Democrat-Gazette writer Bob Holt on Halftime about the SEC expanding by adding Texas, Oklahoma and implications.
Moody probably will do better with NBA spacing, other players, writer says
Parker Fleming from Grizzly Bear Blues said on Halftime ahead of the NBA Draft he feels Moses Moody will thrive.
Halftime Pod Presented by Eastside Liquor: Holt, Fleming
Bob Bowlsby mad at ESPN; AAC replacing Big 12?; DVH; NBA Draft; Halftime Homework and more!
Guests- Bob Holt & Parker Fleming
RECRUITING THURSDAY: Adding Texas, OU to SEC won’t hurt Hogs
Democrat-Gazette recruiting guru Richard Davenport sees a stronger league only being positive for Sam Pittman getting players.
Murphy thinks conference juggles are all about power, money
Democrat-Gazette writer Tom Murphy thinks ESPN helping SEC grabbing Texas, Oklahoma all about increasing power, making money.
Brewer on what he brings to Razorbacks’ recruiting, coaching staff
Ronnie Brewer, Jr., talked Wednesday morning about his new job helping land new players for Eric Musselman’s roster.
Reports say Big 12 fighting back … at ESPN; Aggies voting yes
Well, things may be getting interesting now that Texas and Oklahoma have officially told the Big 12 what they are going to do.
And Thursday’s vote is probably going to be unanimous:
Here is the official statement from Wednesday’s Board of Regents meeting, approving Dr. Banks to support SEC expansion: pic.twitter.com/6PF2ZFndTt
— TexAgs (@TexAgs) July 28, 2021
But the main news of the day is the Big 12 making a rather futile attempt at trying to keeping things together by sending ESPN a cease-and-desist letter.
According to Pete Thamel at Yahoo Sports, now the lawyers are getting involved.
Here’s ESPN’s response to the Big 12 letter: “The claims in the letter have no merit.”
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
Here’s the heart of why the Big 12 is so angry at ESPN and took this unprecedented step, per sources. The Big 12 claims to have hard evidence of ESPN and at least one other league essentially plotting to undermine the Big 12.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
Bob Bowlsby isn’t messing around. Wow. https://t.co/0290qkMhjV
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
Breaking: The Big 12 has sent a “cease and desist” letter to ESPN. The letter demands ESPN end “all actions that may harm the conference and its members and that it not communicate with the Big 12 Conference’s existing members…. 1/2
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) July 28, 2021
This also lends some credibility to the reports earlier today that ESPN was being the chief broker in the Longhorns and Sooners apparently heading to the SEC.
There will be updates to that story that sounds like it may mean something, but has nothing to do with Texas and OU, but a desperate attempt to keep ESPN from trying to broker deals for other schools.
Meanwhile, it was reported late Wednesday afternoon by Chip Brown of Horns247 that a high-level source said the SEC presidents were expected Thursday to approve the two teams becoming the 15th and 16th members of the conference.
Horns247 also reported Tuesday, according to a source, that the roughly $160 million ESPN still owes Texas for the final 10 years of a 20-year, $300 million contract for the Longhorn Network could be used for the Big 12 buyouts of Texas and Oklahoma.
ESPN has a vested interest in getting Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC by 2024, when ESPN takes over exclusive broadcast rights to football and men’s basketball in the SEC.
TRUSTING THE PROCESS: Derek Ruscin of ESPN Arkansas
Tye & Derek on start in Searcy, coming back to radio, interviewing Tommy Tuberville during his first show and more!
Halftime Pod Presented by Eastside Liquor: Henry, King
Stoops Says YAY to the SEC; Athletes Mental Health in the Spotlight; Living in a Stadium; Change My Mind and more!
Guests- Clay Henry & Bill King
Is Texas, OU coming over to SEC pushed for ESPN’s financial reasons?
We’ll probably never know for sure but word is starting to leak out now that makes you think The Longhorn Network financial boondoggle may accelerate Texas and Oklahoma moving to the SEC.
Multiple reports are emerging now about the $160 million the network owes Texas in unpaid rights fees. Believe in coincidence? Nope, me either.
It will be a death blow to the Big 12 who may end up with an extra $160 million in rights fees if they can meet certain conditions. Mainly adding some marquee athletic programs to a conference that is now officially on life support.
Of course it gives ESPN a nice little way to have an SEC Network 2 channel already in place and is much more likely to be a more valuable streaming addition than The Longhorn Network proved to be.
And everybody in the SEC makes more money.
Don’t expect ESPN to just shrug and write the Big 12 a check. That may be exactly what happens, but the guess is that’s not going to happen immediately. Everybody is playing a waiting game with the Big 12 to see how many other teams jump ship immediately.
But ESPN reportedly has been in the middle of this whole thing for awhile now.
Bruce Feldman and Sam Khan, Jr., at The Athletic made that pretty clear in a story.
“I think this has been going on for six months — at a minimum of probably three months, and ESPN has been right in the middle of it,” an unnamed Big 12 athletics director told The Athletic.
On The Morning Rush on Wednesday morning, Brad Killern of The Horn in Austin echoed the same thing and the word down around the Forty Acres is this move is going to happen and the leader on speculation about the “vote” by SEC presidents will come down 13-1 officially so the Aggies can save face with their fan base.
It will actually be unanimous. Over the years I’ve known a lot of goofy Aggies that made me laugh, but not many that were broke and stupid when I lived in Texas for two decades.
Hang on because this is going to get interesting.
