(07-26-2021 01:02 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-26-2021 12:45 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  The college presidents definitely like AAU status-but I agree that Rice's AAU status won't vault us over most schools in the realignment sweepstakes. But definitely vaults KU over KSU despite KSU's far better football record as of late.

KU basketball is what vaults KU over KSU.

Disagree-If that were the case UConn, not BC, would be in the ACC.

These decisions are based on football.

Q: When will Oklahoma and Texas begin conference play in SEC?
A: The Sooner, the better!


SEC Fan #1: "Who you play this weekend?"
SEC Fan #2: "UT"
SEC Fan #1: "Which one?"

some of my other favorites I've seen:

Quote:Ten seconds left in the game…

Longhorns on the 28 yard line

Texas QB Chad McCoy drops back

Looks for a receiver

Star WR Mike Williams is open deep

He launches it

It’s caught!!!

Touchdown Texas!!!

Alabama 56, Texas 10

Quote:Texas is scheduled to play Alabama in Tuscaloosa in 2023, but they might actually be in the SEC by then. If they have any integrity at all they'll honor that non-conference agreement and just play Alabama twice.

Quote:2011:
A&M: SEC-EDE, Go East Ags
2021:
Tejas: SEC-OND, Go Be With Aggie

Quote:Texas A&M's new pitch to recruits:
“See! Even Oklahoma & Texas don’t want to play in the B12.”

(07-26-2021 01:04 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(07-26-2021 01:02 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-26-2021 12:45 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  The college presidents definitely like AAU status-but I agree that Rice's AAU status won't vault us over most schools in the realignment sweepstakes. But definitely vaults KU over KSU despite KSU's far better football record as of late.

KU basketball is what vaults KU over KSU.

Disagree-If that were the case UConn, not BC, would be in the ACC.

These decisions are based on football.

But they are not decided by AAU status. Maybe 20 years ago, that would have been the case for admission to a major sports conference.

Now, admission to a conference will be decided by sports programs themselves for the vast part. Eyeballs, records, moolah.

AAU status hits none of the above.

For the 'semi-pro' farm league that will emerge out of this, it is a 'Dont Care'.

For the others outside that group of 30 -40, AAU might matter. But in those outside that group of 30-40, sports wont be a business driver and sport might actually be overseen by what the NCAA did until the late -70's.

In that group of 40, academics and membership in the AAU are going to be superfluous. Kind of like a Rice degree is superfluous to becoming an 18 wheeler driver.

(07-26-2021 12:26 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(07-26-2021 11:39 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  This article does a good job of summarizing the remaining not-so-Big 8.

https://247sports.com/college/texas-tech...68273891_3

Kansas has to be in the best spot for Big 10, given their AAU research status and blue-chip basketball program (although I could see their athletics going the way of UConn). Iowa St, with its AAU status, seems to have traction with Big 10 as well.

Kansas State seems DoA.

Baylor/TCU have the private religious school issue that may/may not be a continued issue with the Pac 12. Maybe they go to ACC.

West Va. probably has to hope for ACC or Big 10. Academics suck, so that may be a problem.

Tx Tech / Ok State probably only has the Pac 12 and maybe the Big 10 to look at. Their poor academics will hurt them. Additionally, while they would bring eyeballs in Texas/Oklahoma, I'm not sure Texas Tech is a huge boon for any conference from a recruiting perspective. Lubbock is very far away from the state's population centers and thus very far away from the top recruits in Texas. Out of the top 50 TX 2021 recruits, only four are outside the Texas Triangle: two from Texarkana, one from a small town east of Abilene and one from Lubbock. If you're USC and making trips to Lubbock every two years for football games, it's not easy to get a recruit from the Houston/DFW area to fly/drive to Lubbock (relative to driving to Austin or College Station).

I have one difference with the above.

I think that at this point we have entered the realm of who gives a flying flip about academics. The only three things that will matter going forward will be eyeballs, record, and the green that flows from the endeavor called major men's team sports.

The issue of school academics will matter as much as the mound of big red ants that reside where a building foundation is to be poured.

Academics in the resulting land grab named collegiate athletics iis a minor kerfuffle, a literal ghost of the concept as it existed less than 10 years ago.

All jmo.

winner winner chicken dinner

Which is why I posted my path to the future idea. The schools that care about academics need to band together and tell the NCAA to basically screw themselves. They have the money to offer full rides to student-athletes, scholarship limits be damned. Whether they want to spend that money is a different matter (and obviously it would require other things like better facilities for some).

But Rice can't make that decision by themselves. The Ivy Leagues have to be at the forefront of such a movement.

(07-26-2021 11:39 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  Tx Tech / Ok State probably only has the Pac 12 and maybe the Big 10 to look at. Their poor academics will hurt them. Additionally, while they would bring eyeballs in Texas/Oklahoma, I'm not sure Texas Tech is a huge boon for any conference from a recruiting perspective. Lubbock is very far away from the state's population centers and thus very far away from the top recruits in Texas. Out of the top 50 TX 2021 recruits, only four are outside the Texas Triangle: two from Texarkana, one from a small town east of Abilene and one from Lubbock. If you're USC and making trips to Lubbock every two years for football games, it's not easy to get a recruit from the Houston/DFW area to fly/drive to Lubbock (relative to driving to Austin or College Station).

PAC-12 is working on other welcoming other "blue-chip parners" right now...

Quote:LOS ANGELES - The Pac-12 announced today that Campbell Snacks, maker of some of America’s favorite snacks and baked goods including Goldfish crackers, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, Late July tortilla chips, Kettle Brand and Cape Cod potato chips, and Pepperidge Farm cookies and breads, has been named the Conference's official sweet and salty snack and bakery product partner, and an official partner of the Pac-12 Football Championship Game.

“We welcome Campbell Snacks as our newest blue-chip partner,” said Steve Tseng, Pac-12 Networks Executive Vice President of Sales

Campbell Snacks named official partner of the Pac-12

Today's Statement from BigXII:

Quote:Today the Big 12 Conference received notice from University of Oklahoma President Joe Harroz and University of Texas President Jay Hartzell that their universities do not intend to extend their Grant of Rights when the current agreement expires on June 30, 2025.

“Although our eight members are disappointed with the decisions of these two institutions, we recognize that intercollegiate athletics is experiencing rapid change and will most likely look much different in 2025 than it does currently,” stated Commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “The Big 12 Conference will continue to support our member institutions’ efforts to graduate student-athletes, and compete for Big 12 and NCAA championships. Like many others, we will use the next four years to fully assess what the landscape will look like in 2025 and beyond. The remaining eight institutions will work together in a collaborative manner to thoughtfully and strategically position the Big 12 Conference for continued success, both athletically and academically, long into the future.”

I think our biggest obstacle is whether JK, Leebron, and the BOT care and, if they do, if they are aggressively pitching Rice.

Does anyone know the answer to this.

Everyone is saying that Tech, TCU and Baylor will not get in the PAC. There are many reason why they won't. But if Rice sits on its ass, it can look up from CUSA 3.0 and see those three schools happily participating in PAC.



Not every school or conference cares exclusively for $$$$$$$$$. Don't make assumptions.

Make a proactive thoughtful persuasive case. If it does not succeed, then we left it on the field.

And if it succeeds ........

One think I know, the status quo sucks.

Our position in the academic universe is the same or worse than when Leebron got here. Same for athletics.

Try a different way. Apply real unconventional wisdom, not just a slogan

(07-26-2021 01:57 PM)Ranger Wrote:  I think our biggest obstacle is whether JK, Leebron, and the BOT care and, if they do, if they are aggressively pitching Rice.

Does anyone know the answer to this.

Everyone is saying that Tech, TCU and Baylor will not get in the PAC. There are many reason why they won't. But if Rice sits on its ass, it can look up from CUSA 3.0 and see those three schools happily participating in PAC.



Not every school or conference cares exclusively for $$$$$$$$$. Don't make assumptions.

Make a proactive thoughtful persuasive case. If it does not succeed, then we left it on the field.

And if it succeeds ........

One think I know, the status quo sucks.

Our position in the academic universe is the same or worse than when Leebron got here. Same for athletics.

Try a different way. Apply real unconventional wisdom, not just a slogan

I think our position in the academic universe is better-our research expenditures are significantly higher, our acceptance rate significantly lower, our racial and geographic diversity more broad.. Not saying I (or others on this forum) value on all of those things, but those within academia do.

Now-I think our athletics position is significantly WORSE.

(07-26-2021 01:57 PM)Ranger Wrote:  I think our biggest obstacle is whether JK, Leebron, and the BOT care and, if they do, if they are aggressively pitching Rice.

Does anyone know the answer to this.

Everyone is saying that Tech, TCU and Baylor will not get in the PAC. There are many reason why they won't. But if Rice sits on its ass, it can look up from CUSA 3.0 and see those three schools happily participating in PAC.



Not every school or conference cares exclusively for $$$$$$$$$. Don't make assumptions.

Make a proactive thoughtful persuasive case. If it does not succeed, then we left it on the field.

And if it succeeds ........

One think I know, the status quo sucks.

Our position in the academic universe is the same or worse than when Leebron got here. Same for athletics.

Try a different way. Apply real unconventional wisdom, not just a slogan

if the actions of the last 50/25/10 years are not evident to the answer to whether they care or not, I don't what would be. Hopefully I will be surprised as this is truely the last of the last chances.

https://twitter.com/ESPNRittenberg/statu...6485918725

Quote:Adam Rittenberg@ESPNRittenberg

Heard today from several people that B1G only would be interested in adding schools from the AAU (Nebraska no longer, but was when it joined league). Texas is AAU member, along with Pac-12 schools like Cal, Washington, Colorado, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford. Oklahoma is not AAU.

10:43 AM · Jul 26, 2021

(07-26-2021 02:18 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  https://twitter.com/ESPNRittenberg/statu...6485918725

Quote:Adam Rittenberg@ESPNRittenberg

Heard today from several people that B1G only would be interested in adding schools from the AAU (Nebraska no longer, but was when it joined league). Texas is AAU member, along with Pac-12 schools like Cal, Washington, Colorado, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford. Oklahoma is not AAU.

10:43 AM · Jul 26, 2021

BIG or at least its fans, are hoping for merging with, partial merger with, or poaching Pac schools, nine of which are AAU. Fallback is to poach ACC AAU members.

If that fails and they want to expand with AAU members, there are only8 available schools plus the Ivies.

KU, ISU,Rice, Tulane, UCD, UCI, Buffalo, Stony Brook.

(07-26-2021 02:33 PM)Ranger Wrote:  

(07-26-2021 02:18 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  https://twitter.com/ESPNRittenberg/statu...6485918725

Quote:Adam Rittenberg@ESPNRittenberg

Heard today from several people that B1G only would be interested in adding schools from the AAU (Nebraska no longer, but was when it joined league). Texas is AAU member, along with Pac-12 schools like Cal, Washington, Colorado, USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford. Oklahoma is not AAU.

10:43 AM · Jul 26, 2021

BIG or at least its fans, are hoping for merging with, partial merger with, or poaching Pac schools, nine of which are AAU. Fallback is to poach ACC AAU members.

If that fails and they want to expand with AAU members, there are only8 available schools plus the Ivies.

KU, ISU,Rice, Tulane, UCD, UCI, Buffalo, Stony Brook.

Some are saying they'd return to their roots and readmit Case Western

I think it's looking highly likely that this fall's game against Texas will mark the last time the two schools meet on the football field. I realize that there is another game scheduled for Austin in 2023, but I can't see UT remaining in the Big 12 after this academic year. Once they join the SEC, old schedules will fall by the wayside.

(07-26-2021 01:57 PM)Ranger Wrote:  I think our biggest obstacle is whether JK, Leebron, and the BOT care and, if they do, if they are aggressively pitching Rice.

When the XII put on their dog and pony show of threatening to add teams in 2016, JK and Leebron made a pitch at the in-person second round. I have no doubt that JK cares (it would be a massive promotion for him even if we take the cynical view that he's only concerned about resume building). Leebron obviously sees some value in major conference athletics if he not only allowed the process but participated in it, though I think the prevailing attitude on this board is that he doesn't value it highly enough. I'm not privy to those conversations, but I can't imagine that the BOT was left in the dark in 2016 nor that this ongoing situation up the road has gone completely under their radar. I am confident that something is being done. I am not confident that it will be successful, nor am I deluding myself that we might leap from C-USA to the PAC or B1G by virtue of our AAU status. Hell, UH spends more in research dollars now than we do. What argument do we have over them, either on or off the field?

(07-26-2021 02:55 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  I think it's looking highly likely that this fall's game against Texas will mark the last time the two schools meet on the football field. I realize that there is another game scheduled for Austin in 2023, but I can't see UT remaining in the Big 12 after this academic year. Once they join the SEC, old schedules will fall by the wayside.

I'm not sure why. If I'm Texas and playing a nine-game SEC schedule, which will potentially involve several top-25 teams, I would want to make sure that all (or at least two) of my three non-conference games are gimmes. That's how their non-conference schedule is crafted through 2026 (two G5, one P5), so I wouldn't see them wanting to make it harder on themselves. Under the (potential) new playoff, the SEC champ plus probably at least three (and maybe even five) of the six "at-large" playoff spots are going to the SEC, so you basically just need to be a SEC division runner-up and you're in the playoff.

Also, they may need to find another non-conference opponent in 2023 (and maybe 2022), since they've got Alabama scheduled during those years. Same with 2028-2029 (Georgia) and 2030-2031 (Florida).

I think what should be most concerning is that, according to UT's future non-conference schedules, they play UTSA in every even year through 2030 (starting in 2022) and UTEP in every odd year through 2031 (starting in 2025). We need to be playing UT in three out of every five seasons.

(07-26-2021 03:56 PM)franklyconfused Wrote:  

(07-26-2021 01:57 PM)Ranger Wrote:  I think our biggest obstacle is whether JK, Leebron, and the BOT care and, if they do, if they are aggressively pitching Rice.

When the XII put on their dog and pony show of threatening to add teams in 2016, JK and Leebron made a pitch at the in-person second round. I have no doubt that JK cares (it would be a massive promotion for him even if we take the cynical view that he's only concerned about resume building). Leebron obviously sees some value in major conference athletics if he not only allowed the process but participated in it, though I think the prevailing attitude on this board is that he doesn't value it highly enough. I'm not privy to those conversations, but I can't imagine that the BOT was left in the dark in 2016 nor that this ongoing situation up the road has gone completely under their radar. I am confident that something is being done. I am not confident that it will be successful, nor am I deluding myself that we might leap from C-USA to the PAC or B1G by virtue of our AAU status. Hell, UH spends more in research dollars now than we do. What argument do we have over them, either on or off the field?

To be clear, I don't think we are getting a B1G invite.

But, we have lots of things going for us (vs. UH or other universities)... There are more cross-applicants between Rice and, say, Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue, etc than there ever will be between Rice and UH. We have significantly more funded PhD positions relative to the size of the university than UH and most other universities, The PhDs that we produce have far higher "penetration" rates into academia than UH, our endowment is much, much larger and we have higher alumni engagement.

Despite our lack of a medical school, we're still a far better university than UH and you're being too hard on the university if you believe otherwise.

(07-26-2021 02:55 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  I think it's looking highly likely that this fall's game against Texas will mark the last time the two schools meet on the football field. I realize that there is another game scheduled for Austin in 2023, but I can't see UT remaining in the Big 12 after this academic year. Once they join the SEC, old schedules will fall by the wayside.

so...
Q: Why do we go to the moon? Why does Rice play Texas?'
A: We don't anymore.
Lots more things in that equation have changed since that speech was given...in a way, why are we surprised at the result?

Big Ten Only Interested in Adding AAU Schools: Report
https://www.heartlandcollegesports.com/2...jciraZ8tog

They're saying there's a chance!

(07-26-2021 04:56 PM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  Big Ten Only Interested in Adding AAU Schools: Report
https://www.heartlandcollegesports.com/2...jciraZ8tog

They're saying there's a chance!

There is a video blog which interviewed a supposed Buckeye insider. He said UT and OU decided to go as a group. They supposedly approached the BIG in February but the BIG would not take OU because it was not an AAU member.