Huh? Were you not a UH fan at the time? No excuse for being that confidently wrong about something any of these AI search engines can verify in seconds.
ChatGPT:
Yes — Texas state leaders and top University of Texas (UT) officials publicly endorsed the University of Houston’s bid to join the Big 12 in mid‑2016.
On July 21, 2016, Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted emphatically:
“Big 12 expansion is a non‑starter unless it includes University of Houston.”
Shortly after, UT President Greg Fenves followed on Twitter:
“As we look at opportunities for Big 12 expansion, I support considering @UHouston for the conference. UH is a huge asset for Texas.”
And UT System Chancellor Bill McRaven echoed:
“@UHouston would be a welcome addition to the Big XII!”
Additionally, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick joined the chorus:
“I join with @GregAbbott_TX – any BIG 12 expansion must include @UHouston or NO DEAL!”
So yes, in 2016 the Governor of Texas, the UT Austin President and System Chancellor, and the Lieutenant Governor all publicly advocated for Houston’s inclusion in the
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Duce630
(DustinK - Still 50 hostages held by Hamas for over 630 days)
244
So I just don’t remember that, but it did happen. I still stand by that it was moot once Big 12 got their championship game and no longer needed to expand.
We were always going to have big problems getting in Big 12 as long as Texas was around. Thats why we talked to PAC hoping they might be interested in expanding to Texas one day. Frustrating times, but it is all behind us now with our current Big 12 membership and a part of P4.
SMU has more money than Memphis and is in Texas. Two reasons why I don’t want them in the Big12. They don’t add anything to the conference as we already have TCU in the area and they have a bunch of alums throwing money around in our recruiting area - I don’t need them having the plus of playing a bunch of Texas teams to their recruiting pitch.