And again, let me stress that this is 3rd hand info. But it originates from a source VERY close to the SEC office.
A&M is for all but in the SEC if they want in. Slive is in College Station as we speak, and had a conference call with all the A&M Board of Regents. The Board is in favor of the move to the SEC.
Now, as for the issue of an 'offer', This is simply a formality. There are logistics that have to be addressed. Ton's of questions answered, etc. Once everybody is on the same page, at that point the official offer will be made. And make no mistake, it WILL be made.
Now, what happens after A&M is on board? As I stated last night, Slive is going to make a run at Oklahoma. PUBLICLY OU is saying they are with Texas. But make no mistake, Castiglione and OU's Board have real concerns about the Pac 10. They don't think it is a good fit for them. And the big concern for them is the RRS. They are worried that it will be as risk. Slives job will be to convince them that the SEC will throw it's full support behind making sure that game is preserved. And Texas really has no leverage with them on that. The game is as important to them as it is OU.
OU will be the key in determining whether the SEC expands to 14 or 16. If it's just A&M on the west side, then most likely Virginia Tech will get an offer on the east side. But if Slive lands OU, then the Slive will try to land Duke and North Carolina together on the east side.
If Slive lands A&M and OU, then Texas has a decision to make. At that point the Pac 10 move has some real holes in it. Texas has 3 options..1. They, along with the remaining proverbial 'fat ugly chicks' in the Big 12 can go to the Pac 10.....2. They can try to talk OU and A&M to stay and try to salvage the Big 12, or 3. They can go to the Big 10. They'll have some soul searching to do.
Make no mistake, Slive is handling this brilliantly. Slive is the best Conference Commissioner of all the conferences, and it's not even close.
A&M is for all but in the SEC if they want in. Slive is in College Station as we speak, and had a conference call with all the A&M Board of Regents. The Board is in favor of the move to the SEC.
Now, as for the issue of an 'offer', This is simply a formality. There are logistics that have to be addressed. Ton's of questions answered, etc. Once everybody is on the same page, at that point the official offer will be made. And make no mistake, it WILL be made.
Now, what happens after A&M is on board? As I stated last night, Slive is going to make a run at Oklahoma. PUBLICLY OU is saying they are with Texas. But make no mistake, Castiglione and OU's Board have real concerns about the Pac 10. They don't think it is a good fit for them. And the big concern for them is the RRS. They are worried that it will be as risk. Slives job will be to convince them that the SEC will throw it's full support behind making sure that game is preserved. And Texas really has no leverage with them on that. The game is as important to them as it is OU.
OU will be the key in determining whether the SEC expands to 14 or 16. If it's just A&M on the west side, then most likely Virginia Tech will get an offer on the east side. But if Slive lands OU, then the Slive will try to land Duke and North Carolina together on the east side.
If Slive lands A&M and OU, then Texas has a decision to make. At that point the Pac 10 move has some real holes in it. Texas has 3 options..1. They, along with the remaining proverbial 'fat ugly chicks' in the Big 12 can go to the Pac 10.....2. They can try to talk OU and A&M to stay and try to salvage the Big 12, or 3. They can go to the Big 10. They'll have some soul searching to do.
Make no mistake, Slive is handling this brilliantly. Slive is the best Conference Commissioner of all the conferences, and it's not even close.