Where do we go from here?
That's the question being asked across the Big 12 nation right now. Many different answers, and many different problems with every answer.
This is coming after Texas A&M has announced that they will be leaving the Big 12 by July 1st, 2012.
Whatever. I still don't get why they're leaving, but good riddance. Their arguments are flawed. You don't agree with the Longhorn Network? You agreed to it last summer when the conference was sinking.
You want to escape the shadow that Texas casts on everyone? How about NOT writing your fight song about them for starters.
But I'm not here to rant about Texas A&M leaving, as stupid as I think the move is. I'm here to give possible solutions to the current problem: Who to replace them with.
These are in list form, with #1 being who I'd like to see most.
#1: Brigham Young
They went independent this past year, and always field a good football team. This move would put them in the North division, and add power there that would try and make up for the balance that went out of the door with Nebraska. They also compete in all of the other sports, but as people have made well known in the Big 12, we care about football... at least until Basketball season starts. Go Jayhawks!?
#2: Boise State
A bit of a stretch, but I'd like to see it. If you don't know about their football team, then you have bigger problems than the Big 12 issues, starting with getting of the house more often. This move would also add power to the north and balance out the conference. The only problem is that Boise is a 24 hour drive from Stillwater through mountains and snowstorms during basketball and early baseball season, and all of those teams travel by bus. Probably not the best and safest move. Plus, as Thad said in the news room: "I'm pretty sure the only rematch OU wants with Boise State is in a National Championship game." I agree.
#3: Louisiana Lafayete/Louisiana Monroe/UTEP
I REALLY like this move. I would love to see the Big 12 pick up one of the teams above, as well as two of these three teams. We pick up two of these teams and it opens up, geographically speaking, horizontal recruiting (meaning side to side, instead of the strip of land we currently have from Texas to Iowa). This also is a bit like the recruiting process in the way that we pick up two of these teams, give them a year or two to get their feet, and hope for them to turn into a K-State/Kansas/Iowa State team that contends for a Division Title every few years. Who knows what could happen.
#4: Tulsa
An improbably move, but it'd be good. I can't see Tulsa wanting to come to the Big 12, but they'd fit very well. They're a program on the rise and scheduled both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in non-conference. The only bad part would be that it would open up the Tulsa recruiting to the entire Big 12, an area that's currently run by Oklahoma State who picks up Union and Jenks players like it's their job. I like the Tulsa move though, I just can't see them doing it.
#5: Houston/SMU
I would prefer Houston over SMU, but either way is kind of a crap move with a few positive. To start, both of their stadiums hold just over 30,000, and both are located in major cities. Major cities mean major OU/UT fan bases, which turns those games into a high school type, where half of the stadium is crimson or orange, and half is SMU/Houston. SMU would be worse because of the red river rivalry being in Dallas every year. The OU/UT fan bases there are crazy, and they'd dominate. I like Houston a little bit more because it would open up recruiting down there, but is it really worth it? They wouldn't help out in football, and once again, that's what it's all about... I think. Also, with a move here, the Big 12 would turn into the Big Texas. Do we really want that?
In my ideal situation, I pick up BYU, Louisiana Monroe and Louisiana Lafayette. The farther east the conference can go, the better. Memphis would also be a decent team to pick up instead of BYU, but I think that's too much of a stretch to put on this list.
Worst case scenario, we can tell Baylor and Texas Tech "Catch ya later" and head to the west coast? If everyone is fine with traveling 12+ hours to the away games and midnight kickoff times, then I am too.
Kickoff is Saturday at 6, and I'll be on the first row with the Paddle People for the first time. My next post will be a recap of that game from my perspective, as well as what it was like participating with one of the coolest traditions there is.
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