David Boren would like to end The Longhorn Network

[Lance Armstrong]

I am not sure that the Pac 12, B1G or SEC wouldn't take little brother schools. For starters, OU and UT are elite blue blood programs so the temptation to get one (or both) of them would be too tempting not to accept a decent little brother. Okie Jr. and TCU don't have flies on them; they're good programs in more than one sport. How many of us have married a girl in spite of getting a half-assed mother-in-law in the bargain? Sometimes it's worth it.

The pac 12 would take a little brother, they have no choice really. It's either okie and okie jr, or end up having to add some mountain west schools. As long as little brother doesn't believe in Jesus, then they can't come.

 

[Wild Turkey]

Sorry MR. Turkey, its not that simple.

A new report shows that ESPN is in trouble for 2 big reasons

That article is taking the position that the Netflix option would be in addition to the traditional cable model currently being used. I'm saying if the traditional cable model folds, which is a possibility in the future, then a move strictly to a Netflix on demand model is possible.

Basically at that point to get the content we all would have to subscribe to the new model. If ESPN went away in its current form then many of us are ditching cable and would subscribe. To make us do it they would just bundle all their packages together NBA, MLB, SEC and so forth and we would shell out the bucks.

HBO is going this route and is preparing for cables demise with their On Demand product right now. It will happen if things continue the way they are. Trust me when this hits you would much rather be in bed with ESPN than FOX like the B1G.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

This really isn't a LHN issue.....but getting rid of it would make things easier for the conference to collapse, that's for sure.

There are those here that simply want to bash Texas, as if the entire conference didn't CHOOSE this path on their own.

I agree that Boren is transitioning OU to leave......and most likely it's the PAC12 he's looking at. So was Powers when he was the UT president. The PAC NEEDS games in the central time zone because their network is dying as well, to expand their footprint.

This gives Texas and OU leverage. As far as the LHN goes, I have no idea how they break that contract......I know they attempted to in the first potential move to the PAC, but they couldn't figure out how to fold it in......and Texas is going to want to control their third tier rights unless they can get a guarantee on revenues for those games.

This should be entertaining to see.

No chance UT says "forget the 15mil a year we get from LHN, we'll take th 1mil a year deal from the pac 12 network". I know adding Texas would add massive value to the pac network, but not enough to close that gap.

 

[GoldRusher]

Houston wouldn't be a new market, and Temple's 15 mins are over. Boren can't see past tomorrow, guy has no vision. He's a msg board sports fan who happens to have some power. The big 12 should stand pat, wait for the next round of shake ups. As for the network, i've already said why that's a dying model anyway. Think forward Borens, not backwards.

I just use Houston and Temple as examples for their markets. Mizzu,Rutgers , Maryland ect weren't picked up for their on field success. Could switch Houston for UConn or USF ect.. Just using the example the BIG used to add their most recent members.

 

[Lance Armstrong]

That article is taking the position that the Netflix option would be in addition to the traditional cable model currently being used. I'm saying if the traditional cable model folds, which is a possibility in the future, then a move strictly to a Netflix on demand model is possible.

Basically at that point to get the content we all would have to subscribe to the new model. If ESPN went away in its current form then many of us are ditching cable and would subscribe. To make us do it they would just bundle all their packages together NBA, MLB, SEC and so forth and we would shell out the bucks.

HBO is going this route and is preparing for cables demise with their On Demand product right now. It will happen if things continue the way they are. Trust me when this hits you would much rather be in bed with ESPN than FOX like the B1G.

lol no its not. Man this is either flying over you heard, or you just don't want to admit espn is in real trouble. Long story short, ESPN paid way too much for their content, including LHN, SEC network, and the massive deals every conference just inked. They would have to charge 30 a month with a netflix only model just to make a buck. Problem is nobody would pay that. HBO is different, they own their own content, they don't pay a conference or a league like the NBA to broadcast. ESPN is screwed, and most stick it out with cable. Which is fine with cable, since ESPN is keeping cable alive.

 

[GoldRusher]

Really, the NCAA should just tell these leagues:

"All right, everything below the Mason-Dixon line and East of the Mississippi is now the SEC...everything above Mason-Dixon and East of the Great Lakes is the Big Ten..."

That Mason Dixon line runs right through the middle of WV, we still won't have a home

 

[Wild Turkey]

This really isn't a LHN issue.....but getting rid of it would make things easier for the conference to collapse, that's for sure.

There are those here that simply want to bash Texas, as if the entire conference didn't CHOOSE this path on their own.

I agree that Boren is transitioning OU to leave......and most likely it's the PAC12 he's looking at. So was Powers when he was the UT president. The PAC NEEDS games in the central time zone because their network is dying as well, to expand their footprint.

This gives Texas and OU leverage. As far as the LHN goes, I have no idea how they break that contract......I know they attempted to in the first potential move to the PAC, but they couldn't figure out how to fold it in......and Texas is going to want to control their third tier rights unless they can get a guarantee on revenues for those games.

This should be entertaining to see.

I think that the Big 12 survives if Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri and aTm had stayed in the conference. The real question is what caused them to leave and that answer is the reason the Big 12 will eventually die.

The LHN was a contributing factor and I don't think any reasonable person would deny that but no reasonable person would have turned the deal down either so it's a catch 22.

 

[Wild Turkey]

lol no its not. Man this is either flying over you heard, or you just don't want to admit espn is in real trouble. Long story short, ESPN paid way too much for their content, including LHN, SEC network, and the massive deals every conference just inked. They would have to charge 30 a month with a netflix only model just to make a buck. Problem is nobody would pay that. HBO is different, they own their own content, they don't pay a conference or a league like the NBA to broadcast. ESPN is screwed, and most stick it out with cable. Which is fine with cable, since ESPN is keeping cable alive.

ESPN has something that HBO does not and that is the ability to run ads during content. The article isn't factoring a full pull out from the cable model it is factoring based on an add on in addition to.

If all games go to an on demand platform by individual schools how much are you going to spend every weekend watching games?

There is a solution and ESPN is better positioned with Disney's backing to make it happen. Sports = Money and ESPN already has the content contracted so this issue will get solved.

 

[Deep Creek]

And it SUCKS...no benefit to expanding if those are the best options

I am not sure that the Pac 12, B1G or SEC wouldn't take little brother schools. For starters, OU and UT are elite blue blood programs so the temptation to get one (or both) of them would be too tempting not to accept a decent little brother. Okie Jr. and TCU don't have flies on them; they're good programs in more than one sport. How many of us have married a girl in spite of getting a half-assed mother-in-law in the bargain? Sometimes it's worth it.

Like I've said many times, "Some of us are guilty by heredity, some are guilty by marriage." My brother-in-law tells me, "He was born into the family and didn't have a choice. I was stupid enough to marry into it."

 

[Codaxx]

Boren wants OKLAHOMA to go to the PAC-12.
That is all..

He wants to find some stooge school to expand and prevent any legal damages from breaching the GOR.
He wants to bust up the LHN, so Texas doesn't get wishy washy and stay with the Big 12.
He wants to eliminate the sweetheart deals of Kansas and WVU to get them looking elsewhere.

He knows that the PAC-12 is unlikely to take OU by itself
Nor is the PAC-12 likely to take the little brother schools as a package.
Nor is the PAC-12 likely to test the waters unless KU and WVU seem antsy as well.

The PAC-12 would accept Texas and OU as a package under 3 conditions:
(No GOR, No LHN, No little brother schools).

He has to get rid of the LHN and also piss Texas, WVU, and KANSAS enough for them to look elsewhere as well.
But, he also has to have some sham expansion candidate to keep the GOR damages low if possible as well.

Well Played Boren.

I dont disagree, but I am not sure about the little brother parts. I believe the PAC's interest in OU and Texas is greater than any other conference. Not only are they marque programs, but they add a new time zone. That is not true for SEC or Big. I could see the PAC looking to increase that exposure. They sit at 12 teams. 14 is an odd number. Why not go to 16 and add 4 central time zone schools? It opens Saturday up to the PAC (12-1 eastern games). 1 or 2 teams in the central does not give you a lot of content. I could easily see a OU, Texas, Kansas, and Tech/OSU expansion. OU and Texas would press for Tech/OSU. PAC would want Kansas and 1 bitter pill.

 

[Goldbug]

I dont disagree, but I am not sure about the little brother parts. I believe the PAC's interest in OU and Texas is greater than any other conference. Not only are they marque programs, but they add a new time zone. That is not true for SEC or Big. I could see the PAC looking to increase that exposure. They sit at 12 teams. 14 is an odd number. Why not go to 16 and add 4 central time zone schools? It opens Saturday up to the PAC (12-1 eastern games). 1 or 2 teams in the central does not give you a lot of content. I could easily see a OU, Texas, Kansas, and Tech/OSU expansion. OU and Texas would press for Tech/OSU. PAC would want Kansas and 1 bitter pill.

The damn politicians would never go for leaving all the little brothers hanging out to dry. I'd prefer OU, Texas, Okie Jr. and Kansas but Texas politicians would shit a brick if that were to happen. The Pac 12 would be forced to consider taking one of the Jesus schools if they made a play for UT......probably TCU if it came to that.

 

[Wild Turkey]

I dont disagree, but I am not sure about the little brother parts. I believe the PAC's interest in OU and Texas is greater than any other conference. Not only are they marque programs, but they add a new time zone. That is not true for SEC or Big. I could see the PAC looking to increase that exposure. They sit at 12 teams. 14 is an odd number. Why not go to 16 and add 4 central time zone schools? It opens Saturday up to the PAC (12-1 eastern games). 1 or 2 teams in the central does not give you a lot of content. I could easily see a OU, Texas, Kansas, and Tech/OSU expansion. OU and Texas would press for Tech/OSU. PAC would want Kansas and 1 bitter pill.

OU, Texas and Kansas are no brainers for the PAC (I do think the SEC might come into the conversation for Kansas since it is Flag school, has an incredible basketball history with national appeal and the geography makes more sense). The PAC is buying time in another zone so at that point it's a simple matter of who accomplishes that goal and brings the most value. That 4th school may or may not be from the Big 12.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Screw it, Baylor 2 Sun Belt...at least they would dominate the hell out of it for a couple of years before the lack of solid recruits caught up with them. Maybe they could get into the Big Six bowls as the Group of Five rep.

 

[Codaxx]

OU, Texas and Kansas are no brainers for the PAC (I do think the SEC might come into the conversation for Kansas since it is Flag school, has an incredible basketball history with national appeal and the geography makes more sense). The PAC is buying time in another zone so at that point it's a simple matter of who accomplishes that goal and brings the most value. That 4th school may or may not be from the Big 12.

There is just not much else in between. Plus 4 big 12 schools keep some tradition together. I think it is a negotiation, but I cant imagine the PAC saying they want Boise State over Texas Tech in a negotiation with Texas. Kansas is a program worth arguing over, I dont see another program available that would add enough to fight over.

 

[Hornsstampede2.0]

It is one of the strange ironies.

The LHN is the evil bane that everyone complains about outside the Big 12.
But, it is also the only thing that prevents the Big 12 from collapsing as well.

You don't see any of the smaller schools in the Big 12 saying a word about it.
Oklahoma will complain about it, because they need it gone in order to move out West.

Without the LHN, Texas/Oklahoma are members of the PAC-12 almost overnight.
The small schools are screwed and become AAC, Conference USA teams.

Iowa State, K-State, TTU, OSU, Baylor, and TCU are only safe as long as the LHN exists.

 

[Codaxx]

The damn politicians would never go for leaving all the little brothers hanging out to dry. I'd prefer OU, Texas, Okie Jr. and Kansas but Texas politicians would shit a brick if that were to happen. The Pac 12 would be forced to consider taking one of the Jesus schools if they made a play for UT......probably TCU if it came to that.

No chance. Pac is not taking a religious school. I would guess Texas Tech is the most palatable. Ok State and Tech are similar, but if I am taking 2 schools from 1 State that state is Texas. Before anyone goes nuts, it is due to population. 2 schools in a state of 27 million people makes a lot more sense than 2 schools from a state of 4million

 

[Goldbug]

No chance. Pac is not taking a religious school. I would guess Texas Tech is the most palatable. Ok State and Tech are similar, but if I am taking 2 schools from 1 State that state is Texas. Before anyone goes nuts, it is due to population. 2 schools in a state of 27 million people makes a lot more sense than 2 schools from a state of 4million

The math certainly argues against taking 2 schools from Oklahoma but math is not most politicians' strong suit. Kansas has the same problem. A lot of states do......especially Texas. I just can't see Texas Tech being interesting at all to the Pac 12. It has crappy academics, it's in the middle of bumfuck nowhere and its sports programs are iffy at best. The heathens at Cal could be brought around if push came to shove if UT was absolutely stuck with TCU being its dance partner.

 

[Wild Turkey]

There is just not much else in between. Plus 4 big 12 schools keep some tradition together. I think it is a negotiation, but I cant imagine the PAC saying they want Boise State over Texas Tech in a negotiation with Texas. Kansas is a program worth arguing over, I dont see another program available that would add enough to fight over.

I've always thought Hawaii was an intriguing option for the PAC. With the NCAA rules it allows you to add an extra home game when you play them away, great recruiting tool to be able to say you get a free trip to Hawaii and it opens the Pacific Islands up to your brand.

Is it worth it? Probably not but it is interesting.

 

[TexasExes98]

I think that the Big 12 survives if Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri and aTm had stayed in the conference. The real question is what caused them to leave and that answer is the reason the Big 12 will eventually die.

The LHN was a contributing factor and I don't think any reasonable person would deny that but no reasonable person would have turned the deal down either so it's a catch 22.

I don't think the LHN was a contributing factor at all, more of a fabrication of lies from NU fans who ignore the actual facts. The reason I say this was b/c every Big 12 school voted in favor of NOT supporting a conference network, especially Nebraska b/c the Huskers were flirting with the idea of creating their own network back in 2006. Then throw in the fact Aggy's AD went to Dodds to talk about doing a joint network after seeing the offer TEXAS received from ESPN, even though Dodds had already approached Aggy about doing this before and Aggy expressed no interest, but after big bro spent all the time, money and effort to get their own network going, Aggy was ready to jump on board and Dodds said go eff yourself.....

 

[Wild Turkey]

No chance. Pac is not taking a religious school. I would guess Texas Tech is the most palatable. Ok State and Tech are similar, but if I am taking 2 schools from 1 State that state is Texas. Before anyone goes nuts, it is due to population. 2 schools in a state of 27 million people makes a lot more sense than 2 schools from a state of 4million

Baylor's academics make them pretty appealing and that will the political choice in the state so I could see it happening. It would be an interesting marriage though.