I don't think it will be an issue, if UT's willing to scrap its $15MM a year or whatever it gets from ESPN. Like all other contracts, they can always negotiate their way out, and if this thing does actually fail, ESPN will be happy to accommodate. Besides which, ESPN has contracts with all the major conferences, so it shouldn't be too hard to work out transitions. T-27 hours until we if LHN's first big production is a total flop.
I'm not sure about that. ESPN has put so much money into this network in getting it off the ground, and the UT athletic "profit" is so large, UT is going to take a much bigger hit than giving up the $15MM it was supposed to get. I agree that they probably could work an exit negotiation out, but with as much as ESPN put into this, you can bet that ESPN is going to make UT pay dearly if that is the case. Of course, this also goes into my theory that this was ESPN's attempt to keep super-conferences from happening last summer, and if that essentially failed, I see no reason they would let UT off the hook scott-free.
But if this thing is a money pit, ESPN wouldn't have much leverage. They are the ones losing the money - UT could happily keep taking free money from ESPN on a failed network. In this scenario, it would ESPN that would be the one wanting out. Sure - if they successfully killed the superconference idea. But if the superconference scenario comes to fruition anyway thanks to the SEC/Pac12/Big10, it's going to be in ESPN's interests for UT to join one of those conferences.
^ Right, UT is still getting paid. And they still have the attention of the recruits of having that distinction of their own network. They're still sitting in a good position with the most leverage (along with OU) I know that the idea of aggie leaving would reduce UT to shambles makes you giddy, which is why it's the _sole_ reason for aggie leaving mad but lets get real here... Do you really believe if/when UT & OU decide to leave the B12 and become free agents, that the B10, and Pac wont be the first ones calling? What Larry Scott said a month ago has little bearing on what's going on now and is just talk anyways. Both sides have lawyers and will work something out agreeable for both sides. ....Or UT's existence is doomed w/o aggie
The Pac & Big 10 already had their shot at UT. Big 12 had to throw the network out there to keep it together. Once indie-networks were in play the Pac 10 & Big 10 bowed out.
I think it would be great for TX football to see a future conference alignment of (TX schools) UT, TTech, UH, and TCU/SMU. I mean this setup would concede the College Station market, but it would cover the triangle and then West TX. Poooooooor aggy, outsiders in the SEC and now outsiders in TX
well I neglected to mention that there would be other schools outside TX (+ OU & OSU) and then whatever else comes to fruition.
you're out of your mind if you think Texas and likely OU don't essentialyl have standing offers from all three major conferences (pac/big10/sec).
^ I agree. Maybe it's my UT arrogance, but I dont buy into the thought that the LHN is a scarlet letter that discourages conferences from wanting to add them. Some concessions will be made, but UT (and OU) will come out roses after it's all said and done. Dodds and the OU AD are pretty shrewd people. I maybe wrong, but I doubt it
OU can do whatever it wants (so long as OSU can tag along), ESPN doesn't own it like it does UT. Not so sure about Texas. Of course everyone wants them, but I don't see anyone allowing that network unless its re-purposed. USC isn't allowed to have an indie-network, you think they're about to let UT have one? Someones gonna have to change some rules to get anything done and there is precedence showing that the Pac 12 and Big 10 aren't budging. Again, the Big 12 is a 1-man show, UT is bigger than the conference. That's not the case in the real conferences.
So you honestly believe that the PAC or the B1G are going to accept UT while the keep the LHN and get unequal revenue sharing over the rest of the members? Wow, I know UT has been on a high for over a decade now, but outside of Texas, you are not the all-powerful rulers of the universe like you think you are. In fact, since the LHN has started along with your 5-7 season last year, you have quickly turned to be the butt of jokes, especially outside of Texas. You are not Notre Dame with a true national following. Other conferences have been doing great with equal revenue sharing, and they 100% will not allow Texas in under any other circumstances. It is flat out stupid to think otherwise. Nowhere did I say UT is in serious trouble (other than being in a difficult spot). UT basically has 2 options at the point of the Big XII dissolving ... 1) Get out from under the LHN (at a stiff penalty I still believe) and move to just about any conference they choose 2) Go Independent A&M's move is about what is best for A&M, not to screw Texas (though your arrogance will never let you see that) because in either case #1 or case #2, Texas is going to be just fine, and A&M knows that. All this may force Texas to do is go indy or give up on the network earlier than they really want to. I have no doubt OU will come out of this just fine as well. They will have their pick of conferences, and I don't think anyone has even put that in doubt.
I think Major has pointed out how easy/hard it would be to get out of a TV deal, such as the ESPN deal. We just saw A&M negotiate it's way out of a deal when the "rejected" conference had no benefit in letting them go, so surely we can assume UT would be able to get out of a deal with a network that would still be interested in airing NCAA games. Like he mentioned, everyone is trying to remain friends here. The LHN gives UT more options, under the current environment. If the environment changes it's not going to be some big detriment like some of y'all are making it seem. UT, much like OU or ND, can happily go to whatever conference they choose.
Josh, I'm going to guess it's in ESPN's best interest to keep UT in a major conference. If/when push comes to shove, they will renegotiate the deal... likely requiring Texas to share the revenue in a regional type network as described here previously.
Ha! It's probably not good for your conference when one of the schools heading the expansion committee says they are thinking about leaving... http://espn.go.com/college-football...ren-says-school-interest-multiple-conferences Oklahoma debating conference options NORMAN, Okla. -- University of Oklahoma president David Boren says multiple conferences have shown interest in the Sooners recently and he expects to decide whether to leave the Big 12 or not within the next three weeks. Boren said Friday that Oklahoma is seeking stability in its conference relationship with "partners that are both outstanding athletically and academically as well because a conference that's strong is not only stable but it's one in which there are multiple relationships, along with sports, between the university members." He said he tried to prevent Texas A&M from leaving the Big 12 and was disappointed the Aggies announced this week they would seek to join another conference -- most likely the SEC -- by next July. "Of course, we have some great partners in the existing Big 12. We have interest from other conferences and other universities, so it's really a tribute to the strength of our program at the University of Oklahoma that there is so much interest in us," Boren said. "So, we have to carefully evaluate the various comments that are being made to us and the various possibilities that are being shown to us before we decide what's best for the university to do." Athletic director Joe Castiglione, who attended a ceremony with Boren to celebrate a $10 million donation toward a campus dormitory, said he was "not here to answer any of those kind of questions." Castiglione has not commented publicly on Texas A&M's departure from the league, nor on Oklahoma's future plans. Oklahoma was offered chances to join both the Pac-10 and the SEC last year but decided to stick with the Big 12, even as Nebraska left to join the Big Ten and Colorado joined the Pac-10. A&M's departure would leave drop the league that once had 12 teams down to nine members. "I don't think there's anything that has to be, at all, and everything doesn't have to be done today. I mean, there's nothing that says the conference will collapse at nine," Boren said. "We have a full season to play and we'll have to go through. "Obviously, I think if we could eventually -- and that doesn't mean in one year, maybe it's going to take two or three years -- if we were to eventually get back to 12, I would feel better about it." Boren said the bottom line is "I don't think OU is going to be a wallflower when all is said and done." "I don't know how long it will be before clarity comes to us. My experience is that on these kinds of things, it might be a matter of 72 hours, it might be a matter of two weeks. I don't really think this is something that is going to linger on beyond two or three weeks at the outside," Boren said. "It's been consuming my life the last few days, but it's a fascinating challenge and we're just in the search for what's best for the university." Boren confirmed that he flew to Missouri, whose chancellor is the chairman of the Big 12 board of directors, and then to College Station last week to try to prevent the Aggies from leaving. He said he's disappointed that he thought the Sooners had conference stability and instead face the same challenge as last summer. "We don't know what's going to happen. Some things are trends beyond the control of any one university," Boren said. "Is there going to be a continued trend toward consolidation? Are we going to see conferences that are now 12 ... move to 16? Is that going to happen? Maybe that's not going to happen." "You've seen both. You've seen a tendency toward consolidation and then you've seen some pushback in the very largest conferences from schools that say, 'Not too big.' We're trying to sort all that out. At this point in time, I'm being very honest with you. I do not know with certainty or perhaps even can't hazard a totally intelligent guess as to what our final decision will be. But we are carefully looking over all of the options. There is no school in the Big 12 more active than we are right now."
How is there anything even remotely bad for UT in that post. Other than saying they may have to pay something to get out of the LHN deal, I basically said they have a lot of good options unless you really believe that there is a conference that will take the LHN as is. With OU looking around, I guess we'll find out soon.
If OU were to choose between Pac10, Big 10 and SEC, I wonder which they'd choose. Maybe join Nebraska in Big 10....
I don't know that OU will leave, but if I'm Mizzou and the SEC comes calling, this has to lead me towards jumping ship while the opportunity is there (unless they are sure they can get a Big10 invite soon). This just re-confirms that there is no stability at all to this conference, and if OU leaves, the whole thing definitely is dead.
