Don't you think LSU has a pretty solid foot in the Houston door right now? I don't see that program helping the SEC at all. I can't see NC St. leaving Duke and NC if nothing else for the basketball. What about Louisville? They have some decent sports programs. I don't see them as a financial boom though. It would give Ky a nice instate hoops and football rival.
Cougar High? .... really? No disrespect, red ... but TAMU is a legitimate institution, and besides, it's already a "done deal." To mention nothing of their rich tradition in athletics, when TAMU joins the SEC they will be 2nd only to Vandy from an academic contribution. TAMU will instantly be the richest member, with the largest endowment of any SEC institution. TAMU will instantly become the largest in Enrollment of any SEC member institution. :thumb:
I'm with you on this one Cat-lack. I think Red's displeasure stems more from aTm's potential of hurting LSU's recruiting in East Texas and in Texas in general. Which I can totally understand.
True, except that almost everyone realizes (at this point) that the current league they are in is a "dead man walking." My prediction is that the big 12 will no longer exist in four years.
You may be right, but I expect the old SWC to re-emerge if that happens. They can take Arkansas back if they want them.
+1 I'm sorry, but I don't see any advantage for the SEC to add any more teams. The only teams that would have some type of natural fit would be Ga Tech (former member), Clemson & FSU, but because of non-compete interests by member institutions, they have no chance of joining. Sure, aTm isn't actually in Louisiana, but using the rationale of UGA, USC & UF, their addition takes away our major selling point in recruiting Texas (we're the closest of the schools in the best conference.) Additionally, why would more than 12 teams be better anyway? It will inevitably mean either 1) we will play more conference games, making it harder to play major teams like Oregon & WVU or, 2) we would see our non-rivals from the SECE, (TN, UGA & USC) less often. Neither are particularly attractive to me. Additionally, I am not really excited that aTm is the team we are considering. I think the rivalry back in the 90s got a little too angry, as evidenced by comments from their AD about why it ended. Additionally, I have found aTm fans some of the most delusional in CFB. And their "traditions" don't particularly impress me. Though I do enjoy watching their band on the field, I have little tolerance for them when they are in the stands doing obscene gestures in pseudo-military uniforms and claiming "it's just a cheer--you wouldn't understand" (Yes, that's exactly what was happening while Tiger Band was lining up for Pregame in TS in 86 & 88. Jerks in student sections are one thing, but when they are in the uniform of the school, that's something else.) I love beating the Aggies, and thoroughly enjoyed last year's Cotton Bowl. I may even be open to playing them a few times during the regular season. But watching them in the SECCG would make my blood boil, and I see no reason to give them that opportunity. GEAUX TIGERS
Adding VaTech adds a major program (yeah, they're a major football program that's had a few slow years like LSU had in the 90's) as well as the #7 TV market in America. Those are two HUGE reason why VaTech (or even Virginia) would be considered. VaTech's rival is WVU (and to some extent, Marshall I think) so keeping them in the schedule wouldn't be that difficult. In fact, it might create an opportunity to add WVU in the future.
Forgive me, if I haven't seen this before, but won't aTm being added hurt LSU in recruiting? Especially in Texas if kids there can stay in state but have the privilege of playing in the SEC.
