For a few years after the 1996 dump, there were those hopefuls who consistently said TCU was on the bubble for Big 12 expansion....Don't recall that there was serious discussion about that possibility, but recall that it took 16 years for that bubble to pop up....And we all remember it was a desperate response by Big 12 to replace TexAM and Missouri....IIRC, Colorado and Nebraska had already bailed....
They are state institutions with a lot of alumni. It can happen.
I think you're selling Tech and OSU short, and maybe KSU too. Location starts becoming less and less important the more this turns into a football-only thing. Lubbock, Stillwater and Manhattan have airports and they all fly charter, it's arguably an easier trip to fly in to those cities than it is Fort Worth.
For teams, yes. Fans, no.
Tech certainly has more DFW alumni than TCU. They might have more DFW alumni than all of West Texas. In fact, they probably have more alumni in DFW than any P5 or soon to be P4 school.
The B1G can't wait to recruit Lubbock, Stillwater and Manhattan KS.
The Big 10 certainly did not worry about that when they added Nebraska. They care most about what the networks want more than anything. Back when the SWC fell apart, the SEC did not add Arkansas because of recruiting the area. The Big 8 chose NOT to add anyone from DFW or Houston despite being the best areas to recruit in Texas.
Well.....OSU and Tech (and I suppose K=State as well) have more fans than we do. But I don't think convenience for fans to attend games is anywhere on the radar as far as what their priorities are in picking schools.
I don't think you really get how this works.
Or Oregon and Washington.
Tech, OSU, and KSU all have more fans than TCU. I think those all of those schools definitely have higher floors in viewership than TCU when they and TCU are mediocre / bad. With that being said, I doubt OSU and KSU would have near the amount of eyeballs as TCU when they are all good. However, Tech and maybe Baylor would likely have as many or more eyeballs than TCU when they are good.
Texas certainly was not deserving of the SEC when it came to performance on the field. Rutgers and Maryland did earn their membership to the Big 10 based on be good football programs at all. Unfortunately, it is all about markets and eyeballs.
My seats will be empty. I think these guys just think people will pay for anything they come up with.
2008 vs. Texas, probably. Michael Crabtree walking a tightrope into the end zone and all that.
TCU has never been left out before, there's obviously nothing to worry about.
