The day after Texas A&M was admitted as the 13th member of the SEC, who should wander into Knoxville but one of its most heartfelt advocates.
R.C. Slocum, the winningest football coach in A&M history, explained exactly who the Aggies are for a Knoxville Quarterback Club audience at Calhoun's on the River.
We already knew the SEC is getting a well-rounded athletic program that plays big-boy football.
We knew the SEC was getting colossal TV markets and a footprint in a recruiting hotbed that is mad for football. It's not random that "Friday Night Lights" was set in Texas rather than Wisconsin.
What Slocum, who spent 40 years with the Aggies, 14 as coach from 1989-2002, offered was more cultural insight.
He cited the historical link. Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, Col. William Travis, the doomed heroes of the Alamo, were all from SEC country. So was Sam Houston, who avenged them.
Moving from the battlefield to the football field, Paul "Bear" Bryant and Gene Stallings connect the Aggies to Alabama, as do Emory Bellard and Jackie Sherrill to Mississippi State. Arkansas and LSU have been frequent adversaries.
There's a local link, too. A young Texan named Robert Neyland enrolled at A&M for a year before he got a commission to West Point.
Slocum didn't mention that Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen are both A&M alumni (and were once campus neighbors), but that scores big culture points with me personally.
What he did mention, and more than once, is that Texas A&M is on the same Bible Belt, patriotic wavelength as its new brethren below the Mason-Dixon Line.
"We're Southerners,'' Slocum declared.
"(Texas A&M) is America. We've had a bunch of people from our school fight and die for America. ... We have a lot of pride in that. We have some values.''
"We like God and we like country, and all those things. So that's what we are. I think we fit in.''
Later, after noting George H.W. Bush picked the campus to locate his presidential library because he liked the conservative atmosphere, Slocum underscored his theme in case it didn't sink in the first time:
"I don't want to over-exaggerate this, but we're mom, apple pie and all that stuff. That's what we are.''
His point being that the Aggies are a better fit in the SEC than with the archrival University of Texas, with whom they have shared 117 football afternoons.
He stopped short of calling the Longhorns un-American but intimated that the Left Coast crew in the Pac-12 can have them.
"One thing I think you'll appreciate,'' Slocum said, "Texas has always seen themselves as (being like) Cal-Berkeley and Stanford. That's kind of the way they lean.
"Our stadium, when you come in there, there are going to be American flags all the way around the top of that stadium.''
Some suggest — as Ivan Maisel eloquently did on ESPN.com — that the Aggies' relocation is primarily an escape from the bullying, disrespecting Longhorns and — the last straw — their new TV network,
Slocum did allude to the fact that the Big 12 revenue stream flows first toward Austin: "One or two people say, 'We're gonna take all the money and we want y'all in our league, but y'all have to make it however you can.' ''
But he would never portray the proud Aggies as choosing retreat. Choosing opportunity, rather. Whatever you'd want in a conference, be it stability, equity or exposure, the SEC is the gold standard.
"I applaud our leadership,'' Slocum said, "for saying, 'You know what? We're big boys. We can stand on our own two feet.'
"We can analyze who we are, where we are, where we want to be and then go do it.''
So here they come.
Mike Strange may be reached at strangem@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/strangemike44 and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/strange.
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Comments » 32
VOLinATL writes:
Great, just what we need. Another gun-totin' bunch of rednecks in the SEC. What can't you believe in God, love America, and still be well read, open-minded and progressive? They aren't mutally exclusive!
vol4gzus writes:
Don't like them thar roots do ya? That's ok as I love GOD and my country...yes toss in the apple pie with MOM no doubt! Sensitive folk ain't we? Now that I used poor english and grammar I hope you won't think poorly of me volINatl.
vol4gzus writes:
Final note, that was essentially what our current President said prior to be elected while on campaign trail in California about gun-toting,religious folk...Hey look at the company you're keeping. According to you that would be an upgrade over us common folk....
VOLuptuous writes:
As I tend to live middle of the road, I find it how "open minded liberals" like to stereotype a school with an enrollment of 50k as a completely conservative institution. Something tells me that there are thousands of individuals there that would be insulted at your labeling them as such.
tartarsauce writes:
maybe a printed copy of the story will never make it up on the ivory tower where they reside! thus their pompousness will remain intact!
UTKin1992 writes:
Whatever...just want to say congratulations and welcome to the Southeastern Conference, Aggies!
gortrtt writes:
Hey VOLinATL, who says one CAN'T "believe in God, love America, and still be well read, open-minded and progressive" ?
That comment could, to some, make you seem to be just the opposite of what you describe as being "well read, open-minded and progressive", whatever that might mean to you.
In case you aren't hip to it, there are points of view other than yours.
Now, to get to the stuff that's not really important but fun to point out: you wrote "well read" and left out the hyphen; you wrote "what can't you believe in God..." and that is improper usage (should read "why can't...); you wrote "mutally", an obvious misspeling of the word "mutually".
For one so "well read", it certainly didn't take long for you to butcher our language several times.
Now for the important stuff. Welcome, our new Aggie brothers and sisters, to the SEC. We hope you enjoy your new home. Thanks for bringing the huge television markets!
westknoxrepub writes:
Liberal Tolerance in all its glory.
flatrock writes:
Not surprised at the Longhorns' west coast leanings- but I am mystified at Oklahoma's reluctance to join the SEC. I'd love to see an SEC West of Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and LSU. That would be some serious football- maybe way too tough for the Scooners!
chattavfl86 writes:
How does this turn into a conservative vs. Liberal debate? Its football. Not all liberals are pompous, not all conservatives are gun toting rednecks. And all the insults towards bad grammar and spelling are a little ridiculous. For instance, liberal is capitalized above. Its not bc im a super liberal (I do lean that way) but bc im commenting from my phone and it auto caps after periods. Honest mistakes guys, no need to rip one another apart. Jeez. GBO.
VolunteerLifer writes:
How many aggies does it take to join the SEC? What do you call an aggie who wants to join the SEC? There's got to be some jokes in here, but I can't find them yet.
I think A&M is a good fit. But thirteen is a bad number. I can't wait to see what hits the floor when the other shoe drops. I like VaTech for a fourteenth.
gortrtt writes:
Thanks for the explanation of the finer points of iPhone auto-capitalization. And thanks for the lecture on what we should and shouldn't write.
I jabbed some guy who WAS being pompous, and in my post I wrote that the spelling & usage punches I threw were not important. Missed that, huh? Maybe you were reading the comment on your iPhone and it has the Arianna Huffington app that obscures anything that can be perceived as conservative. Or intelligent.
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Their fans are good. They will tailgate well. They have more songs and cheers than any team I've seen. Playing in College station will be intense. A lot of Texans' heritage is from Tennessee. They love Davy Crockett (my cousin). They like us....
WhitePineVol77 writes:
TX A&M will provide good scrimmage material for a long time as SEC bottom dwellers. AKA lizards, who stand the entire game, their "Corp" should really get over themselves. What slocum says is just so much fluff.
Sad day for the SEC...we could have drawn a better school.
volhorn#211628 writes:
As a U. of Texas graduate, i can say with assurance that we will live to regret it. wait til they come to Neyland Stadium the first time. You have never seen a goofier, nerdier, more obnoxious bunch. they are going to make Fl fans look like cultured sophisticates. WE WILL BE SORRY ABOUT THIS ONE!
eprahm writes:
We are proud of Texas A & M just as they are proud of us. Good fit!
westknoxrepub writes:
Clearly we couldn't, which is why we can't find number 14.
amyinsparta writes:
On the other hand, I believe it was Slocum himself who started the whole thing. What made him think that every person in the South was 'home, mom, apple pie, conservative, george bush loving, flag waving, and war loving? He's the one who brought up all the silliness. He should have stuck with football reasons, not philosophical reasons. Besides, we all know it was for financial reasons and nothing else, no matter what he says.
CrankE writes:
To channel some Serpenthead, "It's the Longhorn Network, stupid." Texas is determined to keep their network even if all of their neighbors quit on them and go play somewhere else (as 3 of them have already done and at least that many have tried to do).
In the back of my mind, I can't help but think that if things change in the future, A&M could always leave the SEC to return to a Texas based conference.
MusicCityVol writes:
Great job by Slive and the boys. They are doing this expansion thing the right way.
SEC Doesn't Need to Hurry in Search for 14th Member
http://www.checkerboardchatter.com/20...
RoadTrip writes:
I am very happy the Aggies are in the SEC. They are a major plus. Their tradition and attitudes fit right in. I love that they sent a message to the arrogant Longhorns that they don't mean phooey to them. Any school that is willing to stick it to their fellow conference programs and jump on the ESPN bandwagon for cash deserves a slap down. You may fight like dogs with each other all year, but you are a band of brothers when it comes to protecting your turf.
Now if the SEC took FSU it would control its destiny for the future. They could really afford to add a couple like Mizzou, West VA, or VA Tech at that point. Embrace the change, gang. It's going to happen whether you like it or not.
westknoxrepub writes:
I think it'll come soon one way or another, if only because the SEC West has a harder road than the SEC East with the 13 teams. It's also clear they know who they want, and it's Missouri. The problem is the Big "12" decided to play nice with the TV money after the Pac 12 told Oklahoma they didn't want to expand, because the Longhorn Network problem is still there. This will go one season at the most before another team is added, which at this point is likely West Virginia, unless Missouri has a change of heart.
hikerdude writes:
With Texas A&M in the SEC, SEC games will be shown more often on tv in Texas. That will help SEC recruiting in Texas, but the teams that will receive the most recruiting benefit will be from neighboring states, LSU and Arkansas. Like they need help.
TommyJack writes:
You poor thing.
TommyJack writes:
Typical tea-sippin, austin brainwashed, elitist, longhorn jerk.
mrkirker writes:
Lovett & Keen 'attended' A&M.
GEA89 writes:
Thanks Vols,
It is a great honor to be a part of your great history in the SEC and we will work very hard to uphold the great traditions you all have created. We Aggies know our place as the new kid on the block but we intend to come in and represent well right out of the gates.
We are the nations 6th largest school and have 50K students enrolled this Fall. We just finished 8th in the Sears Directors Cup for 2010-2011. We won 5 national titles last year. Our baseball team went to Omaha and our football team played in the Cotton Bowl.
What does that all mean, nothing except we know what responsibility we have to represent this great conference and we intend to work very hard to improve in every area.
We are so glad to be here, thank you, and hope to see you all in College Station very soon. I can assure you this Aggie will be at the first game at your place and cannot wait to finally see your great tradition at UT first hand.
snakeplissken writes:
Like most liberals, you're so open-minded that your brains have fallen out.
Speaking of what you call 'progressive', how's that 'Hope & Change' going in your neighborhood?
ROFLMAO
david_light_38230#225602 writes:
I attended the 1080'something Cotton Bowl played between Texas A&M and Notre Dame, Tim Brown against the Texas A&M defensive end Roper. I sat in the middle of the Fighting Irish crowd waiving a Texas A&M 12th man towel. I must add that I am a proud Catholic!! LOL
I have many friends and colleagues that are A&M alumni who talk about the tradition and love for their university.
Being a UT alumnus, Vol for Life, I am glad to welcome Texas A&M to the SEC!!
brokebackvol writes:
Welcome to the SEC, Aggies...can't we leave the political discussions to the opinion pages, people?
txsvol#372416 writes:
As former Texas politician, Jim Hightower, once said, "The only things you find in the middle of the road are yellow lines and dead armadillos!" Although my kids went to UT-West Campus in Austin, I love the 'Spirit of the Corps' at TAMU, and welcome them into the SEC. Go Vols! SAVol
VolinCalif writes:
No need to thank us, the pleasure is ours. I for one hoped that you would select the SEC when the SW conf broke up. You too have a great tradition and College Station isn't all that far for most of the SECW teams. With auto travel expense what it is most fans will stat flying so we are just talking about a few hours travel. Again Welcome aboard. And thanks for choosing the SEC
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