re: SEC and ACC expansion

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Any Texas people out there have insight to the legislative/social dynamics behind splitting up Texas/TAMU?

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Historically, the legislature wants to keep the Texas schools as a block. However, they have no REAL power in doing so. If A&M is offered admission into the SEC and they want it really bad I believe it will happen even if it means a breakaway from the rest of the Texas schools. The statements saying TAMU doesn't bring anything to the SEC are completely ridiculous. Also, Slo, TAMU is one of the best public schools in the country, LSU is not a comparable school. They would immediately be the best public school in the SEC. Not to mention their fanbase is very dedicated and entrance into the SEC would ignite the passion. TAMU desperately wants out of Texas's shadow and although I HATE TAMU they would be an excellent addition.

As far as LSU is concerned, kids in Houston and Dallas will be exposed to LSU their entire lives and Texas becomes SEC country. Yes, TAMU will get good recruits as well, but the state of Texas will become SEC country. TAMU is a big deal in this state. The media and newspapers are always covering them. This coverage in Texas would be excellent for the conference.

Florida is ranked 47th and is in the AAU.
Georgia is ranked 58th but is not in the AAU.
Texas A&M is ranked 61st and is in the AAU.

Georgia Tech is ranked 35th and is in the AAU, if they were brought back in to the conference.

So Texas A&M would immediately be the third or fourth best public school in the SEC.

For the sake of comparison:

Texas is ranked 47th and is in the AAU (tied with Florida, in effect). They are the highest ranked academic school in the Big 12.

Vanderbilt is ranked 17th and is in the AAU. They are the highest ranked academic school in the SEC.

Clemson, if the SEC tried to go more East than West, is ranked 61 but is not in the AAU (tied with Texas A&M in ranking, but without the AAU membership).

Rice is ranked 17th and is in the AAU (in effect tied with Vanderbilt). Only Northwestern (12th, in AAU), Duke (10th, in AAU), and Stanford (4th, in AAU) rank higher among current DI-A football institutions.

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Also, Slo, TAMU is one of the best public schools in the country,

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no. it's not

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ents saying TAMU doesn't bring anything to the SEC are completely ridiculous. Also, Slo, TAMU is one of the best public schools in the country, LSU is not a comparable school.

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yet the incoming classes are very, very similar

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They would immediately be the best public school in the SEC.

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UGA and UF disagree

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Not to mention their fanbase is very dedicated and entrance into the SEC would ignite the passion

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their entire existence is to hate on TU currently

Rutgers to the ACC if the Big ten does not come through along with West Va.

Va Tech to the SEC

Slo, TAMU would be a score for the SEC. Although Florida and Georgia have better academics, TAMU is a top 20 research institution. That is where the money is. Also, TAMU's endowment is 2.5 times larger than Vandy's, 5 times larger than FLA and 12 times larger than the average SEC school. It is also the 6 or 7th largest school in the country and would give the SEC a major presence in Texas. TAMU has a storied football program, and they won an MNC. Your arguments against TAMU are f'ing lunacy.

That said, I believe you are correct in thinking that TAMU to the SEC is a pipedream.

ETA: Vandy's academics are better than TAMU's, but I was just speaking about public schools. LSU would swap academic/financial places with TAMU in a heartbeat if they could.