*****The Super, Mega, Huge Big 12 Expansion Thread*****
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Anyone send a question to the email at the bottom of the page yet? [email protected] see what they have to say about it.
Here's a more readable copy:
"Oops: SEC site briefly "announces" Missouri as new member" - Behind the Stripes - ColumbiaTribune.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Given the ever-changing conference paradigm over the past year, the Southeastern Conference has continued to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining its stature as one of the nation’s premier conferences by welcoming the University of Missouri as the league’s 14th member, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Monday. Missouri joins Texas A&M University as the league’s two new institutions who will begin full membership on July 1, 2012. It is the first expansion of the SEC membership since Arkansas and South Carolina joined the conference in 1992.
Missouri was a charter member of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1907, which became the Big Six Conference in 1964, the Big Eight Conference in 1964 and the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
Geographically, it is a natural fit as the state of Missouri touches more states (Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee) that currently are home to an SEC institution than any other state that is not in the league’s previous 13-member footprint. Like the majority of the cities in the SEC, Columbia, Mo., is a college-centered town with a metropolitan population of 164,283, making it the fifth-largest city in the state of Missouri.
With an enrollment of 32,415, the University of Missouri boasts a strong academic resume, as it is one of only five universities nationwide with law, medicine, veterinary medicine and a research reactor on one campus. Six of Missouri’s sports teams last season led the Big 12 in graduation rate for their respective sports.
Culturally, Missouri is as well known for its barbecue, country music, history and rich tradition as the majority of the current states of the SEC.
Missouri is one of only 35 public U.S. universities invited to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). It will become the fourth SEC school that is part of the AAU, joining Florida, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
"Oops: SEC site briefly "announces" Missouri as new member" - Behind the Stripes - ColumbiaTribune.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Given the ever-changing conference paradigm over the past year, the Southeastern Conference has continued to demonstrate its commitment to maintaining its stature as one of the nation’s premier conferences by welcoming the University of Missouri as the league’s 14th member, Commissioner Mike Slive announced Monday. Missouri joins Texas A&M University as the league’s two new institutions who will begin full membership on July 1, 2012. It is the first expansion of the SEC membership since Arkansas and South Carolina joined the conference in 1992.
Missouri was a charter member of the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1907, which became the Big Six Conference in 1964, the Big Eight Conference in 1964 and the Big 12 Conference in 1996.
Geographically, it is a natural fit as the state of Missouri touches more states (Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee) that currently are home to an SEC institution than any other state that is not in the league’s previous 13-member footprint. Like the majority of the cities in the SEC, Columbia, Mo., is a college-centered town with a metropolitan population of 164,283, making it the fifth-largest city in the state of Missouri.
With an enrollment of 32,415, the University of Missouri boasts a strong academic resume, as it is one of only five universities nationwide with law, medicine, veterinary medicine and a research reactor on one campus. Six of Missouri’s sports teams last season led the Big 12 in graduation rate for their respective sports.
Culturally, Missouri is as well known for its barbecue, country music, history and rich tradition as the majority of the current states of the SEC.
Missouri is one of only 35 public U.S. universities invited to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). It will become the fourth SEC school that is part of the AAU, joining Florida, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
I like how the SEC felt the need to defend Mizzou's "fit" with the SEC. That article noted that the SEC had included an interview with some CBS Sports dude. I have to wonder whether or not they had to defend A&M's "fit" when they joined.
I just have to say, "really? after 3-4 years the questions of Mizzou's fit will NEVER be raised?" We'll see...
"Oops: SEC site briefly "announces" Missouri as new member" - Behind the Stripes - ColumbiaTribune.com
Also included was a page detailing Missouri’s homecoming history, an MU basketball page featuring a Q&A with analyst Chris Dortch and another Q&A with CBS Sports columnist Tony Barnhart. In the Barnhart feature, the writer is asked about Missouri’s football program being a good fit for the SEC.
“I think people have to remember that, as recently as 2007, Missouri was ranked No. 1 and in a position to play for the national championship,†Barnhart responds. “If they beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, they were in a position to play for it all. Gary Pinkel has been as consistent of a coach as they’ve ever had. Missouri knows what good football looks like.
“The thing that people keep asking: ‘Is Missouri a cultural fit?’ I don’t think there’s any question that they are. People forget that there were questions about South Carolina and Arkansas. South Carolina had always been in the ACC or an independent, and Arkansas had been a founding member of the Southwest Conference, as far west as they were. People wondered if they would be a cultural fit. Once you bring somebody into the SEC family, after 3-4 years from now, that question will never be raised. They become a part of that family by being invited.â€
I just have to say, "really? after 3-4 years the questions of Mizzou's fit will NEVER be raised?" We'll see...
"Oops: SEC site briefly "announces" Missouri as new member" - Behind the Stripes - ColumbiaTribune.com
Also included was a page detailing Missouri’s homecoming history, an MU basketball page featuring a Q&A with analyst Chris Dortch and another Q&A with CBS Sports columnist Tony Barnhart. In the Barnhart feature, the writer is asked about Missouri’s football program being a good fit for the SEC.
“I think people have to remember that, as recently as 2007, Missouri was ranked No. 1 and in a position to play for the national championship,†Barnhart responds. “If they beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, they were in a position to play for it all. Gary Pinkel has been as consistent of a coach as they’ve ever had. Missouri knows what good football looks like.
“The thing that people keep asking: ‘Is Missouri a cultural fit?’ I don’t think there’s any question that they are. People forget that there were questions about South Carolina and Arkansas. South Carolina had always been in the ACC or an independent, and Arkansas had been a founding member of the Southwest Conference, as far west as they were. People wondered if they would be a cultural fit. Once you bring somebody into the SEC family, after 3-4 years from now, that question will never be raised. They become a part of that family by being invited.â€
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DistrictCyclone
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I love how the first justification of their "fit" is, literally, how the state physically fits because it touches more SEC states than any other current non-member states.
B.F.D. Could they possible come up with a more arbitrary definition of "fit" than this?
If it wasn't pulled.... Few would have read that far.... Impressive..
Now Missouri - please leave...
I loved this part...especially the two comments of:
1. "If you look at the map they fit right in geographically" (yeah, the part about touching KY and TN is for about 30 miles of border each)
2. "I think they'll travel well for the SEC tournament"
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Chris Dortch: And here’s something that I think that people that aren’t very good at geography fear or didn’t stop to realize, Missouri touches the border of three SEC states: Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. So it’s really in the geographic wheelhouse of the SEC and I think that’s a great fit. I think the SEC, unlike some other conferences that have sort of scrambled for some new members in their effort to expand, has really thought about that geographic footprint.
I think first Texas A&M and now Missouri are brilliant acquisitions in terms of that geographic footprint.
SEC Digital Network: Why do you think Missouri fits in the SEC?
Chris Dortch: If you look at the map, Missouri is right on top of Arkansas and they play one another occasionally. Missouri touches Kentucky and Tennessee, I don’t think your average person stops to realize that. You think of Missouri, you think Midwest. I think there are some natural rivalry possibilities. Certainly Kentucky fans are going to be able to travel to Missouri if there are any open opportunities, Tennessee fans from west Tennessee and I think there are possibilities to play some neutral site games that could generate some interest: St. Louis, Kansas City, Nashville, Louisville and places like that. I think they are going to bring a fan following and I think they will travel to the SEC tournament as well.
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DistrictCyclone
Guest
Not to mention that the bootheel and SE Missouri is pretty sparsely populated; that area's still several hours from the coveted TV markets of StL and KC. It's probably 6 hours from Columbia to the KY border. That's about like from Ames to Chicago, but you wouldn't ever, ever say that those two places share a common culture.
When Missery is gone, guess who the next state is that will share a border with 3 SEC states...it worries me a little, I must admit.
Oklahoma.
Heck, after Mizzou is gone, Iowa will share a border with an SEC state. Who would have thunk it.
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