Oklahoma president: OU, Texas A&M got invites from SEC

The president of the University of Oklahoma says his school and Texas A&M both received invitations to join the Southeastern Conference during the last round of conference realignment. Oklahoma ended up remaining in the Big 12. University president David Boren said Wednesday that the Sooners had offers from both the SEC and the Pac-10. Boren says the Pac-10 offer was for five Big 12 schools — Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech — to join as a group. He says the SEC extended offers only to Oklahoma and Texas A&M, both of which opted to stay in a slimmed-down Big 12 after Colorado left for the Pac-10 and Nebraska left for the Big Ten. Boren says because the SEC offer didn’t include Oklahoma State and Texas, he didn’t consider it a good option. – CBS Sports

Hold Everything: Big 12 may not be dead just yet

Three different sources at Big 12 South schools being targeted by the Pac-10 told Orangebloods.com Sunday morning that Dan Beebe’s attempts to secure a new TV deal on par with the SEC’s $17 million/school payout for the 10 remaining schools in the Big 12 is in play. The sources said they are proceeding cautiously with the new information provided by Beebe. But the information might slow down the rocket-like pace of Big 12 schools seeking a new home and possibly draw all the divided parties back to the table… Texas A&M has been in deep discussions with the SEC and as of Saturday night had enough votes on its Board of Regents to join the SEC (believed to be 6-3). But the dissenting votes on A&M’s regents board are apparently passionate about keeping Texas and A&M together and not breaking up a 100-year rivalry by having the schools head to different leagues. SEC commissioner Mike Slive was in College Station Saturday. Sources close to the situation say A&M has an invitation to the SEC if it wants it. The SEC has also been doggedly pursuing Oklahoma. But thus far, OU, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State have indicated they would stay with Texas. Up to this point, that appeared to be an announcement to join the Pac-10, starting as early as Tuesday of this week. But with news that Texas is now seriously considering the Beebe Plan, there is a growing chance the Big 12, which is now at 10 schools (the Big Ten, by the way, is now at 12 schools) just might survive after all. – Orangebloods.com

Strong Ramifications for Aggies if move made to SEC

Two sources told me late Thursday afternoon that it has been expressed to the Aggies that a move to the SEC would be viewed as an athletics act of war because it is important to the other schools involved to keep the SEC out of this state as a major presence - both in recruiting and in terms of market reach. Although there haven’t been any hard line threats, there’s a feeling from all of the schools from the Big 12 South that A&M would become dead to them as an athletics partner and it’s very likely that they wouldn’t be scheduled by Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in any sport… for a very, very long time. When we talk about the loss of tradition in this move for A&M, we’re not talking about the school song or the bonfire. We’re talking about the ability to pursue any existing competition in any sport - not in football, basketball, baseball, poker, lawn darts… nothing. No more Lone Star State Showdown. Also, my sources indicate that this is not a UT-led initiative and that all of the schools are in firm agreement that an A&M move to the SEC would need to be met with pretty stiff repercussions. The bottom line is that there will be a lot of political jostling over the course of the next few days and into early next week. Look for the other four schools to sit back, watch and wait for Texas A&M to figure out who they are. Texas wants A&M sitting shotgun on the ride to the Pac-10. If A&M wants out of the car, they won’t be let back in. – Orangebloods.com

Texas A&M to join Pac-10 or… SEC?

A source confirmed to SI.com late Wednesday that emissaries from the SEC initiated discussions with Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne months ago, and while the SEC is just one of several potential options for the Aggies, it remains an option heading into Thursday’s meeting between Texas A&M and Texas officials. At the meeting, power brokers from both schools will discuss a last-ditch effort to save the Big 12, even if Nebraska’s Board of Regents votes Friday to leave for the Big Ten. “It’s on life support,” the source said of the Big 12. “But people have come off life support before.” Officials also will discuss a potential invitation from the Pac-10 that also would include four other Big 12 schools. Presumably, they also will discuss the SEC’s talks with Texas A&M. What is unclear, however, is which other school or schools the SEC might also be interested in to keep an even number should it decide to expand. – SI.com

Pac-10 to explore expansion; could add six teams

The Pac-10 concluded its meetings Sunday by giving commissioner Larry Scott the authority to pursue any possible expansion, while not committing the conference to adding any more schools. Scott addressed the chancellors and presidents on the final day of the weekend meeting about possible expansion scenarios and was given permission to move ahead with the process without having to go back to the board for approval. “What direction that process takes still could go in different directions,” Scott said. “Everything from remaining as we are as a Pac-10 that has some very bright days ahead of it, to a bigger conference foot print. I have the authority to take it different directions depending on various scenarios and discussions we will have.” The conference will decide its future plans by the end of the year before negotiating a new television contract for the 2012-13 academic year. The Pac-10 administrators arrived in San Francisco this weekend to a report that the conference was ready to invite Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Colorado from the Big 12 to create a 16-team megaconference. There has also been a report that Baylor could replace Colorado in that scenario or the Pac-10 could choose to keep the status quo or add only two teams in a smaller move. – AP

Steve Kragthorpe to Texas A&M?

Mike Sherman is interviewing for at least one linebackers coach — former A&M great Dat Nguyen is believed to be a candidate — and a receivers coach. Steve Kragthorpe, a former Aggies offensive coordinator and head coach at Tulsa and Louisville, reportedly is a prospect for the receivers job. – Austin American-Statesman

Texas A&M set to hire Air Force DC?

Air Force defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter will be leaving the academy to become the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M, according to a source close to the situation. – Colorado Springs Gazette

Joe Kines retires as Aggies’ defensive coordinator

Joe Kines has spoken lovingly of his wife, Rubye, and her cooking over his past two years at Texas A&M. Kines, 65, will now get to savor much more of both – along with other joys of retirement. Kines on Wednesday announced his departure as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. “God has blessed me so much,” Kines said. “I am a man of faith and family, and I feel like it is time for me to retire. … It’s time for Rubye and me to spend a lot more time with our grandsons.” A&M coach Mike Sherman said Wednesday he shouldn’t have trouble filling the vacancy, but didn’t set a timetable for doing so. “I have no doubt we will attract quality candidates for the defensive coordinator position,” Sherman said. – Houston Chronicle

Mike Sherman Under Fire at Texas A&M

65-10. Another embarrassment. Another showing of ineptitude. And, suddenly, the sunshine pumpers are awfully quiet. Cat got your tongue? The 22nd game in the infamous era of Mike Sherman sure looked familiar, didn’t it? Here’s some breaking news, Aggie fans. Under Sherman, Texas A&M’s football program has become THE embarrassment of the Big 12. This delegation doesn’t come merely from wins and losses. It comes from the simple fact that this and last year’s teams do not compete. Seriously, what teams in the Big 12 or, better yet, the entire Football Bowl Subdivision get blown out more often than the Aggies? In Sherman’s almost two years at the helm, the Aggies have lost 12 out of 16 games to teams from BCS conferences. In those 12 losses, the margin of defeat is nearly 27 points. Read it again. And, again. Let’s all stop the argument about this team being young. Seriously, it’s game 10 of 2009, and the team is regressing. That is a direct reflection on the coaching staff’s inability to develop talent… The fact of the matter remains, if the Twelfth Man is expecting any sort of change, then you are going to be sorely disappointed. The athletic department sits in a multi-million dollar hole. Our athletic director, in his pursuit of “Building Champions,” signed off on Sherman, an unproven commodity in the college game, for seven years. And, here’s the kicker. Sherman’s buyout would be nine million dollars in December. Suffice to say, he’s not going anywhere. And, for that matter, neither is Texas A&M football. – The Battalion

Texas A&M still alive - and so is Mike Sherman

So much for those greatly exaggerated reports of the death of Texas A&M’s football team. Heck, it doesn’t even look sick any more. Not so much as a cough or a sniffle. Maybe its demise will come this week. Or later against Oklahoma or archrival Texas. Or perhaps not at all. The Aggies (4-3) certainly put their obituary on hold here Saturday night and did so in authoritative fashion, with a spectacular rushing attack and an opportunistic defense. Something did die here, however, and that was Texas Tech’s slim chances at a BCS bowl, a possible Big 12 South title and a potential Top 10 finish, after A&M’s complete, 52-30 whipping for the Aggies’ first win in these city limits since 1993. Even the doormats get tired of being stepped on. Such was the case here, where an A&M team thoroughly humiliated just seven days prior emphatically knocked off 21st-ranked Texas Tech at AT&T Jones Stadium with the most points an Aggies team has ever put up on the Red Raiders. The Red Raiders (5-3) benched starting quarterback Taylor Potts — who was booed by a record crowd of 57,733 and called “slow and statue-like” by coach Mike Leach — in favor of a third-string quarterback who had played in just one game since Seth Doege’s sophomore year in high school and lost five turnovers in a sloppy game with horrid run defense. – Austin American-Statesman

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