Texas A&M took another step in its march to the Southeastern Conference by notifying the Big 12 that it is exploring options regarding athletic conference alignment. The letter from University President Bowen Loftin requests the procedures A&M will need to follow in the event it leaves the Big 12.
“If Texas A&M withdraws from the Conference, we want to do so in a way that complies with the Bylaws and is supportive of your efforts to seek a new member of the Conference,” Loftin wrote. “We would appreciate your conferring with the other member institutions and outlining for us the process to be followed by Texas A&M should it withdraw from the Conference.”
Trey Walker, a senior civil engineering major, said this action is good news for A&M athletics.
“I don’t know if this will lead to an SEC invite, but I hope it does,” Walker said. “Joining the SEC and playing all those powerhouses will give us great national recognition.”
Loftin reaffirmed A&M’s focus on the best long-term interests for both the University and the State of Texas in what he has termed a “100-year decision.” In the letter, Loftin said he understands why fans and conference officials want a swift decision, but the University requires time to consider the people, institutions and finances involved. He also added that the University looks to add brand value with national visibility and stable finances in support of its athletic and academic programs. The University stated that it will comply with conference bylaws and support any Big 12 expansion in the realignment process.
“Ultimately, we are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs,” Loftin said in the letter. “While we understand the desire of all parties to quickly reach a resolution, these are extremely complex issues that we are addressing methodically.”
Last year the Big 12 went through a similar process in Nebraska’s departure for the Big Ten and Colorado’s exit for the Pac-12. Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman wrote a letter similar to Loftin’s prior to leaving the Conference. At the time, reports surfaced that the Big 12 was on the brink of extinction, but Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe kept the league together with a last-minute financial package
Tension resurfaced among Big 12 schools after the University of Texas announced its 20-year, $300 million contract with ESPN to create the Longhorn Network, a 24-hour University channel. Conference members expressed additional concern when the network released its programming schedule this year, which included high school football games. A&M reacted to the network by issuing statements to the NCAA, implementing 17-year-old rule interpretations and citing recruiting violations.
Southern Methodist University and the University of Houston have announced their interest in joining an automatic qualifying conference. The two schools specified the Big 12 as the conference of choice, citing academic, athletic and geographic interests. Other reported Big 12 targets include Air Force, Brigham Young University, and Notre Dame.