I have followed this thread more or less for the past six months or maybe more. Mostly because I find the whole conference realignment thing to be extremely interesting from a strategic perspective.
I agree with Des Esseintes here and am confused about the pointed posts against UT and, to a lesser degree, A-Tex. I have found A-Tex to be generally informative and relatively unbiased in his reporting of conference realignment especially from a Big XII moves and motives perspective (at least as unbiased as one could ask a fan with a vested interest to be). I just don't see the dramatically offensive error in Texas' ways. And I'll even admit, I have this preconception that people from Texas think their state is the center of the universe. Be it right or wrong, I do have that preconception.
And I still fail to see how Texas was offensively wrong in this. Aside from the initial LHN stuff, which it seems has generally come down to very reasonable terms at this point, did they really do much wrong? Maybe I have missed or forgotten some key points over the months I have followed this. If so, I apologize. But UT is a football power player, so should they not use that power? Would we not want Duke to throw around it's weight if this realignment driver was basketball? Again, I ask: if basketball was the driver should Duke agree to try to save a troubled conference to its own detriment? Similarly, is it Notre Dame's responsibility to try to save the Big East by joining as a football member?
At least that's how I see this thing. If Duke had a sports network mainly devoted to basketball that schools like BC, Miami, or Clemson (for example) didn't have the power or national fanbase to match, would we not be heralding Duke as innovative, forward-thinking, and smart? If other schools in our conference put up a fight, would we not as a collective fanbase say that it's unfair for them to butt into our business and that we are just looking out for ourselves? And that years of hard work and building a program up has given us this ability?
Getting away from the network concept, what else did UT do wrong? I just don't see it. They looked around at other (stronger) conferences because they could? I mean, fine. Anyone can find fault with this if they choose and I wouldn't really say/post a word. But the direct shots at A-Tex and downright hatred toward Texas seems unwarranted and over the top to me, at least without some facts or some background color so we can understand and forward the discussion.
Shake your head, fine. Wish for the old days, sure. Express strong disagreement and disapproval...completely understandable from some viewpoints. But I'm not seeing the vehement disgust being thrown at UT, nor their appalling and offensive behavior.
- Chillin