If Texas A&M is making to make a move to the SEC, they might have to do so sooner rather than later.On Monday, the university's regents authorized president R. Bowen Loftin to explore realignment and he cautioned that the school would explore all options and there would be no timetable for any move. Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has not been a happy camper about the whole situation and told The Dallas Morning News on Tuesday that an ultimatlum could be coming for the Aggies to make up their mind about staying or going.
“We can’t operate with an institution waiting to decide if it wants to remain in the conference. There has to be a very short time for an institution to commit,” Beebe said.
Beebe also told the Morning News that any school leaving the conference could face additional penalties on top of the current rules regarding withdrawal penalties. Following the departure of Nebraska and Colorado during last summer's realignment craze, Big 12 schools made a 10-year pledge to stay committed to the conference but according to the commissioner, it isn't binding enough to keep a team from leaving.
Specifically one team.
“What we do, if anything, will be in the best interest of Texas A&M and the state of Texas,” Loftin said. “We’re also very concerned about the members of the Big 12. We don’t want the Big 12 to go away. We have no intention of doing anything that might precipitate that.”
The commissioner could approach the Big 12's board of directors to set a date and force the school into making a decision but has not done so yet. If his current strategy of begging the Aggies not to go doesn't work, it's possible we could see the realignment timetable moved up however.
“Ultimately, our strong main desire is to keep A&M and address whatever needs to be done to keep them as happy, fulfilled members of the conference,” Beebe said.
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