Horns247 Board

Couldn't agree more.

I signed the petition, just to show where I stand.

THIS!
I have signed and applaud your efforts w/ a standing ovation! As well as numerous +1's

At no point did I say it was good for the fans. I said the success of the LHN is good for the university and the AD - if that means we need to sacrifice for the time being, so be it. People need to think about long term consequences instead of short term desires.

Thanks again to so many of you who have supported this effort. We don't have much time between now and the start of the season (which is good for all of us who love college football and support our team), however in this particular case, we need to stay on the offensive to ensure that what Bobby reported yesterday remains in effect. The "powers that be" on both sides (ESPN & UT) need to reflect on this movement by the fans and donors in terms of their future decision making with the LHN. We as fans and supporters of UT athletics are the one's who are ultimately effected in the short term if this doesn't go in a different direction. Please continue to spread the word through facebook, twitter and other outlets about the petition.

Let me add this point. I feel the longer this continues to go on (current ESPN approach with respect to the LHN and lack of distribution among major carriers), there is no question in my mind that the Texas brand or “image” is damaged in some way as a result. Last year this was minimized in terms of media coverage and it highlighting the fact that major distribution could not be reached. No question with the LHN being such a new venture, many people (fans, media, donors etc) were willing to give it a pass as a result. I don't see that happening this year. I think the pressure from the fans, coupled with the additional negative coverage from the media will carry more weight this time around and as a result will hurt UT in the process. I think everyone in support of UT athletics and the school itself (whether you support the petition or not) should be concerned about that. In my opinion, that’s why the petition or speaking out against this current stance within ESPN is so important now. For those who are willing to wait longer and are ok with additional games being added to the network "for as long as it takes", this process will only get worse for the University if the carriers don’t budge. The pressure is clearly on UT and ESPN and not the cable companies. They have to make this work. It’s not the other way around. The cable companies can stand together and will eventually force ESPN to put up or shut up. The card game that someone mentioned earlier is stacked in the carriers favor, because they know they can call that bluff all day and all night and not lose a wink of sleep over it. Why? Because they know their customers have no where to go as long as the major competition around them isn't willing to offer it. Translation…ESPN and UT lose no matter what unless they change course. Do we really want to see this thing get dragged out in the media as an embarrassment to the University? I sure don’t and that’s why it’s important to send a message now that the current course of action simply won’t work. ESPN must compromise and the University in its part must do everything in its power to send that message. Taking games away from the fans (the revenue generators) is clearly sending the wrong one.

Thanks a bunch!