Texas president says building relationships priority in SEC

AUSTIN. Texas — College of Texas President Jay Hartzell mentioned Thursday he’ll attend the Southeastern Convention’s annual assembly later this month with a objective of constructing relationships, not instantly attempting to flex Longhorns muscle of their new league.

Texas and Oklahoma depart the Huge 12 after the 2023-24 season and be part of the SEC subsequent summer time.

Hartzell mentioned he’ll be watching how the convention addresses its soccer scheduling dilemma — eight or 9 convention video games — and its potential impression on future media rights contracts. The SEC meets Could 30 in Destin, Florida.

“It should be bizarre. I will be there with no voting rights. We’re not formally in but,” Hartzell mentioned Thursday.

“My impression is scheduling is hard for them, most likely would be the subject of the day, after which determining what’s the newest when it comes to media discussions and the way these two work together,” Hartzell mentioned. “I’ll be there primarily to begin constructing relationships.”

Hartzell mentioned he wasn’t able to take a place on the scheduling subject, and mentioned he will not go to the assembly with a Texas agenda.

“I do not wish to are available in right here and weapons blazing,” Hartzell mentioned. “Texas every now and then has a repute as, , being an alpha. I’m pleased to return in and begin simply being a part of the group … It’s an ideal league, and we’re enthusiastic about it and we wish to slot in and be a great accomplice with the league with all the opposite presidents and chancellors. We have got a task to play, but in addition wish to be a group participant.”

The Texas Board of Regents this week authorised permitting Hartzell to signal agreements shifting the Longhorns from the Huge 12 to the SEC in July 2024.

The vote was anticipated after the Huge 12 introduced in February it had reached an settlement with Texas and Oklahoma to go away a 12 months sooner than deliberate, forsaking the $50 million every college would have obtained over the subsequent two seasons underneath the Huge 12′s media contracts.

Texas regents voted Wednesday. Oklahoma’s Board of Regents has a gathering scheduled Friday the place it’s anticipated to take related motion.