Quote:
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.
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I see how you might see things that way, but I disagree. The SEC opens up doors for us that would never be available in the Big 12. It's simply a matter of taking advantage. The best players pick SEC schools disproportionately more than other schools. SEC schools get their pick of the best coaches. Just look at Arkansas. No coach is going to make a move like that to coach in the Big 12.
The Big 12 is at a crossroad. Nebraska is the most successful football program in Big 12 history. They are gone, and they are glad to be gone. Oklahoma is the second most successful, and they have been on a gradual decline for several years. Texas is third, and their decline has been more pronounced. KSU is fourth, and they have experienced nothing but futility outside the Snyder era. West Virginia has some recent success, but they look like shit in a real conference...same with TCU. Oklahoma State and Baylor have made a little noise recently, but both were very average this year. Iowa State is Iowa State, and Kansas is Kansas.
Nobody is clamoring to play in the Big 12. There's simply no status boost like there is playing in the SEC. The SEC allure is very real, and the fans understand and embrace it. It pisses off the rest of the country, but SEC fans don't care because they have scoreboard overe every other conference combined.
A week or so ago, I wrote about what I think is the inevitable future basketball dominance of the SEC as well. If you think people hate the SEC now, you haven't seen anything yet.