Mon
Sep 26 2011
11:20 am
SEC adds Texas A&M
By: agrarianurbanite

I was a little surprised when I saw the front page of The Daily Times at the gas station this morning and saw that Texas A&M will begin playing in the SEC next year. (The article isn't on the The Daily Times website that I could find.)

My reaction: "What?!? Great another tough team!" The SEC ain't getting any easier. Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin isn't kidding when he states, "We are excited to begin competition in the nation's premier athletic conference."

And this is what ESPN wrote yesterday.

So, who is going to be the 14th team to join the SEC is the next big question?

Topics:
Pam Strickland's picture

All I know is that my friend

Submitted by Pam Strickland on Mon, 2011/09/26 - 2:27pm.

All I know is that my friend who is from a family of Aggies is distraught that they will no longer play Texas. He also has a masters from Texas so in a way it saves him a bit of angst, but mostly he is sad about the loss of tradition. But he also understands SEC tradition and knows that they will face strong opposition.

However, I personally like what Coach Dooley said about it. The expansion means that rivals ate too far away, and fans might not personally know someone who roots for another team and so it takes away the fun of rooting against a team.

Opinari's picture

Good.

Submitted by Opinari on Mon, 2011/09/26 - 4:42pm.

Here in East Texas, the sentiment is mixed. I think there is an inherent hatred for the Sips (Longhorns), and it came to a head with the Longhorn network fiasco. Speaking for myself, I'm looking forward to driving down to College Station to see some SEC football.

And look for West Virginia to be the 14th team. There's lots of talk about that going on today.

rikki's picture

I'd rather see Virginia Tech

Submitted by rikki on Mon, 2011/09/26 - 6:34pm.

I'd rather see Virginia Tech added. It fits more naturally into the SEC East, being just a short jaunt up the Holston valley, and West Virginia's rivalries make them a better fit with the ACC.

Opinari's picture

Agreed, but...

Submitted by Opinari on Wed, 2011/09/28 - 12:19pm.

From what I read, the administrators are concerned both with the size of an athletic department budget required to function in the SEC (although that doesn't seem to bother Vandy, who doesn't even have an athletic department per se), and with inevitable stadium expansion requirements (as Lane Stadium only seats 66,000+).

I'd love to see Tech and the Big Orange finally play that monster game at Bristol, the one that everyone wanted except Dickey. Heck, maybe we could make that into the World's Largest Tailgate Party.

agrarianurbanite's picture

...play that monster game at

Submitted by agrarianurbanite on Wed, 2011/09/28 - 3:52pm.

...play that monster game at Bristol...Heck, maybe we could make that into the World's Largest Tailgate Party.

Right on.

rikki's picture

Yep, a short jaunt up the

Submitted by rikki on Tue, 2011/09/27 - 8:53am.

Yep, a short jaunt up the Holston valley until you transition from Wasp turf to Hokie land near Saltville, with barely a hill to mark the divide.

It's pretty ironic that this whole shuffling of conferences started with one of the most eco-conscious big schools deciding to force its fans to drive/fly over two mountain ranges for many of its games.

agrarianurbanite's picture

Yah, great...

Submitted by agrarianurbanite on Tue, 2011/09/27 - 8:44am.

Rikki and Toby! Let's add yet ANOTHER hard to beat team to our already unbeatable conference!!! :) Secretly though, I'd like to see Va Tech, too. That would make for some kick ass football!

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