R.I.P. Big 12

The conference formally known as the Big 12 will lose its remaining marquee members on Tuesday June 15th.

The Austin Statesman (Austin, TX newspaper) is reporting that the Texas University System is meeting on Tuesday and after that meeting it will announce that the University of Texas and Texas Tech will be leaving the Big 12 for the Pac 10. Apparently, Texas A&M is still discussing the possibility of joining the SEC, although severing ties with the other Texas state universities does not seem likely to me - given the financial and political ramifications. Orangebloods.com is also reporting this to be true and Chip Brown was the one that broke the whole Texas to the Pac 10 story in the first place.

The Daily Oklahoman (another newspaper) is reporting that both Oklahomas and Oklahoma State will be leaving the Big 12 but they will not announce their intentions until after Texas announces its intentions.

Is it just me or do all these other Big 12 schools come off like Texas's bitch? In the words of a friend of mine from a Big 12 school, the David McWilliams era wasn't that long ago.

Apparently paying players is worse than taking tests for them

Remember when you read the penalties for USC they are actually worse than the sounds, and they don't sound very good.

No one cares about vacating wins (which is the dumbest penalty ever) and the lose of a post-season play isn't that big of deal either, b/c winning championships isn't as important to players as it is to the fans. The big penalty here is the 15/75 penalty.

What this means that USC can offer no more than 15 scholarships for the next 3 years and at no point during that 3 year period can there be more than 75 players on scholarship. Let's examine this closer with numbers. For argument's sake say the USC football roster is broken down as follows:

20 seniors
20 juniors
20 sophomores
25 freshman

85 total players on scholarship

After this season USC will graduate those 20 seniors and be left with a maximum of 65 players on scholarship. I say maximum b/c typically a school loses 4-6 non-graduating players a year to either the pros or transfers. But for this discussion we will say there is no attrition at USC after the 2010 season.

With a roster of 65 scholarship players, USC would not be allowed to sign more than 10 players on signing day 2011. Bringing the roster back to 75.

After the 2011 season, USC would graduate another 20 players (still using the numbers from above). At that point they would have 55 scholarship players. So on signing day 2012, USC would be limited to 15 players. Bringing the roster to 70.

Finally after the 2012 season, USC would graduate another 20 players, leaving 50 players on scholarship. Once again USC is limited to signing 15 players on signing day 2013, which would bring the roster to 65.

The numbers are far worse if you add in the likely attrition of non-graduating players.

Expansion

The expansion dominoes are officially falling with the announcement that Colorado becomes the 11th team in the Pac-10. It is seems all but certain that Nebraska will announce they are becoming the 12th team in the Big 10.

In a response to these two moves, the AD's at Texas and Texas A&M are meeting at somepoint today to discuss their futures. Interestingly enough, Andy Staples has an article on SI.com stating that Mike Slive and the A&M brass met months ago to discuss their potential interest in joining the SEC. Did you realize that A&M ranked 22nd in the Nation in athletic revenue? I know I didn't.

I absolutely love the idea of A&M becoming a member of the SEC, and I don't need the Longhorns to be a part of the deal to make me happy. As a matter of fact, I would prefer that they not join our beloved conference. It is Texas's arrogance that is leading to the disolution of the Big 12; and Texas was a constant source of frustration for both Nebraska and Colorado, and I am not talking about the football field. I think the Aggies would fit in rather nicely in the SEC West. There is an old SWC rival in Arkansas. A&M and Alabama could have an annual game commemorated with the winner getting a bronzed houndstooth hat. A&M and Miss. St. could battle in the Jackie Sherrill Bowl. The possibilities are endless.

So who is next for the SEC? To make the argument more interesting OU, Texas, Ok. State and Texas Tech cannot be in the discussion.