OU To SEC Rumors Growing Stronger!

by ccmachine on Jun 11, 2010 12:48 AM CDT in Football

Raise your hand if you know which conference realignment rumor to put the most trust in. The problem with rumors is that they are after all just rumors and there are so many of them flying around right now that I just feel like going to bed and having someone let me know when there's something solid out there. I'm gaining more and more respect for Colorado who just came out and told the world what they were doing. Wish we could get a few other schools to do the same. Problem is though, I really don't think that OU, Texas and Texas A&M know what they're going to do. There is some evidence mounting now that the schools from the Big 12 who seemed to be approaching this as a band of brothers are now on the verge of slitting each others throats.

The Longhorns and Sooners appeared to be walking into the conference realignment saga hand-in-hand. Now, if you believe the latest spicy rumor, the two have broken ties and are heading in separate directions. More and more reports are coming around that the Longhorns and Aggies are Big 10 bound while the Sooners are looking for a partner to take to the SEC dance.

To give this rumor some legs comes this published report from KCTV 5 in Kansas City that summarizes everything that I've already stated plus the fact that Oklahoma State is heading to the Pac 10 with Colorado. There's also this tidbit about Josh Heupel stating that he heard from OU running backs coach (Cale Gundy) that OU was heading to the SEC. What once appeared as a group of schools with a strong show of solidarity has now become a free-for-all with everyone looking out for themselves.

Who knows why OU and Texas may have decided to part ways but any thoughts there would just be speculation. I guess my biggest question would be, if Texas went to the Big 10 and and Oklahoma State to the Pac 10 then what is the future of Oklahoma's rivalries?

The other issue is who can be Oklahoma's partner school? It looks like O-State and Texas can be counted out but not necessarily Texas A&M. They seem to really like the SEC and could gain entrance with the Sooners. However, it doesn't have to be a Big 12 school so there are lots of options. Really too many to try and break down. You know, on second thought, maybe I'll just go ahead and go to bed. Let me know when there's some solid information out there.

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OU to SEC without Texas (or OK State)....

….seems like a very bad idea to me.

We’d lose all our in-conference rivals and make our conference schedule harder.

And although I know this isn’t foremost in most Sooner fans mind, it also sucks from an academic perspective. As an OU faculty member I can tell you that the university administration often compares itself academically to our fellow Big XII schools. Doesn’t make much sense, but there it is. And while the Pac 10 or Big 10 would be substantial upgrades in our academic peer group, the SEC would be a substantial downgrade. Not what OU needs at all.

There is no "i" in Teamocil. At least not where you'd think.

by GreenNGoldSooner on Jun 11, 2010 1:39 AM CDT reply actions

The SEC not a downgrade academically

The SEC isn’t as high ranking academically as the Big 10 and Pac 10, but it’s definitely not a downgrade from the big 12. I would say that almost any other conference is a major upgrade in academics for a big 12 member.

http://www.burntorangenation.com/2010/5/24/1484340/realignment-chronicles-texas-to

by Mark Mandingo on Jun 11, 2010 5:48 AM CDT up reply actions

It may not be a downgrade

but it is certainly not an upgrade.

by SoonerDutch on Jun 11, 2010 9:44 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

the problem with talking about academics

is that everyone has a pretty low opinion of OU academics. It’s moved up and we are are now a tier 1 school, but barely.

OU is not an AAU school.

OSU…is really ranked in every ranking for academics pretty low…which hurts OU even more if we have to go as a pair.

So the point is…where ever OU and OSU goes…we lower the academics so…we don’t have any room to be picky about academic standards

Colorado Rockies correspondent at My Team Rivals (www.mtrmedia.com/rockies) and my own site Rockies Reporter (www.rockiesreporter.wordpress.com) and one of the top Rockies writers at the Bleacher Report.

by Redhawk on Jun 11, 2010 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm not questioning OU's academic reputation.

It’s pretty obvious we’d lower Pac-10 and Big 10 standards.

SEC? Not that much. We wouldn’t improve it but I don’t see how we would lower it.

I’m not saying we should turn the SEC down if that’s our last option because of academics but that’s precisely what the SEC should be, our last option.

by SoonerDutch on Jun 11, 2010 1:26 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Actually it is.

Not to the extent that the Pac 10 or the Big 10 is, but the Sec has some decent schools at the top academically. Read the link.

by Mark Mandingo on Jun 11, 2010 11:09 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Yeah I read the article.

It makes a compelling case that Texas and Texas A&M shouldn’t look down at the SEC because they are in roughly the same situation in the Big 12.

The SEC with the two Texas schools would be a huge step up from a Big 12 without them but there is no way you can make the case that the SEC represents a “major” (or even noticeable) improvement in academic reputation from the Big 12 of two days ago.

by SoonerDutch on Jun 11, 2010 1:54 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

From SoonerScoop

Per Carey Murdock

I just got off the phone with Josh Heupel and he said that he has no idea why Channel Five ran with that story.
Look guys, I like chaos as much as the next guy. I think an orangebloods guy is trying to stir things up about this. But I talked to Heupel about it. He was upset that the report was even out there. He mentioned something about Jackie Sherrill kind of egging him on and said it was made out to be more than it was. He told everyone that he had no idea where OU was going and that is right along with what all the other coaches have told me.
Huepel was very insistent that he wanted me to do everything I could to squash that report.
“I don’t know where that came from,” said Heupel. “I told everyone that I have no idea what’s going on. I have no idea what is going to happen. I have gotten a lot of text messages and they all say different things. Everyone wants me to tell them what we are going to do or where we are going and I have no idea. No one has any idea right now. It’s all going to play out.”
I think Josh might have joked around about it because he was in Louisiana, but he was very clear that he had no knowledge about where OU was going to end up.

"We call him The Hammer." - Bob Stoops on Ronnell Lewis

by Jordan Esco on Jun 11, 2010 6:44 AM CDT reply actions

This makes a lot of sense

seems any comment even an off handed one, or a joke, gets taken as serious news now.

I would think one of the last people to know anything would be a Quarterbacks Coach and a Running Backs coach…even if they are 2 people all Sooner Fans Love

by Redhawk on Jun 11, 2010 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions

The Kansas City Star thing has been debunked as well

Pac-10 or bust!

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics
The Crimson and Cream Machine - University of Oklahoma Athletics

by Jon Woods on Jun 11, 2010 8:06 AM CDT reply actions

Oh, for Pete's sake, Jon...

by ousooner919 on Jun 11, 2010 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Pete Carroll? :)

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics
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by Jon Woods on Jun 11, 2010 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Once again, I sincerely doubt

we are going anywhere without at least ONE of our rivals

"But we all know that games aren't played on paper...they are played by little men inside our TV sets." --Kenny Mayne

by dishingoutdimes on Jun 11, 2010 10:49 AM CDT reply actions

Plus Joe C is on the record as saying

we are following Texas

"But we all know that games aren't played on paper...they are played by little men inside our TV sets." --Kenny Mayne

by dishingoutdimes on Jun 11, 2010 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions

unless they go somewhere where OU can't go

like the Big 10.

As for going with out one of our rivals…I agree. I think we at least try to keep one, but OU isn’t the power player here. We are not the choosers…we are the beggars. We’re hoping to not end up with KU and Missouri.

And for what it’s worth, I still think OU goes to the Pac-16. However, I think A&M goes to the SEC, and they will be replaced in the group with Utah, or maybe KU if they can go with out K-state.

by Redhawk on Jun 11, 2010 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

I think these other rumors are just stirring the pot

so they get more hits on their website/blog, whatever. On the slim chance they’re right, they look like a genius and get some cred.

I still haven’t heard a legit rumor that we’re going anywhere else but the Pac 10.

"But we all know that games aren't played on paper...they are played by little men inside our TV sets." --Kenny Mayne

by dishingoutdimes on Jun 11, 2010 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

but the Chip Brown guy from Orangebloods

who is a puppet of the UT machine…has been saying that A&M is waffling, and wanting the SEC

Today (friday) from Chip Brown Twitter:

NONE!!!!!! … RT @dk16000: @ChipBrownOB Is there any legs to UT to B10 ?

Seems he’s fanning the flames of A&M being out of the Pac16 deal:

Seth is A&M System Chancellor Mike McKinney’s son. … RT @SethMcKinney: @billyliucci if we go to the PAC 16 I’m going on a hunger strike!!

Personally I think a lot of this we are hearing is the sausage making. I do think that the Big 10 and the SEC want Texas (that’s a no s$#% Sherlock kind of a statement), and are trying to make it happen. Negotiations are going on.

This is like and Ebay auction and the clock is running down.

by Redhawk on Jun 11, 2010 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Not true.

“…but OU isn’t the power player here.”

OU is a power that any conference would love to have. Granted, you can’t make it to the Big Ten (that whole AAU thingy), but the Sooner program has a big national following and that brings tv sets on Saturday. The PAC-10 knows they are getting two very big fish in the deal.

That wasn’t easy to say as a UT grad.

by dimecoverage on Jun 12, 2010 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Some Food For Thought from an Oregon blog:

Expect the Pac-16 to come together very soon. By the weekend, most likely.

"You can take it to the bank," one very good source said.

And the chances that something falls through? That Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State somehow don’t join the Pac-10?

"Pretty close to zero."

(link)

"But we all know that games aren't played on paper...they are played by little men inside our TV sets." --Kenny Mayne

by dishingoutdimes on Jun 11, 2010 11:06 AM CDT reply actions

without Oklahoma

You can pretty much forget about OK St to the Pac-16. So either the OK to SEC rumor is wrong, or the OK St to Pac rumor is wrong. I don’t know which, but there’s no way they both pan out.

Mr Pac Ten's Blog - 2007 2008 2009

by MrPacTen on Jun 11, 2010 11:14 AM CDT reply actions

From Purple Cat Book

ok..we all know that rumors on the net are crap…until one has legs. This guy knows someone at the Big 10 headquarters. His stuff has been pretty accurate, and one leak/rumor he wrote about a month ago had the Big 10 Commish going ape @#$% crazy.

—-6/11 Morning Update from the office: Had an update this morning. Same story as yesterday, Missouri must convince Texas & A&M to come to the conference for Mizzou to get an invite, while the Big East schools must pressure Notre Dame to either join fully (which it won’t do) or leave the conference. Big Ten may move forward with Texas and ND only, but Texas must ensure that it has done whatever it can to ensure its former Big Twelve partners find a good home. Texas administration is internally divided, and Orangebloods is connected to only one side of the conversation – the side that has not been involved with the strategy all along.

Interesting how he calls out Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com

by Redhawk on Jun 11, 2010 11:42 AM CDT reply actions

LOOKS LIKE TO ME.....

OU should be at the tip of the sword when it comes to realignment of any sort. Any conference would be glad to have them. With that said….OU and its decision makers should be proactive, and less politically correct in regard to the rhetoric about “following Texas.” Do you think any of the ut people really care about anything but themselves? Not. OU is their rival, and the last time I checked, enemies only have their enemies interest at heart when it really to THEIR overall benefit. When Nebraska goes, where are they gonna find two teams to replace them and not be less a player in the conference game? The landscape is changing, which is the only thing you can bank on these days. Better to be the driver of change than to be in the back seat. We are not a pac-whatever team. The competition will never be there, even with texas on board. OU is a better fit in the Sec period. And if anything has been true…when it comes to big money, the SEC is always gonna get the biggest piece of chicken at the table. It’s about the future, and the future is now…make decisions that make sense FOR YOUR PROGRAM’s FUTURE. If we gotta move…let it be…please let it be…to the SEC!

by BARTENDER2000 on Jun 11, 2010 12:47 PM CDT reply actions

The markets are out west.

I doubt Texas is thinking purely in terms of screwing OU/A&M. Those rivalries, especially the RRR, make money and prestige for the Texas program. If there’s anything Texas, or any other program, wants it’s more money and prestige.

by SoonerDutch on Jun 11, 2010 1:19 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Pac 16 is SO not a done deal

Wanna know why nothing from the Big 12 to the Pac 16 group has been announced?

I heard, from 2 sources, that are saying the OU is trying to keep the Big 12 together. No for reals YO!

The pitch from Oklahoma and AD Joe Castiglione is: Why should we go join a lesser football conference (the Pac-10)? Why don’t WE (the Big 12) go after their schools? You want Arizona and Arizona St? Then invite them over to us?

If this is all about the Texas (the state) TV market…WE have that! We (the Big 12) is in the position of power if we stand together.

Arkansas and OU officials have talked. Not sure what to make of that.

Which is in line with the toe the conference line article from the Daily Oklahoman:

by Redhawk on Jun 11, 2010 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

Because those schools wouldn't leave the Pac-10

For a conference that is rapidly falling apart.

They have the California, Northwest, Arizona, and the Denver market.

by SoonerDutch on Jun 11, 2010 2:05 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

The Big 12 has the Manhatten market!

but seriously the Big 12 has Kansas City, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio/Austin, OKC, and Tulsa markets

This was more of a “think of the possibilities if we stay together” type pitch, not a “this is our grand plan”

And this may Literally be yesterday’s news.

by Redhawk on Jun 11, 2010 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions

New report from OB says we have decided on Pac 10

new story up on C&C mainpage

"But we all know that games aren't played on paper...they are played by little men inside our TV sets." --Kenny Mayne

by dishingoutdimes on Jun 11, 2010 2:20 PM CDT reply actions

Talk about TV Appeall

“We’re aware of what’s going on," Castiglione said. "We know we’ll have the opportunity of a couple of other conferences to consider our options."

Of course the politically correct thing to say is we’d like to keep the conference together…who wants to be thought of as a destroyer of what was the number two football conference in America. Thing is….that was yesterday’s news as you say. OU needs to be at the forefront of tomorrow’s news. The matchups across all sports would be dramatically enhanced by joining the SEC if and only if the BIG 12 breaks up. The SEC already has the biggest piece of the pie. Can get bigger if OU joins. Nebraska and Colorado got it right…do what’s best for your school…not your rivals. OU should say "Hello SEC!

by BARTENDER2000 on Jun 11, 2010 2:38 PM CDT reply actions