SEC says its sticking to 12 members for now

Houston Chronicle ^ | 8.14.11

[Fledermaus]

I hear Florida would veto FSU and that Spurrier says no to Clemson. For what any of that is worth.

When I first heard this with A&M I wondered how this effects the 8 years left on the 10 year contract my Hogs signed with the Aggies to play at Dallas (Arlington) Stadium.

I’m wondering if that contract wasn’t also a sort of foot in the door for both the SEC and Aggies.

[quadrant]

I don't believe that the conditions that the Big Ten would impose on TX would be that onerous.
TX would add tremendously to the Big 10; and for the conference be the key to one desire held fervently by all members (esp OSU): closing the gap with the SEC and once again becoming the predominant college athletic conference.

However, joining the Big 10 would require a major attitude adjustment by the Longhorns. Two questions come to mind.
Is TX willing to share television revenue on an equal basis with, say, Northwestern or Indiana?
Is TX will to be (and consider itself) just another member of the conference, rather than the first among (supposed) equals as it was in the old SW Conference or the Big 12?

TX could go independent. The school has the money and fan base to survive standing alone, at least for a while. But history is moving against independents; even ND, I believe will find it difficult to survive as an independent in another decade or so.

Regular games between TX and Michigan, OSU, Penn State, etc would not just football games but major sporting events.

[quadrant]

Actually, Spurrier has said that he would welcome Clemsome into the SEC. Whether those are his private sentiments or not is another questions, but at publicly he's in favor of admitting the Tigs.

Now, the questions is: do the Tigs have the courage to join the SEC? And I don't think they do.
Clemsome is and will remain one of the two top football schools in the ACC. As a member of the SEC, Clemsome could make no such claim. As an SEC member, its history, fan base, and traditions are no better than middle of the SEC pack, ahead of USC (to be certain), but behind FL, TN, UGA, AL, LSU, AUB, and even ARK.
And the Tigs, for some strange reason, are proud to be a founding member of the ACC. The conference is Clemsome’s security blanket.

More importantly, joining the SEC would mean Clemsome would have to compete week end and week out with GA, TN, FL, AL, AUB, and LSU. I may be wrong, but I don't believe that the Tigs are willing to do that.
I think, given time, the Tigs could compete, but not this or next, or the year after for that matter. The question then is: are they willing - do they have the courage - to put themselves through a great deal of short term pain for long term gain?
I doubt it, but I could be wrong.