With conference realignment and Big 12 chaos swirling in the Midwest air, a new scent appeared in Columbia, Missouri today: the sweet scent of southern sweet tea took over, with appearances from deep fried chicken and the bite of bourbon and whiskey. The expansion craze has hit my college in full force; the Missouri Tigers and SEC have informally agreed to join.
Now many on campus are somewhat concerned about the possible move. Is Mizzou ready to compete in the best and most brutal football conference in America? Are the Tigers fast enough? Will the students here see many winning seasons or New Year's bowl games? Why would we join the Southeast when we're in the Midwest?
These concerns need to be alleviated and replaced with excitement. The past five national champions have come from the SEC, and some of the best atmospheres in football call it home. Missouri will now travel to hallowed grounds like Death Valley, Between the Hedges, the Swamp, and Bryant-Denny Stadium. Students will have the best teams in the country coming to Columbia to play every year, creating an even more hyped and insane aura than ever before.
Financially, this move is pure brilliance. The SEC has a ridiculous TV contract, along with a gargantuan amount of bowl money. All of this can put our athletic facilities officially over the top. We are now sharing revenue with at least eight powerhouse programs instead of four. More seats could even be added to Faurot Field with the new profit.
From a recruiting standpoint, the Tigers are gaining a major selling point. Instead of having to keep up with the SEC in terms of conference prestige when selling the program to recruits, they can now say they are a part of the power. Kids nowadays aspire to play in Dixie Country, as it's the first conference that comes to mind when discussing college football with anybody. The Pac 12 and Big 10 boast impressive programs and venues as well, but can they really match the combined power of all the stadiums I mentioned earlier along with the out-of-this-world tailgates occurring there (or the insanely attractive southern belles that cheer wildly in them)? Players and coaches are revered in this conference, and the bottom line is that players want to become heroes in the South.
Getting better players will only build the Tiger program further. That will happen over time, which may bring me to my biggest point to any Mizzou fan or student: be patient. At first, the Tigers will most likely not be winning the SEC. Being competitive is fully possible, but they might not be quite ready for the wear and tear of an SEC schedule. Some of you are underrating the program that is currently housed here, with 42 wins over the past five years and the eleventh most wins in the country over the past decade. We're putting out NFL players every year, as Missouri has had more players picked in the NFL Draft than any other school over the past four years. This team has talent and a great coach in Gary Pinkel. Everything is honestly looking up, especially with a young and talented quarterback like James Franklin at the helm as well. (We also become one of the better basketball teams in the conference as well.)
Change is great, but it's always a little rough at first. Embrace and hope for this move because it is truly the best one for the Tigers. We'll absorb some Southern hospitality and give in return some trademarked Midwest love, along with our damn good barbecue (a huge plus for any SEC traveler). Columbia, Missouri is one of the best college towns in America, and it perfectly fits into the homey feel of Dixie. The times they are a-changin; but they sure are looking sweeter here.
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