Just because they believe it doesn't make it so. If Texas dominance in football was preordained, then they wouldn't be in the position they are in, i.e. multiple AQ conferences invading their turf while they are in defensive mode.
***disclaimer: I'm not old enough to remember the Big 8 inviting the Texas schools to form the Big12***
I want to agree with you, and with a lot of things you're saying, I do agree. A lot of our fans make UT sound like it's different. I think they're doing what all schools do (look out after themselves). That's it. They are. In fact, they should. If I was a Texas fan, I'd want them to. CU made this move to the PAC 12 because they were looking after themselves.
However, I think you're severely underestimating Texas' power. They have virtually unlimited resources. They have virtually unlimited funding. They have virtually unparalleled facilities. They are located right in the center of a fertile recruiting landscape and a fanbase that is rabid and unparalleled in our conference. They have every advantage. They will continue to build, to push the limits, and try to not just maintain, but increase the gap between them and everyone else. No school currently in the PAC12, including USC, can match UT. And it's not even close. That's not to say they'll field the best teams in the conference, but if you honestly think Cal will be competing with UT on an even playing field even with "equal revenue distribution" you couldn't be more wrong. You CANNOT put them in their place. They're place is at the top.
Texas has reached the top of the mountain. As much as it pains me to say this, I envy them. I wish our program could where they are, minus the douchiness of course. We as fans should all want our programs, our universities to be where they are.
One of the sweet things about being in their shoes is they get a LOT of sway. What they say matters. They're looking after themselves and trying to do what's right for them. We did too, we just weren't in nearly as powerful. We wanted to play in So Cal every year. Pssst, we got it.
Texas is STILL coming in from a powerful position. They will get whatever they want from somebody. They just have to figure out what it is they want. I think they honestly don't know what their next step should be, and this is a HUGE decision for them. You think they're on the defensive? They're trying to maximize power, profits, winning, and fan happiness, while trying to be unique and....Texas, so that they'll be able to continue to dominate. I think they're on the offensive. They can afford to hold out because they're so strong. They're seeing who will give them what. You think Larry Scott hasn't heard that the ACC will let them keep their network? You think he hasn't heard that the Big10 will let them keep their network if they don't get any Big10 network profits? you think Texas hasn't gone back to Larry Scott to ask him why they should choose the Pac over these other options? Texas listens to everyon'e first pitch, rejects it, and waits for their counteroffer. What is the Pac12 going to do for Texas? How can you better that offer to "land" Texas?
You said if Texas isn't willing to play nice, we'll move on. Well, they've already shown they're not playing nice. Why haven't we moved on? Why hasn't Larry Scott and the Pac12 said: "Hey Texas, go **** yourself?" In the 3,000 pages of possible expansion, I haven't heard that. Instead, it seems more like, "We're willing to work with you, we want you in. Put what you want on the table, we'll tell you what we want, and then we can work something out."
You think the Pac12 is on the offensive? Why are we always talking about accepting "tag along" schools just to get the other universities we're really targeting. That doesn't sound like being on the offensive at all. That sounds like desperation. That sounds like, "there are only 2 schools this side of the Mississippi we want (Texas and OU) and we'll do whatever it takes to get them. If we have to take OSU, if we have to take Tech, we'll do it even though those schools don't fit any of our criteria." WTF?
I personally hope we stay at 12 for a long while. But if 16 is in our immediate future, I am one of the few that actually wants Texas in the PAC. We currently have 4 open slots, and by my count we only have 1 school that really fits in the PAC12. UT. They fit all our criteria. I do NOT want OSU, and I will be soooo pissed if we accept Tech. I don't even really want OU, but as we all know, right now there are precious few options in the western US. OU is our best option right now, and if they're ready to move, I guess we should accept them. I'm hoping that we can stay at 12-13 for at least 5 years, and hopefully some of these western schools can pick it up and we'll have more options...we'll have more choices...there will be more schools that will be good for us (demand) and fewer spots (supply)...if that happens, THEN we'll be on the offensive.
Keep in mind, I'm in no way pro Texas. **** them. **** them long, and **** them hard. Tie them to the bed and leave them there so once you're done ****ing them they'll starve. I hope they choose to go Indy and fail miserably and all their fans turn on them, and all their money streams dry up, and they fade into nothingness. **** Texass. That said, it's no mystery why every conference is talking to them.
