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SI picks Utes to win PAC12 South.

One more thing. As far as ythe "TCU tv market doesn't add anything to the Big 12..." argument goes, here is an interesting quote:
https://espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/story/_/id/6895752/smu-mustangs-go-public-interest-joining-big-12
"Orsini said the school did a study of the TV ratings in the Dallas-Fort Worth market the past two football seasons and discovered the average ratings for Big 12 and SEC games were at best a draw, despite the SEC having no team in Texas, much less the Metroplex. That's why he believes SMU could help put more eyes on the Big 12 in this area."

Adding TCU was even better.
 
Salty wrote:

Uh, you better check your history on that. TCU has, in fact, been in a conference with all of those Texas schools up until fairly recently. TCU even included in their statement that they will be able to renew old rivalries by joining the Big 12. Not sure what made you think otherwise, but you were incorrect.

My bad on that one. I knew that TCU shared a long history in the Southwest Conference with Texas, Baylor, and Texas Tech. My wording was flawed. My overall point was that when the Big 12 was born the Texas schools did not have any interest in bringing TCU along, and up until now, the Texas schools were still against TCU becoming a member. Texas was basically backed into a corner and as I said before, was forced into making some concessions that they were never willing to make up until now.

As for the rest of it, you're right: We'll have to agree to disagree. I don't believe for 1 second that TCU was the Big 12's first choice, but for the record, I think the TCU addition is great for regional rivalries and a smart move overall by the Big 12.
 
Salty wrote:



My bad on that one. I knew that TCU shared a long history in the Southwest Conference with Texas, Baylor, and Texas Tech. My wording was flawed. My overall point was that when the Big 12 was born the Texas schools did not have any interest in bringing TCU along, and up until now, the Texas schools were still against TCU becoming a member. Texas was basically backed into a corner and as I said before, was forced into making some concessions that they were never willing to make up until now.

As for the rest of it, you're right: We'll have to agree to disagree. I don't believe for 1 second that TCU was the Big 12's first choice, but for the record, I think the TCU addition is great for regional rivalries and a smart move overall by the Big 12.
Just to be clear, I was claiming that TCU was their first choice precisely because they were backed into a corner. The writing was on the wall that A&M and Mizzou were both leaving. So they had no choice but to expand if they wanted to still have a conference. And if they are forced to expand, the logical choice was TCU. I figured since they were losing a Texas market (A&M) and TCU was a big time program looking for a conference, it made sense.

I think there are plenty of schools the Big 12 could have easily added if TCU wasn't actually wanted. With the Big East on the verge of collapse, any of those Big East schools would have happily accepted an invitation (and that is also rumored to be in the Big 12 expansion plans should Mizzou actually leave). They could also have any MWC school, CUSA school, and any other mid major. So if they really didn't want TCU, they had plenty of alternatives (including BYU).
 
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