Longhorn Network Close to Deal With ESPN

A deal with the University of Texas and ESPN over a new network seems very near.  There have been no announcements yet about the broadcasting of Longhorn sporting events to central Texas and beyond as of last Thursday.  ESPN's Burke Magnus doesn't seem to be worried that the two sides haven't come to an agreement yet:

"We'll have a lot more to share in the next eight days," said Burke Magnus, ESPN's senior vice president for college sports programming. "It's not a great concern right now. It's just simply the way it works."

Hopefully they get a deal done this week!  I want to start watching all Longhorn games on the Longhorn network!

Texas A&M Almost Went to SEC

Texas A&M was extremely close to moving to the SEC over the weekend.  Members of the SEC finally voted against adding any more teams at the current time. 

My question is:  what does this mean for Texas?

Wow, this really could mean a number of things.  If the Big 12 loses any more teams that means the conference will have less than 10 teams.  That would be way too low for a conference.  I think the Big 12 would definitely look to add teams like a TCU or maybe even a BYU to keep the league upright.  I can't see the Longhorns leaving any time soon because of their new tv deal that would conflict with a lot of conferences who have their own networks.  Hopefully the Big 12 stays in tact and the Longhorns can continue to stay in the conference and kick Oklahoma's butt. 

Hook 'em Horns!

Texas Longhorns Ranked 23rd in Preseason Top 25

The USA Today recently announced the preseason top 25 for college football.  Here's a look at the entire poll.  I hate that Oklahoma is ranked 1st, I can;t wait to beat them this season. 

1.	Oklahoma (42)
2.	Alabama (13)
3.	Oregon (2)
4.	LSU (2)
5.	Florida State
6.	Stanford
7.	Boise State
8.	Oklahoma State
9.	Texas A&M
10.	Wisconsin
11.	Nebraska
12.	South Carolina
13.	Virginia Tech
14.	Arkansas
15.	TCU
16.	Ohio State
17.	Michigan State
18.	Notre Dame
19.	Auburn
20.	Mississippi State
21.	Missouri
22.	Georgia
23.	Florida
24.	Texas
25.	Penn State

Texas Longhorn Network Sparks Talks of Fairness

The Longhorns finished in last place in the Big 12 South last season, but despite that, the Longhorns have been a major topic of discussion at Big 12 media days. The Longhorn Network has been the main focus.

Set to launch on August 26, the $300 million collaboration between Texas and ESPN has raised concerns about the fairness of the deal, especially the advantage Texas may have over other universities in the recruiting process.

Only time will tell what has, up to now, only been speculated about. The effects of the Longhorn network will be seen soon enough.

Texas Longhorns Will Not Join Pac-12

It looks like any hopes of people having that included the Texas Longhorns ever becoming a part of the Pac 12 conference had their dreams crushed Wednesday.  Pac 12 commissioner Larry Scott announced the new Pac 12 network on Wednesday.  It would be nearly impossible for the Longhorns to join the Pac 12 because they have already launched their own network.  Larry Scott had this to say when someone asked if this all but ended a Texas- Pac 12 merger. 

"I think you could certainly imply that, with the news that we're going to announce tonight," Scott told the newspaper. "The Longhorn Network would be certainly a huge impediment."

Longhorns Discuss New Newtowrk with Rivals in Big 12

The Texas Longhorns will be launching their new network this season.  They are entering a 20 year 300 million dollar deal that gives them a clear advantage over their rivals.  Longhorn officials have been working with the NCAA to get some rules set up.  The Longhorns are planning on televising some high school games on their network.  they have also said that those broadcasts will having nothing promoting the Longhorns or anything.

This sounds dangerous.  Texas seems like it will have a huge financial advantage over it's competitors.  Not only that, with the new network, all young Texas kids will see on TV is Longhorns and will only want to go there.  What do I say to the other schools?  Tough luck.  This is the way it works we are the Longhorns and we don't care.