Big XII, what is happening? You have lost 3 teams now in 2 years. Dan Beebe. College Football is calling Dan Beebe. What is so not appealing to the schools in the conference that they are threatening to leave like an unhappy girlfriend?
The problems started when Nebraska bolted for the Big Ten and Colorado for the then Pac-10. The Big XII sat on their hands and did not go after Boise State and TCU. Those schools would have been adequate replacement for Colorado and Nebraska. If you look at the prestige of these two programs, they could have been upgrades. Colorado has not been good since the nineties, and Nebraska has since in recent years become competitive again. This would have been beneficial to both the conference and those teams.
The move would have benefited Boise State most of all. They have not been getting the respect that they deserve. And with the move to the Big XII, it could have shown the world that they can compete in a conference with other powers such as Texas and Oklahoma. It also could have also benefited from the recruiting. They already are doing well in California, but this would have opened Boise State up to the Big XII states. Boise State could have sold the bigger conference and more broadcasting opportunities to recruits; possibly getting more talent than they already have. One name should have made Boise State interested in the move. Chris Petersen. If anyone deserves the chance to show that he can compete in a big time conference week after week, it is Chris Petersen. All he has been doing is winning and out coaching his counterparts in big games.
So yes Dan Beebe, you missed out on this one. I just hope that it doesn’t cost you the conference, and your job.
But what is the program that the SEC is inheriting? Texas A&M does well in other sports. They did win the NCAA women’s basketball tourney last year. Their fans travel well and they have a very big fan base. Kyle Field is an amazing place to play football. Each year, regardless of the record, Texas A&M is one of the toughest places to play in the country. They do have tradition and they also have ties to former SEC coaches Bear Bryant, Jackie Sherrill, and Gene Stallings. But as a QUALITY football program… I just don’t know if I see that right now. I would think the SEC would want a bigger name school with more of a winning tradition that can hold up week in and week out against the competition that they would be facing. The way things are mapping out, Texas A&M will play in the SEC West. That is going to be a problem for them. LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss reside on that side of the conference. One maybe two of those games will not be competitive for your team. But do NOT think that you are going to dominate this division, and you can’t even compete in the Big XII South.
Rumors are circulating as well that the SEC took Texas A&M to see if they can draw Texas as well. I would have thought that the SEC would have gone after Oklahoma and Texas. This way without a doubt they have the upper echelon of college football in their conference. Only time will tell if this is true amid rumors that the Pac 12 is interested in Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma St., and another team to be determined.
The last time Texas A&M won double digit games was in 1998. Do you know what all has transpired since then? Windows 98 was the major breakthrough in technology. A Stamp was .32. Bill Clinton denied having “relations” with Monica Lewinsky. You get my drift. That was 13 years ago. And I will be more than happy to give you the records during this time frame. 11-3 in 98, 8-4 in 99, 7-5 in 00, 8-4 in 01, 6-6 in 02, 4-8 in 03, 7-5 in 04, 5-6 in 05, 9-4 in 06, 7-6 in 07, 4-8 in 08, 6-7 in 09 and 9-4 in 10. Their last bowl win you ask? It was in 2001 against TCU. When was their last conference title? It was 1998, year of the $1.15 gallon of gas. Their last National Title? 1939. They only have one recognized.
In this time frame, they are 1-6 in bowl games. They have lost 5 straight bowl games. In that timeframe, they have lost to 4 SEC Schools. (Mississippi State, Tennessee, Georgia, and LSU) And this is the conference that you want to go to? Texas A&M wants to join the conference that seems to constantly beat them on the big stage? Is Texas A&M believing they won’t beat you week after week? This year is the first time that Texas A&M has been ranked in the top 10 since 1999. So a little optimistic thinking makes them believe that you can play in this conference? If Texas A&M feels that they are that good of a team, prove it against the teams that are in your division, such as Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Baylor. Win your division, Texas A&M before you try to say you are too big for a conference.
It also appears that Texas A&M is running from the Longhorn Network. Not the Texas Longhorns, but the network. But let’s look at this. Only local cable companies have picked up the Longhorn Network. Verizon is the ONLY major cable provider that has it. The smaller companies only got it to about 19 or 20 thousand homes. The Longhorn network is not going to be able to broadcast High School games. They can only “show scores, stats, standings, and new video” per an NCAA statement. They are only showing 2 football games. Most of the sporting events that will be shown will be the other sports of Texas, such as Track and Field, Swimming, Volleyball, Softball, Baseball, etc. The Lone Star Showdown will still be a nationally televised game as well as the Red River Rivalry. So what is Texas A&M in frenzy for? Is it because of the perceived advantage that Texas will have? I have a news flash. Texas has ALWAYS had the connection with High School coaches Texas A&M has not established. That is why the top recruits in the state are going there year after year. There is one more factor that I must point out. Texas had its first non 10 win season since 2001. They have appeared in 2 national championship games, and have a 3-1 record in BCS Bowl games during that span. That is the advantage. Not the Longhorn Network.
Texas A&M is taking changing the landscape of college football further by migrating to the SEC. But maybe they should have been focusing on taking care of business in their division and conference before they try to bail out and go to the SEC. But one thing is sure. Based on the consistency of this football program over the past 13 years, there may be a new team to beat up on in the SEC besides Vanderbilt and Kentucky.
KT
No comments:
Post a Comment