The Longhorns, the source said, have established three criteria when it comes to finding a future home:
The first is the well-being of its student-athletes. Traveling back and forth across the country and different time zones can make life extremely difficult for students trying to cram for midterms. The ACC with its Eastern time zone would present a more favorable option for game times and late-night travel than the Pac-12.
Texas' second metric is economics. The Joneses don't take pay cuts. Texas has a $154 million annual budget and isn't interested in joining a conference where its brand or its profit margin takes a hit. And this includes Texas' three-letter issue. Not SEC. But LHN. Texas has no desire to part, alter or share any aspect of The Longhorn Network, but it would not be able to retain the network as is in the Pac-12.
The Longhorns' third goal is to make a decision that agrees with fans' interests by maintaining traditions and some rivalries, at least the one against OU if not A&M.
Those discounting the ACC should remind themselves that Nebraska is in the Big 10, and Baylor has been the most powerful and feared institution in the Big 12, well, over the past couple of weeks. The threat of litigation does wonders.
A high-ranking Texas source said that the ACC has been in contact with Texas, but added that talks hadn't progressed to a mature phase. In fact, the source wasn't sure what other schools the ACC would look to add besides Texas.
Don't take that to mean it won't work.
The ACC is willing to talk about a unique conference format that has intrigued Texas. Instead of divisions, the conference could be divided into four pods, with each pod containing four teams, to aid scheduling.
So don't completely fall asleep on the ACC, although Texas would probably prefer it bring along at least one partner, probably Texas Tech.
http://www.statesman.com/sports/longhorns/1851020.html?viewAsSinglePage=...
So what does everyone think, would you be for or against Texas in the ACC?
Comments
No
Definitely an interesting proposition that I think many of us would have to think over for a while. It kind of comes out of the blue and I'm not sure if Texas's "we're the best" mentality would fit into the ACC. The only other team that came in with that mindset was Miami, and look where that's led them to recently.
for me
I have no interest in Big East leftovers...odd fit maybe but would bring much more prestige and competitiveness.
Would be fun to say the least hosting UT at Lane in a November game. Though an interesting idea I would much rather add a fourteenth team rather than the pods- cast call for WVU or Pitt? The post of the "holier than thou" attitude which Texas will undoubtedly bring was a point which I didn't think on earlier...and much like Miami it would be foolish to enter a Conference with that attitude. Overall "I am strangely comfortable" with the idea and would welcome Texas to the ACC with slightly open/quizzical arms. Would open Texas to not only the SEC but the ACC as well- gotta love the "revenge" factor for kids who don't get recruited by UT who are from Texas- always want to show them what they passed up and this would, without question, benefit Tech and a few other ACC schools. The more I think about it the more I like it. C'mon in TEXAS!
what are the odds...
I guess that would be cool, can't really turn down Texas i guess. The huge pro is that adding an elite school like Texas would add some respectability to the ACC, the newest ESPN conference power rankings have the ACC ranked 5th. So i'd say take them ACC if it would work. HOWEVER, it's the Atlantic Coast Conference and how does Texas fit into that?? It doesn't make any sense. They'd be the only team anywhere near that region in the conference and i don't see them wanted to travel anywhere from Boston to Miami everyother week. Maybe if Texas Tech and/or Texas A&M came with them that would soften it a bit logistically. Also not a fan of their longhorn network, but i guess ESPN has tv rights for that and ACC so legally it works, still not a fan...
From what I've seen on some other boards and Blog sites (and ESPN- honestly I begin to question their credibility as much as these fan/AP operated sites) is that Texas really WANTS the Eastern Time Zone so about 40-50% of their games would be real prime time, not 9:30 or 10:30 pm "prime time" games where they may or may not lose the east coast viewers. It would really establish solid preliminary network ratings which being mainly broadcasted in the Great Plain States would not allow just based on population alone (I just read it and don't understand it all that well). Though a "national" audience, if what I understand is correct, to get it one must update to a sports-package on their cable bills. Also, in my post from earlier, I really think academics will aid as well as the network and the cash cow- Texas has made no secret of their desire to be affiliated with other top tier academic institutions due to their reputation amongst state universities. The SEC and Big East don't offer that opportunity and they, along with the B1G said "HELL NO" to the network. ACC's willingness in that area may allow this to happen.
For me the question becomes Texas Tech and Kansas. Honestly if the ACC could take Kansas for basketball and let them go independent in football I would kick and scream if Virginia Tech left the ACC for ANY other conference. Though somewhat of a pipe dream it is not outside the realm of possibility. Hey, TCU will be in the Big East next year and I don't know many who thought that would ever happen.
As of now the question becomes, in the way of Texas....does the ACC form a Super Conference with them, Pitt, Cuse and another team?
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6980644/pitt-syracuse-apply...