Two of the most important early-impact members of the 2012 recruiting class came from the junior college ranks, a rare move for Mack Brown, who indicated that Texas would consider continuing to recruit those players to fill needs. It appears that

In recent days, Dodge City (KS) Community College defensive lineman Marcus Hardison and Pierce College tight end Beau Sandland have both surfaced on the radar and though neither has an offer yet, both have significant interest in the Longhorns.

Hardison has expressed a desire to play defensive end despite checking in at 6-4 and 290 pounds, though the need for the 'Horns is at defensive tackle. With nearly 25 offers, including nearly every Big 12 program, Hardison is a highly-sought prospect.

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Speculation about the role that Notre Dame could play in possible expansion by the Big 12 has gained steam in recent days, in stark contrast to when this whole realignment saga started roughly two years ago, when the Irish looked like an absolute longshot for a conference like the Big 12.

But if there's one takeaway from this whole rollercoaster ride, it's that things change daily, if not hourly, and right now, it appears that the careful courtship of Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick by Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds could result in some serious consideration from the Irish of their conference options.

On Tuesday, Dodds confirmed in an interview with CBSSports.com that the conference has approached Notre Dame about joining:

We've talked to Notre Dame about the Big 12 ... They could put some football here [by playing a few non-conference games against Big 12 opponents].

Dodds is talking about the plan that would have non-football sports join the league, with football having more of a partnership by playing a handful of games against Big 12 teams, which would likely include Texas on a consistent basis -- a game, it seems safe to say, that fans around the country would love to see.

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Despite an elbow stress fracture sidelining him in early May, Parker French was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year today. French follows in the footsteps of sophomore Erich Weiss who won the award this year and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team today. French finished the year 6-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 21 appearances (9 starts) and was rounding into the team's best starter when he got hurt making his first Friday night start against Missouri.

In addition to Weiss, Corey Knebel made First Team, Jonathan Felts, Hoby Milner and Mark Payton were All-Big 12 Second Team and French, Jonathan Walsh and Jordan Etier were Honorable Mention. That Felts, Knebel, Weiss and Payton are all sophomores bodes extremely well for Texas baseball in 2013 and we wish them all a hearty congratulations.

All the Big 12ish Conference news that is and isn't fit to read...
And some other stuff.

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So, one of the ostensible reasons for Texas A&M and Missouri bolting from the Big 12 for the lush green pastures of the SEC was the opportunity to make more money. However, that may not end up being the case, at least in terms of the upcoming restructuring of the league's CBS deal:

SportsBusiness Journal: CBS doesn't want to pay more for new SEC, arguing Missouri & Texas A&M don't add significant value.

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) May 21, 2012

Here's a snippet from the article:

CBS still will carry the same number of football games each season as part of its package, and network executives are arguing that schools such as Alabama, Florida and LSU-not Missouri and Texas A&M-drive the value of the conference. Without additional inventory, CBS's stance has been that it shouldn't pay more solely because the conference added two new schools.

It could be that this is simply posturing, a negotiating tactic intended to get the network the best deal possible.

Or maybe the Aggies simply aren't worth as much as they thought they were. Maybe we should all just point and laugh.

/points

/laughs heartily

All the Big 12ish Conference news that is and isn't fit to read...
And some other stuff.

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It seems like only yesterday that I was addressing, with somewhat of a bemused detachment, the rumored interest Florida State was purported to have in joining the Big 12.

OK, it wasn't quite yesterday: it was a whole five days ago. Since then, a seismic shift in college football has occurred. I think it's difficult to overstate the significance of the announcement that the champions of the Big 12 and SEC will be meeting annually in a new, conference-controlled bowl game beginning with the 2014 season. (The current BCS contracts run through the 2013 season.)

I think aloud and ramble on for several thousand words about what I think this all means, and where we're heading, after the jump.

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