Texas A & M and Conference Expansion: A Few Quick Thoughts

An emphatic yes. First of all, Texas A & M is a very tradition-rich program that offers a lot to the SEC. I would welcome beginning a history of playing them, as I believe many SEC fans would. Second of all, from a USC perspective, nabbing Texas A & M makes it somewhat less likely that the Clemson Tigers will eventually join the SEC, and no Gamecocks fan should want the Tigers to join. I think that we're eventually going to begin to enjoy sizeable recruiting advantages over the Tigers due to the prestige of the SEC and, more concretely, the facilities upgrades that will be the result of the windfall that will come from SEC TV contracts, especially if those contracts take advantage of the allure of Texas markets. We aren't quite enjoying those advantages yet--the Tigers have still dominated the series over the past few years, as they have since the 1970s. They're coming, though, as long as Clemson doesn't get in on those SEC benefits. If A & M joins, it's likely that a 14th team will be added from the West--could be Missouri, Baylor, Houston; who knows, but at least it won't be Clemson. Moreover, if the SEC does eventually go the superconference route and gut the ACC, it will take the Florida (including, perhaps, South Florida) schools and Georgia Tech before Clemson. Getting aTm now makes it more likely that Clemson will be the odd guy out.

I would think that we should definitely add a 14th, at least.

I would like to see that team be Missouri, perhaps with the conference divisions realligning and Auburn joining the East. Virginia Tech to the East would also be an attractive (probably even more so than Mizzou) option, although it seems unlikely that they will go without UVa.