It would be a statement you keep close to the vest for future use - if you thought you had a future.
This is pounding on the podium. It makes it look like you're doing something when there's nothing to be done. The Big 12 didn't necessarily want to have all its buying power tied up in one customer, but that's the way it worked out. When needs changed, that customer moved on. Happens every day.
There's only a small difference between ESPN telling the AAC that adding some teams would likely increase their take by $<x> dollars, and the AAC asking ESPN for that information. Right now, every conference commissioner is doing those exact same calculations. It's not even worth mentioning that these discussions are private between all parties.
I wish it weren't this way, as has been discussed. However, it's irrefutable that the top players regard the SEC as the league most closely aligned with the NFL. Texas could live without the extra cash, but they have to do something about the talent exodus. Even if Texas goes back to winning double digit games, those kids will still favor SEC programs because that's where draft day gets their names.
