I’ve been asked if recent events have caused a change in heart about Clemson and the Big 12. First, let me say I was never against Clemson going to the Big 12. What I said was if Clemson fans think going to the Big 12 is a way to get away from a league dominated by one or two schools then the Big 12 was by far the worst choice. Texas has, does and will dominate the Big 12. Don’t expect equal revenue sharing. Don’t expect “fairness”. Don’t expect equal footing and a “one school, one vote” mentality.
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Expect Texas to get what they want. Sure, sometimes that may benefit Clemson, but don’t expect that to happen often.
Most of the Big 12 teams want 12 teams and a conference championship game. Not Texas. At least not now. Texas had to be dragged kicking and screaming to invite TCU and West Virginia just to get to 10 teams (after probably being “convinced” by their TV partners).
The Big 12 is a good football conference (but it too has its dogs), a pretty good basketball conference (Kansas, Texas, Baylor) and is typically a good baseball conference. Athletically, it would be an upgrade for Clemson.
A few more dollars wouldn’t hurt Clemson either. But then there’s the games in Ames, Iowa and Manhattan, Kansas and Waco and Lubbock, Texas to consider. Not just for football, but baseball and women’s basketball, for example. The pro-Big 12 crowd says, “We get to go to Austin” and “It’d be great playing Oklahoma!” They leave out the fact that with Texas and Oklahoma come Kansas and Iowa State, for example.
Forget about those non-revenue sports the proponents say, football is king. That’s the point – football pays for all those other sports and the cost of football AND those other sports will escalate when those games are being played on Central Standard Time in Ames, Iowa, or Lawrence, Kansas or Waco, Texas.
You hate nooners? Congrats – your game has just been moved to 11 a.m. Eastern so as not to disturb Texas.
Want to travel to see your team? Don’t plan on jumping in the car for the drive to Atlanta or Raleigh. It’s 1200 miles from Clemson to Lubbock and more than a 1,000 from Clemson to Austin.
Hate having your games on ESPN3? Just wait till you get a load of the Longhorn Network.
I’m not against Clemson to the Big 12 or any other conference as long as that decision is based on the future and what is best for Clemson, not some childish grudge for what supposedly happened 30 years ago.
You think Swofford and the ACC have “mistreated” Clemson? I’ve got news for you – Texas runs circles around North Carolina in the power and influence departments. Just ask Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri and Texas A&M.
And one more thing, be prepared to be considered a “newbie” that doesn’t get equal revenue or an equal vote on conference matters. Be prepared for Texas to get their way.
I’m curious what other fans think – What should Clemson’s move be and why?
