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Why couldn't Texas survive as an independent?

Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:47 pm
Posted by Clockwatcher68
Youngsville
Member since May 2006
7704 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:47 pm
Would the biggest drawback be scheduling? I know it has not worked well for Notre Dame in terms of remaining relevant... but Notre Dame is not in Texas. Would a team like Texas be competing for an at-large BCS bid, or would they be able to work out some BS deal like Notre Dame did? Is going independent a viable option for them?
Posted by Tiger Authority
Member since Jul 2007
29476 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:49 pm to
They could. But with so many conferences expanding, finding suitable teams to justify that status would be tough. Their biggest game would be a Texas Tech game or something and that won't generate the type of appeal or revenue to continue at the same level they're currently at. Outside of ND they're the only team that could pull it off. But they would have a time with it.
Posted by Broseph Barksdale
Member since Sep 2010
10571 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:49 pm to
where does it put its other sports?

You think its female soccer team could function as an indy? Swimming and diving team? Giant pain in the arse there.
Posted by johnnydrama
Possibly Trashy
Member since Feb 2010
9139 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:49 pm to
They would be fine in football, but it is all their other athletic teams that need a conference affiliation. They need a deal like Notre Dame has, independent only in football while being a part of the Big East in all other sports.
Posted by Quidam65
Q Continuum
Member since Jun 2010
20484 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:50 pm to
Notre Dame has national appeal because they are a Catholic university, and Catholics are scattered across the entire US.

Although Texas has alumni across the country, the majority are still based in the major Texas metro areas.
Posted by OrangeBlood
Austin
Member since Sep 2005
802 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:51 pm to
I have no idea the answer to this - but I hope we never find out. I would never be in favor of this (but I know some Horn fans who are). My biggest concern is that our other sports (read: baseball) would get stuck in a second tier conference. Forget all the questions about scheduling for football, which I think would be considerable and made more difficult with the advent of larger conferences (and thus more conference games).
Posted by Tiger Authority
Member since Jul 2007
29476 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:51 pm to
And think about how costly that would be. Flying your swim team to Oregon St. on a weekend. Not even sure if OSU has a swim team, but you get the idea.
Posted by WikiTiger
Member since Sep 2007
41055 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:55 pm to
I think independence is a relic of the college football world and will not be a viable option for even big time teams like ND and UT in the future. Notre Dame will join a conference within the next 15-20 years, IMO, maybe even sooner.
Posted by lsufan1971
Zachary
Member since Nov 2003
23749 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:57 pm to
If we end up with 4 super conferences Texas and Notre Dame will need to join a conference not for football but for other sports. Right now Notre Dame plays it's other sports under the Big East conference. The super conferences are not going to be willing to allow these guys to compete in all other sports but football.
Posted by winyahpercy
Georgetown, South Carolina
Member since Nov 2010
1383 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 2:57 pm to
UTx could make it, but not as easily as ND unless the get help scheduling. ND still has some rivalries w/ Big 10 and the academies that they regularly play. If UTx loses OU and A&M, their schedule will suffer. However, if the superconference model comes together, UTx and ND will have to find a home or the big schools won't have room to play them.
Posted by TigerMyth36
River Ridge
Member since Nov 2005
41044 posts
Posted on 9/7/11 at 3:08 pm to
I think ND will soon join a conference because they can't pull it off anymore. 20 years without many victories has taken its toll.

Plus Catholic kids simply are no longer mesmerized by the mere thought of ND like they used to be.

Having said that, I UT has a MASSIVE fan base of rabid fans. I think they could pull off being an independent and with an easier schedule they could be in the MNC hunt every year. Schedule a couple of long time rivalry games for strength of schedule and cash paychecks from their network deal.
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