Mark down Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011 as perhaps the most controversial day in the recent history of Texas A&M athletics. At least off the field. And who knows, tomorrow could be even moreso.
What’s happened since last night.
The SEC Presidents voted unanimously in Atlanta to invite Texas A&M to be a member of their conference, believing that a letter sent to the SEC from Big 12 Commissioner on Sept. 2nd cleared away any threat of legal protest from the Big 12 or any of it’s nine other schools.
But before the vote, it was discovered that one school, Baylor, was reneging on that pledge and was retaining its right to sue the SEC if A&M joined. So the SEC put a big condition on the invitation, asking that the nine schools all renewed the intention of the letter and signed off again on approving A&M’s admittance and waive their right to litigate in the matter.
Well the Big 12 Presidents, including A&M had a teleconference today at Noon and by all reports, no resolution came from that and Baylor still refused to give up its right to sue. And further, it seems now that Iowa State has joined Baylor, saying they also will not waive that right. And it could be that other schools are leaning toward not releasing their option to sue.
So, unless these schools have a change of heart, the SEC could withdraw the invitation until they feel A&M is totally unencumbered from joining, or they could go ahead and make the union official and just deal with whatever lawsuit may come. At any rate it does not appear any resolution will come today, but tomorrow…well who knows.