Posted on 06/12/2010 2:22:26 PM PDT by Bad~Rodeo
Sources: A&M not SEC's first choice
-- The Southeastern Conference, reportedly keen on adding Texas A&M amid the onrush of a Big 12 shakeup, would be just as interested in luring Texas and Oklahoma but doesn't see either as a realistic option, sources with knowledge of the SEC's maneuverings has told ESPN and ESPN.com.
An SEC athletic director told ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that the SEC's first choice would be adding the Longhorns, but might consider taking Texas A&M because it expands the league's footprint into the Dallas and Houston TV markets.
Given the fact that Texas A&M may be the only Big 12 school the SEC could add, the league was prepared to make the move even if Texas and Oklahoma went elsewhere.
"We've got to be diligent in evaluating this," another SEC athletic director told ESPN.com's Schlabach. "We can't just add teams who are going to split the pie without adding anything substantial to the pie."
Adding the Aggies would provide SEC West member Arkansas with a natural rival, which the Razorbacks have lacked since joining the league in 1992 from the Southwest Conference.
Looking beyond the Big 12 for expansion, specifically to the ACC for schools such as Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State or Miami, was not in the SEC's plans, sources told ESPN.
The sources saw no way the SEC would raid the ACC and added serious doubt that Virginia
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Those who normally read the business section first may be startled by the headline. First they didn’t catch Madoff, now this!
Since the Big 12 is collapsing, I’m all for the Aggies to join up with the SEC. It’s gonna be tough for them at the beginning, but I believe it will be better for them in the long run, competition & recruitment.
I certainly dont want them to go west to the Pac 10.
aggie class of ‘78
Sadly, UT-Austin administrators are too excited about lurking around San Francisco bath houses to go anywhere other than Pac-10.
The SEC - why mess up a good thing?
New TV markets
Texas wants to go where its easy to win.They’ll crush the PAC or Big Ten. SEC is a slightly different matter.
Right now Mike Slive the SEC commissioner is in College Station wooing A&M. Stallings has made it known for several days he wants A&M in the SEC. A lot of the SEC fanboards have been buzzing over the past day or so how the SEC and Slive have let it be known they would make a run at A&M. They want a footprint in Texas.
It seems Texas politicians might stop this because they seem to think A&M should go where UT goes. How about A&M joining the SEC but having an annual game with UT; just like Colorado-Colorado State, 2 Iowa schools etc.
If the SEC can pick off A&M and Baylor from Texas and add Ga Tech or Va Tech and Miami on the East that would really consolidate their power as well as reuniting A&M and Baylor with Arkansas from the old SWC days...
UT is the one right now stating they don’t want to play A&M if they join the SEC. They claim they don’t want the SEC moving into Texas to recruit, although it’s already happening. The A&M fanbase wants to continue the game but they don’t want to follow UT to the Pac 10. Over at TEXAGS.COM the aggie fanbase is probably 20 to 1 in favor of going to the SEC and the SEC fans are all over that board wanting it to happen. I didn’t realize how badly the aggies want to get away from UT.
This Horn thinks A&M should go to the SEC. It will only benefit them and I think the state of Texas has enough athletes to build championship programs in two major conferences at the same time.
Other than the Thanksgiving games, nobody really cares or remembers what they two schools do against each other. In Austin, more people care about beating Oklahoma than A&M.
If A&M feels like they’re always the undercard and a tag-along to UT’s athletic plans, then go find your own destiny. No hard feelings and best wishes to the Ags in their new conference.
I don't know... As a Longhorn 3-sport season ticket holder it just won't be the same. The State Farm Lone Star Showdown will be no more. The stands are always packed at Disch-Falk and Red McCombs softball stadium whenever the Aggies come to town, dunno
SEC stands for South EASTERN Conference. Texas is NOT in the South East (neither is Arkansas and that needs to be corrected). If the SEC wants to expand (why should they?), it should be GaTech, Miami, FSU or VaTech).
Adding a Texas schol will likely mean a nam change. How about CFC - Confederate Football Conference? Now THAT would have the NCAA’s skivies in a knot.
As an OU alumni, I’d much rather OU join the SEC. I just don’t see the west coast as having much of a future. Too much San Francisco, too many businesses leaving. The states in the SEC are all growing. Long term, an affiliation with the SEC just seems to make more sense.
Of course, living in Alabama now may be clouding my vision.
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