Wow .. a CFB post from mrdave I can appreciate. What is going on? To be honest, I'm not sure why fans from all school dont have this mindset. For the life of me, I don't know why certain schools (apparently I am not allowed to say the name) tried so vehemently hard to keep this move from happening if it weren't for the fact they were solely looking out for themselves rendering their opinion moot from A&M's perspective.
I think they should make sure that state institutions are making decisions that are good for all the citizens in the state that are paying for their existance. Take the UT channel for example, if it loses money, that is your money, my money, everyone in the states money that is there for education, not for profit. They are not a private entity, they should be held accountable to the taxpayers. DD
Hmmmm so a $300 Million dollar tv-deal with the "possibility" of it failing = costing tax payer money? How are you quantifying these "losses"? Have you seen the contract that stipulates who is paying for all the infrastructure? Or are you just assuming these tax payers money is going towards it? I know you love to stir the pot, but you clearly went down the wrong path here because it makes no sense.
No it's not. The UT athletic department is fully self-funded from revenues it generates and alumni donations. It takes no taxpayer dollars. That's why they can pay Mack Brown $5MM/yr, for example.
Obviously your lack of knowledge of where all this money comes from and where it goes and what it is used for is the exact reason why they are in the business there in, and you are in the business you are in, and I suggest you mind your own business.
They could call it the SSC - South Super Conference. One half would be the SEC and the other would be the SWC. That would be too funny if Texas, A&M and Arkansas ended up back in a conference called the SWC.
I don't think Texas would want to go to the SEC. Not because of football reasons, but because of the low academic reputation and the "dirty" vibe. Culturally, academically...Texas fits better with the PAC# or the BIG#.
Ah, then the question becomes, how could they be self funded without the State supported University. IE - Should the state be taxing UT for the use of state supported logos, and other copyrighted items? I just don't think a state school should be in business, if they want to go private ala Baylor, TCU, or SMU fine.... But I was unaware that all things related to athletics were self funding, so none of our tax money goes to Swimming, Diving, Gymnastics or any other sports? They are all funded by private donations? DD
I like where you are going with this. I think Rick Perry and the legislature should be able to control the curriculum and the professors that are hired at the university. They are state schools after all and Perry and the legislature need to be able to make sure that what they teach is in the best interest of the state!
I do that **** all the time...lol...nothing new. I just believe that state schools should be held accountable to all the tax payers, they should be making decisions that support you, me and every other Texan that pays property taxes etc. Obviously I am not saying they should decide curriculum, or whom to hire, but conference affiliation - don't really know - maybe. If UT starting a TV Channel hurts the rest of the schools in the state, shouldn't that be a problem for them? They are not in the business of business, but of educating folks. Anyway, just spitballing anyway.... DD
You don't think universities should be held accountable by the legislature for the important stuff, but for their sports affiliation?
They are already held accountable in other areas, but apparently not in athletics. They are not a private organization, they are a public one. DD
I don't understand what "best interest of the tax payers" you think the legislature needs to step in and protect here with regards to Athletics?
Worst argument ever ... The Governor is elected, he appoints the BOR, and the BOR makes the decisions for the university (just like the A&M BOR did here). So in essence, they are accountable to the taxpayers. Just like anything, if you don't like what they did, vote someone else into office that will appoint a different BOR. It's called delegation of authority and its why we elect the people that are given the authority to do this delegation.