Texas Tech president backs Houston for Big 12, BYU open to football-only membership
Add incoming Texas Tech president Lawrence Schovanec to the list of folks endorsing Houston for Big 12 membership.
A day after University of Texas officials, including president Greg Fenves, voiced support for UH, a statement from Schovanec was sent out by the university Friday afternoon.
“As the Big 12 evaluates its options for expansion, Texas Tech welcomes the consideration of the University of Houston,” the statement from Schovanec said. “We have always valued our partnerships with UH.”
Houston’s football program is certainly on the rise coming off a 13-1 season and Peach Bowl victory over Florida State, but there was a perception that some Big 12 schools – in Texas, especially – may not be on board with the Cougars joining the league. Adding a member requires the approval of eight Big 12 presidents. UH already has two.
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In a Tuesday conference call, it was announced that Big 12 presidents had given commissioner Bob Bowlsby the go-ahead to consider expansion candidates. Bowlsby said the league would consider adding two or four schools to the conference, which currently stands at 10 members.
Houston isn’t the only school trying to join the Big 12, of course. Another school, BYU, has also made it clear that it wants to join an expanded Big 12. Tom Holmoe, BYU’s AD, told ESPN the school would be open to joining as a football-only member, though it would prefer full membership.
“We’re obviously open to listening to what they want to do. We’re going to go through this process with an open mind to listen to what they have to say,” Holmoe said.
BYU has been independent in football since 2011 and plays in the West Coast Conference for most of its other sports. The school, because of its affiliation with the Mormon church, does not allow its athletic teams to compete on Sundays, which is viewed as a day of worship. That could present a problem with scheduling and become a hurdle with regards to potentially joining the Big 12 as a full member.
Holmoe said earlier this summer that the school would not change that policy.
“It’s something we hold very sacred,” Holmoe said on BYU football media day. “We have never played on a Sunday and we’re not going to play on a Sunday.”
Holmoe told ESPN he believes BYU and the Big 12, which ordinarily has Sunday games in other sports, could reach a compromise.
“I believe that’s something that can be worked out,” Holmoe said. “We’ve been in a lot of leagues through the years, and we’ve been able to work it out. There would be a difference in the Big 12 because that would be a Power 5 conference. They’re going to ask questions. We’ll have our solutions, creative ideas of what we can do. We’re going to do everything we can.”
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Bowlsby said earlier this week that athletic department strength, fan base size, media market, reputation and academics are some of the factors the league will look at for candidates.
Holmoe believes BYU meets the aforementioned criteria.
“We feel very confident in what BYU is,” he told ESPN.
A poll released Wednesday indicated that Big 12 head coaches favor BYU and Houston in expansion. Both schools received five votes apiece while Cincinnati and Memphis each garnered four. Colorado State and UCF each received one vote.
For more Houston news, visit CougarsDen.com.
For more BYU news, visit CougarNation.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
