UT=Smoke Monster, A&M=Benjamin Linus

One of the issues in “Lost” was the ability of some to manipulate others – the long con, the wormhole, the ability to have others do one’s dirty work. Now, I have already compared the saga in the Big XII to Lost in the sense that Nebraska jumping ship was equivalent to Desmond pulling the obelisk out of the shiny pool, creating mass chaos on the island. But there is another parallel for the Big XII and Lost. (Warning: many holes in this parallel, I admit, but it’s not like “Lost” didn’t have plenty of holes too.) Think of this as a “flash-sport-sideways.” In “Lost: the Big XII,” playing the part of the Smoke Monster is UT. A&M has been cast as Benjamin Linus.

Dan Beebe and a new TV contract may play the role of the obelisk, but make no mistake, the evil Smoke Monster is currently calling the shots on the Big XII island. And it is doing a masterful job as well. The Smoke Monster knows Benjamin Linus, the Smoke Monster has conned and manipulated Linus before, the Smoke Monster calls the shots, the Smoke Monster wreaks havoc across the island by flirting with other conferences, attempting to find an escape from Big XII island. But the Smoke Monster is crafty. He is able to use Benjamin Linus as his pawn to do his dirty work. Benjamin Linus holds the knife, Benjamin Linus stabs Jacob in the heart, Benjamin Linus is blamed for Jacob’s death. Benjamin Linus feels all the guilt. Meanwhile, on Big XII island, the Smoke Monster has the ability to become the hero, or attempted hero, no matter what, while cashing in huge. This Smoke Monster is superior to the Smoke Monster on the TV show. Let me explain.

UT wants more money. UT flirted with other conferences. UT can leave the Big XII. But the political fallout from killing the Big XII will be immense. So, UT cons A&M. UT acts as if it wants to save the inhabitants of Big XII island. (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas St, and Missouri can fight over who plays the parts of Claire and Sayid, they willingly would follow the Smoke Monster anywhere, even if he is not planning on bringing them off the island with him.) In order to maintain political clout in the state and psychological dominance over poor Benjamin Linus (A&M), The Smoke Monster (UT) gives the knife to Ben. Here’s the con. UT wants more money without being the bad guy. Leaving for the Pac-10 without at least acting as if they want to save the Big XII would be bad, so now that A&M appears to be close to going to the SEC, UT sets them up. The Smoke Monster claims good intentions: “I want to save everyone, I promise. But it’s out of my hands.” If A&M plunges the knife into the heart of Jacob, then A&M is the bad guy for causing the death of the Big XII and forcing the break-up of the conference. If UT forces A&M to stay, then UT is the savior of the Big XII, until a better opportunity becomes available, makes more money, and continues to psychologically dominate A&M. UT in fact, would become the flash-sport-sideways version of Jack Shepard, too. Only UT could play the role of Smoke Monster and Jack Shepard at the same time. (It can be maddening.) In “Lost: The Big XII,” A&M loses no matter what. If they leave, they are responsible for the Big XII’s demise. (And they will be trounced in the SEC.) If they stay, they are under the influence of the Smoke Monster. Either way, A&M cannot escape its inferiority to UT. UT has outplayed A&M, not just on the field this time, but in the political maneuvering. It’s another brilliant move by the Smoke Monster.

The one hope for A&M: it turns out Benjamin Linus had a soul after all. However, even after the Smoke Monster was gone, Linus still played second fiddle.