The Big 12-2 is officially on notice. Texas A&M is officially withdrawing and seeking to join another athletic conference *cough* S-E-C!, S-E-C! *cough*. The official release can be found here. This is a final step before the consummation of the incorporation of Texas A&M as an official member institution of the SEC.
I can't overstate how excited I am about this move. It provides the conference with a lot of business and academic advantages. A&M is an AAU member, a potent draw for TV viewers in Texas and nationwide, and may (or may not) allow the conference to renegotiate its below market TV deal. It also gives us fans reasons for celebration. It's another place to go on a road trip and it gives us more exposure to what I consider one of the best fanbases in the country. Aggies are good people. They are what college fans were in the old days, passionate, but respectful. I wonder how long it takes for them to become crazed tree-poisoners hanging around with us. Plus, the speculation on the other potential invite breeds all sorts of fodder for message boards and talk radio.
I'll have more thoughts later, but it can't be long before an official SEC invite goes out to the Ags.
Quinton
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19 comments:
I've heard a lot of griping about expansion, but I'm with you on this move. I can't think of a team I'd rather have join the SEC than Texas A&M. I've always wanted to go to a game out there and it looks like I've finally got an excuse.
Here's to hoping that VPI is the other shoe that's about to drop.
I'm an SEC fan, and I say I don't want em and don't need em.
Have you ever been to College Station, TX? I haven't but I heard it isn't a very pleasant place.
Samuel,
I have and it is as nice or nicer than Starkeville, Gainesville, Columbia, Auburn and Fayetteville. It is harder to get to than all those but Fayetteville.
Tyler - I would strongly disagree that it's nicer than Fayetteville. But the Starkville comparison is fair in terms of remoteness and smallness. The difference is that Starkville's entire campus and infrastructure is a complete dump.
Whereas, TAMU has nice things. The town just blows.
And yes....Auburn is Auburn. Anyone who thinks the town of Auburn is beautiful is probably from Jasper, AL or Thomaston, GA.*
Sincerely,
Paul
*Former Thomaston resident.
I'm not looking forward to cancelling the Clemson and Ohio State series b/c of the switch to a 9 game conference schedule.
Also not looking forward to never playing in the Chick-Fil-A kickoff game ever again.
On the other hand, I'm looking forward to not having any schedules like 2012 anymore.
We'll have a max of 2 scrimmage games per year every year from now on.
Been to all of those except Starkville.
From my experience it is:
(1) Athens
(2) Oxford
(3) Tuscaloosa - distant 3rd
(4) Nashville - but not because of VU
(5) Gainesville
(5) College Station
(7) Baton Rouge
(8) Fayetteville
(9) Auburn
(10a)Columbia
(10b) Knoxville
(10c) Lexington
I've never been to Starkville so it is not included. Also, this is how I'd rank them as college towns not as to living there with a job and kids.
A&M is going to bring a helluva horsey team to the SEC...
Not a fan of expansion, but if we are doing it I want the Aggies. They do have great tradition, a great fan base and games at Kyle Field are special..much like going to West Point or Lincoln or Athens.
This is a very good academic school and one that has an excellent athletic program. And while they have been down much of the 2000s, they are actually very competitive with their big brother, Texas. Since 1970, the Aggies trail 19-22. Pretty respectable.
Good pick.
I met plenty of Aggie fans at the Indy Bowl in Shreveport, and I can't say that there was a single one of them that I wasn't hoping to see fall in the river and drown, frankly.
i guess no one has looked at a a map recently...texas is not part of the south, hence, SOUTHEASTERN Conference...while we are it, we should go ahead and offer some more teams from the Southwest over, hell lets go further west, maybe arizona, cal...lets go North to expand into Ohio as well, we can be the Northern Hempishere Conference...looking forward to having another mediocre football program in the ranks, least Vandy, Kentukcy, and ole miss will have some company at the bottom of the standings...btw, im starting to see why QMcD is a shmuck
Anon 2:20 PM,
That fits the characteristics of some Georgia "fans" I know too.
Dawgaholic, you haven't missed anything by not visiting the aptly named "Stark"ville. You can go ahead rank it behind any other places you have never been to, imo.
Do you think with us adding another AAU member, Georgia might finally get somebody to invite us? Especially with Adams getting the medical school started?
Will, it is possible once the engineering and MD programs are up, running and well regarded. Until then, not likely.
A buddy and I went to the Texas/TAMU game in 2005 (the season Tex won the MNC) that was played in College Station. Didn't get to really check out the town but the atmosphere on campus rivaled Athens and was better than several SEC schools. I wore my DAWGS gear and my buddy wore his Gamecocks gear. The fans were great folks--hospitable (Southern even), friendly, knowledgeable and just lots of fun to hang out with. I think they'll be a great addition to the SEC. Anyone who thinks that their history and traditions aren't comparable to SEC schools is someone that doesn't know much about college football anyway. GO DAWGS!!
Anyone who says East Texas isn't southern has never been to East Texas.
Do you think UF is southern? Vanderbilt (since E. Gordon Gee became president there, anyway)? Vandy is getting as close to being filled with New Yorkers as Emory is.
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