I embrace your sadness and distill your tears into a potent energy drink, which I consume, and then zoom off on my LOLLERSKATES into a glorious internet sunset onto my throne in Bel-Air.
But what obligation, legal or otherwise, does Texas A&M have to Baylor? The Aggies' signed a deal with the Big12, not Baylor, and the Big12 has released A&M from that deal. As far as I can tell, Baylor has no case against A&M, Silve and/or the SEC.
This is why I think nothing that happens over the next several days is going to resolve long-term stability of the Big12. The only exception would be if all the members agree to some kind of rock solid no-way-out pact, but I don't see why OU would do anything of the sort. I don't agree with the title that the ultimatum might backfire, since the Big12 was on the verge of disintegrating. But it certainly does not make for a healthy conference. This thing would just be on the verge of implosion again at any time once someone finds a way out. The SEC to 14 teams would already start the superconference concept in motion, and the Big12 has to be the league that gets raided to make that happen. http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2011/09/07/big-12-football-baylor-ultimatum-could-backfire/ You’ve sort of got to admire little ol’ Baylor. The Baptists have risen up on the football field and no longer are anyone’s punching bag. Now Baylor is fighting back in the boardroom. Baylor refuses to waive its right to sue the Southeastern Conference, should the SEC admit Texas A&M and put the Big 12 in danger of dissolving. But Baylor also appears to be in the business of alienating OU, and by extension, OSU. Reports out of Waco, Texas, on Wednesday said six schools — Baylor, Missouri, Texas Tech, Iowa State, Kansas State and Kansas — had vowed that they would let A&M leave the Big 12 with a promise of no lawsuit, provided the Sooners re-committed to the conference. By Wednesday night, espn.com was reporting that all eight schools in the conference other than A&M and OU had resolved to issue the same deal. No lawsuit, if the Sooners stayed. It was a bogus report. Texas Tech denied the original Waco Tribune report, and OSU officials vehemently denied the espn.com report, saying they would never put OU in such a compromising position. The Sooners were supporters of the 10-team Big 12, but after A&M’s stated desire to leave the conference, OU began considering its options. Some within the league believe the reports stem from Baylor president Kenneth Starr and his last-ditch efforts to save the Big 12 for the Bears, who could be left with no good options if the Big 12 crumbles. But even should the Big 12 be saved, this time, what has this kind of deal-making wrought? If A&M is forced to stay in the league, and it continues at 10 teams, what kind of environment would ensue? It would be a pirate ship of a conference. A virtual prison, with every school sleeping with one eye open, because it trusts no one. Do you think OU, much less A&M, wants to be in a league with Baylor after Wednesday? You talk about planning an exit strategy. Or let’s say the threat would work — a far-fetched idea; when did anyone ever get ahead in life threatening David Boren? OK, so OU’s back in, with no A&M, and the league needs a 10th team, which everyone agrees would, best-case scenario, be Brigham Young. BYU has been waffling on its interest in the Big 12. Some in Provo believe independence works better for the Cougars. Now, those BYU skeptics have to grow, don’t they? Does a Big 12 held together by desperation and threats, still with widespread resent of Texas, sound like something anyone would want to join if they don’t have to? Not even the lure of a possible BCS bid would make that palatable to BYU. Lose BYU and you’ve lost the last school that could pull its weight in television prowess. Then the Big 12 would be back to Air Force or old Southwest Conference leftovers, and that’s the last thing OU wants, and you’ve got a mess far worse than the current anarchy. It’s possible that Wednesday was the darkest day in Big 12 history, other than the days Nebraska and Colorado left. The league disintegrated into mass chaos. There have been valid reasons for OU and OSU to remain in the Big 12. Regional rivalries. Long-term associations. Familiarity. But there are fewer reasons today to stay in the Big 12 than there were yesterday. Some have told the Sooners to get away from the Longhorns. Get away from Texas? How about getting away from Baylor?
As a I mentioned in an earlier response, lawsuits don't boil down to winning/losing. The SEC still has to pay legal costs to defend itself and focus an untold # of resources towards it, all of which is a massive headache. And then, yes - there's always the (however small) looming specter that they could lose the suit.
Again... would you rather have TAMU and not face potential lawsuits or have em and not get sued? Easy as that. No reason to rush. Especially with OU possibly leaving.
Thanks Dean Keaton - but obviously others feel differently. I would rather have the most amusing situation possible which allows for as much condescent as possible; The Baylor Bears (wholly rational) resort to threatened litigation to preserve the status quo certainly does this, and the surfeit of Aggie Perry Masonry of the Business Tort genre is a veritable gold mine.
Soze or the lawyer? Both kind of work here... And what do people's feelings have to do with contracts and lawsuits? As long as Oklahoma stays in the Big12 (and I think that's what's truly behind Baylor's actions, scaring Oklahoma/Pac 12), I can't see any legitimate grounds for tortious interference or any other legal remedy. A&M has not done anything wrong here. Neither has the SEC.
focusing on baylor when no one's signed a waiver and calling yesterday the darkest day in big xii history.
SEC wasn't requiring a waiver until Baylor threatened a lawsuit though. I think every source has been in agreement that Baylor is the instigator of all this. If Baylor wasn't in the equation, it appears this would have all gone through, so it's not surprising that they'd be the focus of it all.
If they are forced to stick around in the Big 12 til 2013 (they wont be), that'll be one hell of a sitcom right there... I just have a headache from all of this stuff. Look at the timestamps on my posts. Y'all think I've gotten any work done in days??? Basically pulling a Beebe at work. If they try and fire me I'll have to pull a Baylor.
and every source has said all kinds of things that have been proven false. bottom line is baylor isn't the only one not signing that waiver. they're looking out for themselves like everyone else is in this situation. i'm not sure why the majority of people here feel like baylor shouldn't try to protect its $15million a year. other than stupidity. when did baylor threaten the lawsuit? so, baylor threatens lawsuit, sec demands waiver and baylor then grants waiver before deciding not to? if they were to agree to the waiver so easily, why did they threaten a lawsuit in the first place? honestly, there's so much crap being posted back and forth as to what went down, i don't think anyone really knows for sure other than those in the meetings themselves.
But I thought the Big 12 could survive without TAMU. Follow your fearless leader Baylor but apparently Beebe will just lead you off a cliff. It is about time you start earning what you are worth. People are telling behind the scenes that there are talks between Baylor and CUSA negotiating contracts with Lifetime channel for like $12 bucks. Sounds like a great deal to me.
and it's going to. and baylor will be in a bcs game before a&m will after joining sec. of course, we'll all be dead before either of them are.
