RedRaiderSports.com just spoke with Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance moments ago regarding the University's relationship with Texas and Texas A&M in this whole conference realignment discussion.
"We are connected with Texas and Texas A&M, and have been for quite some time. While we are rivals, we also have a lot of common interest from an educational standpoint as well. Myself, President Bailey and Gerald Myers are all on the same page on that and have been for quite some time."
Hance also mentioned that while a lot of people just think that the University brings the Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Amarillo markets, the number of Texas Tech alumni in the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston areas should not be overlooked.
From everything that we have heard over the last 72 hours, the three in-state schools -- Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech -- truly want the Big 12 to remain intact but now, if you're a Red Raider fan, you should be rooting for this Pac-10 scenario to move forward. If the Big 12 does stay together, whether they are missing one school or whatever, the thought is that it will just be a matter of time before it falls apart. Right now, Texas Tech is aligned with Texas and Texas A&M and, as a result, is in great shape if a move is to be made. They may not have that luxury two, three or five years down the line.
The bottom line is that Texas Tech has been very proactive toward this issue over the last two-plus months and the thought on campus is that the Red Raiders are in good shape.
Sources very close to the thought process of Texas Tech's leadership have also told us the following:
* Texas Tech has been working this from both angles -- both inside the state of Texas and in the Pac-10 -- in order to best position itself should the Big 12 splinter. Chancellor Hance has a very tight relationship with the President of a high-profile Pac-10 school. Furthermore, Texas Tech is going to be where they are if this Pac-10 scenario does come to fruition because of Hance's connections in Austin.
* While Nebraska has several issues with the Big 12 as presently constructed -- from championship sites to still lingering anger over the Prop 48 issue 15 years ago -- one that hasn't gotten as much play is the fact that athletic director Tom Osborne hates the style of football being played right now in the conference. He feels that Nebraska would be a much better with the Big Ten in that regard. Osborne also recognizes that Ohio State is far and away the league's standard bearer, which likely explains why he met with coach Jim Tressel in April.
* If Baylor does end up replacing a school in this Pac-16 scenario, it would either be at the expense of Colorado or Oklahoma State, not Texas Tech. It doesn't appear as Baylor has been focusing on this issue as much as schools like Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M, so they're playing catch up in a big way.
* Texas A&M is very much on the same page as Texas and Texas Tech with regards to the Pac-16. The initial rumblings that the Aggies were eyeing a potential invitation to the SEC likely came from former Texas A&M and Alabama coach Gene Stallings, who now sits on that University's Board of Regents.
* From a Texas Tech standpoint, travel would be very manageable and would probably cost less overall than what is required to travel in the Big 12.
* The seven to 14 day ultimatum is very real. By the middle-to-end of next week, we should know everything.
* Most of Texas Tech's leadership still has strong relationships with former Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg, who is now spearheading the Pac-10's efforts to start their own network. Texas Tech officials believe a Pac-16 Network would net each member institution in excess of $20 million per year and could start as early as the summer of 2012.
This post was edited on 6/6 7:01 PM by C. Level
"We are connected with Texas and Texas A&M, and have been for quite some time. While we are rivals, we also have a lot of common interest from an educational standpoint as well. Myself, President Bailey and Gerald Myers are all on the same page on that and have been for quite some time."
Hance also mentioned that while a lot of people just think that the University brings the Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Amarillo markets, the number of Texas Tech alumni in the Dallas-Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin and Houston areas should not be overlooked.
From everything that we have heard over the last 72 hours, the three in-state schools -- Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech -- truly want the Big 12 to remain intact but now, if you're a Red Raider fan, you should be rooting for this Pac-10 scenario to move forward. If the Big 12 does stay together, whether they are missing one school or whatever, the thought is that it will just be a matter of time before it falls apart. Right now, Texas Tech is aligned with Texas and Texas A&M and, as a result, is in great shape if a move is to be made. They may not have that luxury two, three or five years down the line.
The bottom line is that Texas Tech has been very proactive toward this issue over the last two-plus months and the thought on campus is that the Red Raiders are in good shape.
Sources very close to the thought process of Texas Tech's leadership have also told us the following:
* Texas Tech has been working this from both angles -- both inside the state of Texas and in the Pac-10 -- in order to best position itself should the Big 12 splinter. Chancellor Hance has a very tight relationship with the President of a high-profile Pac-10 school. Furthermore, Texas Tech is going to be where they are if this Pac-10 scenario does come to fruition because of Hance's connections in Austin.
* While Nebraska has several issues with the Big 12 as presently constructed -- from championship sites to still lingering anger over the Prop 48 issue 15 years ago -- one that hasn't gotten as much play is the fact that athletic director Tom Osborne hates the style of football being played right now in the conference. He feels that Nebraska would be a much better with the Big Ten in that regard. Osborne also recognizes that Ohio State is far and away the league's standard bearer, which likely explains why he met with coach Jim Tressel in April.
* If Baylor does end up replacing a school in this Pac-16 scenario, it would either be at the expense of Colorado or Oklahoma State, not Texas Tech. It doesn't appear as Baylor has been focusing on this issue as much as schools like Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M, so they're playing catch up in a big way.
* Texas A&M is very much on the same page as Texas and Texas Tech with regards to the Pac-16. The initial rumblings that the Aggies were eyeing a potential invitation to the SEC likely came from former Texas A&M and Alabama coach Gene Stallings, who now sits on that University's Board of Regents.
* From a Texas Tech standpoint, travel would be very manageable and would probably cost less overall than what is required to travel in the Big 12.
* The seven to 14 day ultimatum is very real. By the middle-to-end of next week, we should know everything.
* Most of Texas Tech's leadership still has strong relationships with former Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg, who is now spearheading the Pac-10's efforts to start their own network. Texas Tech officials believe a Pac-16 Network would net each member institution in excess of $20 million per year and could start as early as the summer of 2012.
This post was edited on 6/6 7:01 PM by C. Level
