At the University of Houston, they're hoping for the best and braced for the worst. Same as it ever was, right?

For a day or two, it appeared UH might be invited to replace Texas A&M in a reconfigured Big 12, and that would have been a gift from heaven for the Coogs.

Now word out of Austin is that Air Force and Brigham Young are more likely to get invitations if the conference adds just one team.

But it's not a done deal. Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds appears to be the driving force in this decision, and contrary to what many fans think, I believe he'll listen to a pitch from UH.

That's all UH officials are hoping for. If they can persuade the Big 12 to send a contingent of athletic directors or school presidents to visit the campus, UH believes it can do the rest.

Afterward, if the Big 12 thinks it would be better off with Air Force or BYU instead of a large, vibrant campus and a school president with a grand vision for the future in the country's fourth-largest city, so be it.

If nothing else, UH will have practiced its sales pitch for next summer's run at the Big East.

Brett Coomer/Chronicle

Let's be clear about one thing, and this will draw laughs in Norman and Lubbock because they don't know what we know. UH deserves to be in the Big 12.

Is it a leap of faith? Sure, it is. But the upside is far too great to be ignored. UH is a sleeping giant. The University of Houston that was dumped after the breakup of the Southwest Conference 16 years ago is not the UH of today.

Rapid progress

This University of Houston is on its way to becoming a world-class university, and if you don't believe me, take a drive around the campus. Buildings are going up, programs are being added, and it's all happening at warp speed.

And unlike some past UH presidents, Renu Khator believes having a world-class athletics program is an essential part of being a great university.

Dave Maggard began the renaissance during his seven years as athletic director. He didn't accomplish everything he set out to do, and his successor, Mack Rhoades, won't either.

But graduation rates are higher, academic support is better and attendance and donations are way up. Rhoades instituted a leadership program for student-athletes that might end up being a model for every program around the country.

UH hires good coaches and plays by the rules. In ways large and small, UH is becoming a program comparable to almost any other in the Big 12, and that wasn't always the case.

Now, about the bricks and mortar. Rhoades has raised $51 million toward the $120 million reconstruction of Robertson Stadium. When he's done with that, he's going to raise $40 million for Hofheinz Pavilion. And he is going to be successful.

These projects must be finished before UH can be considered a national player, but there's nothing that should stop it from joining the Big 12 in 2012.

UH can make 71,000-seat Reliant Stadium its home for the short term, and no Big 12 school has a better facility.

There will be tough questions, and that's OK, too. We're all adults. We've got answers.

Attendance is a problem. UH averaged 21,000 fans per home game the year before Maggard arrived. Last season, it was almost 32,000 per game, and it will increase.

To sum up: UH has a school president on her way to making a first-class university better. UH has an athletic director who has surrounded himself with good people in key positions. And UH has a football coach — Kevin Sumlin - as good as any in the Big 12 not named Bob Stoops or Mack Brown.

Better Big 12 fit

Unlike BYU and Air Force, UH resonates with Big 12 fans, and isn't that important? UH and Texas had a fierce rivalry in the SWC. Fans at Texas Tech and Baylor care about beating UH in a way they never will about BYU or Air Force.

The Big 12 does not need UH. I'm not foolish enough to make that case. The Big 12 doesn't need Air Force or BYU, either.

As long as the Big 12 has Texas and Oklahoma, the other conference members are filling in the blanks on the schedule. UH would be happy to be one of those blanks and will be a responsible and productive partner if given a chance.

To the Big 12: Can we do lunch?

richard.justice@chron.com

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