And so it seems the end is near…
Posted by Travis on September 6, 2011
for the Big 12. I began attending UT games in 1977 and I have seen many changes. Royal to Akers to McWilliams to Mackovic to Brown. Astroturf to natural grass to “RealTurf”. I have watched from the west side, the east side, both end zones and field level while holding Bevo XIII’s reigns.
This week will likely mark the end of the Big 12. Unless a last minute deal with OU is struck, Deloss Dodds and the powers that be have to decide the future direction of UT athletics. It seems impossible that the lasting legacy of the Dodds era could actually be that the A&M and OU rivalry series both end.
Cards still need to be played, but the lasting imprint is clear. While only a relative few have even laid eyes on it, the $300MM pandora’s box has forced the hands of those around us. In June of this year, all 10 schools met and agreed upon a new TV revenue sharing plan that brought about more equality. Even A&M President R. Bowen Lofitn seemed pleased stating “What’s happening clearly is we’re moving in a steady pace toward a more equal sharing revenue model, which is a good thing for the long-term stability in the conference.”
But that goodwill was short-lived. There is plenty of blame for all. ESPN and Texas will surely top the list. But a fear of the unknown is really the culprit. No one really knows the impact of the Longhorn Network. But in the end, one thing was for certain, no one really wanted to find out.
