Texas A&M Breaking Away From the Pack; Heading to the SEC?

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3reppom's avatar

3reppom

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765 posts
Jun 14, 2010 5:51 AM
wouldn't be that surprising, Texas A&M is a better fit with the SEC and the deep south in general than it is with the PAC 10.
Jun 14, 2010 5:51am
Mohican00's avatar

Mohican00

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Jun 14, 2010 8:11 AM
Can't wait for their thrillers against Vandy and Miss St. gridiron classics
Jun 14, 2010 8:11am
Speedofsand's avatar

Speedofsand

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Jun 14, 2010 9:29 AM
TAMU has reportedly turned down the Pac, per Orangebloods. Beebe is trying to save the Big12. Va. Tech is waiting for the Big12's deadline to the Pac to make a possible move to the SEC. Aggie fans are 99% wanting in the SEC. Aggie Board of Regents has a slim margin to the SEC, thanks to Gene Stallings.
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12642311

Meanwhile, the Big 12 continues its push to keep the remaining 10 teams onboard, as multiple reports claim commissioner Dan Beebe has pledged a future annual payout of $17 million to $20 million to the remaining schools, about double what it is now.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/texasam/7051484.html
Jun 14, 2010 9:29am
krambman's avatar

krambman

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Jun 14, 2010 10:28 AM
Mohican00;389101 wrote:Can't wait for their thrillers against Vandy and Miss St. gridiron classics

Kind of like their thrillers against Baylor and Iowa State? Or Ohio State's thrillers against Indiana and Minnesota? You have games like that in every conference. Every team can't be the best.
Jun 14, 2010 10:28am
Mohican00's avatar

Mohican00

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Jun 14, 2010 12:33 PM
^^^The idea being that TAMU is walking into a much more difficult conference where they'll cellar dwell with the aforementioned teams. I'm not concerned with the games themselves but the position the Aggies are putting themselves in.
Jun 14, 2010 12:33pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

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Jun 14, 2010 12:54 PM
Speedofsand;389144 wrote:TAMU has reportedly turned down the Pac, per Orangebloods. Beebe is trying to save the Big12. Va. Tech is waiting for the Big12's deadline to the Pac to make a possible move to the SEC. Aggie fans are 99% wanting in the SEC. Aggie Board of Regents has a slim margin to the SEC, thanks to Gene Stallings.
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=12642311

Meanwhile, the Big 12 continues its push to keep the remaining 10 teams onboard, as multiple reports claim commissioner Dan Beebe has pledged a future annual payout of $17 million to $20 million to the remaining schools, about double what it is now.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/texasam/7051484.html

Where is Beebe planning to find this money he's promising? He plan to rob a bank?

It's hard to double revenue as the conference falls apart around you.
Jun 14, 2010 12:54pm
Speedofsand's avatar

Speedofsand

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Jun 14, 2010 1:13 PM
ts1227, I asked the same question. This morning Schad said it ain't happening. Now he just said TTech, Ok, & OkSt will do whatever Texas does and Bill Powers holds the key. Its all about money.
Jun 14, 2010 1:13pm
ptown_trojans_1's avatar

ptown_trojans_1

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Jun 14, 2010 1:17 PM
The only thing is that takes one game away from OOC Texas and TAMU to keep the rivalry. That sort of sucks.
Jun 14, 2010 1:17pm
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0311sdp

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580 posts
Jun 14, 2010 3:10 PM
Mohican00;389305 wrote:^^^The idea being that TAMU is walking into a much more difficult conference where they'll cellar dwell with the aforementioned teams. I'm not concerned with the games themselves but the position the Aggies are putting themselves in.
I would assume TAM would play in the SEC west, who besides Alabama won't they be competitive against? (don't give me LSU)
Jun 14, 2010 3:10pm
newarkcatholicfan's avatar

newarkcatholicfan

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Jun 14, 2010 3:14 PM
Overall as far as sports goes I do not see this as a good move.
Jun 14, 2010 3:14pm
Mohican00's avatar

Mohican00

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Jun 14, 2010 3:20 PM
0311sdp;389436 wrote:I would assume TAM would play in the SEC west, who besides Alabama won't they be competitive against? (don't give me LSU)

LSU, Auburn, and I'd even go so far as to say Arkansas.

Let us not forget this team has finished at or below .500 5 out of the past 8 years in the Big 12, a conference many would agree is not nearly as competitive as the SEC.
Jun 14, 2010 3:20pm
E

enigmaax

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Jun 14, 2010 3:38 PM
Mohican00;389448 wrote:LSU, Auburn, and I'd even go so far as to say Arkansas.

Let us not forget this team has finished at or below .500 5 out of the past 8 years in the Big 12, a conference many would agree is not nearly as competitive as the SEC.

Arkansas is an interesting case, also. For 30 years in the SWC, they won about 75% of their conference games and a couple titles every decade while generally always being in the mix. Since moving to the SEC, they have one coach who was barely above .500 in conference play and zero titles.

Texas A&M isn't exactly riding a wave of success into the conference at the moment. It isn't just that they have had to compete against Texas and Oklahoma either. I'm not sure how this move would make anyone think they'll get back on the map, though the impact on recruiting is certainly the biggest variable.
Jun 14, 2010 3:38pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

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Jun 14, 2010 4:01 PM
Competitive or not, they will have 2 major benefits.

1. $$$$$$

2. They can sell Texas recruits on an in-state school in the SEC

That alone makes the move worth it, whether or not A&M becomes on par with Alabama, LSU or anyone else.
Jun 14, 2010 4:01pm
S

sjmvsfscs08

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2,963 posts
Jun 14, 2010 4:04 PM
If the Big 12 kept their ten schools and added Arkansas and Utah, they'd be fine. Get rid of that terrible TV contract with Fox and start a network and they'd see some major cash flow.
Jun 14, 2010 4:04pm
krambman's avatar

krambman

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Jun 14, 2010 4:11 PM
enigmaax;389472 wrote:Arkansas is an interesting case, also. For 30 years in the SWC, they won about 75% of their conference games and a couple titles every decade while generally always being in the mix. Since moving to the SEC, they have one coach who was barely above .500 in conference play and zero titles.

Texas A&M isn't exactly riding a wave of success into the conference at the moment. It isn't just that they have had to compete against Texas and Oklahoma either. I'm not sure how this move would make anyone think they'll get back on the map, though the impact on recruiting is certainly the biggest variable.
I think that the fact that Arkansas hasn't done well in the SEC has less to do with how good the rest of the SEC is and more to do with recruiting in Texas. There were 8 teams in that conference in the state of Texas which meant that Arkansas could go into Texas and recruit guys out of high school because they would be playing in their home state 4 times a year. When you now only play in Texas once every other year it becomes much harder to recruit there. Also, Arkansas joined the SEC 19 years ago. Cable television and the internet has really changed college athletics because of the way and the number of games televised each week. This has made your top schools (Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, USC, Ohio State) stronger and leveled the playing field with everyone else. I really think Arkansas's struggles in the SEC has more to do with Arkansas than the SEC.
Jun 14, 2010 4:11pm
E

enigmaax

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Jun 14, 2010 4:12 PM
Azubuike24;389498 wrote:Competitive or not, they will have 2 major benefits.

1. $$$$$$

2. They can sell Texas recruits on an in-state school in the SEC

That alone makes the move worth it, whether or not A&M becomes on par with Alabama, LSU or anyone else.

I know that $$$$ is the driver for Texas A&M...and it is probably a no brainer it'd benefit them more even if they suck forever. The recruiting impact is the variable that, in theory, could make a big difference competitively.

From an observer's point of view, though, where competition does mean something, I don't know why anyone would assume at this moment that Texas A&M would become a player in the SEC. Again, the recruiting boost is the question.

The other thing I'd mention is that Arkansas has made a hell of a lot more money but has also been suspected of being disenchanted with the SEC. If true, that'd have to have something to do with competitiveness, right?
Jun 14, 2010 4:12pm
dazedconfused's avatar

dazedconfused

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2,662 posts
Jun 14, 2010 4:12 PM
so a&m and va tech to the sec?

east
va tech
usc
tennessee
kentucky
florida
georgia
vanderbilt

west
a&m
lsu
alabama
auburn
ole miss
miss st
arkansas

brings in houston, dallas and dc (a little stretch here) tv markets
Jun 14, 2010 4:12pm
E

enigmaax

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Jun 14, 2010 4:13 PM
krambman;389507 wrote:I think that the fact that Arkansas hasn't done well in the SEC has less to do with how good the rest of the SEC is and more to do with recruiting in Texas. There were 8 teams in that conference in the state of Texas which meant that Arkansas could go into Texas and recruit guys out of high school because they would be playing in their home state 4 times a year. When you now only play in Texas once every other year it becomes much harder to recruit there. Also, Arkansas joined the SEC 19 years ago. Cable television and the internet has really changed college athletics because of the way and the number of games televised each week. This has made your top schools (Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, USC, Ohio State) stronger and leveled the playing field with everyone else. I really think Arkansas's struggles in the SEC has more to do with Arkansas than the SEC.

Typing at the same time. Good points, so what is your opinion of how a move would impact Texas A&M?
Jun 14, 2010 4:13pm
krambman's avatar

krambman

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Jun 14, 2010 4:32 PM
enigmaax;389515 wrote:Typing at the same time. Good points, so what is your opinion of how a move would impact Texas A&M?

I think it would put them in a similar place in the SEC to where they were in the Big XII (i.e. middle of the pack). I do however think that they would have a better shot at winning a conference title in the SEC than they did in the Big XII. Partially because the SEC tends to be top heavy and not as well balanced as the Big XII usually has been. I also think that it would help A&M in recruiting. Assuming that Texas ends up in the Pac-10 then A&M would no longer be living in UT's shadow because high school kids won't be saying "why would I want to play for you when Texas always finished higher than you in the conference?" Also, I think that playing in the SEC could help attract some top recruits and it would expand their recruiting base east into Florida. I would say that geography would help them too since many of their games would be relatively close for parents, if there is a mass move form the Big XII to the Pac-10 it's true that UT will have to play in Seattle once every eight years, but more of their games will still be in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arizona.

Basically I think that moving to the SEC will help A&M financially and that it won't really hurt them competitively.
Jun 14, 2010 4:32pm
Azubuike24's avatar

Azubuike24

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Jun 14, 2010 5:05 PM
Lets also be realistic. I love the SEC, but the SEC East is generally, at least lately, tougher than the SEC West. At the same time, the Big 12 North wasn't even close to as good as the South. So not having to deal with Oklahoma, Texas and even Oklahoma State and Texas Tech may make it slightly easier for A&M. The Big 12 South was brutal over the last 5 years.
Jun 14, 2010 5:05pm
ts1227's avatar

ts1227

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Jun 14, 2010 8:07 PM
A&M has come out and announced they will remain in the Big 12 and be completely subservient to Texas (this is pretty much the only way that Texas agreed to stay).

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=5286672
Jun 14, 2010 8:07pm
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TheMightyGators

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Jun 14, 2010 8:36 PM
0311sdp;389436 wrote:I would assume TAM would play in the SEC west, who besides Alabama won't they be competitive against? (don't give me LSU)

Texas A&M shouldn't even be mentioned in the same breath with LSU, and probably not Auburn either. Their program over the last 10 years or so has been better than Ole Miss and Miss. St. and is probably on par with Arkansas.
Jun 14, 2010 8:36pm