SEC declines to invite Texas A&M

[huskersrule95]

SEC does not extend invite to A&MEmailPrintComments332ESPN.com news services

The Southeastern Conference is not extending an invitation to Texas A&M to become its 13th member, but isn't ruling out adding the Aggies in the future.

 

University of Florida president Dr. Bernie Machen said the conference's presidents and chancellors met on Sunday and "reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment."

 

 

"We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league," Machen said. "We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M."

 

A high-ranking source within Texas A&M confirmed to ESPN's Doug Gottlieb on Saturday the Aggies were intent on joining the Southeastern Conference. And they reportedly hope to begin play in the league starting as soon as 2012.

 

An SEC official had told The New York Times ahead of Sunday's meeting that there was still a 30 percent to 40 percent chance the Aggies would not get enough votes for an invitation. And the issue of needing to add a 14th team along with A&M remained, the newspaper reported.

 

"We realize if we do this, we have to have the 14th," the SEC official said. "No name has been thrown out. This thing is much slower out of the chute than the media and blogs have made it."

 

The official told The Times that Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin called SEC commissioner Mike Slive three weeks ago and said the Aggies regretted not leaving the Big 12 for the SEC last summer.

 

 

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/6861385/sec-extend-invitation-texas-leaves-options-open

[JoeHuskers!]

once they secure a 14th team..... im sure the invite will come

[Buckeyeboy45]

I wouldn’t be surprised if this deal was completed by the end of the week. The SEC doesn’t want to look like they are poaching a team out of a conference. IMO that’s why they didn’t offer an invitation to A&M. Word on the street is that A&M will apply for membership to the SEC tomorrow and it will be accepted. We’ll see soon enough. I was hoping for all hell to break loose!!

[redblooded]

once they secure a 14th team..... im sure the invite will come

 

*Feel free to delete the other thread that I made mods*

 

It won't.

 

It's likely IMO that this was a meeting to authorize expansion, learn about potential schools, and make sure it was said that they have not started anything. Similar to what the big ten did, just months later to avoid the year long speculation about expansion.

 

Conferences don't formally invite members, at least not ones with a current conference affiliation. It's not just for appearances, its because if you poach someone else's school there might be legal ramifications. It's a game of CYA.

 

It's why when Harvey got up in front of the Nebraska BoR last year they were very careful about explaining how Nebraska had to apply for membership to the Big Ten conference and that they were "optimistic that the big ten would take the application under due consideration" and that the Big Ten presidents would be "receptive" to the application from Nebraska.

 

That's my read on it. Yes you can take it as them denying them then putting A&M on "the hook."

 

"I'm really into you, A&M, we just can't be together... right now"

 

Maybe that's the case, but its going to be really miserable in the big 12 for them if it is and they might start exploring other options if they feel slighted.

[Buckeyeboy45]

AubreyBloom247 Aubrey Bloom

by BMatt247

Aggie fans need to relax a little. SEC is trying to make sure they're in the clear from a legal standpoint. Things are certainly not over.

 

Andy_Staples Andy Staples

Hey attorneys, a question. If SEC had approved without A&M applying, would SEC be exposed to potential tortious interference suit?

 

 

 

 

I still think it's a go, just need to work out the legalities of it all.

[Husker_x]

I have a hard time believing that all this smoke and back room politicking will result in, "Sorry, no thanks" from the SEC. It would be easier to believe they were slowing down the process than closing the door. Too much smoke for no fire. I guess we'll find out shortly.

[redblooded]

OKTC has learned that one of the major points of discussion at today's SEC president's meeting was the potential contractual fallout of A&M's addition to the SEC. In particular the conflicting positions of ESPN in regards to its Big 12 television deal and its existing SEC television deal. That is, ESPN has conflicting good faith obligations to both conferences. Why are these obligations conflicting? Because OKTC has heard from multiple sources that the television deal between the Big 12 and Fox is void as soon as the membership falls below ten.

 

Full article here: http://outkickthecoverage.com/how-espn-is-complicating-am-to-sec-deal.php

 

Edit, much more at the link, man this stuff is a hilarious. Might as well have titled it "Look at the mess ESPN is in now."

[funhusker]

Could you imagine the awkwardness in the BIG12 if this move does in fact never happen?

 

B1G expansion of last year = Missouri farting in the back of the church during a hymn being sung.

 

This SEC debacle would = Texas A&M sh**ting themselves while leading the church in prayer!!!

[Notre Dame Joe]

I think it is just cover so the Big12 can't sue the SEC. They have to be able to show that A&M wanted to leave and were not poached.

[Buckeyeboy45]

I think it is just cover so the Big12 can't sue the SEC. They have to be able to show that A&M wanted to leave and were not poached.

 

 

I feel you’re correct, A&M is gone!!

[redblooded]

Negatory on that whole 2 hours of A&M's getting declined ghostrider.

 

statement from A&M president R. Bowen Loftin:

“As we have seen over the past several days, there has been a considerable amount of misinformation regarding these discussions and any associated timelines. The chairman of our board has indicated that the regents will proceed with tomorrow’s agenda item, which authorizes the president of Texas A&M to take all actions related to athletic conference alignment. I will also accept Chairman Branch’s invitation to participate in his committee’s hearing on Tuesday. These are extremely complex issues, and it is imperative that we proceed methodically and in the best interests of Texas A&M.”

 

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/aggies/2011/08/legal-maneuvering-at-hand-in-aggies-plans-for-sec/

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz1kmGKDuUE

[redblooded]

Andy Staples deciphered that code (English) that every twittering twit down on Texas and half the "gotta retweet asap" media couldn't be bothered with.

 

The problem with the speed at which information travels in this era is that everything has to mean something immediately. In the Twitter age, we must be able to consume information, process it and explain what it means in the grand scheme of things within seconds. In the world of Internet journalism, it also helps if we can just as quickly declare each event to be either the best or worst thing that has ever happened.

 

Unfortunately, the world doesn't always hand us news in byte-sized chunks. Sometimes, an issue requires more time to resolve itself than our social media-addled attention spans are willing to give. Case in point: Sunday's press release from Florida president Bernie Machen on behalf of the SEC. Here is what it said.

 

more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/08/14/texas.am.sec/