Texas A&M welcomed to SEC

Discussion in 'College Football' started by truebluefan, Sep 27, 2011.

  1. truebluefan

    truebluefan Administrator Staff Member Administrator

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    Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive welcomed Texas A&M as the 13th member of the league on Monday and said he doesn't expect to add another team before the Aggies begin play next season.

    The SEC announced Sunday that Texas A&M would leave the Big 12 to join the conference next July and will compete in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year. The Aggies are the first newcomers since South Carolina and Arkansas joined the conference in 1992.

    In an event complete with Texas A&M's band, yell leaders, collie mascot Reveille and hundreds of fans, the Aggies ushered in a new era with a pep rally-type celebration of the move.

    Slive and Florida President Bernie Machen, chairman of the SEC leaders took turns on a stage decorated with maroon and white balloons and adorned with A&M's national championship trophies from various sports as well as an SEC logo that included the Aggies.

    Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin and Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne addressed the crowd and raved about their excitement in joining the SEC.

    Slive said the SEC wasn't looking to expand, but that A&M was too attractive of an option to ignore.

    "We were very happy at 12," Slive said. "When Texas A&M came to us and indicated their interest in joining the SEC, we said to ourselves: 'That is a great institution, academically, athletically, culturally and in every way, and a real fit.' So we decided even though we were content with 12, that we had the opportunity to have Texas A&M as part of the SEC was something that we just did not want to give up."

    Read more: http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...-officially-welcomes-texas-aggies-13th-member
     

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