A Bad Idea for Both Sides: Texas A&M to the SEC

"I can't believe Texas is getting their own network, like oh my gosh that gives them SUCH an unfair advantage". Sorry if I got carried away, I was just trying to understand the thought process of Texas A&M lately. The school, along with other schools in the Big 12 believes the new Longhorn Network will tip the recruiting scales in favor of Texas. However, A&M is the only school so upset about the network that it plans on withdrawing from the conference. The point is though that players who are good enough to get recruited know that well before their junior and senior years. They likely will not solely choose Texas due to the exposure that the Longhorn Network creates, there are a number of other factors in a player's decision. Does Texas A&M somehow think that recruiting will get any easier in the SEC where they will have to compete with the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, South Carolina and Arkansas? The move for the Aggies might actually hurt themselves more than the Big 12. 9 other schools still exist within the conference and while finding a replacement may be hard, it is not the end of the world if a conference fields 9 teams. After all, does anyone really think that Oklahoma or Texas is all of the sudden going to withdraw from the conference? Instead, Texas A&M remains homeless as of June 30, 2012 at the moment and what if the SEC does not change their stance on expansion? The Aggies would be left scrambling for a conference with one of their only choices is to possibly become an Independent, following the path of BYU.

On the SEC side of things, the conference has stated they are happy with the current 12 team format and frankly, I can't blame them. SEC schools have won an unprecedented 5 straight National Championships and have combined to make up the toughest conference in the country over that span. The trend continues this season as the West division is probably the best in the nation and 4, maybe 5 schools have a legitimate shot to win a National Championship. That alone is reason enough not to mess with something that quite apparently doesn't need fixing. Other than possibly adding another solid team to the league, there are no true benefits that will result from adding Texas A&M.

To be brutally honest, the school should just quit all their whining and remain in the Big 12. If that happens, all would be well in the college football world and it would also help to preserve one of the best traditions in the sport: that of the rivalries that exist. Texas-Texas A&M is a classic game that matters to both schools every year, no matter the records of each team. Both schools desperately want bragging rights and that is truly something for college football fans to treasure. If A&M were to move to the SEC, would the longtime rivals continue to play each season? The answer is unknown but the most likely solution would be to play every other year or something along those lines, maybe it would even be reduced to just a home-and-home series. The death of the rivalry would take something away from Texas football that has been a part of their lives for so long. The Aggies need to consider this aspect of changing conferences and not the just money involved, think about the fans and what it means to them.