ORLANDO, Fla. -- Texas A&M’s long anticipated move to the Southeastern Conference could be delayed due to the potential threat of legal action. SEC presidents unanimously voted to accept the Aggies as the league’s 13th member and said it received "unanimous written assurance" from the Big 12 on Sept. 2 that it was free to accept Texas A&M.
The SEC, which would become the first BCS conference with more than 12 members, had intentions of making the Aggies the newest member of the conference. Then, the deal hit a snag. "We were notified yesterday afternoon that at least one Big 12 institution had withdrawn its previous consent and was considering legal action," University of Florida President and SEC chairman Dr. Bernie Machen said. "The SEC has stated that to consider an institution for membership, there must be no contractual hindrances to its departure. The SEC voted unanimously to accept Texas A&M University as a member upon receiving acceptable reconfirmation that the Big 12 and its members have reaffirmed the letter dated September 2." Texas A&M had planned for a news conference at the College Station campus for Wednesday, but that will be delayed for now with an unknown Big 12 school raising legal issues. The Big 12 did not return a message left seeking comment. In the Sept. 2 letter, released by the SEC, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe told SEC Commissioner Mike Slive that there were no legal hurdles to the SEC accepting Texas A&M, as long as it happened by Thursday afternoon. "We both agreed it is in the best interests of each of our conferences and our member institutions of higher education to waive any and all legal actions by either conference and its members resulting from admission of Texas A&M into the SEC, as long as such admission is confirmed publicly by September 8, 2011," Beebe wrote. However, despite the letter, Slive was informed more than once before the SEC vote Tuesday night that "maybe more than one" of the other nine Big 12 members were considering legal options against a possible Texas A&M move, according to a person familiar with the situation. With the uncertainty of the Big 12, it will be difficult for Texas A&M to leave the conference without getting the conference's approval. The Sept. 2 letter was not intended to waive the rights of individual schools to sue and that decisions like that need approval from various boards of regents and other university overseers, the person said. "That certainly is not going to happen soon. You are not going to get all nine. You might get some," that person told the AP. "Very few, if any, are willing with the uncertainty and instability of the Big 12 at this point to release their claims." Texas A&M officials were disappointed, especially after they announced last week that the school planned to leave the Big 12 by July 2012 if invited to join another league. The Aggies had been unhappy with the creation of the Longhorn Network at rival Texas and have made it clear they want to separate themselves from Texas by making the move into a conference with higher exposure and more revenue. The Big 12 has already lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-12). Oklahoma president David Boren said last week that multiple conferences have expressed interest in the Sooners and he expects a decision within a few weeks. Oklahoma State billionaire booster Boone Pickens also said he doesn't think the Big 12 will survive much longer and predicted the Cowboys will eventually join the Pac-12. It might not be over for the SEC, either, if the league decides to add a 14th team or even expand to a 16-team super conference. Texas A&M's move would help give the SEC a presence in the major Texas TV markets. Not to mention a fertile recruiting ground. "I certainly understand adding a Texas team into the conference," LSU coach Les Miles said Wednesday. "A&M has a great historic following and is a traditional power that certainly brings the interest of Texas." Source: http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/29105240/detail.html
Movers Lauderdale
Movers Union City
Movers Westlake Village
Movers Vista
No comments:
Post a Comment