LSU Chancellor: No Rush For SEC To Become Super-Conference

October 13th, 2011 02:13 PM║ Posted By: John Pennington ║ Permalink ║ Schools: LSU
Tags: guinea, MU, Oklahoma State, SEC

LSU chancellor has told The Baton Rouge Advocate that there is no rush inside the SEC to reach “super-conference” status because every decision made on that front so far has been “reactive” and not based on a master vision.

“In some ways the SEC is in the driver’s seat, but we’re not necessarily comfortable, because we’re not sure where we’re driving.”

That statement sums up what we have been hearing — and reporting — from numerous sources across the conference.

Texas A&M forced the issue this summer by knocking on the SEC’s door. The SEC saw good value in A&M and grabbed the Aggies. That created a need for a 14th school regardless of what league officials say on the record. But because no major conference has come close to reaching 16 teams to date, the SEC has no desire to become the guinea pig in that experiment. If forced, yes… by choice, no. So 14 is the goal, no more.

So who’s might be the next school into the SEC?

“I don’t see Texas following Texas A&M. I don’t see Oklahoma going anywhere without Oklahoma State.”

Martin — asked specifically about Missouri — said that he could “safely say” that MU would be — as Jordan Blum of The Advocate puts it — “a good fit as a land-grant university near a large media market that would add prestige as an Association of American Universities member.

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18 comments

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MIKEUM

I have said it before on here, all of the major conference presidents are seeking the same things from new member institutions to add to their conference. Stereotypes of conferences and schools are out the window. Fit is very important but it is fit of mutual missions/purpose, not who you sleep with every night and spend Thanksgiving with. Stick a researcher from Indianapolis with another from Birmingham to complete a project to cure some disease for society and those two will become friends for life by the time they are done.

Aggiefaithful

The longhorns will never venture into the SEC because: 1.) why leave when your AD is really the one who rules the roost with the Big "shambles", 2.) they are very aware that each school in the SEC will let them know where they can put their ESPN crack deal/network, 3.) the road to a championship is easier in the Big 12. Oh ya, that, and being a can't fail investment for ESPN, 300 million worth.

ThePopeOrSomething

Sooner or later, you Aggies fans will have to get over Texas. It's like a girlfriend you broke up with but won't stop talking about... You left her, stop talking about it!

Aggiefaithful

"I don't see Texas following Texas A&M." It was brought up in the article; I gave an opinion with why I agree; actually more of a FACT on why texas won't consider the SEC.

Right all the time

Mizzou will be in by next friday (10/21). Take it to the bank.

ZouGuy83

I hope so. That golden parachute can't arrive soon enough.

UofA72

Bottom line- an SEC chancellor has publicly stated that Missouri fits the SEC profile and to what considerations the statement was based. A quick reply siting those factors indicates he has given more than a passing thought to Missouri. The way the article was written, he apparently was not asked about any other "potential" candidates for entry.

I wonder, had he been asked about Memphis, if he would have looked around and asked, "Am I on Candid Camera"?

GeoffDawg

Agree with your assessment. However, the current vernacular would be "am I being punked?"

UofA72

Just showing my age! lol

MIZ_SEC

I also thought it was interesting that Martin specifically stated that stopping at 14 was the goal, throwing out the (crazy) theory that the SEC may just be fine with sitting at 13 for awhile.

If I had to guess, SEC adds Mizzou and sits tight for a few years, waiting out FSU and Va Tech. Maybe it will be easier to poach those two if the ACC adds Rutgers and UConn, basically cementing its status as the basketball conference.

johnmrsec

MIZ_SEC...

I'm telling ya... the SEC will only go to 16 if someone else goes there first. They didn't want to go past 12, but A&M was too good to pass up.

As always, thanks for reading,
John

Guo

The irony of it all is that I read the other day the Big East and Big 12 could end up being the first to combine and become a 16 member conference.

Hfu

I'd like to see the SEC flex its muscle and do to the ACC what the ACC has done to the Big East - go get a south eastern team you really want. I'm sure the SEC could pay the 20 mill. exit fee for any of em.

GeoffDawg

I think FSU might be secretly hoping they do just that but I wouldn't hold your breath over it.

GeoffDawg

Makes sense. Grab Mizzou, regnegotiate the tv deal, sit back puffing our Cohibas while the Big 12 and Big East go into their respective death spirals. It's good to be the king.

ncaafootballfan

You know what though. It really hasn't been good for college football to watch conferences deteriorate. It's great money for those in power, but the players, fans and parents in these emerging super-conferences are going to end up missing classes and traveling forever or not at all to games half way across the country. Same can be said for schools looking to land in converging conferences.

woefj

SEC is king in football. But grabbing Misery makes the emperor look like he has no clothes.

UofA72

Hail to the naked emperor!

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