Just listened on the radio coming home to Texas president deloss doss and tid bits of OU's president. Funny a lot of the stuff the radio commetator asked in which we have been hearing over the last month both denied.
OU's president and athletic director Joe Castiglione denied he ever mentioned "we are going to the pac" . He said that was basically a conversation but ended with lots of ???????'s unanswered.
He said the best way for OU to make $$$$ and win a champion is where they are.
Deloss said
"I talk to (Oklahoma athletic director) Joe (Castiglione) every day," Dodds said. "We are good. We have a great relationship." Castiglone agreed about there relationship.
--In order to hammer the point home that schools can't just pick up and leave the Big 12, Dodds said there might need to be bigger exit penalties for the Big 12 conference. But more importantly Dodds said an iron-clad contract needs to be written and agreed to by the remaining members.
"This handshake stuff probably won't work," Dodds said. "Probably need to get the lawyers involved in that one."
--Much of realignment this year has focused - rightly or wrongly - on Texas' Longhorn Network. But Dodds said Texas is proud of LHN and doesn't plan on sharing any revenue from it. Dodds said $5 million of the $15 million per year ESPN is paying Texas for LHN is going to academics, and then UT must share 17 percent with IMG College (UT's marketing arm) and then pay other expenses.
"When you get down to what we're getting it's smaller than people think," Dodds said.
--When asked if Texas' public perception has taken a beating during realignment, Dodds said, "We are who we are. People say what they say. The outcome is the outcome. We are proud of ourselves. We are proud we put the kids first. We are proud we are taking care of our third-tier (TV) rights."
--Dodds said Texas is in favor of sharing revenue from Tier 1 TV rights to help build stability into the conference. Orangebloods.com reported nearly a month ago that Texas was willing to end the unequal revenue sharing that has ruled the conference for all of its 16 years.
It would mean a pay cut to Texas of roughly $2 million to $4 million annually in TV revenue, but would help those who have long sought equal revenue sharing such as Iowa State, Baylor, Kansas and Kansas State, whose operating budgets are one third of Texas.
The league already has equal revenue sharing in the Tier 2 agreement signed in April with Fox for 13 years and $1.17 billion.
--Dodds said part of the problem with the instability in college athletics is that "sometimes boards (of regents) get involved and that changes our world."
Dodds said he wasn't pointing to any boards in particular, but he said, for the most part, "athletic people love the Big 12." Meaning athletic directors, and that's where the "congeniality is."
--There are "a bunch" of schools that might be good fits to replace Texas A&M. Dodds wouldn't name any. He said he prefers getting to 10 schools and added that he "loves 10" but could see where the league might go to 12 at some point.
--Dodds expects the Big 12's Tier 1 television deal with ABC/ESPN, which still has four years remaining on it, to get redone "sooner rather than later."
Dodds did agree that Texas had conversations with the Atlantic Coast Conference that were "very positive,"
"We were very interested in the ACC if things imploded," Dodds said. "But that's not going to happen."
Both Dodds and Castiglione from OU agreed
On playing /TexasOklahoma at the Cotton Bowl beyond their current contract through 2015, Dodds said, Joe and I both feel "The State Fair of Texas needs to bring something to the table to keep us beyond that." Dodds alluded to more seating, more club level seats and overall improvements. In the past they have rewarded us and every year we bring 10K more people at a time to there establishment.
OU's Castiglione said "The path to a championship in a 10-team league is clear. The path to a championship in a 16-team league is cluttered."
On the possibility of independence, Dodds said, "We looked at it. It was not very high on our list. It's problematic for football scheduling and for scheduling your other sports. We probably make more money as an independent, but it would hurt our kids with inconsistent travel.
"But we are stopping looking at all that and putting everything with all of our efforts back into the Big 12," Dodds said.
Dodds last said continuing to play Texas A&M in football would be "problematic" because of scheduling. Dodds wouldn't say if Texas would try to replace A&M with Notre Dame going forward but did gush about UT's relationship with the Irish.
"One thing we've learned through all of this is Notre Dame is a strong friend," said Dodds, adding that he wouldn't rule out Texas and Notre Dame one day being in the same conference possibly joining the Big12.
Amazing until something is in writing sounds like ESPN is just bsing everyone who knows whats right until you hear it out of the presidents mouths lol
