Are we essentially already independent?

[4th]

Or, is the new Big 12 really in most respects a group of independents with an agreement to play each other?
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[general35]

"I've always thought from the very beginning that individual networks would sell far better than a conference network," Texas AD DeLoss Dodds said. "I just don't think people in Texas would subscribe to a network if it was -- I don't mean to be disparaging here -- Iowa State cross-country."

 

[TexasCheetah]

I for one do not wish to be independent. I think being apart of conference in sports provides a continuity. If it happens I know we will not have problems finding second tier teams to play. However, what is the advantage for big 6 teams to play TX?

 

[trod24]

Let's just bring back the Big 8 and organize it like this:
Texas
TCU
Blow U
OSU
TTU
Aggie
Arky
LSU

Now with that, going to away games would rock, travel cheaper, still dominant teams, keep Texas recruits mostly in Texas, and DOMINATE!

Or I should just stop drinking...either way

 

[gecko]

How about a new Conference America?

Texas
OU
BYU
USC
Michigan
Notre Dame
Florida
Ohio State

 

[tamster]

what would be the benefit again if we went independent? it seems we already get a larger piece of the big 12 tv revenue. we can negotiate an individual tv contract. we have built-in rivalries for football (OU > A&M > Tech > OSU > Baylor). We have built-in rivalries for basketball (how great was it to finally beat KU?). We have built-in rivalries for baseball (Baylor, aggy). And our "minor sports" in golf, track & field, tennis, soccer, etc all have opponents to play regularly as well.

I'm not getting the whole independent thing. It hasn't really worked out for Notre Dame, and a strong conference seems to get teams ready for the post-season in football, baseball, basketball, etc. We would be missing out on this.

skc

 

[yelladawgdem]

Would be independent in football only. OU would do the same. Demand a Notre Dame type leverage for a BCS bowl (top 10 etc). The current conference is untennible for the long haul. Play OU the second saturday. Do alternating home and home with Stanford and Cal. Rotate the service acadamies. OSU, TT and get a commited 10 year deal to play LSU at Jerry's House or Reliant (actually I would love to play them once at night at Rice Stadium). And I would much rather see Northwestern purple than KSU purple. This is all from a guy that cant sleep at 530am. But it sounds alot more fun than more trips to ISU, Mizzou or the Kansas schools. Been to all of those places. Even saw the win in Manhatten! But overall, they are the root canal of road trips.

 

[UTEE]

The problem with the above kind of scheduling, is that MOST teams are in conferences and only have a few dates open in September to schedule OOC. Notre Dame encounters this issue regularly, they have been trying to get us to play them in October or November for years, but we like to group all of our OOC games in September, so we refused to play them later than that. Most teams don't have any openings after September to play OOC games, or the ones that do are already filled with long-standing or rivalry games, like Florida-FSU or USC-Notre Dame.

In fact, we'd be competing directly with Notre Dame to play the few schools that are willing to play OOC games outside of September. As an independent, we'd find it easy to schedule good games in September, but much more difficult in October and November.

But all that is moot, because the truth is that the question in the OP is a good one, and the answer is that YES we are already essentially independent. We get to schedule some interesting OOC games, we play both our major rivals every year, we fill out the rest of our schedule with regional games (which is unbelievably important for recruiting), and we have the conference HQ nearby and largely under our control.

The reason we won't leave the B12 for the SEC, B10, P10, or independence is because we're already having our cake and eating it too. And the B12 will stick around as long as Belmont wants it to, which appears to be for the foreseeable future.

Some folks don't like this conference, all I can say is, get used to it, and try to look forward to the OOC games against USC, Notre Dame, BYU, Berkeley, and Ole Miss. Because neither Texas nor the B12 are going anywhere any time soon.

 

[Das Mook]

If we go Indy, it is easy - especially in football.

Play OU, A&M and Tech same basic dates we currently have. Sign 15 year deals with each.

If one doesn't want to sign, insert OSU, Baylor, TCU, etc. in the slot. Think Tech would love to play us on Thanksgiving every year if A&M said no thanks?

Sign 20 year deal with Notre Dame to play them in South Bend, Austin, Dallas, Chicago, etc. Sign 7 games over 10 years vs. BYU.

Sign OSU, Baylor, Rice, etc. rotating for 5 games over 7 years, 3 at UT and two on road or perhaps neutral site.

Here's where it gets fun:
Since we are already an ESPN team, sign a deal guaranteeing a home and away every year for 10 years with the Pac 10, Big 10, ACC, SEC, etc.

The schedule could be:
home vs. Oregon
away at Duke
home vs. Mich. State
away at AZ State
home vs. BC
away at Illinois

Over a 10 or 12 year period we play a home and away game vs. every team in a conference and we are then part of their TV package as well. Guarantees games and gets even more $ for the Horns.

Basketball could still play home and aways with Tech, OU, A&M, Rice, Baylor, OSU, Kansas, etc. or play a national schedule like we currently are playing.

I don't think teams would shun playing Texas unless we grew too large (which is a possibility). At that point the whole conference / BCS system will probably collapse anyway.

 

[blonthang]

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[Das Mook]

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