Texas A&M’s move to SEC evidence of NCAA’s lost mission
NCAA's Mark Emmert talks a good game, but mission of college athletics continues to implode.
A few days after NCAA president Mark Emmert reached for his talking points and attempted to assure the masses (suckers) that university presidents were “focused on what really counts, and that’s sustaining the collegiate model,” we must ask two questions:
What is that model and when did it mutate? Because all wonderful sound bites about integrity, academic standards and returning to the mission of college athletics notwithstanding, somebody just ran to the ATM again.
Texas A&M reportedly intends to leave the possibly crumbling Big 12 for the ivory towers of the SEC, with an announcement coming as soon as Monday, after banks open.
It’s understandable why A&M would want to escape Texas’ shadow in the Big 12 and come to the SEC, where member schools split a record $220 million in a revenue-sharing plan this fiscal year. I’m not quite as sure why the SEC wants A&M, because other than getting its toes into the state of Texas — assuming College Station counts — this is like a high-end mall expanding to add a Walgreens.
The bigger issue, however, is the continuing conflicting messages being disseminated by the hypocritical suits that run college athletics. They say it’s about academics, but they sign off on 12-game regular seasons, late-night kickoffs and “special edition” school-night games because, well, the checks cash. They say they’re about the big picture, but really they’re about only the picture that they’re in.
Tradition is gone. Perspective is gone. Any sense of tradition, doing what’s right or maintaining some semblance of the fabric of what has made college athletics so great and unique has been obliterated by the potential of the next TV deal.
There is no common good in college football, any more than there is in boxing. There are only independent contractors — college presidents, athletic directors, conference commissioners, bowl pooh-bahs — scrambling to fill their own pockets. Squint, and they all look like Don King.
University of California-Riverside chancellor Tim White, one of the NCAA’s chosen mouthpieces at last week’s presidents’ “retreat” in Indianapolis, referenced “the ecosystem of university life.”
It kind of makes sense. They’re just redefining “going green.”
White touched on “integrity” and “academic reform” and concluded, “We want to make sure that the entire ship is doing well, that the students are not being taken advantage of inappropriately, recognizing they’re student-athletes, not athlete-students.”
And then he jumped onto his unicorn and rode away through a field of towering yellow and purple flowers toward a rainbow.
Texas A&M’s move would be a significant domino to fall. That’s ironic considering the Aggies won their lone national championship in football in 1939 and have two bowl wins in the past 20 years (those in the Alamo and Galleryfurniture.com Bowls). Florida State, Clemson, Missouri, Oklahoma and Virginia Tech all are swirling in the SEC expansion rumor mill.
We’re on a path toward an Orwellian landscape. Three college football superstates: Oceania, Eastasia and Eurasia (with Notre Dame as an independent).
College administrators say they embrace the ideal of the student-athlete. If that were true, they wouldn’t base every decision on the potential for a new indoor practice facility.
The gap between the ruling class and the commoners is wider than ever. How does it go over in the rest of the Big 12 when Texas and ESPN partner to form the Longhorn Network?
The NCAA dumps on kids for selling a jersey or an autograph or taking cash from an agent. But they won’t give the quarterback a share of his jersey sales in the campus bookstore?
Presidents talk tough about raising academic standards for bowl and NCAA tournament teams. To borrow from Penn State president Graham Spanier, “We are unanimous that we need to bring a higher level of integrity to the conduct of intercollegiate athletics.” But every move they make screams, “We’re here for the money! Which way to the next Fiesta Bowl golf junket?”
The SEC has refrained from commenting on expansion plans. But they see what expansion did for the Big Ten’s and Pac-12’s TV deals. They’ll welcome anybody that can help fill the coffers. It’s not about nurturing, improving and improving college athletics. It’s an arms race. The collegiate model isn’t being sustained. It has been detonated.
By Jeff Schultz
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478 comments Add your comment
Ted
August 13th, 2011
6:29 pm
Jeff, even with conference expansion you can still keep the rivalries. Just ask the teams in the Pac-10 (now the Pac-12), so that argument isn’t a good one.
Sec Rocks
August 13th, 2011
6:32 pm
Playoffs, when I was in grad school I received zero stipend and I certainly did not get free tuition. Jeff , I do not understand why expanded conferences is such a bad thing. Sure some traditions end but with everyone that ends new ones begin. I think Bama FSU would be a great new annual rivalry. as for the greed angle, thank goodness for major college football and the money it brings in and the jobs it creates. If not for football “greed” universities could not offer many of the other sports, scholarships, and perks that they do. In the current economic climate and with the enormous rise in the costs oh higher education one wonders what the landscape of the major campuses would be without this football revenue.
And if super conferences leads to a playoff, how can anyone object to that? Also Jeff, I get so tired of people complaining about school night games being a problem. It is not a problem for any other collegiate sport, why should it be for football. Give me football everyday! It is the shortest sports season so the more the better. ( Why does basketball season start early. does anybody outside Kentucky or NC care before February)
Greg , I like your four division twenty team Sec, but you left out Arkansas in favor of Tex Tech. I especially like that Georgia was in the easiest division!
65dawg
August 13th, 2011
6:36 pm
Jeff, you failed to mention the big reason this is happening. TITLE IX!!!!! The pressure to get money to pay for non-revenue sports (a nice way of saying women’s sports) is what’s driving this train. Add to that the enormous bump in coaches salaries (led by our good friend Nick Saban), and the “need” to have the best in facilities, and you’ve got the perfect storm. I agree on the hyprocisy point, but can almost understand why the presidents do what they do. It has to stop soon, or college football wil lose it’s charm. It has to me, to some extent ,already.
dmr
August 13th, 2011
6:37 pm
Adding A&M to the SEC makes a great deal of sense. 1.) The SEC enters the actual Texas market. 2.) A&M will make for a great natural rivalry against LSU and Arkansas. 3.) Additions will allow the SEC, as I understand to renegotiate their television contracts for additional $$$$. This would be a great move for Texas A&M. However, this addition should really take an Oklahoma or a Missouri out of the conversation, because they would only make sense in the West. This will open up ONE spot in the SEC East and help bolster that division.
FSU would be a great get, but the SEC has a presence in Florida (UF). Clemson would be an okay get, but the SEC has a presence in S.C. (USC). The team not really being talked about that may be the dark horse in all this is VA TECH. Personally, the addition of FSU would be great or VA TECH. The others really leave the East cold either because of their status or geographical location.
LakeDawg
August 13th, 2011
6:37 pm
Jeff, You read my mind and wrote what I feel. I’ve always loved college football precisely because it wasn’t pro football. Amateur athletes playing, by and large, for their home school. Us against them with all the tradition. Now its becoming a cynical money making machine. Profiting on the greatness that WAS college football. They are going to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs. The NCAA can’t compete with the NFL on their terms.
As an aside, college football was one one of the few things left that I’ve continued to cherish from childhood through now. I’m afraid they’re going to ruin one of the last good things left in the modern sports world. Oh well, I still have high school football…oh wait! They’re recruiting in high school sports now.
gt4ever
August 13th, 2011
6:39 pm
GT needs to get back in the SEC….
gt4ever
August 13th, 2011
6:40 pm
I hate to say it Jeff, GREAT article….. Very True, everything you say…
Michael
August 13th, 2011
6:42 pm
Jeff,
Hello, it’s 2011. Like it or not, times are changing and there is nothing we can do about much of it. At least recognize that it was A&M that was the only BIG XII or Div. I institution that had the determination and resolve to take the high school football issue (on the Longhorn network) to the NCAA and force them to do something about it.
And have you ever been to Kyle Field? I have to believe very strongly that the answer to that question is an emphatic NO. No school values tradition and the spirit of rivalries quite like A&M – go there next year, you will understand.
bamaguy
August 13th, 2011
6:46 pm
Excellent points dmr.
My Alabama season tickets, coupled with my Falcons season tickets I plan to have a fun fall. I watched Julio Jones for three years at Alabama. Falcon fans are in for a treat.
Nole in ATL
August 13th, 2011
6:54 pm
Hey dmr, the SEC has a presence in FL and SC.
So what?
Should they drop AL or Aub to make room, since they will still have “a presence” in the state.
How about Ole Miss and Miss St?
Vandy and UT?
Homers!!!
OkI'mAnAggie
August 13th, 2011
6:55 pm
Jeff, I was truly hoping that you would give me something that made a touch more sense, but you have failed to do so. I have attended games in Athens, Baton Rouge, Oxford and Fayetteville. Great environments, I can truly say that I can appreciate them all. You don’t want the geographic lines of the conference expanded, then so be it. The balance of your arguements fail to hold water. How would the inclusion of a ‘barely Texas school’ such as Texas A&M unilaterally prevent the preservation of truly important regional rivalries? How would Texas A&M not add something to the SEC? Jeff, I hesitantly say that I actually feel sorry for you. You are stuck in the past, and non-progressive thinking such as yours is what creates many of the problems that we find ourselves in quite frequently. I read your credentials, very impressive, but did you write this article or was the task handed off to an intern? You may know your football in Georgia, which is much more than I can say for the journalism.
bamaguy
August 13th, 2011
6:56 pm
I am excited about the possibility of Texas A&M coming to the SEC. But I can’t get “The Aggie Song” from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas out of my head!
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
6:57 pm
GT4ever , even if Tech wanted in, UGA won’t support Tech back into the SEC. And frankly, in today’s moneyball environment, adding Tech does nothing for the SEC. Actually, Maryland makes some sense, bringing in the DC and Baltimore markets.
Nole in ATL
August 13th, 2011
6:57 pm
No gt4ever…didn’t you hear?
The SEC already has a presence in the state of GA.
UGA has the state on “lockdown”
They “own” it
(Insert stupid thing to say here)
bamaguy
August 13th, 2011
6:58 pm
I am excited about Texas A&M and the possibility of their coming to the SEC. Great school with a great tradition. But somehow I can’t get “The Aggie Song” from “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” out of my head!
LakeDawg
August 13th, 2011
7:01 pm
Texas A&M ain’t the SEC. So all the arguments about their tradition and fan support are meaningless in that context. Now if its all about the money, tradition and geographical pride be damned, then by all means, bring in A&M and let them be a whipping boy.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:02 pm
Interesting to note that other than the recent post by gt4ever and an earlier reference that I made, nobody has even mentioned GT coming back in. Other than the obvious overblown bias by Georgia fans against anything GT, why not invite GT back in? GT was a charter member of the SEC, had a proud tradition in the SEC and nationally, offers the rest of the Atlanta market that the Dawgs and the Falcons don’t already own, and is an AAU member. Don’t let the recent sham probation or the mostly mediocre history since leaving the SEC (other than 1990) influence an HONEST opinion. According the the recent Princeton Review, GT has the number 1 athletic facilities (OVERALL) in the country. And GT offers high academic standards and standing, both nationally and internationally.
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
7:02 pm
Nole in Atl, the issue is that the SEC needs to expand into new markets so that the existing pool of money isn’t just split up amoung more schools. So schools like Maryland, Va Tech, and Missouri make more sense than Clemson or FSU
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
7:04 pm
Why A&M, uga doesn’t want Tech back in the SEC because they think that it would give Tech a boost in recruiting
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:06 pm
Browncoat, what you said is true. UGA would NOT support GT’s re-entry into the SEC; Dooley helped prevent it last time it was tried. My question is WHY? What do they have to lose by allowing GT back in? What are they “afraid” of? Certainly, according to most of the fans, not the competition, since UGA has dominated the series since the 70s.
Tyler-Ho
August 13th, 2011
7:07 pm
Hey OkI’mAnAggie, Nice to see you have been to so many stadiums to watch football. I guess you think that makes you an expert ungh? It’s your own death wish wanting to join SEC. You guys will undoubtedly be bottom basement duelers for your entire term in the SEC. But then again, I guess you guys are used to being a whipping boy for the rest of the conference.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:08 pm
Browncoat, thanks. You answered my question before I finished typing it. So UGA wants to be the only fish in the pond of Georgia, huh? Too bad that in the past 3 years, they’re just barely even in the SEC pond.
LakeDawg
August 13th, 2011
7:08 pm
I’ve got a great idea! Let’s bring in FSU to balance out A&M. Then bring in GT and Clemson, so UGA and SC can have their rivals in the conference. Finally, bring in NOTRE DAME! Don’t force them to play a conference schedule, just give them an automatic place in the SEC championship game. Everyone else playing for the right to play ND! Now that would bring a huge TV contract and the revenue would pour in. Great idea!
Right? I mean it would be a progressive move with modern realities accounted for.
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
7:10 pm
Like I said, its recruiting. Also, for people who remember, Tech left because it was unhappy with how the SEC scheduled games (SEC schools wouldn’t play Tech in ATL) and Tech wanted to keep all its bowl money. So, now many in the SEC, uga included, want to “penalize” Tech by not considering them for readmission.
Dr.Mark
August 13th, 2011
7:11 pm
Take Texas A-M and Texas Tech,would cover the entire state.D/FW.and Houston Markets
Ramblin Man
August 13th, 2011
7:13 pm
This might have already been said as many good comments and some stupid have been made already. Most everybody is looking at this from a football point of view and forgetting that some schools like a UNC for example make thier money in basketball. On the thought of Clemson and FSU joining the SEC I agree it makes no sense unless the universities are only looking at the money. Both already recruit well so no big advantage there, Clemson owns USC history wise, but has done very little on the national scale. FSU gains very little and as already stated the SEC already had Fla.. Been interesting to see how this all turns out. My question is is the SEC still the SEC if it has teams in the midwest?
LakeDawg
August 13th, 2011
7:14 pm
I wonder if the SEC can get Ohio State?
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:14 pm
Browncoat, the last time re-entry for GT was considered, the Mississippi schools AND UGA voted it down. I have heard recently that Auburn also did; I don’t remember. But heck, even Bear not only supported it, but endorsed it 100%. I would think Tech’s standing with the Mississippi schools has improved lately, so they probably wouldn’t be a problem. I think it would only be UGA, and possibly Auburn, who would give a damn now. Again, I ask, what do they have to “fear”?
Ramblin Man
August 13th, 2011
7:16 pm
browncoat,
GT left the SEC for WAY more reasons than that and I would love to see them back in the SEC but it will never happen.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:18 pm
Ramblin Man, that’s true; it was more for recruiting practices in the SEC that GT left. Dodd really hated what was going on at Bama, and yet when GT tried to re-enter, like I said before, Bear endorsed and supported it. Of course, there was also a lot of greed on Dodd’s part, thinking GT could be the Notre Dame of the south and rake in the big bucks. BIG MISTAKE
Whopper Dawg
August 13th, 2011
7:18 pm
Yep, it is about the money and has been for a long time. In fact, it is about real big money and it is not going to ever not be about the money. The presidents and the NCAA are hypocrites for positioning themselves as they do.
If the SEC were smart, and they are. They would go ahead and jump to 16 and add Okie, FSU and either Clemson or VA Tech. Get ‘er done.
TampaGator
August 13th, 2011
7:18 pm
The college football world as we once knew it will be completely lost in a few years. Texas A&M in the SEC. Nebraska in the Big Ten. Colorado in the Pac 10, Paying college football players….Texas having it’s own in-conference TV contract……
as with everything else these days……all is about money, greed, and “me.”
Run, Lindsey, Run…….becoming…..Run, Lindsey…..to the bank.”
Old Fightin' Texas Aggie
August 13th, 2011
7:18 pm
TAMU is doing what they have to do since the Big 12 is a dead conference walking. I hate this on some levels – I have friends who went to Baylor, Texas Tech, etc.
We bring a lot to the table; AAU status as a premier research university, huge endowment, rabid fans – a lot of this has been mentioned previously. ESPN with their dollars is the real bad guy and Texas was the enabler. We cannot sit idle and be in a conference with Texas and their vampire brides.
I applaud our leadership for moving on and hope this works for the best. We may take our lumps in football next year but I expect to compete well in everything else and get better in football very quickly.
Browncoat
August 13th, 2011
7:19 pm
Ramblin Man, what were the other reason?
Dawg'88
August 13th, 2011
7:19 pm
OMG…I agree with Schultz for once….the world is nearing an end or is at least tilting on its axis or some other strange phenomenon. Wow!
The President’s are two-faced liars when they argue against a playoff. The same reasons they give for not having one are compromised in every other situation that they give in too. This expansion will just be another indication of their dishonesty and misrepresented ideals.
bamaguy
August 13th, 2011
7:19 pm
*Alabama has a reference to both Georgia schools in it’s fight song. We didn’t take “send the Yellow Jackets to their watery grave” out of our song when they left. The Georgia/Alabama rivalry with Alabama/Auburn and UGA/Tech is a southern tradition. I would love to see it return.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:20 pm
Tech in the SEC? That is a step back for an AAU school. Recruiting might be better but not much due the the typical SEC player not make the cut to get in Tech much less stay in. But in the old days Tech did dominate the SEC.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:21 pm
damn right, bamaguy
Ramblin Man
August 13th, 2011
7:22 pm
WHY A&M,
Bear was suppose to support it then backed out and stabbed Dodd in the back. That is all history though. From a history standpoint GT is a great fit for the SEC and would help the SEC academic wise, but again it will never happen.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:23 pm
I would like to trade FSU to the SEC for Vandy. Vandy is like a stranded lady in a strip club, very much out of place.
WHY A&M?
August 13th, 2011
7:24 pm
Ramblin Man, are you sure about that? I sure don’t remember that happening. But it’s a moot point, since the more important question is why Dooley objected. What did he have to “fear”?
Ramblin Man
August 13th, 2011
7:26 pm
Dodd did not like the recruiting tactics of other SEC schools. He had a deep disdain for Bear after an illegal hit in a game caused a GT player to never play again and Bear refused to disciple the kid, Dodd also thought GT could be the ND of the south.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:28 pm
I have to say that I’ve never hear a Dawg fan talk about moving to the ACC to improve it academics. UGA has made some much fun of the ACC that even if they wanted in they would not be voted in. It would be interesting to see UGA play in the coastal division with the new ACC entrance requirements. You see how that affected Miami and FSU after their entry into the ACC.
Ramblin Man
August 13th, 2011
7:29 pm
WHY A&M,
As a life long GT fan, yes I am sure. Bear and Dodd made up and he told Dodd he would support GT in getting back in the SEC, when the meeting went sour for GT Bear sunk down in his chair and did not back Dodd as he promised.
LakeDawg
August 13th, 2011
7:29 pm
Its not any harder for Tech FOOTBALL players to get in than anywhere else. Special business major for them. They’re not doing too well on the academic progress measure either. Bottom line is Tech has lost its brand and the will to recruit. Hell if Vandy can recruit (this year), then so can Tech.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:30 pm
Tech could be the ND of the south. At that time it was all Tech and Bama in the Southeast.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:32 pm
Vandy recruit are you nuts? A BS in Management at Tech is not easy. Our Business school is rated much higher than the Terry or whatever school of Business at UGA.
Tech Fan
August 13th, 2011
7:35 pm
I mean really, does UGA even have a department of high math? Even the Business degree requires Calculus and science: Get it it is a BS degree not a BA degree.
Warhorse
August 13th, 2011
7:35 pm
UGA poster putting UGA in the same class with Vandy and Florida on academics. He must be drinking some good stuff because the Athens academy is more on a par with Miss State and Auburn. Please keep Poodle academics out of any discussion.
bamaguy
August 13th, 2011
7:36 pm
Lakedawg: I thought of the Tech/Vandy comparison as well. Vandy is turning their academic standing into a recruiting tool. I saw their coach interviewed on CSS and thought “use what you have.” What makes Vandy (Tech) unique? Academics. I thought of it again when I read the article last week about how much more the average Tech graduate makes than the average UGA graduate.