Looks like the Texas state legislature wants in on the expansion hullabaloo, in what promises to make an already nasty process, nastier.

 

Texas legislator to Texas schools: Don't decide before Wednesday

 

 

 

10:50 AM CDT on Monday, June 14, 2010

 

 

 

From Staff and Wire Reports

 

The chairman of the House Higher Education Committee says a hearing will be held Wednesday on the future of Texas schools in the crumbling Big 12.

Rep. Dan Branch said late Sunday that he is confident the governing boards of the University of Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M will wait until after the legislative hearing before deciding on any possible league changes.

"To make a final decision before Wednesday," Branch told SI.com, "would not be wise."

The legislator from Dallas told the Austin American-Statesman that he has spoken, in the past few days, with the presidents of UT, Texas Tech and A&M.

University of Texas system regents plan to meet Tuesday.

Branch told SI.com the chief executives of Texas (Bill Powers), Texas A&M (R. Bowen Loftin) and Texas Tech (Guy Bailey) have accepted invitations to testify before the committee on Wednesday. Branch also hopes to have representatives from Baylor, Rice, Southern Methodist, TCU, Houston, North Texas and UTEP. Branch also has invited several economists as well as the commissioners of the Pac-10, SEC, Big 12, Mountain West and Conference USA.

Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott went on a come-join-us mission across Texas and Oklahoma over the weekend. Colorado and Nebraska have already left the Big 12.

All five potential candidates (Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) are facing staggered deadlines from the Pac-10 to make a decision. The latest deadline: Friday for A&M. Of course, by then the Aggies could be headed for the Southeast Conference.

Texas and Texas Tech lead off with board of regents meetings on Tuesday. But neither may have an immediate decision.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/061510dnospobranch.a1473a30.html