Slive needs to do whatever it takes to secure Oklahoma

#1
Morpheus

Morpheus

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#1
As things continue to evolve in the conference expansion sweepstakes, it seems apparent to me that the state of Oklahoma is the current big prize. Let me explain.

This whole thing started because of the SEC's national dominance over the past few years, which lead to the Big 10 and PAC 10 taking desparate measures in order to catch up. One took Colorado, the other Nebraska. Now the SEC is expanding westward to take A&M. It's like three hungry lions fighting over a slain wildebeast (Big12). The question is, which one is strong enough to drag the remaining meat back to his den?

As we all know this landgrabbing auction is about capturing media markets. But its more than that IMO, its about capturing the hearts and minds of the masses. Its more than TV sets, its establishing your brand, embedding it into the collective consciousness of as many people as possible. When you do that you have options, you have power, and you have potential for huge profits.

So we have this march toward the middle, similar to the biblical battle of armegeddon. The three surrounding conferences want to stake their claim to valuable remaining pieces. But each wants to make sure they get the ones that really matter. As any good chess player knows, whoever controls the middle of the board has a big advantage.

As the BIG12 slowly dissolves, the biggest prize out there is obviously Texas. But Texas wants no part of the SEC, and since they have trouble playing nice, I don't think Slive wastes much energy there. Now its looking more and more likely that Texas will go with the PAC, and likely take OU, OSU and Texas Tech with them.

If this happens, the PAC has won IMO. They will be the new premier conference in college football, and generate the most interest nationally. The conference will cover nearly half the map and take the lions share of those middle-states hearts and minds I mentioned before.

Which brings me to Oklahoma. By adding A&M, we have our foot in the door to that region, but without the state of Oklahoma, it won't be enough. I know Slive courted OU last year but rejected little brother OSU, and that was a mistake IMO. If you have any chance to secure Oklahoma, you do whatever it takes. The SEC's presence in Texas would be immensely more powerful if they were the lone presence in Oklahoma.

Slive needs to be kissin a$$ and shakin hands, whatever it takes to prevent this PAC deal, and make the Oklahoma schools his highest priority. If we lose them, all thats left is the scraps.
 
#4
#4
What does the SEC have to offer Oklahoma (or Texas) that the Pac-12 doesn't?

They offer academic prestige, equal or better money, and an easier route to a national championship. We offer a chance to sack up and play in the toughest football conference in the country -- and a much better chance of going 8-4. They aren't coming east.
 
#5
#5
Vercingetorix said:
What does the SEC have to offer Oklahoma (or Texas) that the Pac-12 doesn't?

They offer academic prestige, equal or better money, and an easier route to a national championship. We offer a chance to sack up and play in the toughest football conference in the country -- and a much better chance of going 8-4. They aren't coming east.
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Sadly, you may be right. But thats why polititions like Slive make the big bucks. Has to convince them otherwise.
 
#7
#7
Morpheus said:
Sadly, you may be right. But thats why polititions like Slive make the big bucks. Has to convince them otherwise.
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I just don't know how you expect Slive to convince them otherwise when he has nothing to offer. The SEC is an all-for-one, one-for-all, divvy-it-up-into-equal-slices conference. They can't change that for Oklahoma.

Bob Stoops is apparently already soiling his shorts over the thought of recruiting in California and playing his conference championship games in the Rose Bowl. They're going to the Pac-16.

Texas is just waiting on Oklahoma to announce it first so they don't look like the villain.
 
#8
#8
Vercingetorix said:
I just don't know how you expect Slive to convince them otherwise when he has nothing to offer. The SEC is an all-for-one, one-for-all, divvy-it-up-into-equal-slices conference. They can't change that for Oklahoma.

Bob Stoops is apparently already soiling his shorts over the thought of recruiting in California and playing his conference championship games in the Rose Bowl. They're going to the Pac-16.

Texas is just waiting on Oklahoma to announce it first so they don't look like the villain.
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Where did you hear that about Stoops? All Ive seen is he's pretty noncommital, saying he'll leave it up to their pres. Have I missed something?
 
#9
#9
Oklahoma is in bed with Texas and they are not going to be without one another. Texas, OK, OKlite, Texas Tech are more than likely headed to the Pac xx when it's all said and done.
 
#10
#10
Here's a Yahoo college football blog that cites an Austin newspaper column saying that Stoops was ready to jump last year.

Why wouldn't you, if you're Stoops? Recruiting toehold in California as well as Texas. You can go right in and dominate the conference. Suddenly you're practically glamorous.

Or you can join the SEC West, mash uglies with Alabama and LSU and Auburn and Arkansas every year without expanding your recruiting base at all, and see how it goes.
 
#11
#11
Vercingetorix said:
Here's a Yahoo college football blog that cites an Austin newspaper column saying that Stoops was ready to jump last year.

Why wouldn't you, if you're Stoops? Recruiting toehold in California as well as Texas. You can go right in and dominate the conference. Suddenly you're practically glamorous.

Or you can join the SEC West, mash uglies with Alabama and LSU and Auburn and Arkansas every year without expanding your recruiting base at all, and see how it goes.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. :good!:
 
#12
#12
Morpheus said:
Slive needs to be kissin a$$ and shakin hands, whatever it takes to prevent this PAC deal, and make the Oklahoma schools his highest priority. If we lose them, all thats left is the scraps.
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I mostly agree with your sentiments, but from what I've read it doesn't look likely that OU will come this way.

As far as "the scaps" goes, it may not look so promising right now. But keep in mind that if the expansion shakeup does come, the landscape could change very rapidly. It's possible, for example, that the ACC could fracture. Then it would be a much different field.
 
#13
#13
Morpheus...

Nice post...it certainly got my blood pressure up...and not in a good way. :)

Given my college affiliation, OU coming to the SEC would be a nightmare for A&M. OU recruits Texas very well...would hate to think what they'd do if they came to the SEC.

On the other hand, OU does nothing for the SEC from an academic perspective or a television perspective. If this is all about money then I don't see them coming alone. But to your point, it would certainly send shock waves through the football world.

The University of Texas would have a melt down if OU left for the SEC. Many don't believe it when A&M says they're tired of Texas' crap. Those not convinced would stand up and take notice if OU did the same thing.
 
#14
#14
I'd love to have Oklahoma but I don't see them coming to the SEC. I could see the Pac-10 though.
 
#15
#15
Here's another worthwhile read about where we stand.

At the root of Big 12 destabilization is not Texas A&M’s departure — that’s hardly a death blow — but the deteriorating relationship between Texas and Oklahoma.

“Their bond has frayed,” a source said. “Texas overplayed its hand …

“Oklahoma wants into the Pac-12 with or without Texas. The partnership is no longer sacrosanct.”
Click to expand...

BCS football: Realignment update (Pac-12 CEOs don’t want to expand) | College Hotline
 
#16
#16
So much for the Oklahoma is tied to Texas thing. Longhorn network killing a lot of things..
 
#17
#17
Velo Vol said:
I mostly agree with your sentiments, but from what I've read it doesn't look likely that OU will come this way.

As far as "the scaps" goes, it may not look so promising right now. But keep in mind that if the expansion shakeup does come, the landscape could change very rapidly. It's possible, for example, that the ACC could fracture. Then it would be a much different field.
Click to expand...

I had considered this as well, but its looking unlikely that the ACC will splinter. All the ACC schools seem to be taking a posture of solidarity. VT, which would be my first choice to the east, has made it clear multiple times they will NOT be leaving the ACC. The Carolina schools will stick together. UF, UGA, USC, and UK have formed an alliance to protect each other from allowing any more teams in their states. All that leaves to the east is WV, which I would consider a poor fit that wouldnt add much if anything. I cant see going any further north than Virginia.

And to the west the only remaining schools will be Mizzou, the Kansas schools, and a few smaller schools in Texas. Only Mizzou would help us and even with them its minimal. Plus they seem to be much more interested in going to the Big10.

So if OU goes with Texas, the entire middle region of the map belongs to the PAC for the forseeable future. And to make matters worse, the options for SEC expasion are extremely limited. I could see a scenario where the PAC, Big10 and ACC all expand around the SEC and prevent any future growth. Slive needs to forego sleep until he secures the SEC's future.
 
#19
#19
Morpheus said:
Wow! Maybe there is hope yet.
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I read that article as basically Cold War-style brinksmanship -- "We don't want to expand; we don't want to change anything; but if the SEC moves first, we're going straight to all-out thermonuclear war by pulling Oklahoma and probably Texas." Sounds like they're trying to get the SEC to back down and turn A&M down at the last minute.

An important of this little kabuki dance that everyone's doing is that publicly everyone has to say that they're satisfied with the status quo. Nobody wants to be seen as the greedy guys who blew up the sport.
 
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#20
#20
A&M, OU, Okie St, and Mizzou to make 16

West
LSU
Arkansas
Miss St
Ole Miss
OU
A&M
Okie St
Mizzou

East
Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Florida
Tennessee
Vandy
Kentucky
South Carolina
 
#22
#22
Vercingetorix said:
I read that article as basically Cold War-style brinksmanship -- "We don't want to expand; we don't want to change anything; but if the SEC moves first, we're going straight to all-out thermonuclear war by pulling Oklahoma and probably Texas." Sounds like they're trying to get the SEC to back down and turn A&M down at the last minute.

An important of this little kabuki dance that everyone's doing is that publicly everyone has to say that they're satisfied with the status quo. Nobody wants to be seen as the greedy guys who blew up the sport.
Click to expand...

Yeah that crossed my mind as well. Funny how everyone wants to avoid expansion, yet here we are expanding. Everyone posturing themselves to be able to blame someone else if they annihilate the world.
 
#23
#23
Muschump said:
If the PAC12 gets OU and Texas consider the SEC the big losers.
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I don't disagree with you on OU. I would love for the SEC to pull them in.

However, I don't see any conference who has to put up with Texas being a "winner." The Longhorns have destroyed 2 conferences in the past 20 years.

And while OU and Texas would be big time gets for the Pac-12, if they also have to take Tech and OSU, then they have greatly reduced the significance of the expansion. Increasing the size of the pie is critical if you are going to have to slice it a few extra times. TTU and OSU simply do not make the pie bigger.
 
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