Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin and the Southeastern Conference released statements today making the Aggies departure to the SEC official. Loftin had this to say:
The Southeastern Conference provides Texas A&M the national visibility that our great university and our student-athletes deserve. We are excited to begin competition in the nation's premier athletic conference. This is a 100-year decision that we have addressed carefully and methodically, and I believe the Southeastern Conference gives the Aggies the best situation of any conference in the country.
I assume they waited until today to not take away from the victory celebration crushing defeat they suffered yesterday. More after the jump (if anyone still gives two shits what the hell A&M does, I'm only reporting this now to put a temporary end to the conference realignment crap)
Dr. Bernie Machen (chair of the presidents board and current president of Florida) had this to say, on behalf of the SEC:
The Southeastern Conference Presidents and Chancellors are pleased to welcome Texas A&M University to the SEC family. The addition of Texas A&M University as the SEC's 13th member gives our league a prestigious academic institution with a strong athletic tradition and a culture similar to our current institutions.
Reading between the lines I take that quote to mean "Hell yes we're pumped to get A&M, while they may be a cult of sheep fuckers schools like Alabama, Florida, Auburn, LSU, Tennessee, and others can always use another Vandy or Kentucky to beat up on. Also, we now have a pipeline into Texas. Every time A&M has any recruits at their home games we have a chance to show them what real football is all about."
I can accept that the Ag's are tired of Texas shitting on their heads, but damn it if the don't keep looking up. What they've done is run from one school bully into an entire gang of bullies. If yesterday proved anything, they are not "back", and are not ready to compete at the highest level. ESPN made Pat Forde write an entire article on that fact, but i think it's accurate. Do I think that the SEC is the best football conference? No, but they cheat the most, they are the most cutthroat, and the Ag's are not going to do well, at least not for a while. The Ag's are leaving because of insecurity, not because it provides "greater visibility". The thing's that they wanted fixed are mostly fixed, but hey, they don't care. Really, they couldn't turn back after all the posturing, but still, this will not turn out well for them.
Anyway, for a few days at least, realignment is over. Hopefully the Big 12 can steal a few schools and get back to 12, and we can keep this thing going for a while. (While I did want to join the PAC, I'm fine with staying where we are, we're finally starting to compete year in and year out, and I don't wanna break our rhythm). One thing I hope A&M realizes as they begin the transition to the SEC, no matter where they are, how many games they win, or how many sheep they sleep with, Texas will always be more popular, have more money, and won't have yell leaders (I was going to write an entire article making fun of them, but then I went here, and I was too embarrassed to do it) Good luck A&M, I can't say I'll miss you, but good luck anyway.
Go Pokes