Good morning West Texans and all you good, fine, friendly folks out there who wish you were . . .
I didn’t write anything about Texas Tech losing out on a chance to go to the Pac 10 and elevate the University because of the caving in by other Big 12 conference members yesterday because I was too mad. I was afraid I’d write something I’d regret. Now, I don’t care if I do. It is time for Texas Tech to take the gloves off, grow-up and get on with it.
Leave UT. Move on. You’ve been put in your place, Tech, now what are you going to do about it?
For the best writing on the subject and how Tech got sabotaged and why read ESPN.com’s Andy Katz‘s article. It becomes quite clear the how and some of the why, but it still took the complicity of other school to go along with it. National radio host Tim Brando also had great comments on how outside forces brokered this Big 12 payoff in order to keep the Pac 10 from getting to 16 teams. Go catch his interview on The Monty Show from last night to hear some stellar radio.
As for Texas Tech, make no mistake yesterday was a set-back and a bad day. How Kent Hance leads from this moment on will define his time at Tech, much more so than anything having to do with the firing of Mike Leach. That was small time stuff compared to the stakes right now.
As of now there is still a Board of Regents meeting schedule for Tech today. If there really is an offer still out there from the Pac 10, which I doubt, Tech should and I would say must take it. It is time for little brother to grow up and move out of the house that Texas built and controls.
We’ll have much more later today at three when we are live from Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ. I hope you put your thoughts about what has gone down and what Texas Tech should do now here on the site. I really want to know what you’re thinking about all of this.
Hyatt
Funny how last week you thought Texas A&M was wrong to move away from UT into another conference alone, but now you’re advocating that Tech do that very same thing.
If there is still an invite on the table, Tech must get the jump on realignment. Failing to do that, Tech will likely be left out in the future when there are five schools jockeying for four spots in somebody’s super-conference.
Plus, Tech making the move now likely would topple UT’s house of cards. That alone would be worth any increased costs associated with switching conferences.
A&M to the SEC with Texas, Tech, OU and OSU going to Pac 10 would have been wrong. To stay in a dying Big 12 though for Tech would be wrong to. You can’t compare the two issues, Ron, as they are very different. Tech may have to stand alone now in order not to be left behind later. Quite simple.
Hyatt
Tech to the Pac-12 or the SEC 14. I don’t care, Tech must go if they have an offer.
So upset that Tech still didn’t have an invite from the PAC-10. I am VERY sure that next time around we’ll be left out. Hopefully we can position ourselves more favorably next time.
A missed opportunity, perhaps one of the biggest missed opportunities in Tech’s history. I hope Tech gets another chance to elevate its status to that of an equal in the near future. In the meantime, we’ve got to figure out better names for these conferences. The Big 12 with 10 teams makes no sense. The Big 10 with 12 teams, Pac-10 with 11 teams, and all the constant changing of number of teams in conference… Numbers need to be dropped from all conference names. No more numbers! Call it the Big Conference, or the Big West, or auction off naming rights (not that please, although that is most likely) and call it the United Conference or the O’Reilly Conference or ATT’s Conference. Pac-10 could just drop the 10 and problem solved, Pac Conference. SEC and Mountain West have right idea.