1. Last summer, t.u. wanted Pac-10 and knew it could do its own network, but did not envision the sugar-daddy treatment from ESPN.
2. When A&M balked, t.u. saw way too much risk having A&M spreading its wings in the best conference and being more geographically centered, while its biggest coup would be gaining like-minded academia in other institutions.
3. ESPN was also freaking out because Fox was about to slam dunk it with a contract on a super-power conference, while at same time having to re-negotiate the SEC contract when A&M and maybe others joined it.
4. Losing a shot at OU and Texas, and having to shell out a $100 Million MORE, EACH YEAR for the next few years was unfathomable.
5. Instead of $100MM per year, ESPN figured out why not pay $300MM over TWENTY years, which is a drop in the bucket (saving about 85 Million/yr) and ALSO keeping some rights in the Big 12 schools AND locking up t.u. if they ever go independent.
6. The Ags bought the new Bevo 10 because of a guarantee that approached SEC money and it all happened so fast there was just too much uncertainty in moving to another conference. Admin also underestimated Students and Former Students desire to be in SEC.
7. Ags were not privy to the ESPN deal, though t.u. had an informal agreement with ESPN that it was coming (this is the murky smoking gun that t.u. and ESPN have kept under wraps). t.u. approached A&M about a Lonestar network as a smokescreen, but made the terms so unworkable and gave other indications to Byrne that he knew an arrangement would be bound to failure. (see Byrne's comments about the deal and how we were interested but their terms and conditions werent acceptable[my paraphrase])
8. Six months later the LHN is announced. The money was troublesome enough, but what could A&M do? There was also an understanding in the conference re the limited scope of the coverage. ESPN and t.u. got a little too ambitious and ESPN lost sight of the fact that this was a deal to stop realignment, NOT to make a profit. They started focusing on ways to recoup their investment faster.
9. Because they overplayed their hand, all hell broke loose and now they are both in a crapload of hotwater because re-alignment is occurring BECAUSE of their deal (which was supposed to STOP it) AND the value of their deal has plummeted because of the concessions made. The quick NCAA ruling was at behest of t.u. and ESPN to try to emasculate A&M at the planned legis committee hearings the following week where they hoped to exert enough external pressure for A&M to stay in Big 12 cause no palatable reason to leave. (again, underestimating how much A&M had thought through this and could posture it as good for A&M and good for the state of Texas).
10. Now, I look for back-room deals to be going on where ESPN and t.u. are going to make some incredible proposals to A&M, including a morphing of the LHN into a Big 12 or A&M/OU/t.u. channel combined with huge guarantees. Otherwise, t.u.'s back is against the wall. The LHN has basically ground to a halt, and this is the reason.
I hope our Admin stays the course and remembers its words that this is a "100 year decision" and the best chance for A&M to finally realize its ultimate destiny of a great stand-alone institution for all of Texas.
[This message has been edited by AnalogyAg (edited 8/16/2011 11:18p).]
2. When A&M balked, t.u. saw way too much risk having A&M spreading its wings in the best conference and being more geographically centered, while its biggest coup would be gaining like-minded academia in other institutions.
3. ESPN was also freaking out because Fox was about to slam dunk it with a contract on a super-power conference, while at same time having to re-negotiate the SEC contract when A&M and maybe others joined it.
4. Losing a shot at OU and Texas, and having to shell out a $100 Million MORE, EACH YEAR for the next few years was unfathomable.
5. Instead of $100MM per year, ESPN figured out why not pay $300MM over TWENTY years, which is a drop in the bucket (saving about 85 Million/yr) and ALSO keeping some rights in the Big 12 schools AND locking up t.u. if they ever go independent.
6. The Ags bought the new Bevo 10 because of a guarantee that approached SEC money and it all happened so fast there was just too much uncertainty in moving to another conference. Admin also underestimated Students and Former Students desire to be in SEC.
7. Ags were not privy to the ESPN deal, though t.u. had an informal agreement with ESPN that it was coming (this is the murky smoking gun that t.u. and ESPN have kept under wraps). t.u. approached A&M about a Lonestar network as a smokescreen, but made the terms so unworkable and gave other indications to Byrne that he knew an arrangement would be bound to failure. (see Byrne's comments about the deal and how we were interested but their terms and conditions werent acceptable[my paraphrase])
8. Six months later the LHN is announced. The money was troublesome enough, but what could A&M do? There was also an understanding in the conference re the limited scope of the coverage. ESPN and t.u. got a little too ambitious and ESPN lost sight of the fact that this was a deal to stop realignment, NOT to make a profit. They started focusing on ways to recoup their investment faster.
9. Because they overplayed their hand, all hell broke loose and now they are both in a crapload of hotwater because re-alignment is occurring BECAUSE of their deal (which was supposed to STOP it) AND the value of their deal has plummeted because of the concessions made. The quick NCAA ruling was at behest of t.u. and ESPN to try to emasculate A&M at the planned legis committee hearings the following week where they hoped to exert enough external pressure for A&M to stay in Big 12 cause no palatable reason to leave. (again, underestimating how much A&M had thought through this and could posture it as good for A&M and good for the state of Texas).
10. Now, I look for back-room deals to be going on where ESPN and t.u. are going to make some incredible proposals to A&M, including a morphing of the LHN into a Big 12 or A&M/OU/t.u. channel combined with huge guarantees. Otherwise, t.u.'s back is against the wall. The LHN has basically ground to a halt, and this is the reason.
I hope our Admin stays the course and remembers its words that this is a "100 year decision" and the best chance for A&M to finally realize its ultimate destiny of a great stand-alone institution for all of Texas.
[This message has been edited by AnalogyAg (edited 8/16/2011 11:18p).]