(12-05-2016 02:27 PM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  

(12-04-2016 09:35 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(12-04-2016 05:18 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(12-04-2016 04:54 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(12-04-2016 12:32 AM)USAFMEDIC Wrote:  Mizzou was not good this year, but neither were many SEC teams. The SEC added the Aggies and Tigers to get into Texas and it's fertile recruiting grounds, and to expand TV markets with Missouri. Both are excellent academic institutions which add to the SEC goals of raising the academics bar in the SEC.The main SEC goal was the SEC Network... not a stepping stone to further expansion. I do not understand the outlier comment, as we border Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas, and are 66 miles from Mississippi. Many of the posters here are more than happy to invite Oklahoma. Every school in the SEC not named Alabama has had to rebuild programs... even LSU. Give Missouri a little love.

Even we had to rebuild after a bad decade. Beginning with the Mike DuBose hire in 1997, we took a nosedive and didn't regain our cache until Nick Saban showed up in 2007.

We don't like to talk about the dark days, but they happened.

But yeah, Mizzou isn't a true outlier. It's not really a Southern school by the traditional definition, but I don't think the culture of the school is all that different and geographically it fits. One bad season doesn't mean they shouldn't be here. We all have bad seasons from time to time. That and the conference makeup is stronger because of Mizzou whether they have a crappy football season every now and then or not.

I wouldn't worry about it. Missouri has a historical association with the South whether it was a majority decision or not it was truly a border state. But to bring things into the present, you fit the SEC as well as you could have fit the Big 10. We got you. It's done and you are in the family whether our distant cousins in the ACC like it or not. The only way you can leave is by your own choice. That's called security. There was no buy in. That's called equality. There was full rights from day 1. That's called the best deal anyone will ever get!

IMO, the only thing that is keeping Missouri from feeling totally included is two to four more members from the Big 12. When they are in a division where most of their competition is no more than two states away they will feel at home in the SEC, and when joined with more Westerly additions the SEC will feel like they are at home tucked safely in the midst of a new division.

Missouri doesn't fit per se with Georgia or Florida, or with L.S.U.or Auburn. But, Missouri does fit quite wonderfully with Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas A&M or others from that region. When the rest of the SEC sees you in that kind of a Western Division they will accept the whole division as being a natural fit on our left flank.

But if the SEC never makes but 1 more addition, so long as that addition is to the West it will still feel right:
Arkansas, Louisiana State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas A&M

That would feel right, look right, and would seem like home to those who were a part of it.

Missouri is in an interesting situation, in that they could fit with ease in more than one conference. I like the division of Arkansas, LSU, Mizzou A&M and Oklahoma, but I think I like the division of LSU, A&M Arkansas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State better. Or could you consider a division of Mizzou, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Minn.? Missouri could fit in either situation.

But X... so could North Carolina... either the ACC or SEC.

Missouri is somewhat unique in that it would be a good fit for at least 3 conferences - the SEC, the B1G, and the Big 12. Would their entire fanbase be a perfect match for all 3? Perhaps not - but they could still be more at home in all 3 places than many schools would be. I still think that the A&M add was the true key for the SEC at 13, but Missouri was a very, very good partner at #14 to go with them.