Missouri officially accepted as 14th member of Southeastern Conference
Missouri has officially been accepted as a member of the Southeastern Conference. Along with new member Texas A&M, that means the SEC will compete as a 14-team conference starting next season.
Following is the official announcement sent out by the SEC Sunday morning:
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (November 6, 2011) – The Southeastern Conference Presidents and Chancellors, acting unanimously, announced today that the University of Missouri will join the Southeastern Conference effective July 1, 2012, with competition to begin in all sports for the 2012-13 academic year.
The addition of Missouri will increase SEC membership to 14 institutions. The additions of Texas A&M, announced on September 25, 2011, and Missouri, are the first expansions for the SEC since September of 1991 when the University of South Carolina joined the league. The University of Arkansas joined the SEC in August of 1991. With the addition of Arkansas and South Carolina, the SEC was the first conference to split into divisions and add a conference championship game in 1992.
“The Presidents and Chancellors of the Southeastern Conference are pleased to welcome the University of Missouri to the SEC,” said Dr. Bernie Machen, President of the SEC Presidents and Chancellors and president of the University of Florida. “The University of Missouri is a prestigious academic institution with a strong athletic tradition and a culture similar to our current institutions.”
“The Southeastern Conference is a highly successful, stable, premier athletic conference that offers exciting opportunities for the University of Missouri,” said Chancellor Brady J. Deaton. “In joining the SEC, MU partners with universities distinguished for their academic programs and their emphasis on student success. The SEC will provide our student-athletes with top flight competition and unparalleled visibility. We came to this decision after careful consideration of the long term best interests of our university. We believe the Southeastern Conference is an outstanding home for the Mizzou Tigers, and we take great pride in our association with this distinguished league.”
Missouri, located in Columbia, will also be the fourth institution in the Southeastern Conference to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities, joining University of Florida, Texas A&M University and Vanderbilt University. Missouri has an enrollment of 33,800 students, which would be the fourth largest institution in the SEC, with Florida, Georgia and Texas A&M having a larger student body. There are more than 260,000 “Mizzou” alumni around the world. The State of Missouri borders three SEC states: Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas, and they bring an existing rivalry with former conference foe Texas A&M.
Missouri athletic teams have excelled recently. Its men’s basketball team has made it to the NCAA Tournament three straight seasons and 24 times overall. The Tiger football team has been to post-season bowl games for six straight years and 28 times overall. The softball team has participated in the College World Series each of the last three seasons. The Tigers have won Big 12 Championships in men’s basketball, soccer and softball.
“I am pleased to officially welcome the University of Missouri to the SEC family on behalf of our presidents, chancellors, athletics directors, students and fans,” said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. “Missouri is an outstanding academic institution with a strong athletic program. We look forward to having the Tigers compete in our league starting in 2012.”
The Tigers sponsor 20 varsity sports. Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, football, golf, swimming and diving, wrestling, indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country. Women’s sports include basketball, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field and cross country and volleyball. Missouri participates in every sport sponsored by the SEC except men’s tennis and the SEC sponsors every sport the Tigers participate in except wrestling.
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224 comments Add your comment
7576DAWG
November 6th, 2011
3:13 pm
Texas A&M and Missouri are going to find out playing up to 6 OR 7 top 25 teams every year is no fun when they are use to playing 2 or 3.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
3:14 pm
Still Playing WOW…………….SEE the article I posted? that explains WHY TECH is difficult and UGA is easy. Thech has Smarter kids and they are Forced to take difficult classes. At Liberal Art colleges my 10th grade niece could pass the college classes football players take for the first 2 years.
that was not the point. The Point was the Mizzou President saying they were going to a Good Academic conference. The new SEC now has the 4 of the 10 lowest SAT scoring football teams.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 6th, 2011
3:15 pm
GTBob
You will get the team that played that schedule in a few weeks and you will watch the Joke by the coke, choke
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
3:16 pm
7576DAWG when is UGA going to play those 6 or 7 top 25 teams?
jay
November 6th, 2011
3:18 pm
The two worst possible teams were added to the SEC for reason. Not that either programs
are bad but to the SEC, why?
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
3:19 pm
7576Dawg UGA has played 2 ranked teams and lost. You Might get to play 2 more. Auburn and Tech should both be ranked for the games.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 6th, 2011
3:21 pm
Still@theKool-aidBAR
The SEC is one of the best sports conferences especially in football and baseball and really thats all I care about
There are plenty of academic schools in the southeast for those who worry about academics such as:
GT
Duke
Mercer
Virginia
Vanderbilt
Furman
Emory
Kids who love to play in the academic bowl can go to those schools
Kids who want to play in sports will want to go to the SEC
GTBob
November 6th, 2011
3:22 pm
Texas A&M and Missouri are going to find out playing up to 6 OR 7 top 25 teams every year is no fun when they are use to playing 2 or 3.
Was this a serious post? A&M has played 3 top 10 teams this year and play a top 20 team next week. Missouri has played 4 top 20 teams. You really think they are scared of the SEC?
7576DAWG
November 6th, 2011
3:22 pm
Still@theKool-aidBAR
Many times a 6 lost team in the SEC would have been only a 3 lost team in let’s say the ACC. That’s why the SEC get so many team’s in bowl games every year. Just because an SEC team is not ranked in the top 25 doesn’t mean they can’t beat half the teams there from less competitive Conferences.
Still playing Warcraft@the bar
November 6th, 2011
3:24 pm
I just love needling a needler. The better question is: Why are you getting your panties all bunched up over a statement from a school, that has nothing to do with you?
Get back in your hole, pipe down, and I will let you know when you’re allowed out.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
3:24 pm
7576Dawg………..Tech has played 2 ranked teams and beat them. Tech Might get to play 2 more. VT and UGA should both be ranked for the games.
Warnell Dawg
November 6th, 2011
3:25 pm
“I would gladly take your schedule”
Yeah, but would you take it on a year-to-year basis? I’ll admit that we don’t have the strongest schedule this year, but the difference between us and the nerds is that while our schedule actually gets harder over time with teams like LSU, Bama, Arkansas and when FL and TN return to usual form included with our occasional tough OOC games like BSU, OK State, Clemson, etc…the nerds schedule is perennially weak with teams from their pathetic excuse of a conference and especially their division which includes Virginia, Miami, NC and Duke…man, how do you ever win such a TOUGH division?!
BurytheBone
November 6th, 2011
3:27 pm
This still doesn’t get us any closer to playoff system. If the NCAA and the conferrence’s want to do something that makes a real change come up with a way for the all undefeated teams to have a equal shot at a title. Whats the sense in playing the games and going 12-0 if you aren’t getting a chance to play for the hardware. Also kudo’s to LSU AND UA for a hard fought battle. Just how it was billed, both teams can be proud of how they played. Hopefully the Dawgs will take care of the next 3 and we will at least have a chance to compete for the championship
7576DAWG
November 6th, 2011
3:30 pm
I welcome Missouri and Texas A&M to the SEC. I’m just saying you are lucky in the SEC when you play a conference game that is a gimme It doesn’t matter who you play in the SEC if you don’t take every game serious you will get beat. To survive in the SEC you need depth or you will end up at the bottom of the conference at the end of the year.
LHarding Dawg
November 6th, 2011
3:35 pm
Great choice, good school that plays lots of sports. State school with lots of alumi. Really good television market. Put them in the east with their permanent west opponent being Texas A&M. If we have to expand, and apparately we do, Texas A&M and Missouri were good teams to invite.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
3:37 pm
Most of the UGA players don’t even make the minimum requirements to get into UGA. 73% of UGA players are special admits. Those boys can’t read much past an 8th grade level.
LHarding Dawg
November 6th, 2011
3:37 pm
By comparison – Your right about Tech alumni having professional careers, but not the football players. They only play football and them go away.
MerryMary
November 6th, 2011
3:37 pm
Can we call on Tech for spelling????…like we can when there (note:there, not their) is an Internet or power failure?
7576DAWG
November 6th, 2011
3:37 pm
For you TECH fans, my brother graduated from Tech . As a die hard Georgia Alum and fan I do not look forward to playing Tech . We always have trouble with the triple option and we know exactly what’s coming. This year will be a knock down drag out , I’m certainly not over looking you all.
DougsMugsCoffeeDOTcom
November 6th, 2011
3:38 pm
@LHarding Dawg,
Put them in the West and move Auburn or Alabama into our conference. It would balance out the disparity that we have been experiencing the last few years, and it would make geographic sense.
Putting them in the East makes the SEC looks stupid as h377. You can make the Alabama/Auburn a fixed annual match-up.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 6th, 2011
3:40 pm
By comparison
Actually more GT players will be working menial jobs since they wont be good enough to make it to pro ball and most of them wont graduate anyway
Take your academic garbage and stuff it; to be such a smart school your not smart enough to turn your sorry athletic program around
BurytheBone
November 6th, 2011
3:42 pm
@ By comparison. I don’t think it was a dawg fan that started all this dibble. I think it was a tech fan who took offense to a statement that was made in the paper. It really shouldn’t matter anyway. We are all well aware that tech is a academically tough school. Even if your football team is avg., we as dawg fans could care less that you have smarter players who really don’t play that well. Just remember as long as you think your a great school thats all that counts. See you on the flats Nov. 26th
richmondDawg
November 6th, 2011
3:45 pm
I have heard that the start of the GA/AL home and home next year will be delayed to make room for the new teams…heard also that GA will travel to College station next year to play the Aggies…not sure what to make of the schedule next season…Does anyone have any word on how this will break down next season?
Dawg Tired
November 6th, 2011
3:45 pm
Talk about an exercise in futility: UGA and Tech fans arguing about who’s schedule is easier this year. While I think Tech”s is easier by a nose, the obvious truth is that neither team has beaten anybody who is any good except Clemson. One could clearly argue with some force, that TECH’s beating Clemson indicates they are better than we are. Of course, that issue will be decided when we play each other. Until then – pleeezzze stop trying to argue that either team has really played a really tough schedule. BSU will not make the NC game even if they go undefeated. Why? Because they don’t deserve to be in the game. We are actually the best team they’ve played and we have yet to beat even a fairly decent team. UF is now 5 and 4 after crushing Vandy by 5 at home. They are the only team we have beaten who has a winning record!
Still playing Warcraft@the bar
November 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
By Comparison:
Soooo, you’re making excuses for having a sorry football team, that has only beat UGA once in the last ten years? “Hey guys, we can’t beat Georgia but at least my RB will make a great Network Engineer later in life.”
Stop making dumb posts. If you are going to come on a Georgia blog make posts about football. Make them matter.
ZinoDawg
November 6th, 2011
3:48 pm
Hey Tech trolls – instead of invading the Dawg blog you should get out your slide rules and try to figure out why you can’t sell out that dinky a$$ stadium you play in. Pathetic.
Prepare to get your butts whipped – as usual – when the mean machine in red and Black rolls down North Avenue. At least that game will be a sellout thanks to the Dawg fans.
7576DAWG
November 6th, 2011
3:49 pm
Tech fan’s always use academics as your excuse but this is not an academic blog. Nobody argues how hard Tech is or how smart the students are. Tech started their business school so they could have something easier than Math or Engineering . I don’t doubt even that school is hard but it doesn’t have anything to do with football. A lot of your football players wouldn’t even have gotten an invitation to come to orientation at Tech if it had anything to do with academic.
BurytheBone
November 6th, 2011
3:50 pm
@Dawg Tired why doesn’t BSU deserve a chance at the nc? Providing they stay undefeated.
Oh, look!
November 6th, 2011
3:55 pm
If dawgs want to boast of their athletic superiority over Georgia Tech, that’s fine, but keep in mind that almost none of the UGA athletes meet the academic admissions requirements at Tech, and most of the UGA players will work at menial jobs all their lives while most Tech alumni have real professional careers.
GTBob
November 6th, 2011
3:56 pm
Getting back to the topic at hand, it is pretty funny that the best team the SEC could get was a Missouri team that wanted to be in the Big 10. All of the talk of adding Virginia Tech, or Florida State, or Oklahoma, or any team from North Carolina was just a dream as expected. So much for that talk of the SEC picking whoever they wanted. This expansion process was similar to UGA’s search for a defensive coordinator.
7576DAWG
November 6th, 2011
4:04 pm
If I was an ACC power basketball team I wouldn’t want to leave the ACC. Football may rule at the SEC teams but that’s not necessarily the case with other conferences.
Ward
November 6th, 2011
4:05 pm
The addition of Missouri does not move the needle for me at all, but I will say that I understand why the league is making this move. I guess I get to travel to Missouri every other year now to watch the Dawgs beat up on them. I see them being a team UGA should beat 8 out of every 10 years… However, I hope this addition is phase one of the league moving to 16 teams… I know everyone wants Clemson and FSU, but I really would like to see us go after NC State and Oklahoma State… It would finally allow both of them to not feel like little brothers anymore, plus it would add a couple of good markets to our TV kingdom… Support me on this one…both would be great SEC schools!
Ward
November 6th, 2011
4:09 pm
Oh yeah someone asked about the UGA schedule next year… Here it is:
Home: Vandy, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Florida in Jacksonville
Road: South Carolina, Missouri, Auburn, Kentucky
We lose the Alabama game off the schedule for the road game at Missouri.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
4:09 pm
Ward…………..you are missing the Politics if you think NCSU or OSU are leaving without their Brother. The North Carolina teams NONE of them are leaving the ACC.
BobDawg
November 6th, 2011
4:10 pm
Interesting how they are now the 3rd and 4th largest schools in classroom attendance. Didn’t know they were that big and bringing loads of money….
As far as the Dawgs schedule – We play in the SEC which is still the toughest conference year in and year out so ’nuff said….. Playing Tech and their HS offense is a nice breather at the end of the year….
Ward
November 6th, 2011
4:12 pm
I am not missing anything with the politics of the situation… If you read it, I express that it is my wish. I never said it would happen, but suggested that in a perfect world (in my perfect world) it would happen.
BobDawg
November 6th, 2011
4:13 pm
@ Ward, interesting schedule next year… Is that written in stone??? I wonder how late in the year we will play Missouri… Imagine a snow game in the SEC???!!!
Atlanta Gator
November 6th, 2011
4:14 pm
From the standpoint of quality academic institutions, solid athletic programs, and new television markets, Missouri and Texas A&M are both excellent additions to the Southeastern Conference. In one swoop, the SEC has added the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, San Antonio, and St. Louis markets to the SEC television footprint. The SEC has also added two AAU research universities and two of the 20 largest land-grant colleges in the country with two of the largest alumni bases in the country.
Smart. Very smart. Mike Slive has done very well, indeed.
To Bryan (Third)
November 6th, 2011
4:16 pm
Two sort of ok schools eh? Sort of ok like Georgia, Vandy, Kentucky, Mississippi? Tennessee, Florida and Mississippi State? Or sort of ok like New Mexico State, Coastal Carolina, or maybe sorta like Florida State ( who refused the SEC) and Miami (Who also refused the SEC). Texas A & M and Missouri are fine schools – Be happy you didn’t get Duke, North Carolina State or maybe Georgia Tech!!!!
BobDawg
November 6th, 2011
4:17 pm
@ Atlanta Gator, you have done your homework well, my friend or you cut and paste well??!!!
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
4:18 pm
WARD……………ok…………..I thought you were wnat them to be next without realizing the Politics.
Ward
November 6th, 2011
4:18 pm
Why do so many Tech fans come to the SEC/UGA blog and post? Are they that paranoid about what we all say? No one cares about all you Tech people… I don’t hate Tech; I don’t like them either…they are kind of like people on the train in that they are there, but they are of no real importance to me… I am comfortable with the fact that you will beat us twice every ten years and that you have a little higher standards than us academically… I also know that you cheat, bend the system to try and be better as noted by your recent NCAA scandal, and that you all have envy on what we are packing at UGA… Just stop! If you all did not spend so much time crying and trying to rub it in when you do one good thing us UGA fans would just leave you all alone…which is where you should be in your dark little rooms playing with your laptops and robots.
George Stein
November 6th, 2011
4:19 pm
I don’t know why the SEC added any schools in the first place. It was a fine conference already.
Knock it off with all the nerd nonsense. You marginalize yourselves (the idiot Tech fans who do the same are foolish, too) and make what might be intelligent posts turn into a complete waste of space.
Ward
November 6th, 2011
4:21 pm
Yes, that schedule is in stone to my knowledge…I read it on the bleacher report earlier today; they are generally very accurate in what they report.
yankeedawg
November 6th, 2011
4:21 pm
Auburn game 3:30 cbs
George Stein
November 6th, 2011
4:22 pm
Will the SEC have a nine game conference schedule?
Loran, Whatayagot
November 6th, 2011
4:22 pm
The line that defines the southeast is at the border of Kentucky and Tennessee. Anything past that is in the west. Arkansas (drop the Ar from the front) and Missouri are not southeastern schools. Having said that, I guess those schools, are okay, but I don’t see any advantages they bring to the SEC. So, welcome anyway (yawn). Texas A & M, same observations.
Ward
November 6th, 2011
4:24 pm
George everything I have read says that the 9 game schedule will not go into affect for at least 5 years.
Still@theKool-aidBAR
November 6th, 2011
4:25 pm
Stein………..Will the ACC go to a 9 game with the addition of the 2 new teams?
I would hope we can drop the 1 FBS game and pick up the other conference game.
George Stein
November 6th, 2011
4:26 pm
Thanks, Ward.