Robbie, glad you weighed in on the subject. Problem is, you sound like your typical butt hurt jayhawker shooting from the hip as your post shows. For all the great football talent coming out of the state of Texas, which Bevo (UT) has first choice on, they have to be the one of the biggest underachievers out there. They should win 95% of their games. We are no longer their "lapdog" and have left that status to the little wannabes, ku, kstate, Iowa State, Baylor, pretty much the remaining Big 12 schools minus Okie. So glad that Mizzou on Saturday could officially give Bevo the
by kicking their ass on the way out the door.
Yes, we accepted going to the SEC east in able to leave the Big Texas league and go to the best and most stable league. Only time will tell if it hurts our recruiting, but don't think it will much. We weren't getting 5 star recruits out of our Tx pipeline anyways. Pinkel has a fine recruiting plan by finding the hidden gems in Tx that other schools pass up on, develop and coach them up. Our Tx pipeline will not dry up totally as Mizzou has made alot of inroads down there, and with Texas A&M joining us in the SEC, we will still have a presence there. We will bring the same recruiting strategy with us to the SEC, and yes, recruit in the fertile grounds of the SEC. As these links show, some of the SEC states are some of the best recruting areas in the country, notably Florida and Georgia, who are in the SEC East btw:
http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com...sp?CID=1239398
http://www.livestrong.com/article/34...uiting-states/
For the 2012 recruiting class, Mizzou is currently in the top 25.
Again, I asked for a legit link proving Mizzou was trying to get into the Big 10. Assumptions and rumours shouldn't count, but I will meet ya half way. Personally, I think there was talks between Mizzou and the Big 10 back in 2010. The way I hear it, the Big 10 offered Mizzou junior status to enter the league, and we said no. Talks died after that. For being so "well documented" though Robbie, you would think asking for 1 legit link to prove your point wouldn't be too much to ask. I can't believe you brought up Kietzman as any type of source. I use to like the guy, but through this realignment situation, he has shown to be nothing but a hack, and flat out liar when it concerns Mizzou. Let's remember from your guys on words, Mizzou is nothing, an underachiever, not a big player, Bevos lapdog etc...why then would little ole Mizzou be able to cause so much instability in the Big 12? lmao...puleeeeazzze!
2010 is supposedly when the talks heated up with the Big 10 and all this instability was going on (something you guys can't prove). I just wish I had the smoking gun proving other members were trying to get out of the Big 12 before then. Oh wait, but I do
http://www.12thmanfoundation.com/mem...d-article.aspx
An interview with Tex A@M president R. Bowen Loftin. And nobody has disputed what he said. Brief excerpts:
"Let me take you back to June of 2009. I was interim president and within a few days of that time, I attended my first Big 12 board meeting in Dallas..."
"That’s where I first began to have some degree (of concern) on where the stance of the conference was. In the fall of 2009, we began to hear rumors about UT meeting and talking with the Pac-10."
So you see, the instability issue has alot to do with Mizzou leaving. The SEC is so much more stable and better than the Big 12 on so many levels. Yes, they have dominant programs there, but they look out for each other, they don't backstab and mistrust each other. On the field, they go for blood, but off, they have each others backs. There is a reason why they have no exit fees if a school decides to leave. Ask Arky, who was in the old SWC with Bevo, what they think of Texas. The LHN has just started, but who's to say how successful it will be? Early results isn't very encouraging for Bevo, and if it needs to be downgraded from the monstrosity of what it is now....look out, because that's the only thing keeping them in the Big 12.
The holiday tourney I think was a good idea. Mizzou is sincerely trying to keep it's rivalry with ku. We left the door open, it's ku decision to accept. There are plenty of big time rivalries where teams doesn't share the same conference. Iowa/ Iowa St, Florida/ Florida St, Michigan/ Notre Dame, Army/Navy etc...
The SEC has cyclical runs of dominant teams. All the SEC teams you mentioned has had recent down years, and some prolonged. I think Mizzou will be just fine in the SEC competitively. We have no delusions we will be some powerhouse, but with increased revenue, opening up more fertile recruiting grounds, the recent hire of a fantastic recruiting guy that has long standing ties with the SEC, Mizzou should be mid level just like Arky and SC as a perfect example.
I loved the old Big 8. Alot of great memories associated with that conference. However, times change, and you need to change with them. Mizzou did just that, and looked after their own best interest.
I do appreciate your guys interest in SEC sports though!!