Texas A&M Univ. President R. Bowen Loftin informed Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe in a letter Thursday that school officials "are 'exploring our options' concerning conference alignment," according to Brent Zwerneman of the SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS. The letter "marked A&M's first official move in its quest to exit the Big 12 and join the SEC, preferably for the Aggies by the 2012 football season." An A&M spokesperson indicated that the letter is "simply part of the complex legal process in leaving for the SEC." A source said that once A&M's "exit of the Big 12 becomes official, the SEC is expected to name A&M its 13th member." The source added that the Big 12 is "expected to court BYU, Notre Dame and potentially Houston if it gets to that point." A&M officials said that the university is "following Nebraska's example from June 2010 in exiting the Big 12 right down to the letter" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/26). SI.com's Andy Staples reported in the letter, Loftin asked Beebe "to outline the procedures required should the Aggies decide to leave the conference." Texas A&M "has yet to apply for admission to the SEC, and the SEC has yet to extend an invitation" (SI.com, 8/25). In Austin, Suzanne Halliburton reports the Big 12 BOD will "discuss A&M" at a scheduled meeting Saturday. Beebe on Thursday said, "It remains our strong desire for Texas A&M to continue as a member of the Big 12 and we are working toward that end. However, if it is decided otherwise, the conference is poised to move aggressively with options" (AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 8/26).
EXIT PLAN: In Ft. Worth, Jimmy Burch cites Big 12 sources as saying that "as part of the process of changing conferences, A&M must first withdraw from the Big 12, then apply to the SEC and receive approval from at least nine of the 12 existing members." At that point, A&M "could accept an invitation" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/26). In Dallas, Chuck Carlton cites sources as saying that there are "three possible Big 12 responses." The conference "could point to the recently signed $1.17 billion cable TV rights deal with Fox Sports Media Group and could threaten legal proceedings against A&M and the SEC." Another option "includes a possible response that would cite Big 12 bylaws and note a buyout that some have estimated as high" as $28M. Under a third scenario, A&M and the Big 12 "could decide to part as quickly as possible with negotiated buyout fees" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/26). In Ft. Worth, Gil LeBreton writes, "The language Thursday was civil, but make no mistake -- Texas A&M's departure is final." While the SEC has yet to extend a formal invitation, "university presidents don't send letters like that and then go stand on the street corner, hoping to thumb a ride with the next league that passes by" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/26).
PICKING UP THE PIECES: In N.Y., Pete Thamel reports if Texas A&M leaves, the Big 12 will "most likely target one university as a replacement." A source indicated that the conference's "wish list, in order of preference, is Notre Dame, Arkansas and Brigham Young." Notre Dame and Arkansas "would be long shots," but BYU "could offer a better fit for both sides." Thamel notes if there is "resistance to a Texas A&M move to the SEC, it remains to be seen" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/26). Meanwhile, ESPN DALLAS' Richard Durrett reported SMU AD Steve Orsini "believes his school is ready to join an automatic-qualifier BCS conference and has made his case to certain Big 12 officials." Orsini on Thursday said, "We feel it's time. We're ready. The college landscape is shifting. We're already a top academic institution and with the re-commitment of the university already in place, we can be a top athletics program nationally." While the Big 12 "makes the most sense," for SMU, school President R. Gerald Turner said late Thursday afternoon that "he believes the Mustangs, which currently compete in Conference USA, are ready to join any AQ conference interested in getting into the Dallas-Fort Worth market" (ESPNDALLAS.com, 8/25).
BLAME GAME: In Houston, Richard Justice writes under the header, "UT, A&M Engage In Silly Blame Game." While A&M's departure "could end up being bad" for both it and the Univ. of Texas, "all they care about is spinning the story a certain way." UT contends that A&M officials "were shopping for a new conference long before the Longhorn Network was born." Conversely, A&M said that it "began shopping for a new conference because Texas tried to strong arm it into the Pac-10," and when they "fully realized the potential impact of the Texas partnership with ESPN, they had no choice." Justice writes, "In the end, they are both to blame. Texas allowed its greed to overwhelm its judgment. Meanwhile, Texas A&M decided to leave the Big 12 and worry about the consequences later" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/26).
