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
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC; friend me at Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
478 comments Add your comment
Tommy
August 14th, 2011
1:31 pm
I don’t have a major opinion on this, but did want to throw in my 2 cents on Va Tech. Have any of you who are touting Va Tech for the SEC looked at a map? Va Tech is nowhere near DC! Having lived in DC and in various places around Va, I can tell you that no one in DC cares about Va Tech (or Maryland or UVA for that matter). DC is an NFL town. If the SEC wants rural (redneck) fans from the state of Virginia, then by all means, go after Va Tech. But understand you’re not getting the DC market with that choice. And don’t misunderstand me about the redneck fans– I’m not bashing them– I’d put Va Tech’s rednecks up against the best of UGA, Auburn, or Alabama— just understand what you are getting. Its not the DC market.
Coach Grohbo
August 14th, 2011
1:32 pm
If A&M is a Walgreen’s and Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Miss. State and Tennessee are the Dollar General stores, then UGA must be the Borders Books & Music store.
Bodda Getta
August 14th, 2011
1:37 pm
Texan4OU,
We already have one of those programs in the SEC. We call it the University of Georgia.
Da Boss
August 14th, 2011
1:37 pm
One fans’ SEC dream:
Florida
FSU
Miami
UGA
SC
Clemson
GT
Tenn
Bama
Aub
Ole Miss
LSU
Get rid of Vandy and Miss St. Now ya got an (even more) ass-kicking conference. Miami and GT are optional. Or just trade Clemson for Vandy.
SEC President’s dream:
Keep who we’ve got and add:
Oregon and Okla. St. – Big money boosters
Notre Dame – Supposedly has fans nationwide
USC – the one in Los Angeles
Columbia or Rutgers – to reach the NYC market
Northwestern – Chicago market
Maybe a team in Mexico City
16 game schedule
10 more bowl games
Mo’ money
Stinger2
August 14th, 2011
1:45 pm
If the SEC does expand, UGA should push as hard as it can for GT to be one of the new schools. UGA beats GT 9 of 10 times so they would have an extra easy conference win guaranteed.
Red Stick (formerly Jumbeauxtiger)
August 14th, 2011
1:51 pm
@Tommy good point I have been to Blacksburg and it’s no where near DC.
WHY A&M?
August 14th, 2011
1:52 pm
Stinger2, I would bet the majority of true UGA fans would gladly accept Tech back into the SEC. Unfortunately for reasons known only to them, the UGA athletic department would not allow it. Dooley played a major role in preventing Tech’s re-entry the last time it was proposed. I think the same thing would happen again.
WHY A&M?
August 14th, 2011
1:56 pm
I’ve been to Blacksburg too, and it is nowhere near anywhere. LOL
LHarding Dawg
August 14th, 2011
2:02 pm
We could always trade Auburn for A&M. Auburn would do well in Texas, they know how to cheat with the best of them. Their new rival could be SMU.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 14th, 2011
2:21 pm
Jumbeaux,
I’ve been working in New Hampshire since the end of March. I closed the sale of my house in Raleigh a week ago and just moved my family. The things we do because of a job!
NCDawg
August 14th, 2011
3:12 pm
Jeff, I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m a traditionalist, and one of the things that has made college football great is the tradition. It seems to be lost on many and I think the fans are the ones that suffer. I couldn’t care less about having Texas A&M on the Georgia schedule (but it would be irritating if they replace say Alabama or Ole Miss). The SEC already has twelve teams and a great thing going — if they add two more I believe it’s just too much. I’m sure there would be more money, but why not just make it the NFL Minor League and just pay the players. The charm is being lost amongst the greed.
captguitarman
August 14th, 2011
3:29 pm
As noted, the schools will always follow the money and provide the usual PR spin about their increasingly vain efforts to protect and defend the myth of the “student-athlete.” I loved your line about how all the pooh-bahs running the system are looking more like Don Kings than anything else, and even better, the LOL line from the Uniersity of California chancellor about working to ensure that student-athletes are not incorrectly identifed as athlete-students, instead of student- athletes, so that others may not take inappropriate advantage of them. I would agree that since the schools and all NCAA-sanctioned advantage takers are already taking as much advantage of them that the system can reasonably yield, we certainly don’t want “others” trying to get a piece of that enormous pie – especially the “student-athletes” themselves. Yes, grow the league, increase TV revenues, ticket prices, concessions and souvenir and memorabilia sales, and tightly control anything and everything associated with recruiting (don’t want those “student-athletes” to get the wrong ideas early on) . . . in short, increase revenues to the max. All while doing whatever is necessary to maintain the myth of the “student-athlete” and ensure that no one else but the schools and the NCAA “takes advantage of them.” All so heartwarming, it brings a tear to my eye.
Time
August 14th, 2011
3:48 pm
It’s the same arrogant liberal blowhard hypocrisy that lets NCAA basically operate as a mafia. The same liberal blowhard hypocrisy that is bankrupting this country as we speak. Of course, both groups are only about fattening their wallets and extending their power.
Ramblin Man
August 14th, 2011
3:57 pm
For those saying they want GT back in the SEC so UGA could have an easy win are stupid. First minus a few games it has been far from easy for UGA to get the win. Second GT would benefit in recruiting and that could cause problems for UGA. Think a little before you post.
Don
August 14th, 2011
4:19 pm
The SEC announced after a meeting today that it will not be inviting Texas A&M or any other school into the conference at this point. Good decision.
bigdawg20
August 14th, 2011
4:19 pm
From CBS sports
“The SEC Presidents and Chancellors met today and reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment. We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league. We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M.”
shankit
August 14th, 2011
4:20 pm
Enter your comments here
shankit
August 14th, 2011
4:24 pm
Oops hit the wrong key.
Back to moving the Masters from Augusta National to the AAC, I would recommend
increasing the width of the 8′ wide bridge (which is the only entry to the grounds) to at
least 12′ wide. Took over an hour to access the grounds yesterday, standing in a line
with 50,000 of my closest friends to get to the bridge.
WHY A&M?
August 14th, 2011
4:28 pm
That’s probably a good thing Don, and bigdawg
WHY A&M?
August 14th, 2011
4:28 pm
LOL @ shankit
Peach Fuzz
August 14th, 2011
4:54 pm
Athens Dawg , I saw a significant difference between UNC and UGA SAT scores when I just checked. Also data revealed that UNC admitted only 32 percent of those who applied , while UGA accepted 54 percent. UNC much, much more difficult to get into.
shankit
August 14th, 2011
4:54 pm
My blog was in reference to Jeff’s column the other day
referencing moving Masters to the ACC. Just a little
sarcasm.
Clifford Roberts would return to make sure this never happens.
WHY A&M?
August 14th, 2011
5:01 pm
shankit, I didn’t see that column, but yeah, you can rest assured that move would NEVER NEVER NEVER happen
NOBODYYOUKNOW
August 14th, 2011
5:01 pm
UGA ‘01′. You sir are the most logical common sense fan on these blogs. I could’nt have said it better myself. Keep em comming.
shankit
August 14th, 2011
5:21 pm
Southeast Conference – Last geography lesson I had, I recall
Texas was West of the Mississippi. SEW Conference?
I like Tech, FSU or Clemson.
jprince
August 14th, 2011
5:33 pm
like it or not- right on the mark- interesting perspective
Random incoming 2011 fresh SATs
August 14th, 2011
5:38 pm
Univ of Mich. 1283
UNC. 1267
UGA 1258
Auburn. 1110
Arizona St. 1089
sunny purdue
August 14th, 2011
5:41 pm
Save your ink Schultzie. I don’t see this A&M thing happening – or any expansion.
shankit
August 14th, 2011
5:44 pm
Every thing is bigger in Texas, er, maybe except the SEC.
sunny purdue
August 14th, 2011
5:47 pm
“The numbers, however, show special admissions exceptions are used far more often for athletes than oboists. At Georgia, for instance, 73.5 percent of athletes were special admits compared with 6.6 percent of the student body as a whole.”
Peach Fuzz
August 14th, 2011
6:01 pm
Random incoming….go to aboutus.com for a true picture of UNC vs UGa SAT scores. Significant difference there.
Dave H.
August 14th, 2011
6:01 pm
A&M will still be moving to the SEC.
All along, the SEC has made it clear that A&M courted them, not the other way around. So did anyone really think that the presidents were going to extend an invite BEFORE A&M met on Monday to officially ask for an invite? Nope, the SEC meeting today was orchestrated to clearly document the upcoming order of events, in which A&M will ask for admission to the SEC and receive it, albeit not until 2013 or so. This gives time to debate memeber #14 – and when the choice is made – #14 will also have to officially express its interest in joining the SEC before being extended an invite. There are a lot of legal ramifications involved, and the SEC cannot be found liable of conference poaching.
Peach Fuzz
August 14th, 2011
6:02 pm
Correction, go to About.com.
Harvey D. Pooka
August 14th, 2011
6:36 pm
You mean, the NCAA has a mission, other than to line their pockets with dollar$…. Oh, yes, they will share some of those dollars with the participants. What else can you say they do? They can’t even mandate rules anymore without someone going off-kiltter.
Texas A&M is like Walgreens » 40 Acres Sports
August 14th, 2011
6:50 pm
[...] Jeff Schultz at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. var addthis_pub = "brianb722";addthis_brand = "40 Acres Sports";addthis_options = "favorites, [...]
Red Harrison
August 14th, 2011
7:12 pm
As for Fla St joining the SEC, there’s an old saying down here in S Ga/N Fla
Why did the chicken cross the road? Answer – to play in the ACC
shankit
August 14th, 2011
7:30 pm
Hey Red – There’s also a saying down here “Cock A Doodle Doo”
that the hen that lays the egg goes to Waffle House. Sunny Side Up.
Magnolia, Tx Dawg
August 14th, 2011
7:57 pm
A&M will leave the Big 12 only if and when the Longhorns give them permission.
The Longhorns rule the State of Texas. The Aggie organization does not have the guts to go to any other conference. Aggies, just bow down and kiss the Longhorn ass and feel fortunate they let you remain in the Big 12.
octavian
August 14th, 2011
8:02 pm
I don’t believe, though I may be mistaken, that Clemson has the courage to join the SEC. The Tigs are always certain of being one of the ACC’s top football schools, and – other than FSU – the school with the most money, fans, and strongest tradition.
Tthe SEC is another matter. In the SEC, Clemson woudl be just another school – its tradition, money, fan support are no better than average, its pretensions simply laughable when compared with the solid accomplishments of FL, TN, GA, AL, LSU, AUB, or even ARK.
I may be wrong, but for me, being it the ACC is a security blanket for Clemson.
I may be mistaken, but I have the feeling that Clemson would prefer to be a large fish in a small pond, than a small fish in a very big pond, and a pond full of hungry preditors who could consume
Clemson in one gulp.
Making that sort of leap requries a great deal of courage, and I’ve seen nothing in Clemson’s history to indicate that the school has that sort of courage.
Studawg
August 14th, 2011
8:23 pm
So how much time, Schultz, did you waste writing this article??? Its a moot point now! Why dont you try waiting until the facts come out before you write an article about something. Novel idea, I know.
GTBoro
August 14th, 2011
9:54 pm
I’m with you, Jeff.
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
12:50 am
BS patrol
August 14th, 2011 12:21 pm
“Navy has done better than Texas A&M the last 11 years.” Thomas Brown states as current state-of-affairs for the last 11 years to and including today. That only 1 time in the last 11 years has Texas A&M been ranked and it only # 19 and that same year lost to both SEC teams it played.
Thomas Brown,
“What a stupid, ridiculous stat. Does anyone care what a team did 11 years ago? What an asinine statement. if they joined the SEC they could land a good number of prospects in Texas who want to play in the SEC. ‘Texas A&M is at best about mid-pack in The SEC.’ You certainly don’t know much about football.”
Sorry to correct your incorrectly stated correction; but, it seems that you think The SEC should have allowed an also ran football program to join the prestigious SEC because that school wants to, when they turned it down a year ago. I happen to think that we should add a program not – as you state – about 6th or 7th best in The SEC, but a top program if we are to add a program.
By the way, let me know when Texas A&M is # 11 in 1-A wins all-time as UGA.
And, also by the way, who cares what Texas A&M did 11 years ago ? Bubba, I know this is hard to understand but for the
LAST 11 YEARS
Texas A&M is # 52 in 1-A wins. I hardly think that is great today for Texas A&M to say – oh take us, we are great.
NOT.
We took on another program like Texas A&M, South Carolina last time we expanded along with Arkansas. And, look what we got ? Watered down The SEC is what we got. You are not SEC material, if all you can claim is that you are not in the same ballpark as already you admit the Top 6. Who cares about the podunks in the bottom half of The SEC ? Try beating some of the lousy Big XII teams, and increase your winning percentage above the ALL-TIME 39 percent winning percentage you have against The SEC, and then come running back in here to The South and tell us you deserve to be let in.
This is like when a WebPages site blog called
THE 12TH MAN
bragged on their blog after they LOST to UGA Bulldogs how the MIGHTY SEC they said did not appear to have any speed. Did you see our A&M man out-run that UGA Mighty SEC player on this play, they tried to whine to me ? I replied to them, PARDON ME you scored 20 and we 44. You did not score 3 TD and we out-scored you by MORE than 3 TD, and you run in here to your own blog
THE 12TH MAN
and, brag how your player out-ran an SEC Defender on a play in a game you lost by 3 TD and a field goal ?
Happy to share that with you too.
Texas A&M is not getting my vote to join The SEC just because YOU want to. You LOST your chance this time last year. You bring with you nothing. Oh, you are better than Vandie. Wow. Like now I am really impressed. That gives you credence that we should acquiesce and let you have your whiny way wish to join us.
Get lost.
Come back when you are not winning 39 percent vs The SEC.
Don’t talk to you about 11 years ago, when over the entire last 11 years, Texas A&M is # 52 in 1-A wins. Are you that stupid to say that to me ? Answer : Yes. Enjoy the retort.
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
12:51 am
BS patrol
August 14th, 2011 12:21 pm
“Navy has done better than Texas A&M the last 11 years.” Thomas Brown states as current state-of-affairs for the last 11 years to and including today. That only 1 time in the last 11 years has Texas A&M been ranked and it only # 19 and that same year lost to both SEC teams it played.
Thomas Brown,
“What a stupid, ridiculous stat. Does anyone care what a team did 11 years ago? What an asinine statement. if they joined the SEC they could land a good number of prospects in Texas who want to play in the SEC. ‘Texas A&M is at best about mid-pack in The SEC.’ You certainly don’t know much about football.”
Sorry to correct your incorrectly stated correction; but, it seems that you think The SEC should have allowed an also ran football program to join the prestigious SEC because that school wants to, when they turned it down a year ago. I happen to think that we should add a program not – as you state – about 6th or 7th best in The SEC, but a top program if we are to add a program.
By the way, let me know when Texas A&M is # 11 in 1-A wins all-time as UGA.
And, also by the way, who cares what Texas A&M did 11 years ago ? Bubba, I know this is hard to understand but for the
LAST 11 YEARS
Texas A&M is # 52 in 1-A wins. I hardly think that is great today for Texas A&M to say – oh take us, we are great.
NOT.
We took on another program like Texas A&M, South Carolina last time we expanded along with Arkansas. And, look what we got ? Watered down The SEC is what we got. You are not SEC material, if all you can claim is that you are not in the same ballpark as already you admit the Top 6. Who cares about the podunks in the bottom half of The SEC ? Try beating some of the lousy Big XII teams, and increase your winning percentage above the ALL-TIME 39 percent winning percentage you have against The SEC, and then come running back in here to The South and tell us you deserve to be let in.
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
12:51 am
BS patrol
August 14th, 2011 12:21 pm
“Navy has done better than Texas A&M the last 11 years.” Thomas Brown states as current state-of-affairs for the last 11 years to and including today. That only 1 time in the last 11 years has Texas A&M been ranked and it only # 19 and that same year lost to both SEC teams it played.
Thomas Brown,
“What a stupid, ridiculous stat. Does anyone care what a team did 11 years ago? What an asinine statement. if they joined the SEC they could land a good number of prospects in Texas who want to play in the SEC. ‘Texas A&M is at best about mid-pack in The SEC.’ You certainly don’t know much about football.”
Sorry to correct your incorrectly stated correction; but, it seems that you think The SEC should have allowed an also ran football program to join the prestigious SEC because that school wants to, when they turned it down a year ago. I happen to think that we should add a program not – as you state – about 6th or 7th best in The SEC, but a top program if we are to add a program.
By the way, let me know when Texas A&M is # 11 in 1-A wins all-time as UGA.
And, also by the way, who cares what Texas A&M did 11 years ago ? Bubba, I know this is hard to understand but for the
LAST 11 YEARS
Texas A&M is # 52 in 1-A wins. I hardly think that is great today for Texas A&M to say – oh take us, we are great.
NOT.
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
2:08 am
Over the last 11 years
Oh, that’s BS
Who cares what they did 11 years ago ?
Good heavens.
What is preposterous ? Who cares what they did 11 years ago ?
The entire last 11 years # 52 in wins.
Who needs that.
As for mid-pack in The SEC. We are to break this up for that ?
I told you the vote would be no. Now, bring Choke-la-Homa with you, and the story might change. But, you ?
Because you are mid-pack SEC ?
Not very impressive.
What makes The SEC not the Big XII is that there are 6 Top SEC Football Programs, not 2 of which Texas A&M is not one of them.
Get lost.
Tradition & education yes, money no
August 15th, 2011
5:46 am
Jeff S. –you are correct. Money is corrupting and has corrupted college football. If you buy season tickets to SEC or ACC football team, you do not know until the Sunday before the game the next Saturday the time of the game because of television schedules & money. How can you plan your Saturdays in advance? Many years ago, U. of Florida scheduled their games to start by 4:00 pm so that the games would end early enough to allow fans get home safely before it was too late at night. That was responsible. Today it seems to be all about money. Major colleges are farm teams for the NFL. The day of the student-athlete is long gone. I thought a university is about education, not big time college football. A 12 team SEC and traditional rivalries is enough for me. Bigger government is ruining this country. A bigger SEC with too much emphasis on money will ruin Saturday afternoon football games in the fall for me. 1 Timothy 6:10 says in part, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. . .” We have been warned. Is the love of money a lesson we want to teach our young people?
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
7:49 am
Let’s teach our young people of today, that when 1 person posts that over the last 11 years Texas A&M has been ranked but once and it a year they lost to both SEC teams they played, that we are talking about 11 years ago only. That Texas A&M is # 52 in wins for all the last 11 years, that we are talking about 11 years ago only.
“Navy has done better than Texas A&M the last 11 years.”
“What a stupid, ridiculous stat. Does anyone care what a team did 11 years ago? What an asinine statement. if they joined the SEC they could land a good number of prospects in Texas who want to play in the SEC. ‘Texas A&M is at best about mid-pack in The SEC.’ You certainly don’t know much about football.”
By the way, let me know when Texas A&M is # 11 in 1-A wins all-time as UGA.
And, also by the way, who cares what Texas A&M did 11 years ago ? Bubba, I know this is hard to understand but for the
LAST 11 YEARS
Texas A&M is # 52 in 1-A wins. I hardly think that is great today for Texas A&M to say – oh take us, we are great.
NOT.
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
7:49 am
Let’s teach our young people of today, that when 1 person posts that over the last 11 years Texas A&M has been ranked but once and it a year they lost to both SEC teams they played, that we are talking about 11 years ago only. That Texas A&M is # 52 in wins for all the last 11 years, that we are talking about 11 years ago only.
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
7:50 am
“Navy has done better than Texas A&M the last 11 years.”
“What a stupid, ridiculous stat. Does anyone care what a team did 11 years ago? What an asinine statement. if they joined the SEC they could land a good number of prospects in Texas who want to play in the SEC. ‘Texas A&M is at best about mid-pack in The SEC.’ You certainly don’t know much about football.”
Thomas Brown
August 15th, 2011
7:52 am
“Navy has done better than Texas A&M the last 11 years.”
“What a stupid, ridiculous stat. Does anyone care what a team did 11 years ago? What an asinine statement. if they joined the SEC they could land a good number of prospects in Texas who want to play in the SEC.”