And, to show just how excited the Aggies were, the press conference was labeled as a “celebration”. For those in attendance inside Kyle Field, it certainly felt like one. The Aggie band played; food and drinks were served. It was a loud, colorful event because, justifiably or not, A&M wanted out of the Big 12 and out from under the University of Texas.
Greeting the Aggies and their president R. Bowen Loftin on the other side was SEC commissioner Mike Slive and University of Florida President/SEC Board of Directors chairman Bernie Machen.
Instantly, though, things got weird.
While at the podium, Loftin said he had called Slive in July following a Board of Regents meeting saying “I’d like to talk to you” to which Slive replied “I’m sitting on my porch with a glass of whiskey and a cigar, and I’m thinking of you.”
[/awkward...]
Loftin added that he had spoken to Slive and Machen every day for the past several months, often multiple times a day. Slive added that he was originally content at 12 members, but that the opportunity to add A&M was too good to pass up.
Still, there was the matter of other Big 12 schools refusing to waive their right to pursue litigation. The SEC originally stated they would only take A&M if they had full assurance that no legal backlash would come with the move. But once it was announced that the Pac-12 would not expand to the states of Oklahoma and Texas, the SEC went ahead with the decision to add the Aggies.
Which would explain this. And this.
There’s also the issue of whether Texas and Texas A&M will play annually in the Lone Star Showdown. A&M has maintained that they would like to keep the rivalry, and Slive even added that he would support the Thanksgiving tradition.
Whether that will happen is still to be seen.
In the meantime, Loftin said A&M is prepared to move forward with all legal procedures immediately. In his eyes, the sooner they can get that out of the way, the sooner they can get back to celebrating.