Texas AD: Longhorns still ‘looking at all options’ in decision on whether to stay in Big 12

AD says Texas still looking at ‘all options’

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is still “looking at all options” before deciding whether to stay in the crumbling Big 12 or move to another league, athletic director DeLoss Dodds said Saturday.

Dodds spoke outside of his stadium suite before Saturday’s Texas-TCU baseball game, but declined further comment on what those options are.

Dodds has said he wants to keep the Big 12 together. The Longhorns are considered the key to the league’s survival, particularly after it lost Nebraska (Big Ten) and Colorado (Pac-10) in a matter of two days this week.

The Texas regents have scheduled a meeting Tuesday for “discussion and appropriate action regarding athletic conference membership.”

An official at a Big 12 school with knowledge of the talks confirmed that Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott was traveling to Texas and Oklahoma this weekend to present a case for Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to join the Pac-10.

The official requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly on the discussions.

Pac-10 conference officials did meet Saturday with top University of Oklahoma officials, a spokesman for the university’s president said.

Jay Doyle, a spokesman for Oklahoma President David Boren, said Boren and athletic director Joe Castiglione “had a very cordial and informative meeting” with Scott and deputy commissioner Kevin Weiberg.

Texas President William Powers Jr. and football coach Mack Brown watched the baseball game from Dodds’ suite. Powers, when stopped in the stairwell of Disch-Falk Stadium, declined comment.

“I’m just watching the ball game guys,” Powers said.

Texas would need the regents’ approval to change leagues. Texas Tech has also scheduled a Tuesday regents meetings.

Texas A&M, which is reported to be considering a move to the Southeastern Conference, has not scheduled a regents meeting. Texas A&M President Bowen Loftin would not comment this week on speculation that A&M is considering moves to the SEC or the Pac-10, or say if the school was leaning toward one league over another.

Loftin said he would like A&M and Texas to continue their annual football rivalry, even if the teams end up in different leagues.

“We were very happy to stay in the Big 12, the way it was. It’s changing now,” Loftin said. “The Big 12 is not what it was, and we have to think about its future, and ours.”

The possible breakup of the Big 12, and the prospect of Baylor and Texas A&M not joining Texas in a new league, is causing some alarm at the Texas Capitol.

The House Higher Education Committee has scheduled a Wednesday meeting “to discuss matters pertaining to higher education, including collegiate athletics.”

Gov. Rick Perry, a Texas A&M graduate and former Aggie yell leader, has appointed every regent to the schools’ respective boards. But he said this week he is staying out of the conference decisions and would not try to influence what the schools do.