I am a Clemson fan and i have heard rumor from a credible source that Clemson has made a deal with the SEC and all they are waiting for is A&M to make a there decision to join the SEC as well. Anyone else heard anything about this??

I agree on all fronts. That's why this site was the first during the height of Expansionpalooza to make the case for A&M being a viable stand-alone candidate for the SEC rather than just a tag-along with Texas.

We said a year ago that A&M brings as much to the table as Texas… minus the Longhorns' attitude and ego.

John

No offense, but look at the Texas' history and look at Texas A&M's history. One has had more success than the other and is viewed as one of the top 10 programs — year in and year out — in the country.

Not trying to offend A&M fans, but most know Texas is the big dog in the state just by default. Doesn't mean A&M can't pass them.

John

I have wanted to join a real conference since back in the days when we dominated the old SWC. I can't wait until this becomes a reality and I can head to Tuscaloosa or Baton Rouge with my team playing on the field.

Here's to the future (it can't get here soon enough!).

Gig'em!

Today A&M has 40,000 undergraduates, and even though we're steeped in tradition, our alumni base, money, and power are still maturing. It will be interesting to see what we can do with them. The worm is slowly starting to turn for our football program, and we're heading in the right direction. With all this said, the LHN is a game changer. A&M needs to do something to ensure we don't get left behind, again, and most Ags agree. That's the SEC. The increase in revenue from television contracts will be minimal compared to the increases in donations from big donors(rumors of a nine figure donation tied to naming rights to Kyle Field and a move to the SEC have been floating around this week), ticket sales, and exposure that would be provided by making switch. It's all connected, and right now is the right time to make the move.

Before the mid-1960's A&M was an all-male military college of around 7,000 students. In that time period, A&M integrated, admitted women, and memberiship in the Corps became voluntary. Up until this period, if you were blue chip in the state of Texas, you either went to Texas or went to A&M had to join the Corps. Texas took advantage of this. In 1972, Emory Bellard became our coach and the modern era of A&M football began. Scholarship limits were introduced in 1973, and since 1975, A&M holds the edge in the series 19-17. You should check the recruiting classes in the state of Texas from 1985-1997. They kind of had a maroon tint to them. Don't let the Horns fool you. Admittedly, they're a damn good program and have accomplished quite a bit more than ours has, but they talk a bigger game than they bring. For being the "King's of College Football", they've won only one national championship in the last 40 years.

"Online polls have shown that the majority of Aggie fans now support the idea of a move to the SEC. That’s another first. "

That's nothing new. It's been that way since last summer when President Loftin got over 10,000 emails in the week that everything went down.
http://tamu.scout.com/2/978071.html

"For the first time, Texas A&M would have something to sell recruiting-wise that Texas does not."

Sure we just went through our worst decade in 50 years, but don't sell little ole A&M short. I can't blame the perception though. We've sucked at the absolute worst time. With the blow up of ESPN and the internet during this time period, the perception of A&M's potential is undervalued, but it's our own fault. Stupid decisions in the late-1990's got us there, and the worm turned. At a time when our biggest rivals were upgrading facilities and making all the right coaching hires. We let our facilities slip which led to a slip in recruiting (coupled with Mack Brown and Bob Stoops) which led to our firing of Slocum which led to our hiring of Fran.

Look at the two teams for 2011 (or 2010 if you want), unit by unit. Which talent do you want?

-Jake '12

I really hope A&M joins the SEC. I'm generally a traditionalist but the bounty of Texas talent and TVs is too much to turn down. Add in VT and the SEC has serious bargaining power. Right off the bat, the SEC has the following match ups to sell: Texas A&M-'Bama (the Bear Bowl) A&M-LSU, A&M -Auburn, A&M-Arkansas. In the East (UF-VT, VT-UGA, VT-S Car, and Tennessee-VT (they might play that game in Bristol and fill it up). That is 8 Jan.1 caliber or Chick Fil a kickoff classic caliber games that are now a yearly part of the SEC sched and that is just in-division. Bama-VT, UF-A&M are sure big time sellers as well. More money means better facilities, bigger recruiting budgets, and more money to pay NFL coaches to come and coach college ball. That is good for the SEC.