Scheduling A&M Would Be A Mistake

Aggies please don’t take offense to this.  I enjoying watching my team play yours and I love watching you play Texas, but none of us should schedule you ever again.

Every year there is a battle for the best recruits in Texas and y’all are in the thick of it for every five star recruit.  Part of it is your facilities and tradition, but another part is how many games you play in Texas which allows a players family and friends to go see them.  Next season this will not be the case.  It will be much harder for their families to get to Oxford, MS or Tuscaloosa, AL or  Columbia, SC or Gainsville, FL.  By moving east, you are giving up games against three of the strongest teams in Texas in return to plying more games farther away from where your players come from.  You may be trading in games against Baylor and Kansas and Iowa State for bigger named opponents, but players like playing against their friends who play at Big 12 schools.  It’s who they have grown up watching.  Some of these players have been competing against each other sense Pop Warner.

That is why Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor or any other Big 12 member should not schedule the Aggies.  There is no upside, especially in recruiting.  A&M may see a quick boom in recruiting, but at some point high school players, high school coaches and their families aren’t going to like not being able to go see their sons or friends play.  Here is how the recruiting classes stack up so far on ESPN.com:

1. Texas, 9. Texas A&M, 10. Oklahoma, 15. Texas Tech, 19. Missouri, 20. TCU, 30. Oklahoma State.

Hard to believe that if A&M stops playing all those teams that they won’t see a dip in recruiting.  Each of those schools is dripping in kids from Texas.  Their rosters are littered four and five star recruits from the Lone Star State.  Yes, the SEC may have a better chance now with some athletes, but I don’t think it will be as large as other people do.  I have talked to a number of athletes and they like playing against teams they grew up watching.  They admit it would be fun to play SEC schools, but not at the expense of their parents and friends not being able to see them in person.  Not playing A&M gives those schools another weapon on the recruiting trail. “Well, you may be playing in the SEC, but do you know how far it is from Temple, Texas to Tuscaloosa, AL?  Be a lot easier for your family to get to Austin or Waco or even Lubbock.”

Furthermore, the Big 12 schedule is tough enough, so why add another difficult non-conference game?  I’m for playing one tough non-con game, but it should be against a team outside your geographic footprint in an effort to grow your brand.  A&M wouldn’t accomplish this for anyone.  Not a good use of those early games at all.

Finally, why not just stick it to them?  They are going to the SEC and abandoning 100 years of history; are we going to let them have their cake and eat it, too?  No way.  They are leaving and that is their right.  You can’t fault them for doing what they believe is best for their school, but it is in the best interest of all other Big 12 and Texas schools to say thanks but no thanks to the Aggies.  They made their bed now let them lay in it.  Don’t play them in anything.  Make them travel.  Let them get the “exposure” they wanted.  It may be roses for them in the immediate short term, but if they aren’t playing UT, Tech, TCU, Baylor or any other Texas or Oklahoma school, Texas athletes and their families won’t be too keen on going to College Station.

Aggies, not one is scared or you.  We’re doing what’s best for our universities.  It’s simply business.

A Quick Tech-A&M Rivalry Look Back

Last week, a member of the Grounds Crew undertook the task of explaining some of the animosity between  Texas Tech and Texas A&M.This is certainly no easy task, but due to some of the events of the weekend it is worth revisiting the write up about Why A&M is Annoyed by Tech.

I am not a sports smack talker by nature. I find it to be a lot of things, none of which are good, and so I just leave it where the teams left it: on the field. As a result you will very rarely hear me gloat about a win, or another team’s loss, or engage in the name calling that fans – especially at the college level – like to do.

Despite that little monologue, it is impossible to avoid making this post.

Thanks to some disgusting behavior, Tech fans have made A&M’s complaints about them seem a little more valid.

Do these fools represent all Tech fans? Of course not – the one who writes for this blog is a pretty upstanding guy as are my other Red Raider friends. So I am not discounting all of “Raider Nation” here.

To me, though, the difference is this: Any given weekend, a visiting fan may very well be subjected to a curse word hurled their way and other less than hospitable commentary. Then, they probably walk to their tailgate featuring mixed fan bases and continue to have fun. This is among the many reasons why you’re an idiot if you think fans in a given place are not “classy” based solely on your isolated experience with anywhere from 1-10 people out of 40,000 or more.

However, rational humans from any fan base would surely agree that dumping excrement inside of buses, along with vandalizing the exterior with paint goes a little bit beyond the typical “Hey you M F’er” stories. I feel bad for my good Red Raider friends every time one of their lowest common denominators makes them all look bad.

Tech played a good game on Saturday and its a shame that this is the story we are left with about the game.

Preview: Texas A&M-Texas Tech

By John B.

 

Texas A&M’s journey to Jones AT&T Stadium for Saturday’s 6PM kickoff could be the last time the Aggies face off against Texas Tech for the foreseeable future. A&M’s departure from the Big 12 has been media fodder for months but was recently made official by both the Texas A&M brass and Southeastern Conference officials. If this weekend’s clash is the final meeting between the two, the game sets up to be an epic battle.

Texas A&M’s passing attack is led by Ryan Tannehill. The senior from Big Spring has completed 100-147 passes for 1,139 yards with six TDs and 5 INT’s. Additionally, Tannehill is the Aggies’ 3rd leading rusher with 15 carries for 121 yards and one TD (a 65 yard scamper against Oklahoma State). Backup Jamiell Showers is 4-4 with no TDs or INTs.

Junior RB Christine Michael is A&M’s leading rusher. So far, he has 57 carries for 408 yards and five scores. After him is senior Cyrus Gray. On the year, Gray has 80 rushes for 363 yards and 6 scores. Gray is actually listed as the starter but Michael has been slightly more productive this season. Besides their combined 11 rushing scores, Tannehill has the only other rushing score for A&M.

Jeff Fuller, a 6-4 senior is A&M’s best receiver. Fuller has 26 receptions for 268 yards and two scores. Ryan Swope is next for A&M and he also has 26 catches. With those catches he has 380 yards and two more TDs. Uzoma Nwachuku has 17 catches for 175 yards but no scores. RB Cyrus Gray and backup Hutson Prioleau have the other receiving TDs for the Aggies, but the main threats in A&M’s receiving group are Fuller, Swope and Nwachuku.

QB Seth Doege leads the Texas Tech offense. Doege has completed 118-161 passes for 1,315 yards with 14 TDs and one INT. Though he threw his first INT of the season last week, Doege has been very sharp through the first part of the 2011 slate.  Backup Jacob Karam is 6-9  for 41 yards and one TD.

Junior Eric Stephens paces Tech’s rushing attack with 87 carries for 468 yards and seven TDs. Next is true freshman DeAndre Washington with 21 carries for 106 yards and two scores.        Freshman Ronnie Daniels had nine carries for 43 yards and a score at New Mexico, but remains suspended. 4-star tailback Kenny Williams had his redshirt removed and became the 11th true freshman to play during the Nevada game. His future is bright but he’s managed only five yards on six carries. Look for his workload to increase. Listed at 5-9 and 214 pounds, he may be the closest thing Tech has to a goal line back.

Eric Ward has really stepped up for the Red Raiders while Darrin Moore has been out. The sophomore from Wichita Falls has 20 catches for 215 yards and seven scores. He’s a good route runner and a devastating blocker. Darrin Moore has 21 catches for 339 yards and four TDs. Coach Tuberville was asked about Moore’s availability for Saturday’s contest during his radio show Thursday evening. He said Moore has practiced some all week and looks like he may be able to play. No number was given, but odds are that Moore is well south of 100%. Alex Torres has 15 catches for 166 yards but no scores. Jacoby Franks, Bradley Marquez and Tramain Swindall each have one score. Beyond that, emerging freshman tight end, Jace Amaro, has five catches for 36 yards and two scores. He is an impressive freshman and will be a great player for Tech. Austin Zouzalik has five catches for 49 yards and a TD pass to Darrin Moore to his credit. Opposing defenses better have an eye on him when he enters the game.  Cornelius Douglas has 10 catches for 150 yards and was instrumental in keeping drives alive and getting extra yards at Kansas last weekend. Though he didn’t score, last weekend’s game was something of a breakout performance for him.

Much has been written about Texas A&M’s defensive rank against the pass. So far this year, A&M ranks 120th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Statistics can be used and manipulated for argument’s sake. It may be that A&M is terrible at pass defense, or it may be that they have played a couple of prolific passing offenses. Either way, it will be interesting to see how the wrecking crew defense fares against Texas Tech’s veritable cornucopia of reliable receivers.

With that said, an equally vital part of Saturday’s game centers around defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow’s personnel. Can the Red Raiders slow down two of the Big 12’s finest running backs? Glasgow’s boys welcomed defensive lineman Leon Mackey back from injury last week and this week will get another much-needed player with the return of defensive end Scott Smith.  Jones Stadium has provided Texas Tech with a fearsome home field advantage but it may not be enough this weekend.

Prediction:

A&M: 38

Tech: 28

 

 

TCU to Join Big 12

TCU is slated to join the Big 12

Well in one of the biggest no brainers of the year, the Big 12 has invited TCU to join the conference that rejected them 15 years ago.  Kirk Bohls’ tweeted this morning that TCU has been invited and the details are being ironed out.  Unlike some other people who follow Texas and the Big 12, Kirk Bohls is very reputable and I don’t believe he would throw that out there if it wasn’t accurate.

The Big 12 has finally struck a blow and convinced TCU to not join the Big East but stay in the region.  This flies in the face of what the Big 12 originally talked out, expanding the footprint, but I expect that will be done with the next moves the conference makes.  TCU Board of Regents will meet Thursday to discuss conference affiliation and it seems they have already informed the Big East they will not be joining next year.  This is a huge victory for TCU.  Not only will they get to join a BCS conference, but they get to stay in their neighborhood, reducing travel expenditures, and get to renew rivalries with Texas, Texas Tech and Baylor.  Now we will have to wait and see what the next move is.  The Big East has been put on notice that their teams are next in line.  Especially, Louisville, West Virginia and Cincinnati.

It all hinges on what Missouri does.  They now have a little egg on their face with all the stories how the Big 10 was/is their first choice.  How do you think the SEC feels about that?  They are no one’s second choice.  Mizzou will have to do some serious backpedaling if they want to land in the SEC, which I thought was once a foregone conclusion, but with Missouri’s antics and obsession with the Big 1o, may not be so.

The question now is, how many teams does the Big 12 want?  I think they will get back to 12 or even 14, depending on what Missouri does.  Many teams are calling for a return of the championship game because of the exposure it receives and they want to keep pace with the other BCS conferences.  The North teams also don’t want to play OU, UT, Okie St, Tech, Baylor and now TCU every year either.

Personally, I am excited about this.  I am a Tech alum, and while I hate to see the Aggies go, I am very excited about playing TCU every year.  That means it is an extra game in the DFW area every other year, which is great for recruiting and rekindles a rivalry that can be very competitive.  Bring on the Horned Frogs!

Looking Back at Classic Tech-A&M Games

70 years of history can create a lot of bad blood and produce some memorable moments.

This is the fourth part in our series looking at the Texas Tech-Texas A&M rivalry. Monday we looked at the stats, Tuesday we examined why Tech doesn’t like A&M, and Wednesday we discover A&M is just annoyed by Tech.  Tomorrow we will have our game preview and predictions.

Saturday will be the 70th installment of this heated and underrated rivalry.  Let’s look back at some of the highlights from over the past 70 years.

1927- The schools met for the first time with the Aggies winning 47-6 in Lubbock.

1946-  Texas Tech gets their first win over Texas A&M.

1953-  Texas Tech went undefeated that season except for a loss to the Aggies.  A&M ruined Tech’s season with a 27-14 victory in Lubbock.

1963-  A&M students stole the horse belonging to the Masked Rider.  A hunt for the horse ensued and when the horse was found, she was in bad shape.  The horse ultimately passed, and while not substantiated, many Tech fans believe the event had a lot to do with the death of the horse.  Tech won the game that year 14-0.

1983-  I expect some offensive fireworks Saturday, but that wasn’t always the case.  1983 saw the lowest scoring game in the series; a 3-0 win by the Red Raiders.

1995- Zach Thomas cemented his legend status in one of the most signature plays in Tech history.  Tied with 30 seconds to go and A&M with the ball at their own 25 yard line, Senior Linebacker Zach Thomas intercepted a pass by A&M QB Corey Pullig and raced into the end zone giving the Red Raiders a 14-7 victory over the #8 Aggies. It was their final game as members of the Southwest Conference and snapped a six game Aggie win streak in the series.

1996-  Tech secured back to back wins over the Aggies when Tech QB Zebbie Lethridge hit Sammy Morris for an 81-yard touchdown pass to cap off a comeback and gave Tech a 13-10 win at Kyle Field.

1999- Down come the goal post.  Tech defeated the #5 Aggies in Lubbock by intercepting a Randy McCown pass with just under two minutes to play.

2001- Down come the goal post….again.  Tech beat the Aggies, ranked #17 at the time, but this game is remembered for what happened after the game.  In an effort to get the goal post out of the stadium, Tech fans tried to go through the visitors’ section.  Well all hell broke lose.  A fight broke out between two Aggies, when one thought the other was a Tech student.  This gave Tech quite a black-eye.

2002-  The greatest game no one saw.  For some reason, no network picked up this game.  It was a crazy shootout that was forced into over time when Tech rallied from 18 down, capped off by an 88-yard punt return by Wes Welker.  A&M missed an extra point in overtime, giving Tech an opening which they took advantage of.  Tech won 48-47 in College Station.

2004-  Again there was an overtime game in College Station.  Texas Tech wide out Jarrett Hicks, who caught the tying score at the end of regulation, dropped a touchdown pass in overtime setting up a fourth and long.  A&M knocked down a Sonny Cumbie pass, securing a 32-25 victory.

2006- RoJo.  With 26 seconds to play, Tech QB Graham Harrel hit Robert Johnson in the corner of the end zone for a 37-yard touchdown pass to complete another Texas Tech comeback and a 31-27 victory.

2007-  Coming into the game, A&M running back Javorskie Lane guaranteed an A&M victory.  He looked good early by scoring a touchdown on A&M’s opening possession, but Tech’s defense pitched a shutout the rest of the way, while the offense rolled off 35 straight points for a 35-7 victory in Lubbock.

2010-  It was Ryan Tannehill’s first game as a starter for Texas A&M and he put on a show.  He beat Texas Tech and then rolled off 5 more victories to turn around the Aggies season.

 

Let’s hope this last game as conference rivals can live up to all these great games above.

 

The First Tee, 10/6/11

Former High School National Player of the Year and UT quarterback Garrett Gilbert will transfer.  It’s really unfortunate for the guy.

Kirk Bohls writes that the Horns and Sooners have made their bed and now have to lie in it, together.

A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill looks forward to a homecoming of sorts in Lubbock this weekend.

BCS Executive Director says people are accepting and supporting the current set up.  Really?

Two straight ALCS appearances by the Texas Rangers might just be the tip of the iceberg.

Art Garcia of the FWST says like it or not, Texas still runs the show.

Should Missouri leave the Big 12, TCU’s chances of joining the Big 12 will grow exponentially.

Speaking of Missouri, their fans are ecstatic about a possible move to the SEC and they need to be excited.  Missouri announcing they will explore their options may have crossed the point of no return.

Here’s a Q&A with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journals Don Williams on the Tech-A&M rivalry.

Which Path Does the Big 12 Take?

With Missouri now having one foot out the door, the Big 12 is now faced with “now what?”  If you are Texas or Oklahoma, this wan’t supposed to happen.  You ending your courtship with the PAC-12 was supposed to drive everyone left in the Big 12 back into your loving arms and everyone would sing kumbaya and everything would go back to “normal.”  Well stuff just hit the fan.  Missouri decided it may have better options.

While the guys from Texas and Oklahoma were thinking about grabbing a surf board, Missouri was talking to the SEC about joining the barbecue.  The Big 12 didn’t fold, but Missouri knows that things aren’t really going to change.  Even with the announced revenue sharing agreement, Missouri knows that Texas is still calling the shots and is still going to have their Longhorn Network.  Missouri is over being a lackey for the Horns and Sooners.

As I have said time and time again, I really do think Missouri is out of the picture.  By the end of the month they will be having a party like A&M did and Mike Slive will be touring Columbus, Missouri to see if the SEC basketball tournament can be played there in a few years.  That then leaves at least two spots open for the Big 12.  What should they do?  Get back to 10?  12?  More?  I think you will see a two-part expansion.  First to 10, then to either 12 or 14.

Let me be clear:  the Big 12 is stable; it isn’t going anywhere.  As long as Texas and Oklahoma are in the conference, that will keep everyone else on board.  The argument that teams don’t want to come to an unstable conference is inaccurate.  Missouri is the last unstable team and once they are gone you will have eight, fully committed members.  Teams will join.

Now, let’s examine the options before the Big 12:

  • Add BYU and TCU stay at 10:  BYU has been speculated about sense A&M said they were leaving and would be a great addition.  Some scheduling would have to be worked out so they don’t play on Sunday, but in the grand scheme of things that shouldn’t be a big hold up.  TCU is in the footprint, but the majority of schools want them from what I am hearing.  TCU says they are committed to the Big East, but they would be fools to pass up the conference in their own backyard.
  • Go West.  Add BYU, TCU, Air Force and Boise St, stay at 12:  You now know why to add TCU and BYU, but you may be asking why add Boise and Air Force?  The answer:  TV.  It may be a long way to Boise, ID but like it not people tune in to watch them play.  They will draw viewers and add a top 5 team to your conference.  What Air Force lacks in talent they make up for in viewers and academics.  Big 12 country is a lot easier travel than the Big East for the Falcons, and Air Force is a national brand.  Not to mention BYU, TCU and AF would drastically help the Big 12′s plummeting academic reputation.  The league would also be able to bring back its conference championship game.
  • Go West, but add Louisville and West Virginia, stay at 14:  This probably gives the conference the best match-ups and grows the footprint.  It would put the Big East on life support and could be difficult travel for WVU, but would provide stability and great competition.  It’s a long way from Provo to Morgantown, but scheduling could be done that this trip is only made once every four years.  That is manageable.    
  • Go East.  Merge with Louisville, West Virgina, Cincinnati, and TCU to get to 12: This would effectively kill the Big East and take the conference from Lubbock, Texas to Morgantown, West Virginia.  Scheduling would be a mess, but by adding TCU and West Virgina, some credibility would be restored to the conference.  Like above, the conference would get its CCG back.  It would also make a tremendous basketball league if anyone cares. 
  • Take over the US.  Add the Big East schools above, BYU and Air Force and get to 14 teams:  I hate leaving Boise State out of the club, but realistically Boise is a very long way to go for games.  Yes, West Virginia is too, but it is easier to travel east than west.  Provo and Colorado Springs are much easier to travel to and grow the footprint with near by media markets Salt Lake City and Denver.  Boise, Idaho just doesn’t have enough TVs.  I know above I said Boise St. draws an audience but there are only so many seats at the table.  Sorry guys, go lobby the PAC-12.  This would also allow the conference to create two competitively balanced divisions and keep up with what the ACC and SEC are doing.  
Those seem to be the primary options facing the Big 12.  I really don’t see them growing past 14 because that would require them staying in the footprint and taking teams they probably aren’t all that interested in taking.  I think going west and trying to convince Louisville and WVU to abandon the Big East is the best move the Big 12 could make.  Strengthens the league, creates awesome match ups and keeps pace with the ACC and SEC.  Think about these games:  OU-Boise St, Texas-West Virginia, TCU-Texas Tech, Louisville-Kansas. Okay the last one is for basketball, but those add big games to the schedule.  Especially the ones involving Texas, OU, Boise St., and WVU.  I think this is the best option.  What about you?
Agree?  Disagree?  Think I’m an idiot?  Let me know.

Why A&M is Annoyed by Texas Tech

Eric Gay/AP

This is the third part of our series looking at the Texas Tech-Texas A&M rivalry.  To see what you missed click here and here.  Tomorrow we will look back at some memorable or not so memorable moments and on Friday will have our preview and predictions.

*Author’s Note:  I am an alumnus of both schools, but am more versed in Tech’s animosity towards A&M.  Should anyone have anything to add to this piece let us know below and I will try to work it in.  

Texas A&M does not hate Texas Tech, they are merely annoyed by them.  They view them as a little pest that needs to be swatted away.  The vast majority of people that I talked to for this article said that they don’t really see Tech as a rival, they see Texas as their rival and are focused on growing the renewed rivalry with Arkansas.  They see Tech as just another conference game.  A game that Tech “obsesses” over because Tech is “jealous” of A&M.

They will admit for the last two decades Tech has had the Aggies number, but they just say its not as big a deal as Tech fans make it out to be.  Time and time again on A&M blogs I read things like “a thorn in our side,” and “classless clowns.”  Maybe both of those reveal a little of why Texas A&M just chooses to try and ignore a rivalry with Texas Tech.  Tech has been the more dominate team between the two over the past twenty years and has, on many occasions, snapped victory out of the jaws of defeat, causing headaches and heart breaks for the Aggies.

There are also many times that when the two teams have met that things have happened to cause headlines that make Tech look less than friendly towards those from Aggieland.  There have been instances that things may or may not have been thrown, things have been painted and goal post shoved in the stands; all of which have led to the belief that Tech fans are “classless.”

As was addressed in yesterday’s piece on why Tech hates A&M, a large part of it are the cultural differences.  Texas A&M rightfully so, takes a lot of pride in its traditions and in its history.  It has tremendous academics and is one of the premiere institutions in the country.  Texas Tech is a great school with its own set of traditions and history, but it is not nearly as recognized as Texas A&M.  A&M is white collar and Tech is blue collar.

Aggie fans seem to be happy to be leaving this “other game” behind and are ready to renew rivalries with Arkansas and LSU.  We will see what happens Saturday and find out if A&M will be able to  pluck the thorn out of their side or if Tech will be able to celebrate one last time at the Aggies expense.

Have a reason you hate Tech or A&M?  Let us know below!

First Tee, 10/5/11

Thanks to Adrian Beltre’s 3 home runs, the Rangers are headed back to the ALCS.  Who they face will be determined tonight in a Game 5 match up between the Tigers and Yankees.

Yesterday, Missouri’s Board of Curators voted unanimously to look at leaving the Big 12.  I think they will do more than look.  I think they are as good as gone. Now what will the Big 12 do?

Its official, the NBA preseason is cancelled.

Well I think TCU Coach Gary Patterson and SMU Coach June Jones are officially off each others Christmas card list.  If the animosity is now that deep, I don’t see TCU doing SMU any favors any time soon.  Like helping them get in a BCS conference.

Berry Tramel of the Daily Oklahoman points the finger squarely at the Longhorns over who’s to blame for the mess the Big 12 is in.

Texas Tech has played poorly during the first half of games and great in the second; while A&M has done the opposite.  Something has got to give Saturday.

Charles Ehrenfeld of the Lubbock Avalache-Journal takes a look at one of Texas Tech’s most notable campus landmarks.  The Will Rogers Statue and wear the horse’s hind tail faces.

How a Missouri Move Would Affect the SEC

On Tuesday, The University of Missouri’s Board of Curators voted to explore conference affiliation.  Most likely, they would be looking to follow Texas A&M and make a bid to join the SEC and leave the Big 12 and its dysfunctional members behind.

The questions that are now being asked are:  A. Will Missouri apply to the SEC, B. Will the SEC accept, C.  When will this happen and D. What they hell will the SEC do to divisions?

Well, I may have an answer.  If you have been following the Report you will know I am a believer that 14 team conference are far better than 16 team conferences and even 12 team conferences.  The most widely talked about option would be obviously putting Missouri in the SEC West.  The next decision would be who would the SEC move to the Eastern Division.  Everything seems so paired.  LSU-Arkansas, Ole Miss-Mississippi St., and Alabama-Auburn.  These are also long standing, great rivalries.

The good news is with 14 teams, these rivalries can be spared the axe.  Speculation is that Auburn would join the SEC East, but would be guaranteed an annual crossover game with Alabama to save the Iron Bowl.  This is somewhat problematic since it would be possible for Alabama and Auburn to play at the end of the year and then play a week later for the SEC Championship.  You take that risk though.  This would also rekindle old rivalries Auburn had with Florida and Georgia, which were very intense before the SEC split into divisions.

The SEC would move from 8 conference games to 9 conference games.  You would play all 6 six teams in your division, plus 2 in the other division on a rotating schedule, and would have a locked crossover game.  Examples of crossover games would be:

Alabama-Auburn

LSU-Florida

Arkansas-Georgia

Ole Miss-Vanderbilt

Mississippi St.- Kentucky

Texas A&M-South Carolina

Missouri-Tennessee

This gives you five great games and two others that would be competitive and create some rivalries.  I love this set up.  You get an additional conference game, which, for the SEC, means more marquee match ups between the conference powers and would be very lucrative when renegotiating television contracts.

We will see how this plays out, but I do believe Missouri will be applying to the SEC soon and will be accepted as the 14th member.

Agree?  Disagree?  Think I’m an idiot?  Let me know!