[warpaint*]

Originally Posted by HolyHandgernade

Serious question for Mizzou fans...

I always hate it when people start out a post like that, you know, you're probably not going to like it!

I felt, in the aftermath of it all, that Mizzou made the ONLY choice it could, not necessarily the right one. I think the pressure, both internally and externally made coming back to the B12 impossible. The fans would have flailed the administration if they said they were going to remain in the B12, and in all likelihood, never (that might be too exclusionary) would have gained the trust and respect back from the other B12 members.

On the flip side, though, outside of a possible basketball title every now and then, Missouri is never going to have the same kind of athletic possibilities it might have had in the B12. Only the faintest of pipe dreams thinks Mizzou will be a factor more than once a decade in football. The overall program might be better, or the same as it was at its recent height in the B12, but it won't be good enough to compete at the top in the SEC, like it might have in the B12.

That doesn't mean SEC membership doesn't have other benefits, like the stability factor, but from a purely competitive athletics level, in the men's revenue sports, I think Mizzou really hurt its chances at decent bowl games and final records. Its out of its element culturally, and thus also at a disadvantage in recruiting.

Is that a fair assessment or am I way off base. SEC wasn't necessarily the right choice, but it was the only choice, and being the only choice, it wasn't anywhere near a bad deal.

No that is very fair.

The SEC will be good for MU in many ways. It has kick started a pretty big $ funding drive that will lead to significant stadium and other facilities upgrades. It has also turned up the pressure on the football program in terms of what's expected on the field.

That said someone would have to be smoking crank to think the Tigers have a better shot competing in the SEC. It is either the 9th or 10th best job in the league depending on what you think of South Carolina. The thing that makes the SEC so impossible is that there are 6 major powers. In the Big XII you have OU and TX to deal w/ as far as blue bloods are concerned. In the SEC MU has to run w/ UT/Fla/Ga/Bammer/Aub/LSU! And that doesn't even speak of Arkansas and aTm both of whom have good programs but obviously aren't elite. Heck no they ain't ever winnin' the league.