Mike N

We'd love to. Can you send us some guys that can catch the ball first, though? Ummmm....rather not, OK? Frankly, I don't want to play you again. I watched it from Austin and those hits from both sides hurt all the way down here! And...I don't want you recruiting in Texas any more!

Frankly, I want to see you guys hit the B10 and just kick the ever-lovin' crap out of everybody!

Well sir, I think you know that's not the case. NU left because the University couldn't get the business deal that it needed. And in this day and time, there's no shame in that. In fact, there's shame in staying. And thank you to the NU fans for once again being the classiest folks in college football. Bar none.

Spot on. We threw them the rescue line they needed to survive. The only problem is when the line was thrown NU were the kings of the conference and the other Big 8 programs saw turning their back on NU as the only way to bring NU down to their level of competition. Oh God. Not to start this, but all the Big 8 did was throw the Texas politicians (who loved Baylor and Tech) a line when U.T. and A&M were about to bolt for greener pastures. You won't find many people in central Texas thanking anyone for the Big 12.

Really, really good article about the two schools. Given 15 or 20 years, this could indeed have been a national-scale rivalry on the level of OU/UT. It's too bad the writer chose to use this platform to take a slap at a certain reporter down in Austin. Does he not think that all sports writers in college towns "carry water" for the local "U"? But that aside, he's to be congratulated on an examination of the relationship between Nebraska and Missouri. I too, think that eventually Missouri will be in the Big 10. In 10 years, we'll have four major conferences and those left out will be leftovers.

I get it through DirecTV down here in Austin. For those of you who haven't seen it, you're in for a treat. These folks put on a show that is easily the equivalent of some of the major networks and better than some (Fox). Even if you have to pay a few bucks a month, it's worth the charge.

Regardless of what UH and any other little school may want, they are not to be in the Big 12 Lite. All that does is split up the money 12 ways instead of 10, reducing the current members' take. You'll hear Texas Representatives scream about it in their Chamber, but in this state we have an 18 Billion (with a capital B) dollar budget deficit to deal with as well as redistricting, and football conferences are WAY down on the Leg's to do list. For those of you who don't know...the Texas Legislature meets for only 140 days (roughly January to May) in each odd-numbered year. We simply don't have time for this.

Absolutely. There are too mamy people (everywhere) taking too much of this stuff personally. People, it's all about the money. If the Big 8 leftovers decide it's a bad deal, then I'd bet they'll have another choice in about five years, or whenever the current TV contracts expire.

Oh....my....goodness. Please read your history.

Actually, it's simpler than that. The U.T. football program brings in a LOT of money. And I think you know the old saying about "he who has the gold makes the rules". And frankly, I don't know who this Alabama writer (who couldn't even come up with a real logo for Texas A&M) is and really don't care. But I can tell you that the machinations behind the recent aborted realignment were much more intense...and complicated...than he understands. And that anyone who accepts his version as gospel is doing themselves a disservice. And as the writer himself said (without denying) .... When you look at the academic rankings of all the institutions involved (including your own) it IS below us. All of us. And there are a lot of reasons for Husker fans to be regally p***ed at U.T. But this person hasn't given you anything new.

Because the UT/OUT and UT/A&M relationships are one of the few things that are more important than the gross revenues that the schools would receive. OU really doesn't give a hoot about A&M, it's become just one more win on its schedule. In Texas and Oklahoma (the states) there are a LOT of people who have a LOT of money who have a personal interest in having these three schools continue to play each other, regardless of what conference they're members of. On top of that, OU saw Arkansas wither when it was thrown in with the SEC. The Ags can't figure that out yet. I'm gonna tell you something....only OU and Texas...out of the old Big 12, in recent years played football at the level of the SEC. Nebraska's on the way back, yes, but not yet. And a conference is more than football. OU, UT and A&M all take great pride in their academic accomplishments over the past couple of decades. Nebraska should as well. The same attitude simply does not exist at many schools in the SEC. I think three of the four universities mentioned in this paragraph understand that. And I'm NOT talking about Nebraska, OU, or UT.

Hmmm....interesting thoughts. If by "backing" you mean the other schools, such as OU/OSU/A&M/Tech, then all that says is that these regional rivalries have become so intense (and profitable) that none of the parties involved is willing to see them fall by the wayside. Indeed, Nebraska/OU was a huge rivalry for years, but it was more profitable (apparently) to break it up. And could you please explain to me how Texas has power over other schools through the Texas Legislature? Uh, no. Here, it's the leg that tells ALL the schools what to do. It if wasn't that way, U.T. and A&M would have made the jump to the Pac 10 when the SWC dissolved. Instead, the members of the leg forced it into the union with Tech, Baylor and the members of the Big 8. U.T. believes the big money is on the West Coast....always has been, always will be...and U.T. will eventually wind up with those schools. The Pac 10 will still take U.T. and many of the former Big 12 South schools in a heartbeat. It would have happened already, had A&M not broken up the party. Now that U.T. has figured out that A&M is tired of playing second fiddle in many aspects to U.T., it simply has to make up its mind that letting the traditional connections between the two schools go is worth the pot o'gold that it believes awaits out west. Indeed, this delay will give U.T. the additional time to start up the Longhorn Network, which it will bring with it as part of its admittance into any western alliance. Your thoughts?

And you say that like its a bad thing! Seriously on another subject: To Mike N, I have enjoyed having you on the board, your posts do give me another point of view. My question to you is is there a Texas message board similar to this one that (for the most part) is respectful? I tried ShaggyBevo but after the first couple of posts it turns into mud slinging, name calling childish ranting. Texaslonghornbbs is a tiny bit better, but maybe just because there is much less traffic, but there are more rational people who post there (JAYCAV for one) Sorry I've been gone for a while, but it's been a long week down here in Austin, nothing to do with football, realignment, or anything else as Earth-shattering! Anyway, since that last post of mine above that you reference my....opinions...have changed regarding our friends over at Texas A&M. It has become fairly obvious that many ex-Aggies (and I use that term on purpose) have decided that the best place for their school is in the SEC. Some of these same individuals infest A&M's Board of Regents. If indeed, the people who run this institution AND those who have graduated from it have decided that their tradition of research and scholarship is worth tossing over the side to follow in the footsteps of (that school that will not be named) and leave the Texas schools for the dubious charms (and football money) of the SEC, then they should go....and banish themselves from the Body of This State forever. Perhaps they should move the bloody campus.....southern Arkansas (the state) could use the employment. Now, regarding the various message boards, I know how tough it is to go onto a message board where your school is generally loathed. But I have to tell you that since I am not a regular visitor to any of the U.T. message boards, I really can't recommend any of them. As for shaggybevo.com, you only have to read the motto on their front page to know what you're in for: The owner of orangebloods.com has taken a lot of (frankly I think undeserved) heat here, but I think it's really the best of the bunch. Up until this year, the primary gathering place for UT football dweebs has generally been talk radio not only in Austin, but in Dallas and Houston as well. As the message boards have really come into their own this summer, it will be interesting to see what role they play in the fall season. Anyone venturing onto a U.T. message board needs to remember that there is indeed a basic difference in the mindset between Nebraska supporters and those who follow the Longhorns. There seems to be more interaction between Nebraska supporters and those of other schools in the conference, with the possible exception of U.T. At U.T. we really, honestly, don't care what any other school is doing until the week of our game with that school with, as I said before, the exception (until now) of A&M. If you want to consider that arrogance, self-centeredness, or whatever, then be my guest. thanks! mn

Can't vouch for the athletes, but every one of the other factors screamed Big 10. No, nothing screamed Big 10. It screamed SEC, to the Regents (which were ready to bolt to the SEC) to the alums, and to the money people. Athletes be d***ed.

Absolutely right! And the other unanswered question here is were OU and A&M offered individual invites to the SEC, or where they to be a pair? Texas (the university) made it clear that if A&M bailed, there would be no more games...or contact, for that matter...between the two athletic departments. It also would have created a lot of bad blood between the institutions more than, even now, exists. OU did not want to go down that path, as giving up the annual game with UT would have been a big hit in the pocketbook. That, more than likely, would have happened had OU bolted for the SEC. And UT did NOT want to be seen as breaking up TWO big games, both UT/OUT and UT/A&M. Not at all...Don't think for a moment that OU loves UT. OU loves the game and the money that comes with it. In a word, yes. Losing OU at the same time would have been hell, politically, and a huge financial hit for UT as well. And folks, don't think that someone being someone's "b***h" has anything to do with this. With the possible (probable) exception of A&M, these questions come down to money, plain and simple. What's the best deal for us, the athletes, and the University (no matter which one) as a whole. A&M, well, that's a whole 'nother story..............