WSJ: A&M Sweepstakes

[Water Pony]

August 15, 2011, 11:37 AM ET

The Texas A&M Sweepstakes

Rumors of Texas A&M possibly making a move from the Big 12 to the SEC rippled across the college landscape. The carousel of college football teams switching conferences—one which we thought we all got off of last summer—began violently spinning once again last week. Rumors of Texas A&M possibly making a move from the Big 12 to the SEC caused a ripple effect of worry, anger, and indifference across the college landscape.

Florida president Bernie Machen issued a statement on Sunday, following a meeting of the presidents of SEC member schools, saying that, “no action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M.”

R. Bowen Loftin, president of Texas A&M, meanwhile, said that there has been a “considerable amount of misinformation,” on the conference-jumping talks.

While many fans and writers took the dual statements as signs that this issue was over and done with, some observers read between the lines and expressed opinions that this was just the beginning. “I noticed and am concerned,” Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe told Orangebloods.com, “that the SEC and Texas A&M statements are ambiguous and open ended.”

SI.com’s Andy Staples call the statements “pure legalese meant to slow a boulder rolling downhill.” He points out that Texas A&M has a Board of Regents meeting today, which will likely give Loftin the ability to negotiate athletic conference membership, an important step in the process of moving to the SEC. On Tuesday, Loftin is expected to speak at a House Higher Education Committee hearing. When the dust settles, A&M may have all the elements needed to make a transition to a new conference. And Staples stresses, if this happens, that there is no villain here. Texas A&M, feeling slighted by being in a conference where Texas and its new Longhorn Network will rule the airwaves and reach many more recruits than any Big 12 school could—much less one in the same state—is just looking out for themselves.

“Think about it this way,” Staples writes.” If you had a boss or co-worker who made you miserable, wouldn’t you jump immediately if you could take an identical job at a different company for more money? Of course you would.”

And if the Aggies do bolt? It sets off a chain reaction that could shake up more than just the Big 12 and SEC. Virginia Tech, Florida State, Clemson, East Carolina, and a host of other names have already been thrown around as possible teams that could join the SEC to keep the conference at an even number of 14 (they now stand at 12). Pete Grathoff of the Kansas City Star floats a doomsday scenario where the Big 12, beginning with A&M’s departure, is eventually dissolved, and Kansas could join the Big East. But [deleted] Harmon of the Deseret News speculates that BYU could join the Big 12, neatly replacing the departed Aggies. The Daily Fix, as always, will have updates throughout the day if anything new develops.

[Mexmustang]

Thanks for the article. When I first saw your post, the first thing I thought about was, "What a statement, football used to be all about sports, the fact it appeared in the WSJ--it is all about money now. What symbolism."

[EastStang]

East Carolina to the SEC? That kind of lowered the believability of that article. UNC? NC State? Maybe, but not ECU.

[EastStang]

You know with regard to the SEC, while football is king, SMU pushed very hard to get CUSA to admit South Carolina and Kentucky to CUSA for soccer and when Vandy had a soccer team, SMU pushed to get them admitted to the MVC. Don't know who that might impact all this shuffling, but clearly our school has a relationship in sports with three members of the SEC and perhaps might yield some good things down the road.

[leopold]

East Carolina to the SEC? That kind of lowered the believability of that article. UNC? NC State? Maybe, but not ECU.

ECU is absolutely a stretch but has to be considered a darkhorse at this point.
People in the media, and on this board, insist that the SEC wants a school for the East. Well, if UF, UGA, UK, and USC veto the schools in their states, which reports are saying are happening at this point, and VT isn't interested or has their own politics to deal with, that leaves about 2 schools left: WVU and ECU. Take your pick, 'cause there is no ACC school in NC leaving the ACC.

[leopold]

You know with regard to the SEC, while football is king, SMU pushed very hard to get CUSA to admit South Carolina and Kentucky to CUSA for soccer and when Vandy had a soccer team, SMU pushed to get them admitted to the MVC. Don't know who that might impact all this shuffling, but clearly our school has a relationship in sports with three members of the SEC and perhaps might yield some good things down the road.

Whatever. Don't even imply that SMU make any attempt to contact these schools about openings even though the SEC is obviously looking for a 14th member. I mean, that would be CRAZY.