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ESPN suing University of Texas over Big 12 realignment

Not a big deal, only about disclosure. And not going to really go anywhere. Officials do have to expect some sort of attorney client privilege so as to chat about whatever issues may be coming before them.

It makes me a lot more curious about why this hasn't been done to Nebraska and Tom Osborne. Anybody else wonder why he was so quiet during his time in DC? At least as far as we know? I have heard rumors about what he was up to during his time there, and you can guess what he was up to.
 
Just for a FOIA request. Nothing too deep or alarming for that tv contract.
 
I think this is somewhat of big deal, if only because of the growing trend of public universities withholding information.

"For example, the UT system claims that certain responsive information related to UT Austin President William Powers is not public information because it was not 'collected, assembled or maintained in connection of transaction of official business of' UT Austin, but rather in President Powers' capacity as Chair of the Big 12 Board of Directors. However, the UT system admits that President Powers holds his position as Chair of the Big 12 Board of Directors only by virtue of his Presidency of UT Austin and because UT Austin is a member of the Big 12 conference. Further, the fact that the Big 12 itself is not a governmental body is irrelevant. ESPN has requested the information from UT Austin, not the Big 12.
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It's just another sign that athletic departments are becoming more powerful (and arrogant) than the academic instutions they are associated with.
 
Does anyone understand what ESPN is looking for here? Are they looking for info to do a realignment post-mortem piece or are they trying to gather info for a TV negotiation with Texas/Big 12 as reported the other day? It may lend credence to the idea that ESPN will be a TV player at the next deal. It may mean nothing.
 
Neckbeard said:
Does anyone understand what ESPN is looking for here? Are they looking for info to do a realignment post-mortem piece or are they trying to gather info for a TV negotiation with Texas/Big 12 as reported the other day? It may lend credence to the idea that ESPN will be a TV player at the next deal. It may mean nothing.
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My guess is that ESPN is doing it's due dilligence into the Texas-ESPN TV contract by having this reporter write a story about conference realignment. By getting the details about which conference/conference commissioners Texas talked with as well as correspondence with other Big 12 institutions, ESPN can write something into their TV deal insuring that Texas is hand-cuffed to ESPN if they chose to move to a different conference or go independent.
 
I would love to know what UT is hiding. There must be something in those documents that doesn't make them look good or else why fight it. There were reports that they were talking to the Pac 10 for a year before the whole conference expansion craziness took off. It would be interesting to see who initiated those conversations and which other conferences Texas was talking to and what kind of deals they were demanding.

It would also be nice to have a more clear picture of what all happened last summer.
 
MissouriFan said:
I would love to know what UT is hiding. There must be something in those documents that doesn't make them look good or else why fight it. There were reports that they were talking to the Pac 10 for a year before the whole conference expansion craziness took off. It would be interesting to see who initiated those conversations and which other conferences Texas was talking to and what kind of deals they were demanding.

It would also be nice to have a more clear picture of what all happened last summer.
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Or UT is just trying to not give any leverage in their TV venture with ESPN. There may be information that would help ESPN negotiate and be harmful to UT's negotiations from a financial perspective. There were obviously discussions about future television contracts for the Big XII and UT during this time.
 
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