It once appeared that the Southeastern Conference wanted nothing to do with the conference realignments and expansions that have already bolstered the Pac-10 and Big Ten and have threatened the livelihood of the Big 12.
But as of Monday morning, the SEC is deep in talks with current Big 12 member Texas A&M about the potential to become the 13th member of the 77-year-old conference.
While Texas A&M isn’t that big of a name compared to Big 12 high rollers Texas and Oklahoma (both are likely headed to the Pac-10, although they are considering staying with the Big 12 after commissioner Dan Beebe presented a new high-revenue television deal), the Aggies are still a good fit for the SEC.
The SEC prides itself on the traditions and deep history of its members, and Texas A&M isn’t lacking in that category.
The Aggies have a Heisman Trophy winner (1957: halfback John David Crow), one runner up (1940: halfback John Kimbrough) and one national championship (1940 via the Associated Press Poll).
Texas A&M is also home to one of the greatest traditions in all of college football, the 12th man, which is a reference to the fans’ support of the 11 players on the field.
If the Aggies were to seal the deal with the SEC, Kyle Field would put Texas A&M in the upper half of SEC teams in terms of stadium capacity (listed as 83,002).
And two of the teams that are currently in the SEC – LSU and Arkansas – have preexisting rivalries with Texas A&M.
LSU has a 27-50-2 record against the Aggies, while Arkansas has a 39- 24-3 mark.
It’s not just about the athletics either: Texas A&M consistently ranks in the top 25 of the top public schools, and the agricultural background of the university fits complements two other agricultural-bases schools, Mississippi State and Auburn.
Even with Texas A&M’s compatibility with the SEC, there is still one major question that must be answered before the deal is finalized.
Who will be the 14th member of the conference?
The SEC started playing a football championship game in 1992 between the East and the West divisions, and a championship game predicates that there must be an even number of teams in each division.
It’s no secret that the SEC would jump on the chance to accept Texas – the prize jewel of conference expansion and realignment – or Oklahoma, but both schools seem more interested in the lucrative television deal that the “Pac-16” is selling them on.
If the Aggies accept an invitation to the SEC, the conference would likely have to look to the east coast for the final piece of the puzzle.
The Virginia Tech Hokies bring a nice balance of respectability and competitiveness on the football field that would make a great pick for lucky No. 14.
Hokies coach Frank Beamer has molded Virginia Tech into a defensive-minded power in the Big East, and the Tidewater Area in Virginia has continued to produce top flight quarterback prospects such as Michael and Marcus Vick, Allen Iverson, current Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor and Ronald Curry.
But in this period of conference realignment and expansion that changes from hour to hour, there isn’t a sure thing and this information could be way off base by the time the Daily Mississippian hits the press.