The Southeastern Conference has its 14th member. It's the Missouri Tigers.
Sunday the SEC announced that the presidents and chancellors acted unanimously to invite Missouri to join the SEC.
“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 in a release by the conference. “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 a statement released by the SEC. "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.”
“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 in a statement release by the conference. “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 big reason why Missouri is in the SEC is one thing, Mizzou can deliver two major TV markets. The St. Louis and Kansas City markets are among the top 30 TV markets in the country. Before today the SEC only had one major market, Atlanta, in it's footprint.
This is a great move for Missouri, espcially football. Mizzou competes for talent with Big Ten schools in the talent rich St. Louis metro and into Illinios. The Tigers usually don't have much leverage with recruits considering the conference they were in. As SEC members the Tiger coaching staff can sell to recruits they can play in the best conference in the country and face the best teams in the country. It may take some time but this can be a real upgrade for Mizzou football.
How about this, there are now three Tiger teams in the SEC.
Next season it's back to the future for the Big 12 who will be back to the Big 8, unless West Virginia can solve its legal issues with the Big East.
It was the right thing to do for Missouri. Even with the additions the Big 12 has made, it still seems on shaky grounds. I'm going to really miss the border war between MU & KU though, hopefully after hurt feelings have subsided they can play once a year in both major sports. I also hope the Kansas City market doesn't fade for Missouri over time.
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