Texas A&M athletics director Bill Byrne didn't hold back much Wednesday in his blog on the school's website as he pointed the finger at ESPN and the Longhorn Network for pushing the Aggies to leave the Big 12.
"You all know the landscape of the Big 12 Conference was altered by the creation of the Longhorn Network," Byrne wrote. "We rebuffed an attempt to televise high school games on the LHN, arguing that this type of activity was a clear violation of NCAA rules. The most recent attempt by ESPN is to take highlights of high school games as part of news segments. The NCAA is taking a wait and see attitude on the highlights. I disagree with their stance — as do many of my colleagues across the country. We anticipate that ESPN will continue to push the envelope with the Longhorn Network, regardless of Texas A&M's conference affiliation."
Byrne didn't stop there.
"The other issue was an attempt to coerce other Big 12 schools to move their football games in Austin to the Longhorn Network," he said. "Our understanding from day one was that every conference school would have the rights to one football game a year, and a handful of basketball games, which has been our longstanding agreement in the Big 12."
Byrne's take on schools being forced to have a game on the Longhorn Network isn't exactly accurate but reflects the school's frustration with the new TV deal for its rival. Big 12 schools still have rights to one football game a year, so nothing had changed. ESPN and the Longhorn Network were asking for one of Texas' home conference games to be shown and the visiting school would be paid accordingly.
The Aggie fans may go quietly, but the administration is not. You guys haven't found a new home yet and you're already complaining.
I get the connection: Bill Byrne is a former Nebraska AD who is tainted by his Nebraska roots, even though our administration didn't say a word until they had the Big10 offer in hand.
I'm just saying that it will not be a quiet year for A&M if they plan to leave next year. Tejas's boy, Beebe, won't let that happen.
Aggie fan will go apeshit (human nature is human nature) when the corruption that is the Big 12 minus 3 rears its ugly head on the AtM farewell tour. Sucks for the best AtM team in quite a while.
H4ever wrote:Aggie fan will go apeshit (human nature is human nature) when the corruption that is the Big 12 minus 3 rears its ugly head on the AtM farewell tour.
OH AND WHERE'S THAT CORRUPTION WHINING WHEN NEBRASKA BOOTS A BALL INTO THE AIR ILLEGALLY AND IT GETS CAUGHT SO A NATIONAL CONTENDER CAN SQUEAK PAST A LOSS!!!!!!
Bizzarofelice wrote:OH AND WHERE'S THAT CORRUPTION WHINING WHEN NEBRASKA BOOTS A BALL INTO THE AIR ILLEGALLY AND IT GETS CAUGHT SO A NATIONAL CONTENDER CAN SQUEAK PAST A LOSS!!!!!!
seriously. at least 2 threads with huskerfan whining about stuff that happened last year....shot through with paranoia, self-righteousness, and persecution complex. what about the non-called blocks in the back (more than one) in Johnny Rodgers punt return in the GoTC? somehow those were the product of husker fair play.
""On a lonely planet spinning its way toward damnation amid the fear and despair of a broken human race, who is left to fight for all that is good and pure and gets you smashed for under a fiver? Yes, it's the surprising adventures of me, Sir Digby Chicken-Caesar!"
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You're right. Everything is fine A&M. No need to worry. I'm sure everything will go smoothly in your transition to a new conference and that no hard feelings will spill over onto the field. Same for you OU. Nothing to worry about if you leave. Nothing to see here. All is well.
