Texas A&M Rivals: Aggies will go to the SEC

[skyscraper]

From DMN's Chuck Carlton on Twitter. He agrees it's not 100 percent done deal at this moment, but according to his reporting, it's just a matter of time before it becomes 'official.'

ChuckCarltonDMN: While @billyliucci has it dialed in, fully believe the Aggies are on a bullet train headed directly to SEC unless something derails it.

ChuckCarltonDMN Even 48 hours ago, I was convinced the SEC talk was another bluff by A&M, simple posturing aimed at Texas and the Big 12. Not now.

[Junior]

derailing is my forte.

[NomAnor]

sport radio 610 here in Houston just said the deal is done and will be anaounced on the 22nd.Nice fresh tiger bait

[GiddyUp]

http://www.sbnation.com/2011/8/11/23583 ... sec-rumors

[skyscraper]

And now Chip Brown weighs in: http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1250840
Lengthy article, but the hilites:

Three sources close to the situation said Texas A&M's regents board will meet on August 22 to deliberate and likely vote on an application to join the Southeastern Conference as early as 2012.

Texas A&M System spokesman Jason Cook denied reports that A&M has already agreed to join the SEC.

"There's no agreement in principle, nothing," Cook told Orangebloods.com.

Two sources said the SEC presidents are being gathered Saturday in an emergency meeting to address the possible addition of Texas A&M.

The question is if anything can slow the apparent momentum. Sources across the Big 12 said lawmakers were being contacted in hopes of reaching Texas A&M officials to fully consider preserving all the history and tradition between Texas A&M and the Texas schools in the Big 12.

Sources said Thursday the SEC would be interested in adding Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech in addition to Texas A&M to form a 16-team super conference. Florida State has also been mentioned as a possible target of the SEC, according to Big 12 sources.

Two officials at separate Big 12 schools said Oklahoma and Oklahoma State would stay in the Big 12 as long as the other schools were willing to stay together. A third official in the Big 12 said the remaining nine schools were "solid."

[GiddyUp]

I don't get why they would want to add a 13th team in football? It is already the best fball conference as it is. Your only weak link in fball is Vandy and UK.

[mrydel]

They have actually talked about a 20 team conference with 4, 5 team divisions. Trouble is you would only get to play some rivalries once every 3 years due to the rotation required and they do not want to split up good rivalries if it can be avoided.

[GiddyUp]

They have actually talked about a 20 team conference with 4, 5 team divisions. Trouble is you would only get to play some rivalries once every 3 years due to the rotation required and they do not want to split up good rivalries if it can be avoided.

wow, I am starting to not like college ball and all this shuffling. It's really too bad things have gotten this way. Sure was better back in the day...

[Water Pony]

The view from Austin:

http://www.statesman.com/sports/college ... 30054.html

[huskerpony]

I don't get why they would want to add a 13th team in football? It is already the best fball conference as it is. Your only weak link in fball is Vandy and UK.

It's all about money.

They get to re-negotiate their tv contract early if they add a school. They signed their contract for too long, and it is now being beaten by the new Big Ten and PAC-12 contracts. (It is only paying about 17 mil per school.)

If they add A&M, they not only get to re-negotiate now, they get to negotiate with the addition of the DFW, Houston, and San Antonio tv markets added to their footprint. (Bring in Virginia Tech with them, you get DC too....that is 3 of the top 10 markets in the country, plus another top 40 market and a number of smaller markets)

[GiddyUp]

at this point, they might as well call it Pro Sports

[Water Pony]

Orlando paper is speculating that Florida State is the second school begin A&M:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/c ... 3196.story

[East Coast Mustang]

Here's my question: do the current SEC schools have to approve this expansion? And when would that take place?

[peruna81]

If, IF this goes down it will be at a 4 pm presser on the 22 of August following the regents all-day scrum, just in time to make the east coast and ESPN's lead. A&M will do fine in the SEC in the long run, and will take only a minor hit record wise short term...they have been essentially middle to upper middle of the pack for all but one year in the Big 12, and it would surprise me if they became Arkansas redux.

That same day, the paragons of virtue at the NCAA will announce their finding on the relationship between college football programs with high schools, and how this will be addressed in the future (read LHN for starters). Could be a VERY long day for the 'Horns, but they will take A&M's share to the bank and probably not look back.

Now that the Aggies have breached the Texas wall, some here (CS/Bryan) are beginning the wailing and fussing about "our dear rivals in Austin".

When the ACC bagged FSU, it was because the University of Florida stonewalled the 'Noles from an SEC berth...can't see them agreeing to allow another in-state rival to tread on their turf now or then.

Meanwhile, back in University Park...