Comments on: Big 12: Big Eight dropped ball on Arkansas

By: RisonRazorHog

RisonRazorHog — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 13:36:46 +0000

I just wanted to echo Guy Murphy:

“What is NOT understandable, to the point of being hilarious, is the persistent talk among Big I + Nine fans and columists that Arkansas, or any SEC team, would leave the best conference in the country AND take a pay cut, for the privilege of being one of Texas’ minions.”

Arkansas left the University of Texas at Austin behind 20 years ago for just the reasons we are seeing played out here and now for the Big 12-2. Football is not the only thing there is to a conference, but the SEC certainly has the best football in the nation and has had for a number of years.

The breathless panting over Arkansas now just shows that the Big 12-2 supporters realize that they are serving at the pleasure of UT and without any counter balance to UT they will be dangling in the wind when Texas next turns its gaze elsewhere. Dream on, the SEC is far better, and much more egalitarian to all conference members.

I feel kind of sorry for all the Big 12-2 conference members except for UT because all the rest of you can do is wait for the shoe to drop. When UT does decide what to do, I am sure the SEC will be interested in getting Texas A&M, so I guess we’ll see A&M in the SEC before long. Since the SEC’s interest in Texas A&M and A&M’s interest in the SEC is a matter of record, I am not really speculating much, just waiting on UT to play its cards.

I reckon ya’ll can guess that I think the premise that the Big 12-2 can lure the Razorbacks away from the SEC is a ridiculous non-starter. No decision maker at the University of Arkansas is interested in taking a pay cut and becoming a serf in Texas’ fiefdom. We’ll stay in the SEC where the money is better and the politics more evenly divided between eight states and 12 teams.

By: Rick H.

Rick H. — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:24:17 +0000

I agree with the article. The Big 8 should have called back then. Geographically the Big 8 would have made more sense. However, now there’s no way Arkansas should leave the SEC. In addition to the money they now have rivals there and for anybody under age about 30 or so that’s all they know. That number gets bigger every year.

oh well – barn door – horse gone – close done

By: Guy Murphy

Guy Murphy — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 02:21:04 +0000

It’s understandable that Texas, A&M, and OU would be reluctant to take on the level of weekly competition they would find in the SEC, especially if the Big I + Nine goes to a round robin schedule giving them annual feasts against each of the former North Division teams.

What is NOT understandable, to the point of being hilarious, is the persistent talk among Big I + Nine fans and columists that Arkansas, or any SEC team, would leave the best conference in the country AND take a pay cut, for the privilege of being one of Texas’ minions.

A band-aid as been put on the Big I + Nine’s problems that will only last until Texas, like some street corner pimp, decides to slap its [gals] around again.

Nobody is eager to jump ship to get on the Titanic. There is no interest among Arkansas fans or school officials to leave the SEC. None. Texas just played al of you and you don’t even know it. High comedy.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:52:06 +0000

I think ten team conferences would work best for all of the colleges, but if they must expand Arkansas would be at the top of the list. I’m doubtful they would leave the SEC but if the Big XII-II is serious about adding two new teams you have to at least ask. The denials all seem to be strong and without equivocation. What is actually going on? Could it be there is more here than meets the eye?

If Arkansas ever wants to change now is the time to do it.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:21:57 +0000

All comes down to money. If Big 12 can provide solid 17 million dollar guarantee per school, Arkansas would have to take a good hard look.

The Hogs haven’t ever won a SEC title. It’s been 20 years. Arkansas used to be a feared competitor in the SWC…now they’re an also ran.

Is it worth being the league’s whipping boy in order to chant SEC, SEC, SEC? I wonder…

By: keith

keith — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:17:18 +0000

It’s funny how this song has changed. Yesterday’s blog said of Arkansas, “Forget it.” We were told that no team from the SEC would leave. Suddenly, the Big XII should be calling the hogs! I have to laugh. Be careful what you write because you cannot deny it.