Has it come to this? Is the SEC that afraid of the empty threat of a lawsuit that they are hesitating on taking Texas A&M? Could it be true that the ACC showed more intestinal fortitude than the SEC is showing?

Nah.

This whole lawsuit threat is merely something that gives everyone a chance to pause. The SEC is willing to step back and wait because there is no need for them to rush.

The Pac-12 gets to think a little longer about how much it wants to take Oklahoma. All the Big 12 members are willing to take a step back for the moment. The only place that is really pissed off about this are in College Station, Texas.

“We are being held hostage right now,” Loftin said of being forced to stay in the Big 12. “Essentially, we’re being told that you must stay here against your will and we think that really flies in the face of what makes us Americans for example and makes us free people.”

Uh, yeah. Hyperbole much? And the recommitment and public statements about sticking with and supporting the Big 12 in the prior year? Well, those don’t count.

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Coming out of an admitted lackluster opening game, the next opponent is 1-AA patsy, Maine. For their troubles, the Black Bears will get a $375,000 paycheck. That kind of payout for a 1-AA patsy is part of why the Big East had to get to at least 9 teams, and why conferences are increasingly going to or leaning towards 9 conference games. It drives down the demand for the overall number of non-con games by BCS programs and will keep down the costs of paying for a guarantee game.

Obligatory, “not that Pitt is taking Maine lightly comment” (unlike me).

“We look at it as, any opponent that comes in, they have a chance to make this a signature win,” Graham said.

And, he added, “If you’re not humble, you’ll get humbled.”

“They’re a very well-coached football team,” Graham said of Maine. “The strength of their team is the offense of their quarterback (Warren Smith) and tailback (Pushawn Brown), who operate very, very efficiently.”

Maine head coach, Jack Cosgrove has a simple formula for beating a 1-A program.

“I’ve always felt that in order for a team of our stature to be successful against a team like theirs, they have to play bad and we have to play great,” Cosgrove said of playing and FBS team.

That might do it. Speaking of obligatory, here’s the “just because they are 1-AA, doesn’t mean they are intimidated by a 1-A team” story.

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