Texas A&M to the SEC

[Mr. Ford95]

Come Monday it is expected that they announce their intentions to leave the Big 12 after this season and join the SEC. Not a surprise, they were looking to do just last year but decided to stay in the Big 12. Many suspect it has something to do with the Texas TV deal in that they suddenly are leaving. Question is, the SEC isn't going to take just 1 team, they will need to find another team to add for conference balance. Would Missouri jump and become a regional rival for Arkansas? If so, then the Big 12 might as well change their name back to the Big 8 or Southwest Conference name. Could South Florida or another team suddenly jump from Conference USA? Is an ACC team looking to leave, like an FSU who is not a charter member of the ACC?

[robertt]

The article in our paper here has OU and OSU jumping to the PAC-12, possibly, if A&M leaves. They don't think they can get enough quality teams to come here to keep a "decent" conference going. BYU and Air Force were mentioned. Whoever goes to the SEC better step it up and buy some good chinstraps, cause they'll get a spankin over there. This all makes my head hurt. I'm just going to see what happens.

[Mr. Ford95]

FSU is not outright denying jumping to the SEC and rumor around here is that VT has been mum on the issue but apparently have secretly been meeting with the SEC folks.
VT would give the SEC a footprint in one of the final "Southern states" and allow the SEC teams better access to the hotbed of talent in VA. With how VT came into the ACC, I don't see them being above jumping ship for the SEC but at the same time they could feel obligated to stay with how they came in.

I'm hearing, FSU, VT and Clemson all leaving the ACC and TAMU leaving the Big 12 for the SEC as 1 scenario. I'm also hearing, FSU, Mizzou, Clemson and TAMU heading to the SEC as scenario 2.

[Mr. Ford95]

Rob, forget BYU. They just went Indy starting this year with their own TV network, the same thing that is apparently driving TAMU to the SEC and has infuriated the other Big 12 members, can't see them allowing BYU in since they are already steamed about UT's deal.

[robertt]

Our local sports tonight say's the A&M deal is all but done. Mizzou is supposedly saying no to going to the SEC. And your right, A&M was pizzed off about UT getting 3 mill for the T.V. stuff, it's all about the money.

[GMAN]

Well, if A & M come to the SEC it will make my wife a very happy camper. The SEC is a very strong conference. We take our football very seriously.

[Jackrabbit379]

Would that make her happy GMAN, because A&M may not survive, or is it because she likes A&M?

It is so strange to see them in the SEC. It blows my mind, to be honest. Me personally, I don't think they will have a chance. Could yall see A&M waltzing into Neyland Stadium, or Bryant Denny, or the Swamp?
Look at Texas. Alabama made them look like a bunch of amateurs, and A&M will be on the schedule with all these monsters..

[GMAN]

Would that make her happy GMAN, because A&M may not survive, or is it because she likes A&M?

It is so strange to see them in the SEC. It blows my mind, to be honest. Me personally, I don't think they will have a chance. Could yall see A&M waltzing into Neyland Stadium, or Bryant Denny, or the Swamp?
Look at Texas. Alabama made them look like a bunch of amateurs, and A&M will be on the schedule with all these monsters..

She just loves anything from Texas, even A & M. I think they might make Vanderbilt look good. They will really have their work cut out for them if they want to be a strong contender. I would love to see Texas and Tennessee play. Two different shades of orange on the field with a stadium of orange and orange.

[robertt]

If you have never seen A&M's Band, it is worth it to buy a ticket to a game just to see them. One of the most amazing, coolest things I have ever seen.

[Mr. Ford95]

One day I would love to get to College Station to experience the 12th man. Looks so cool on TV. I think TAMU will be ok, they will have a handle on the Texas talent that wants to play in the SEC but wants to stay home. Right not the SEC is THE power conference in football and a lot of kids want to play there. Look at LSU, outside of the talent from LA, Texas sends them the 2nd most players. Same thing with Arkansas.

The SEC is scheduled to hold a super duper double secret meeting today on expansion and re-alignment........TAMU is expecting to receive an invite this afternoon from the SEC and the TAMU Board is scheduled to meet tomorrow in what's expected to be accepting the invite for moving to the SEC next year. In other news, Clemson, FSU and Missouri have stated they have had no contact with the SEC, none of outright denied possibly jumping. Those 3 names keep coming up though as joining TAMU in the SEC.

[GMAN]

I am surprised that FSU hasn't been in the SEC. They would be a stong contender.

[Mr. Ford95]

The SEC basically announced that they are not going to offer anything to TAMU until they are officially out of the Big 12, for legal reasons of course. Of course it was said today by the Texas Legislature that TAMU best stay put or there is going to be trouble for them. They are being tongue lashed to remember the TV deal they signed up for with FOX, the same TV deal that UT signed.........before reneging and moving their stuff to ESPN.

[Jackrabbit379]

I talked to my dad yesterday evening when I found out about SEC not inviting A&M at this time. He was glad. He had a point. He said, "The Big 12 is already fallen apart. If A&M goes to the SEC, no telling what would happen to the Big 12." While I was talking to him, I happen to think about, SMU, Rice, and Houston, who was Southwest Conference members. They might bring them in, if anything else happens in the future.

GMAN, I hope my jokes about A&M didn't offend ya.

[robertt]

Sounds like everybody is backing off of this today. Now the talk is of SMU joining the BIG 12, at least that's the talk around the OKC sports arena.

[GMAN]

I talked to my dad yesterday evening when I found out about SEC not inviting A&M at this time. He was glad. He had a point. He said, "The Big 12 is already fallen apart. If A&M goes to the SEC, no telling what would happen to the Big 12." While I was talking to him, I happen to think about, SMU, Rice, and Houston, who was Southwest Conference members. They might bring them in, if anything else happens in the future.

GMAN, I hope my jokes about A&M didn't offend ya.

It didn't bother me at all. Personally, I prefer my teams with a bit of orange.

[Jackrabbit379]

Ok. Good. I knew that you bled Orange.. The first thing that came to mind was A&M playing in the SEC. I couldn't imagine. I'm sure they could compete, in time, but at first, it would be brutal.

Paul Finebaum had Gene Stallings on his radio show, yesterday. The way they talked, A&M is not out of this completely. In their opinions, the SEC is waiting either for the other team to join, or they are waiting to invite the other team (whoever that may be), then invite A&M back. They said that Missouri could be it, or possibly, Florida St or Clemson, or Virginia Tech.
Let's say that A&M does go to the SEC. I hope that the Big 12 will bring a team, or teams to the conference. Like Robertt said, maybe SMU, or someone else that once was a member of the SWC. I would hate to have this conference collapse.

[GMAN]

I don't think that the conference will collapse. They may need to make some changes to make it more appealing for current members. Out of the ones you mentioned FSU would be the most appropriate for the SEC. They usually have a stong team. There really isn't a weak team in the SEC. Well, Tennessee has not done well the last few years, much to my disappointment. I am hopeful that this will be a much better year for the Vols.

[Jackrabbit379]

About the only weak team I can think of is Vandy.
I believe FSU would fit right into the SEC. My only problem with FSU, (and the press) is that everyone is all over Jumbo Fisher. They all think that he's the best thing since sliced bread at FSU. You have to remember, most of Fisher's players are Bobby Bowden's. I don't know anything about Fisher. I'm sure he's a good coach, but let's see how FSU does in about 4 years, once the kids that Bowden recruited has graduated. Fisher walked into a gold mine, when he took over as head coach. I still don't understand why they wanted Bowden out, and I think they did him dirty, but Bowden had himself a dynasty.

It's pretty sad to see what happened to Tennessee. Fulmer had one losing season in his 14 or 15 year tenure. After he was fired, they brought in Kiffin. He ran that program into the ground. Now, (I forgot the new head coach's name) is trying to get it back up. I don't know a thing about him, but if he's any good, Tennessee aughta be back up, and running. I just think that Kiffin wasn't very keen on his part, in recruiting, and leading the team. They got in a hole, and hopefully, this coach can get them out of it. Me personally, I'd like to see Mike Leach over there. He's an awesome recruiter, and his mind is something that no one can figure out. He's a genius

[Mr. Ford95]

FSU is out of the picture. Florida will not allow ANY team from FL in the SEC with them. It gives them a recruiting edge, come to UF and play in the tough SEC or go to FSU or Miami and play in the lowly ACC? Same with GT, Georgia will not allow them in and the same goes with Clemson, USC will not allow them in. Mizzou has the best shot of joining TAMU. WVU is apparently open to the SEC. They aren't exactly happy in the BE anymore and nobody in the SEC would have a big problem with them joining. Pretty good in both basketball and football.

[Jackrabbit379]

You said the exact same thing many callers said yesterday, on Paul Finebaum's show. I was thinking the whole time, 'who cares what Florida thinks. If the SEC wants FSU, and FSU wants to join, let it happen.'
It will be interesting how it plays out.