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UT president Greg Fenves, Texas governor support Houston in Big 12 expansion (Update)

Sam Cooper
·College football writer
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby addresses attendees during Big 12 media day, Monday, July 18, 2016, in Dallas. With expansion still an unsettled issue for the Big 12 Conference, Commissioner Bowlsby gave his annual state of the league address to open football media days. And a day later he meets with the league's board of directors. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby has been given the go-ahead to examine expansion candidates. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Update: Thursday, July 21 – 7:40 p.m. ET

Thanks to a story from Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman, we may have a better understanding of the sudden camaraderie between the University of Texas and the University of Houston.

UT purchased a sizeable chunk of land near the Texas Medical Center in Houston last year. UH officials apparently weren’t too pleased with UT’s potential move into the city. That possibly could change if UT does not obstruct UH’s way into the Big 12.

From Davis’ story:

The show of political collaboration comes at a delicate time in the academic relationship between Texas and Houston. UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven angered University of Houston officials with a surprising purchase of 332 acres south of the Texas Medical Center in Houston last year. So far, UT has yet to outline its long-term plans.

An official close to the deliberations told the American-Statesman that Houston officials have signaled they would drop opposition to the construction of a UT satellite campus on that land in exchange for help in getting into the Big 12.

“I have talked to boosters of the university who have floated that concept,” said Rep. Garnet Coleman, a Democrat who lives five blocks from the University of Houston campus. “In these circumstances, people use the tools that they have, and that’s one of the tools the University of Houston has. All’s fair in love and war.

“They didn’t ask anybody before they came and did that,” Coleman added. “I’ve always said there’s a deal there. A deal could be made. It can be. This is not an impossible thing.”

How about that?

For what it’s worth, John Whitmire, a senator from Houston, did not agree with that assessment.

State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, laughed at the idea. One of the most-tenured legislators said Houston’s push to join the Big 12 and UT’s land purchase are two separate issues. He supports the former but unloaded on the latter.

“For anyone to think there’s a swap there, I say not only no, but hell no,” Whitmire said. “They are separate and apart. I have heard from at least four other UT universities that they are concerned about the diversion of resources from their institution to a proposed, very expensive, unpurposed site in UT-Houston.”

Original story: Thursday, July 21 – 5:45 p.m. ET

When it comes to its prospects as a candidate for Big 12 expansion, Houston received support Thursday from three big names.

First, Texas governor Greg Abbott – a University of Texas graduate and unabashed Longhorns fan – tweeted Thursday morning that Big 12 expansion is a “non-starter” without Houston.

Later in the day, Texas lieutenant governor Dan Patrick followed suit, offering his support for the Cougars as well.

But Abbott and Patrick have no say in who joins the conference. Adding a member requires the approval of at least eight Big 12 presidents. It seems like Houston only needs seven now.

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Greg Fenves, the president of the University of Texas-Austin, offered a crucial endorsement.

Texas, along with Oklahoma, is considered to be in the upper echelon when it comes to influential schools in the conference. From a football perspective, Houston is a program on the rise – in the state of Texas especially. Some could perceive the Cougars, coming off a 13-1 record, American Athletic Conference title and Peach Bowl win over Florida State, as a threat. Houston holds a significant TV market and a fertile recruiting base. Joining the Big 12 would only increase the program’s profile, so some wondered if a school like UT would be in favor of UH joining the Big 12.

Only two days after the league said it would begin evaluating expansion candidates, Fenves may have already given the public an answer. UT systems chancellor Bill McRaven chimed in, too.

Now, Houston just needs seven more school presidents to jump on board to make its bid for Big 12 membership come to fruition.

Houston isn’t the only school the Big 12 presidents will consider, of course. College football fans know candidates like BYU, Cincinnati, Memphis, Colorado State, Boise State, UCF, UConn and the others that are out there. Schools are coming out with statements left and right to proclaim their interest in joining the Big 12. SMU and East Carolina (sorry, AAC) joined the fray Thursday.

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“I believe strongly East Carolina deserves to be in the Big 12 as we can deliver the entire state of North Carolina. We have been positioning ourself to be the next member for the past 12 months and will continue to do so,” East Carolina AD Jeff Compher said in a statement.

SMU AD Rick Hart offered a similar sentiment to the Dallas Morning News: “President (R. Gerald) Turner and I have communicated to the Big 12 our interest in pursuing membership along with the reasons why we would be an excellent long-term partner. We feel that we belong and have assets that no one else can offer.”

Hart pointed to SMU’s location in Dallas (and the city’s market) and on-field competitiveness as reasons the Big 12 should consider the Mustangs.

In a conference call Tuesday with reporters, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said the league would consider adding two or even four new members to the league. Athletic department strength, fan base size, media market, reputation and academics are some of the factors the league will look at for candidates, Bowlsby said.

A poll conducted Wednesday by ESPN revealed that Big 12 coaches favor BYU and Houston in expansion with five votes apiece. Cincinnati and Memphis were also given heavy consideration with each landing four votes from coaches.

For more Houston news, visit CougarsDen.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!