The Governor and Lieutenant Governor both have substantial campaign contributors who are UH boosters and because they have nothing to do with the selection process, it can only help them politically by appearing to favor UH's admission. If UH doesn't make it, they won't be blamed. UT just purchased some land in Houston and want to develop a campus extension there (for their medical school), and there's been a lot of opposition locally - they might be thinking that the opposition will go away if they appear to favor UH's "consideration" for membership. And, they might escape blame if UH is rejected as well. Tech is merely UT's puppet - what UT does; Tech does.

UH's chances are good if it's 4 admittees; not good at all if it's 2. The Board authorized Bowlsby to make the recommendations and OU's Boren is the main player. UT probably has veto rights, but unless they expand their role, they are not the primary recommender. I want UT to play a bigger role because then they will be more invested in the outcome. What TCU wants is a longer GOR and more stability and we want UT to agree to it.