I'm sorry, but I find this laughably stupid. I mean yes Texas A&M leaving the Big 12 makes it weaker and somewhat more unstable, but what would kill the conference is Texas & Oklahoma leaving. Those 2 schools choice would be choosing to go to the PAC over staying in the Big 12 with whatever schools they can find. This isn't like Texas & Oklahoma HAVE to leave to the PAC, they just think it is better to do so now than wait. Even if Texas A&M leaving was reasoning for them making that choice, it is THEIR choice that ends the conference and not Texas A&M. That in no way should put any blame on Texas A&M.
they'll be releasing A&M...the claim won't be against A&M. the claim will be against the SEC for inducing A&M. possible claim against conference that ends up with OU, as well. all depends on the level of contact....that's why the SEC thing is interesting, because there's indication that SEC never stopped talking to A&M; even after Big 12 "recomitted" last summer.
But that would be the same thing I would think. I can understand suing the SEC if there is actually legitimate proof that they have been talking all this time and not just rumblings and assumptions. That I could see being a "legitimate lawsuit." But to say that the SEC caused the Big 12 to fall is wrong. This is not like the SEC taking A&M necessitated the Big 12 dissolve. It could still survive if Texas and Oklahoma want it to. It just won't be as powerful as they want. However, I would find it difficult to see any lawsuit actually going to court and/or being dragged out. I would imagine that which ever parts involved will find some out-of-court settlement to simply get past the entire ordeal.
If you're planting seeds to blame A&M, I don't think you're supposed to come out and say (paraphrasing) "We're planting seeds to blame A&M."
1. Do you honestly believe that A&M and SEC just started talking out of the blue? That A&M approached them and SEC made no overtures before delivering their goodbye letter to the Big XII? 2. SEC didn't have to cause Big 12 to fall...question is if A&M's departure doomed the Big 12. If it does, and we don't know yet what FOX's position on that is...then you have damages. FOX's position, ultimately, is important. 3. Mosts cases don't go to court...but most cases do get dragged out. The threat of the lawsuit may be what's most important here, honestly.
not sure i understand you. what OU is saying is, "well we thought we could make this work without NU and CU...but once A&M left, it was doomed." if FOX is saying that behind the scenes, you absolutely have the setup for a tortious interference claim. and again, that's all BU, KST, KU, IA ST would have left as any sort of leverage.
Teams leave conferences all of the time. How come when TAMU does it people b****? Because they can no longer get their way? I don't like this "I'm taking my ball and going home" attitude.
Disregard my comment, I either combined statements from the articles from OU with conjecture from posters or inferred too much - looking back through the thread I can't find what prompted me to the post above. The Big XII/IX has recommitted to itself again though even after A&M announced intention and went through the process to leave. The smaller schools are going to have the same arguments against OU/OSU/UT/etc regardless of if they come back and try lay it at A&M's feet. I also have a hard time believing that the other major schools have not had continuing contact with the other conferences.
depends on how long A&M and SEC were talking; extent of SEC overtures to A&M, etc. remember too..it's not just contact...it's what's said. when it moves from contact to inducement.
But looking at the macro picture, what kind of leverage do those schools have? They likely want to join another conference of some sort, right? KU and KSU were being looked at by the BigEast last year, and ISU/BU would at least want to join the MWC or WAC or whomever. None of them can afford to be left out in the cold. What conference is going to want to add a school that's in middle of a billion dollar lawsuit with the SEC? Those conferences have no loyalty to these Big12 schools and want to maintain good relationships with the SEC for future scheduling, etc. None of those schools are big enough names (except maybe KU) for conferences to take on a lot of baggage to add them. It almost seems like a Mike Leach situation - a lawsuit against a major conference may very well make those schools radioactive.
because you're going to have schools that are going to lose their deal. when CU left, the Big XII was still around...with a new media deal. if FOX pulls out and BU, KU and the rest find themselves in a lesser conference with far less media dollars, that's the basis for a claim to the extent SEC induced A&M to leave.
it's all they have major. "maybe our suit goes away if you find us a better landing spot." and if they find a better landing spot, damages are mitigated. that's the ONLY leverage and tool that these schools will have, aside from political allies. but your alternative has these schools saying, "yeah, we lost millions and millions of dollars and we're out in the cold looking in on your 64 team fun fest...but no biggie. carry on." i don't see that as plausible.
Academics? We're talking about athletes, not mathletes. Besides, if Texas wants to go to a more academic conference they can go to C-USA. Please, UT's history has been mired by mooching, uninspired undergraduate students who overstay their visit and kick out more enthusiastic and more qualified incoming high school gradutes. And please make an argument for Vince Young's presence at UT. I am sure he got in on academic note but I am not sure whether it was his astounding GPA or SAT or ACT score that got him in.
I never said that they have NOT been talking. I said legitimate proof that they were talking. Big difference. "Doomed the Big 12?" Really? Lots of actions and events "doom" things or put them on shaky ground. Dooming something is not legally equivalent to ensuring something failure. FOX's position is important though, so we will see how that plays out. 3. Mosts cases don't go to court...but most cases do get dragged out. The threat of the lawsuit may be what's most important here, honestly.[/QUOTE] Agree about the threat. Though I think it may HAVE to come from a third party like FOX. The reason why is... So essentially the Big 12 waived its rights to sue Texas A&M. Who knows what the agreement actually states, and if it is legally binding. It will be interesting if that agreement has to apply to Schools acting unilaterally outside the Big 12, as I can easily see Baylor trying legal action since they will be left out in the cold after everything.
I'd guess its the SEC they'd go after, not TAMU. Its incredibly annoying to me that TAMU cant just do whats best for TAMU with no strings attached. It shouldn't have to worry about whats best for BU, KU, the Big 12 or anything else. Its like a communist country or something.
Chip Brown is such a joke ... Remember at the start of this he said there was ZERO truth to the A&M to the SEC rumors and that the SEC doesnt even want A&M. He has been consistently behind and wrong on this story from the start and until I hear from sources that have been right throughout this that there is an issue, im not concerned. All tose sources say this is a non-issue, except for that if Big XII dissolves, we pay no exit fees
