Big 12..10... I mean 9 (In My Opinion)

  It appears that unless there is a unforeseen problem, Texas A&M is going to leave the BIG 12 conference for the Southeastern Conference this week. This move will mean that the BIG 12 which has only 10 schools now will have only 9 schools. Jokes aside the BIG 12 is in trouble. Last year the BIG 12 almost ended when the BIG 10 which has 11 teams took Nebraska. And the PAC 10 took Colorado. It almost took Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State. This would have reduced the BIG 12's then membership of 12 to 5. A NCAA conference must have at least 6 members. Things were bad, Missouri tried to get into the BIG 10. Even after the PAC 10 only got Colorado, Texas A&M and Oklahoma were talking to the SEC. All looked lost, then a deal was made. Texas was given a larger share of BIG 12 profits, which included money from a new TV with Fox. They were allowed to form there own TV network, The Longhorn Network. The BIG 12 also agreed to not try to expand to 12 teams again. Under NCAA rules a conference must have 12 schools playing football to have a football championship game. This game made alot of money & not having one cost the BIG 12 money & cost the other schools money. Texas agreed to stay. Though there has been speculation about Texas going independent like BYU did.

 Which leads us to now. A lot of the other schools were unhappy about the deal. Texas A&M is upset about the deal & is leaving. Texas A&M is trying to get into the SEC, and it looks like the SEC wants them. This deal would weakening the BIG 12 and might cost them some TV money, which is where most of the money used to appease Texas came from. It seems that the BIG 12 needs to find a new 10th member. Assuming that Texas lets them expand. And it is Texas' power & money that has driven Texas A&M to try and leave. So what should the BIG 12 do ?

  The BIG 12 needs to expel Texas or at least give them an ultimatum. Texas is the problem. Texas first held the BIG 12 hostage by threatening to leave & take half the conference with it. It then repaid both the schools who would have went and the schools that would have stayed by demanding more money and costing them money. They took a larger share of money. The Longhorn Network gives Texas even more money. Texas blocked the formation of a BIG 12 network costing the other schools money. Texas opposing new members, Texas doesn't want to share with new members. And a title game has also cost, Texas doesn't want a title game, has cost the other schools money. Finally the other schools are now jealous of Texas' money & power. If the BIG 12 doesn't expel Texas, it should at least force Texas to make concessions & allow new members. I know that Texas has a lot of money and power, but it is better to kick them out than it is for them to leave and go independent when they are ready. If the BIG 12 doesn't anything it will die. There is of more conference realignment and there is no reason for the other members to be loyal to the BIG 12. Except for the huge buyout. But schools will get around that.

  Besides expelling or force concessions from Texas, the BIG 12 needs to do a few other things. Here is a list.

1. The BIG 12 needs to end it's relationship with ESPN. ESPN is the backer of the Longhorn Network & has a deal with the SEC. ESPN seem have a interest in A&M going to the SEC. It woulds make the SEC more valuable & weaken the BIG 12 value. The BIG 12 main TV deal is with Fox.
2. Assuming Texas is gone decide if it is gone to try to expand. Once upon a time there was a BIG 8 conference before it merged with the old Southwestern conference and became the BIG 12.
3. If they decide to expand go the at least 12 schools. Remember Title games mean more money.
4. Form a TV network, but be smart. The Longhorn Network has almost no viewers and only a few TV systems are even showing it. Of course Texas has already received a lot of money but the BIG 12 doesn't want to end up as the Mountain West who has a network few people watch.

If the BIG 12 does these things I think that it will survive this round of conference turmoil. Here are links to  stories about Texas A&M to the SEC, and the Longhorn Network
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/ncaa/08/27/texas.am.big12.sec.ap/index.html?eref=twitter_feed

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2011/08/the_longhorn_network_launches.php