Texas A&M fans get mad, sad, then accept the future.

After a few days of exciting conference realignment talk, I thought it would be fun to look back on the message boards of an opposing fan base to see how they were taking it. What awaits you below the dividing line in this post are some of the best reactions of Texas A&M Aggies fans (via the message boards on TexAgs & Gig’em 247 ) as they watched their sole bragging rights of chanting “S-E-C” start slipping through their fingers as the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns are likely to join the SEC in the future. LET’S GET IT. (Note: Spelling errors are theirs, not ours)

• For some reason I think the $$$ will be too hard to say no to. I hope we do not expand.
• I’m ready to beat Texas **** again
• I’d be very shocked if Texas was approved.
• So they would need 11 to vote for it? A&M, Arkansas, Mizzou— Are all voting no.
• Ou won’t go anywhere without osu. No way sec takes them both.
• Bama would not be for it either.
• slive must be like voldemort.
• I love all the speculation around what the divisions would be. I see a lot of us, ou, texas, and mizz being in the same division. so we would basically have 3 of the same opponents as the last conference we were in LOL what absolute s-h-i-t deal that would be
• I think most fans on this board recognize (or at least I hope they do) that this would be an utter disaster for us
• Nothing brings out the idiotism in our fan base than talks of Texas & OU in the SEC
• People need to take a step back. Yes. This isn’t good for us and naturally we should be against it. But the melt this is causing is overdone. This isn’t 2011. We are going to be fine either way
• I’m getting the feeling that this is going to happen. Very glad we hired Jimbo before this went down.
• The SEC is our strongest, perhaps only, card against OU/Texas on the recruiting trail until we win something. The recruiting landscape would change instantly (in a bad way) overnight.
• I believe A&M will continue to win because of everything else A&M has to offer, but I guess you feel differently.
• I don’t want tu or ou to join simply because it helps them. I don’t care so much about ou, but my hope is that tu’s football program is basically non-existent in the next few decades.
• Do you really believe A&M had no idea this was happening if it was close to a done deal. A&M could absolutely be leaking it to try to stop it.
• Texas is blocked. Plain and simple. There was an agreement when we joined. This is click bait and nothing more.
• Baylor won’t allow it to happen.
• This is simply Texas and OU lawyers positioning for a bigger contract this coming go round. Actual invite to SEC was not happening and never was.
• I think there are real legs to this. Obviously we are worried or we wouldnt have leaked it. the CFB fan in my is excited about the conference but it clearly is worse for us. To be fair though, we dominated the 90s while in the same conference
• Why are people on this board so weird about Oklahoma?
• Better yet, why do people on this board even give a F about Oklahoma.
• We don’t want to give away our monopoly on SEC in texas, but the reality is that texas’s overall culture will keep them tripping over their own dicks (at least not to NC level), and we can compete/recruit against anybody now.
• You are in denial if you don’t think this helps their recruiting. The best want to play against the best. This is why the Big 12 is struggling. Sure they are getting good classes now. But this only ups the game for them
• It’s not that we’re afraid of TU at all and the arrogance of TU is not surprising. They aren’t going to show up and run things. We’ve just seen what they’ve done to the big 12 and SWC and the feeling is they really just don’t deserve to follow in OUR footsteps. OU, who gives a *****? Bring them in. They deserve better than TU’s Big 12 anyway. A&M is in a good position. “It ain’t like it used to be”
• Sounds like some back tracking to me after you all realized that A&M has zero leverage or control in this situation. You should have taken this stance before all this went down. The outside perception has now become A&M is crying and pitching a fit.
• Uh, that’s certainly not the perception. A&M is learning a hard lesson here… basically, don’t throw a crying temper tantrum.
• It was never a fear of playing them. It is a legitimate concern that our differentiator in the state for recruiting and relevance could become moot and we’re better off without them. But all said and done I think it makes too much sense for the SEC to grab two premier programs if they’re available.
• I still think we aren’t actually worried about it though. I think there’s more to it than being afraid to lose
• Break the Gentleman’s agreement, here are the consequences:

1. No courtesy suites for visiting admins and distinguished alumni
2. visiting fans split up in the worst seats possible, 250 to a section
3. the visiting locker rooms become extra shitty, immediately. One toilet, one sink, cold water only. Straight up petty stuff.
4. All visiting charters land at Hobby
5. Visitor walk throughs allowed between 6 am and 8 am only

• You have to pick your battles. This is over. We lost. Which is OK. This isn’t some massive, program ending blow. But doing ***** like this just makes us a complete and total laughing stock. This is dumb. This is a really bad look
• What message are we trying to send with this meeting? OU and Texas are going to be admitted to the SEC soon. Moving to this conference allowed us to become a better program, please don’t tell me we are considering alternative solutions here
• Hopefully this is just posturing and we aren’t actually considering suing the SEC.
• It just a f***ing meeting. Chill out.
• Oral contracts are enforceable in Texas
• Clicked on a story that had a link to other boards. We look like the 3 year old throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of Walmart to everyone right now. Nut up and show it on the field. This looks bad for recruiting, our fan base, and our university.
• You have this meeting to show you are not going to roll over and to get some scheduling guarantees from the conference. If we just accept it, we look weak. This is about strengthening our position.
• Understand something: If A&M gets in front of this…like it’s Chinese tank in Tianmmen Square….it will cost the SEC significant money and power as a the world’s first superconference which hurts A&M and the its league brethren. In fact, let’s say that A&M somehow derailed this and Texas and OU went to the ACC this costing the membership revenues and the SEC power at the negotiating table in shaping the future of college football football. You really want to go there?
• Why did Sankey hide expansion from A&M?
• Consider this possible line of thinking— adding t.u. and OU causes a situation where our 3 schools divide up recruits, thus keeping all of us somewhat stifled relative to traditional SEC blue bloods (primarily bama). As a result, they keep an edge on all 3 of us. Coincidence that this went town as A&M is creeping up on Bama? Maybe not.
• Cool maybe Oklahoma can get rid of all 46 or however many straight big 12 titles in the trash and actually win something meaningful.

OU and Texas appear destined for the SEC. Texas A&M apparently wasn’t involved in the discussions.

Happy Friday, friends and fans!

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you likely have heard all about how the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns are currently at the forefront of the college sports world. On Wednesday, it was revealed that both programs have been in talks with the SEC for quite some time, and apparently those talks involve leaving the Big 12 for greener pastures in the near future.

It’s honestly pretty hilarious how Texas A&M Aggies was left out of these discussions that reportedly began more than six months ago. For all the chest-thumping, S-E-C-chanting and coattail-riding they do on an annual basis, apparently their input wasn’t deemed valuable nor necessary for the rest of the league to consider while deliberating on such a seismic decision. Sorry not sorry, Jimbo.

On Thursday, it was reported by CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd and others that athletic directors and university presidents across the Big 12 Conference were scheduled to meet in the afternoon to discuss this rapidly developing situation. Once the call was underway, it was discovered that administrative representatives for both OU and Texas were not present. How telling is that bit of news? At this stage, I’d say quite.

Obviously there will be a lot more to come from this story in the coming hours, days and weeks. The possible ramifications on a move this major are virtually boundless. From the sound of things, folks at Oklahoma are fed up and have been fed up with the way things are going in the Big 12 for quite some time, and they can see the potential merits of joining the deep and powerful SEC. Time will tell all, so for now, we wait.

Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! Watch list season continues, Ronnie P. signs the dotted line, game forfeitures are on the table in the NFL this season and more!

OU Links

• Amid all the commotion between Oklahoma, Texas and the SEC on Wednesday, Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel analyzed what could become the biggest conference shift in the history of college football. So far, there doesn’t appear to be much resistance in the way if all parties involved are truly on board, especially considering the amount of money that can be made for everyone in the long run.

• In case you missed it, C&C Machine’s own Allen Kenney wrote about many of the potential implications that could come with OU making a move to the Southeastern Conference, including the possible pitfalls.
• On Thursday, sophomore WR Marvin Mims and Arkansas transfer Mike Woods were each named to the 2021 Biletnikoff Award Watch List.

• In related news, redshirt junior RB Kennedy Brooks and Tennessee transfer Eric Gray were each recently named to the 2021 Doak Walker Award Watch List.

• On Wednesday, redshirt senior H-back Jeremiah Hall was announced as a nominee for the AFCA Good Works Team.

• Earlier this week, former OU DE Ronnie Perkins officially put pen to paper with the New England Patriots. After being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the talented defensive end has now signed a four-year rookie contract with the Pats.

Around the Sports World

• Cleveland’s pro baseball team has officially changed its name from the ‘Indians’ to the Cleveland Guardians. Well done, y’all.

• I can already envision some salty fans after their team takes an official loss this season all because their favorite NFL team couldn’t reschedule a game after a COVID-19 outbreak. This could cause quite the shake up indeed.

• In other COVID-related news, Washington State Cougars head coach Nick Rolovich has elected to not receive the vaccination and as a result is attending Pac-12 Media Days remotely.
• The San Francisco 49ers have signed LB Fred Warner to five-year, $95 million contract extension, officially making him the highest paid linebacker in the league.
• After eight seasons in the league, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Vince Williams announced his retirement from playing pro football on Wednesday.
• The Iowa Hawkeyes are naming the team’s football field after former All-American Duke Slater, who later became one of the first African Americans to play in the NFL.

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