Ignatius, do you really think a move to the SEC is a good thing for A&M?
Without question I do. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain by joining the best conference in football/baseball, and a conference where we are instantly the top of the class of the West division in basketball.
Most of what I'm hearing from analyst is that it has the chance to severely hurt their recruiting and that in both football and basketball they are dooming themselves to a future of mediocrity. As I'm sure you know the argument is that they can't compete with the top programs in the SEC and won't ever get close to a championship or even a conference title. The goal each year will become getting invited to a low level bowl appearance in football.
From the perspective of a long time SEC person (born in Nashville, Volunteer fan for life), I think just being in the SEC could possibly help recruiting or at least break even just because of the exposure kids will get. Additionally, I can only assume that the revenue share that comes from being a part of the SEC will be better for the school overall, but I don't know for sure.
Thoughts?
In my opinion, we have way too many resources to continue to be mediocre, and like I said above, there isn't a team in the West that is anywhere close to where A&M is in basketball right now.
We also have a top 5 recruiting class lined up for next year that will only be bolstered by the move, and assuming the team takes care of business this year, we are poised to continue rising up the ranks. Next year's NFL Draft is going to be littered with Aggies for the first time in a long time.
Like I've said repeatedly, just because we've been down the last decade or so doesn't mean we are going to suck forever. We have the fan/alumni passion, regional location and money to get back to where we were in the 90s. Remember, back in 1994 when the Big 12 was coming together, A&M was the dominant program in Texas, UT was in the middle of a decade-long period of suckitude and OU was an afterthought altogether. Things can change quickly with the right hire (See: Mack Brown and Bob Stoops), and moving to the SEC means we can't afford to wait too long on a guy who isn't performing (like they did with Franchione). Right now it looks like Sherman is the guy to get it done, but if he falls on his face we have the resources to go get almost anybody we want.
The problem with going independent is all your sports but football really really suffer. Top it off they would loss some of their recruiting base in Texas. That stings big time for them so they know a few years down the road it will really suffer.
I agree with the idea that OU would lose some luster, recruiting-wise, if they weren't playing football games in Texas several times a year, but they won't be going independent in all sports. Just football (like BYU).
That being said, this is really the first time I've ever heard anyone mention OU and independence together. Even though the Sooners are a national brand, do they have the following that Notre Dame and Texas (and even the Mormons) have that would have the TV guys jumping up to give them the sort of money that makes indy status feasible?
