools are selected into a conference. Ever wonder why El Paso was selected over Tech???

If I'm a company looking to expand were do you want to go, same falls true for athletic conferences. They are looking for a school with both a strong economic market as well as fan support, I love my alma mater but we have struggled in both. People in north Louisiana are fleeing for better job opportunities in other states and their really just aren't any major corporations rushing to do business there to make it an attractive market. This along with all those educational budget cuts would scare the hell out of me if I'm a conference commissioner.

No, I don't wonder why UTEP was added instead of Tech. UTEP was committed to athletics, and Tech wasn't.

[champion110]

I agree with 06 about the market. The game changer is when Texas (the state) politics start moving. They want the anchor of the B12-2 in Texas and having another Texas school helps that. Don't underestimate Texas politicians. Like it or not, they will do what they have to do, if they see a benefit. Since A&M may make the move before the Legislative Committee can meet, their meeting may be about trying to pull out the stops for UH to get in.

[DFW-IronDawg]

I love how the tu AD is making statements about how the tu staff is gathering a list of 20 schools that would be interested in joining the bevo 10. That is why A&M is leaving and why TCU will not join. I guess Dan Bebee just decided to sit in his office while Deloss Dodds ran the conference into extinction or irrelivance.

[tenacious_dog]

Saturday morning news from reliable newspapers.

Kansas City Star:
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/12...d-out-big.html

Tulsa World:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextr...1_NORMAN618141

Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/sports/college...a_move_to_sec/

The Oklahoman:
http://newsok.com/article/3594048

Houston Chronicle:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...m/7695423.html

Austin Statesman:
http://www.statesman.com/sports/coll...c-1735754.html

[PawDawg]

No, I don't wonder why UTEP was added instead of Tech. UTEP was committed to athletics, and Tech wasn't.

Amazing that so many Tech fans believed what our leaders told us at the time UTEP was selected.

[LookingForResults]

It appears that the Big XII is firing the only bullet that it has and is trying to lure Notre Dame with the offer that it can keep it's network in the same fashion that Texas has theirs and that OK can form it's own network. It remains to be seen if Missouri would just have to sit still and "take it" or if they still have an opportunity to join the Big 10. If Notre Dame doesn't join the Big XII then that conference "blows-up" and it's possible that TX/OK(OKST?)/Notre Dame join the ACC or join with certain members of the ACC for an entirely new conference.

But unless Notre Dame joins the Big XII, TX has determined that, one way or another, it is going to jettison Baylor, KSU, ISU etc.

Despite various reports, BYU, AFA, Houston, etc. aren't on Texas' radar. They are on the screen for a Big XII sans TX and OK, but TX has no intention of being in a conference with any of those schools.

[DQDawg]

BIG dominos are going to fall in this realignment, especially if the ACC and Big 12 are robbed of 2 each. I will be SURPRISED if a new major conference doesn't get established somehow in all of this mayhem.

[hookdown]

I am personally hoping for this:

Tech
USM
Memphis
Tulsa
Houston
Rice
UTEP
Tulane
SMU
UAB
New Mexico
KU
KSU
Baylor
Texas Tech
Iowa State


Can anyone say New SWC?


Will never happen since Texas Tech and KU are probably attractive enough to have other options, and New Mexico would not jump without them....among other potential issues.... But I can dream.

It would be a killer MBB conference for sure.


And here is what everyone is convienently forgetting about A&M, they are the reigning NCAA WBB champs, of course the SEC is going to want them, along with every other conference in the land....

[LookingForResults]

I am personally hoping for this:

Tech
USM
Memphis
Tulsa
Houston
Rice
UTEP
Tulane
SMU
UAB
New Mexico
KU
KSU
Baylor
Texas Tech
Iowa State


Can anyone say New SWC?


Will never happen since Texas Tech and KU are probably attractive enough to have other options, and New Mexico would not jump without them....among other potential issues.... But I can dream.

It would be a killer MBB conference for sure.


And here is what everyone is convienently forgetting about A&M, they are the reigning NCAA WBB champs, of course the SEC is going to want them, along with every other conference in the land....

Drop KU and TT and I think it's a viable scenario. N. Mex. doesn't have other options and would have to join.