A Word on the New Texas A&M-to-SEC Rumors
by Year2 on Jul 19, 2011 10:58 AM EDT
in Conference Realignment
Email
PrintWe discussed the Texas A&M-to-SEC rumors of last week during, well, last week, but Twitter brought us fresh new ones yesterday. As best as I can tell, they were started by our old buddy Scott Moore, though a Texas high school-focused feed broadcast it as well.
The new report is that the Texas A&M Board of Regents is meeting this Thursday to discuss a move to the SEC. It's almost certainly false.
The main reason why I say that is because of a report from the Houston Chronicle that describes this week's Board of Regents meeting. The discussion on the Big 12 conference is but one bullet point on a long agenda, and even that much is just about the Longhorn Network. The newspaper's source said it's entirely going to be informational in nature with school lawyers going over the school's two main concerns about the new ESPN-backed Texas channel.
The two points of contention are important. One is that the channel will broadcast Texas high school football games. The other is that the network will broadcast some number of Big 12 games in the future.
The first point is obviously about recruiting. You can bet that folks at Texas A&M, and probably others in the conference, have been looking into whether that violates NCAA rules. As private networks are a new thing, there's obviously no precedent here. However, the overarching concern is that Texas will gain undue recruiting benefits from showing off top prospects on its channel.
The second point is substantial as well. If you're not a Texas fan, you're not going to want to pay extra money to that school in order to get its network on your channel lineup. That's exactly what you'll have to do though if the Longhorn Network is broadcasting your favorite team's conference game against UT. Can you imagine an Auburn fan being fine with having to subscribe to the Crimson Tide Network to watch the Iron Bowl? Of course not. Texas A&M doesn't want its fans to have to be in that position, and I'm sure other schools in the Big 12 don't like that proposition either.
As long as the Longhorn Network broadcasts both high school and Big 12 games, there will be tension within the conference and angst at Texas A&M. In that light I can understand how someone would hear something like "Texas A&M Board of Regents to discuss Longhorn Network" and interpret it as a euphemism for "Texas A&M Board of Regents to discuss getting out of the Big 12."
However this time around, it appears that this meeting about the Longhorn Network is indeed just about the Longhorn Network. Texas A&M will not be voting to drop out of the Big 12 on Thursday. But as long as the Longhorn Network exists, we'll be hearing these rumors from time to time.
24 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It's not just Texas Aggies that need to look at this
The above link is Dave Brown, VP of Programming for the Longhorn Network (“LN”), on Austin Sports Radio.
About 14:20 in, he specifically talks about the LN targeting broadcasts of recruits that the Longhorns are interested in … even out of state recruits.
How long until the LN enters Louisiana, Georgia, or Florida, trying to strike up deals with High Schools for game broadcasts? That’ll make things really interesting, because remember—this isn’t just a network. It’s a University and a network. Potential for abuse abounds.
by jagvocate on Jul 19, 2011 11:05 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
meh
I don’t think kids are going to say “i’m going to Texas instead of Alabama because they broadcast my high school games.”
Dont get me wrong, I understand why big 12 people won’t like it and I would hate it if Florida had their own ESPN backed network. But ta more about the attention Texas will get. Could that hurt recruiting in areas other than Texas. Possibly. But it has nothing to do with broadcasting high school games.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 11:26 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
You're forgetting about what will happen if the kid wants to watch himself on TV
He’ll get nonstop advertising and promotion during the game—commercial breaks about Texas, Texas logos, etc. It’s essentially a chance for Texas to advertise themselves to the players while they’re watching themselves.
Now that's actually a fair point
I think it’s negligible in the long run because of all the attention and bombardment these kids get anyway. But it’s the one thing I’ll cop to as possibly being a real influence regarding broadcasting high school games.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
How 'bout another:
Those kids are also going to be seeing Longhorn vans pull up and be stationed around their school. They’ll see UT personnel all around (in the stands, on the sidelines) and generally be bombarded with UT logos nonstop as long as the personnel are there.
I think the impression that all of that would make on a 16-18 yr old is more than negligible.
"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that." - George Carlin
by Slice of Life on Jul 19, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed.
It’s shady. And I’ll be shocked if they can get away with it.
by Durdens Wrath on Jul 19, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Ok
I guess Hoover kids will just be so starry eyed for Texas, poor old St. Nick won’t be able to do anything about it. I guess they’ll see way more Texas logos than Bama logos around and seeing how no one from Bama is even calling them, they won’t even know that they have an offer. Come on guys, give yourselves a little credit.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Early contact...
The best teams in Texas will probably be covered repeatedly, and some of these kids will be inundated with Texas crap for two or more seasons before anyone else is allowed to approach them. I’m not personally concerned for my team either, but if this goes through it’s going to screw up the balance of power unless A&M is able to pull something similar together. Imagine a kid in 13 years who watched his favorite HS team and all the big games on the Official Network of the University of Texas from the time he was 5 until he was a top Texas recruit. It’s undeniable that it would have a huge effect much of the time.
A&M has actually been a credible competitor to Texas for the last 50 years, but this could really hurt their ability to sign top in state prospects. Seriously, they are .500 against Texas since ’72… and relatively close since they quit trying to be a complete military school. But if Texas just kills it, and A&M blows it… then we could be looking at a level of damage to a program unseen since some of the conference and scholarship offering reorganization just after WW2.
If this pays off, I’d be tempted to lay even money that Alabama, Michigan, Oklahoma, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, and other schools with dominant influence in their states with little brother schools trying to keep up would emulate them in trying to drown little bro in the bathtub.
But that’s a best/worst case scenario, and I don’t expect the UIL and NCAA to let it get to that point anyways… and I expect A&M to create a rival network to keep up anyway. A reasonable outcome could certainly be each major program ending up with a regional “network” of their own… with some major oversight in broadcasting anything involving potential recruits.
interesting points
I could see it getting to the point that the state governments might get involved in some cases and put pressure on the “main” school in state to partner with the little brother in a joint network (assuming both are public). Sort of how the VA gov got involved and pressured uva to get VA Tech in the acc.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 8:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Of course it has SOMETHING to do with high school games
Though it’s not the whole argument from an Aggie’s point of view. Most kids in high school who are being recruited by BCS schools are treated like gods: they get big heads and egos. You don’t think kids (and I mean this, they are after all made in to “child gods”) would love this attention from a Longhorn Network? It won’t be the deciding factor, sure, but it will certainly not hurt.
This whole thing stinks and is unfair. I’m hoping for karma to spank the shit out of Fake UT and will be cheering for all their opponents this season.
¡Viva La Revolución!
Twitter : @ecuamerican // Media Blog: 42Screens
what are they gonna say
Come to Texas kid. The longhorn network will put you on tv? The coaches and program reps aren’t gonna be allowed any more access than they normally would. As for out of state kids, if it came to pass that Texas was swooping in and grabbing kids because they televise the games, if your local government was crazy enough about football it would stop pretty quick.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 12:38 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No, but this could happen.
“Hey [playername], [reportername] here for the Longhorn Network. How do you feel about your win. Tell everyone on the Longhorn Network.” etc.
You shoehorn in enough references to the Longhorn Network, and you’re going to be marketing.
Of course, I hope for nothing but ill to the Sips.
by Durdens Wrath on Jul 19, 2011 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
no more than
Ring ring….“hey johnny utah, this is Joe Blow with tidetigerdawggator rivals.com. tell us about your visit, did you enjoy it, Whatchu think about coach blank? Whatcha think about the girls! I hope you don’t mind us constantly texting and calling!”
Again, I don’t contest that all the attention Texas gets because of the network will help them. But I think broadcasting high school games will be a non issue.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 1:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Joe Blow, Internet Blogger/Recruiting Service
and a $300M, ESPN-backed network have zero in common. David and Goliath.
you're right
Rivals sites have way more contact with their non Texas in state recruits than the longhorn network will. Not that it really affects it anyway. It’s not like the network is paying em anyway. Oil slick charmer coaches, rich boosters, and shady preachers, that’s how we recruit east of the Sabine River son.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 2:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yes, but Joe Blow isn't "official"
Like a Longhorn Network backed by ESPN.
I think you’re secretly glad that $Texas will get a leg up using this.
by Durdens Wrath on Jul 19, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Yep
anybody that isn’t scared of Texas coming in with a couple of espn employees in collared shirts with a cow head on em and stealing all my dumber than sap, impressionable kids, has got to be a texas fan. By the way, all you have to do is look at my commenting history and it’s not hard to see my affiliation even if it isn’t listed outright.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 19, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Those who don't see a problems with this
are assuming that 17- and 18-year old football players are sophisticated enough to recognize the difference between Texas putting them on television — which is going to make them look more favorably on Texas just because they got on television — and the network Texas owned putting them on television.
This is going to hurt everyone if it’s allowed to go unchallenged. Someone will regret not fighting this if it goes forward.
Team Speed Kills. All SEC, all the time.
all of you guys
Who think this is a problem are basically saying that we give these kids too much credit for being sophisticated. On the contrary, I’m saying that these kids won’t care. Are you saying that they’ll think they owe Texas something? Or that their spoiled little minds will think the only way to get on cable is to play at Texas. Your argument boils down to recruits thinking they owe Texas a solid.
by Mark Mandingo on Jul 20, 2011 9:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Arguing the effect on Kids is Off Base
Focus on the fact that this is impermissible, because only one NCAA member institution can do it.
Even beneficial activities (vis-a-vis prospective student athletes) are outlawed by the NCAA because only one or a few members can afford to do them.
This is the grand-daddy of such activities.
Two can do it
BYU has its own network, and it’s actually carried nationwide on some of the more esoteric cable and satellite tiers.
Team Speed Kills -- SBNation's SEC Blog
If you're so inclined, follow me @Year2
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
