Texas A&M's "exit from the Big 12 is just a few days away from reality, setting the stage for a move" to the SEC, according to Chuck Carlton of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Everything "has fallen into place for Texas A&M to leave without contentious legal action, capped off" by Saturday’s Big 12 BOD teleconference. Big 12 school officials indicated that the meeting was "professional and amiable." One of the officials said, "It wouldn’t surprise me if it happened this week." He and another source "cautioned that negotiations could conceivably take longer than expected, although the end of this week appears realistic." Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin, "who participated in part of the teleconference, repeated the Aggies’ reasons for leaving -- more exposure, more TV revenue and stronger national branding." Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance said, “I think the Aggies have made a decision that, in their opinion, is irreversible" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 8/28). In N.Y., Pete Thamel cited a source as saying that Loftin "essentially said that the Aggies were leaving, and there was nothing the Big 12 could do to keep them." Multiple presidents on the call "used the words 'amicable divorce' when discussing the Aggies departure." Thamel noted that "would seem to suggest that there will not be any protracted legal wrangling" (NYTIMES.com, 8/27).
WORKING THROUGH THE DETAILS: Texas A&M Chief Communications Officer Jason Cook said school officials are "waiting for the Big 12 to respond to our letter from Thursday" before the school can make its next move. In Ft. Worth, Jimmy Burch noted that "involves a final figure in regard to forfeited revenues, which still is being negotiated by lawyers." Sources indicated that the final figure "could approach $20 million." Under Big 12 bylaws, a "departure in such a short turnaround would require A&M to forfeit more than $28 million, based on projected revenues." But sources said that league administrators "appear willing to expedite the departure process and work out a settlement" (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/28). Sources estimated that A&M's exit fees are between $28-30M, but ORANGEBLOODS.com's Chip Brown reported it "doesn't appear the Aggies will have to pay that much." Sources indicated that if A&M "bolts the Big 12 for the SEC as expected, there is a good chance the Big 12 would withhold A&M's TV revenue for the 2011-12 academic year," which would total about $18-19M. Meanwhile, the Big 12 presidents on Saturday "also discussed what the Big 12 might look like if the Aggies leave." There were "scenarios discussed that would include adding three schools to the league instead of just replacing Texas A&M with a 10th school." Hance said A&M would "be replaced by at least one and maybe three excellent teams that'll be a bigger story (than A&M leaving)." Notre Dame, BYU, Arkansas and Pittsburgh reportedly were among the schools under discussion for Big 12 expansion (ORANGEBLOODS.com, 8/27). The Austin American-Statesman's Kirk Bohls on Twitter reports, "Texas A&M trying to negotiate exit fees from the Big 12 down to between $10M and $15M, sources say" (TWITTER.com, 8/29). In St. Louis, Vahe Gregorian noted the Big 12 "isn't likely to disband as long as Texas and Oklahoma stay put, and neither seems at this stage interested in leaving" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 8/28).
NEWS FROM THE STATION: In Tulsa, Dave Sittler reported some sources "remain unconvinced the SEC even wants A&M." SEC Commissioner Mike Slive reportedly is "having trouble getting the nine votes required to add the Aggies." A source said, "For sure, the SEC does not want to expand. That's not to say it won't -- but it would prefer to stay with 12 (schools)." Others, however, "insist Slive has the votes." Those sources contend that the "only thing keeping A&M from bolting is reaching an agreement with the Big 12 on how many millions it will cost the Aggies to leave" (TULSA WORLD, 8/28). Meanwhile, in San Antonio, Brent Zwerneman reported Texas A&M "cut off season ticket sales for football at a school record 44,250," and the "boom stems from a heavy dose of anticipation." Miles Marks, President of the 12th Man Foundation, said, "We sold 1,400 tickets in the last two weeks alone, since all of the SEC talk started. We've sold out of season tickets for the first time in history" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 8/28).
