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Link: TAMU to the SEC Rumors Surface Yet Again

WMack4Bama

WMack4Bama

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In a column Monday morning, Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman writes that Texas’ deal with ESPN, announced last week, could create “a spike in Texas A&M’s interest in joining the SEC.” During the mini-expansion apocalypse way back in June, there were many reports connecting the Aggies to the SEC, including one that had the school’s board of regents giving the thumbs-up for the move.

That talk came in the midst of Texas’ discussions with the Pac-10, but both schools ultimately opted for conference “solidarity” and remained in the Big 12.

The new UT network, however, has caused the talk to surface once again, with the Aggies apparently none too pleased with a development that stuffs even more money into their in-state rival’s already bloated coffers.

“I certainly think it’s going to create some reaction from some Aggies who will say, ‘(The heck with) Texas. Let’s do our own deal,’” a prominent, unnamed Aggie told Bohls. “I don’t think Texas is winning friends and influencing people among their Big 12 brethren. As for the SEC, it may be a lot of noise, but I don’t sense a lot of groundswell from the president or athletic director’s office.”

Bohls went on to suggest that A&M and Oklahoma, which is exploring the creation of its own TV network, could “unite at some point to shift to the SEC, which I think would scoop them up in a second.” The Sooners had been mentioned back in June as potentially having an interest in making their way to the SEC.
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Am I right in thinking that Notre Dame and now Texas, at present, are the only schools with exclusive contracts with a network? or are there others?

So now who's next for the sweetheart deal? I guess with a large enough fanbase appeal you could sell yourself to one of the networks.
 
The bandwagon is filling up quickly. I like the SEC the way it is but if anyone were to join, TAMU and OU would be pretty high on the list IMO.
 
1FitToBeTide said:
Am I right in thinking that Notre Dame and now Texas, at present, are the only schools with exclusive contracts with a network? or are there others?

So now who's next for the sweetheart deal? I guess with a large enough fanbase appeal you could sell yourself to one of the networks.
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BYU signed one with ESPN after announcing their independence last summer.
 
I like the SEC exactly the way it is. But for the sake of conversation....Texas A&M and Florida State would be good additions IMHO. A&M to the West and FSU to the East. Its all speculation but fun to consider.
 
BAMAccounting10 said:
I like the SEC exactly the way it is. But for the sake of conversation....Texas A&M and Florida State would be good additions IMHO. A&M to the West and FSU to the East. Its all speculation but fun to consider.
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Florida State would never be invited, because the SEC already has a school in the state of Florida. I think the plan going forward on any expansion is expand into new states. Texas A&M would certainly rank high on the list, being that it would give the SEC entry into the state of Texas. Oklahoma would be a new state and a team with grand tradition. Texas would probably be the #1 target but they're never joining, and I'm thankful for that. I can do without their extremely overinflated sense of self-worth.

I think other targets would be Virginia Tech, Virginia, Duke, and North Carolina. Obviously, you may not get any one of those teams without also taking their rival. However, expansion is going to happen. The Big 12 is not made to last, and this huge tv contract Texas has secured for itself only hastens the conference's demise. You can bet the new Pac 12 still has its eyes on Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. It's going to play out one way or the other and the SEC will do well to get at least two of the castoffs.
 
Shift Aubbie to the East if TAMU and OU come aboard.

The SEC should then demand a playoff system with a conference as stacked as that.
 
chittlins said:
Shift Aubbie to the East if TAMU and OU come aboard.

The SEC should then demand a playoff system with a conference as stacked as that.
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Then maybe we could still play TN every year and not Aubie...maybe that would cool things down between Bama and Aubie, which would be a good thing IMO. At times the rival is fun and at other times seems unhealthy. My grandmother used to say she pulled for Auburn when they weren't playing Bama. Gross, but if we didn't play every year, Aubie could at least be tolerated. Maybe.
 
Would LOVE to see that happen. I've though TAMU was a natural fit for the SEC for some time. Adding OU would be perfect.
 
You would think that after their Cotton Bowl experience they would have had enough of the SEC for a while. The Aggies I watched that game with confessed they would not want to face that level of competition week in and week out through out the season. They also said they really didn't see how we could do it and agreed that anyone that comes through an SEC schedule with one or loss or less should always get a shot at the NC.
 
I'm thinking if the SECW got A&M and OU and the Barn went to the SECE division the west would be even tougher and the east would stay about the same in terms of toughness.

A&M would adjust and get stronger and be more like LSU and Arkansas in terms of year in and year out ability to threaten for the west. OU would be like adding another Alabama to the west after they developed an SEC type defense (which they would if they played in this conference).

Auburn would win the east once every six years or so with GA, UT and UF still being the bell cows of that division.

Bottom line, with this type of change, it would be harder for Bama to get to Atlanta each year, but I would love to see the Barn in the east!
 
They would adjust. The Aggies would take their lumps and eventually could over take UTw in the state in terms of talent and strength based on their competition.

Dallas4Bama said:
You would think that after their Cotton Bowl experience they would have had enough of the SEC for a while. The Aggies I watched that game with confessed they would not want to face that level of competition week in and week out through out the season. They also said they really didn't see how we could do it and agreed that anyone that comes through an SEC schedule with one or loss or less should always get a shot at the NC.
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Just because other schools in other conferences have issues, it dosen't mean the SEC would just welcome them in. It should be taken as a good sign that other schools want to join our conference. Sense and sensability. ESPN has a contract in place for the existing SEC and that would pose problems unless it was re-negotiated upon expansion. I do feel for A&M and other Big 12 schools by this deal with Texas, but it dosen't appear to bother OU, at least not yet. With a few exceptions (Cam/AU situaton) I believe we are well opeated when it comes to revenue. With the defection that has already taken place, why dosen't their commissioner reach out and invite other schools to join the Big 12 and restore some order. Pride would make me take action to prevent any more loss and defections by A&M and OU would be devastating to the conference. Mabye this is A&M's way of media speculation to get their commish to do something.
 
I've heard that OU and OSU have been trying to negotiate a "bedlam" network. If UTw and OU/OSU each get networks, it will provide an unfair advantage to the other Big 12-2 schools.
 
I don't see OU moving to the SEC, simply because they depend so much on the state of Texas for their recruiting. If TAMU came also, there may be a small chance it would happen, but it would be hard to separate OU from the Big 12 because of that reason. We'd probably have a much better chance of adding FSU than OU.
 
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