SEC Media Days 2011: Why SEC Should Bring Texas A&M and Oklahoma Aboard

In June 2010 rumors surfaced of Oklahoma and Texas A&M possibly moving from the Big 12 to the already-crowded, 12-team SEC conference.

Here we are, 13 months later, and those rumors which once appeared to be dead have sprouted up again.

The problem appears to be the Longhorn Network, which unnamed sources claim is causing issues for Texas A&M and Oklahoma, via the Sporting News. More specifically, the network's coverage of high school games in Texas, which would give the Texas Longhorns an obvious recruitment advantage.

In addition, weekly conversations have reportedly been taking place between A&M officials and the SEC, according to 1620-AM in Omaha Wednesday evening, via College Football Talk.

Said SEC commissioner Mike Slive in the TSN report:

"

“It is my job to make sure the SEC is the premiere league. For me to exclude any action that would preclude that from happening would be inappropriate. …

“I can’t tell you what other people will do. I’m going to think about and do things that are in the long-term best interest of the SEC. That’s what I meant by what I said last time.

"If there’s a paradigm shift, we’re going to be strategic and thoughtful and we’re going to continue to be strategic and thoughtful. I’m going to leave it at that.”

"

Hmmm..."exclude any action that would preclude that from happening...I'm going to leave it at that."

Something seems fishy to me.

There may be a reason why these rumors are sprouting up again...because they may turn into reality.

But should the SEC welcome another two teams to an already packed conference, with plenty of competition to go around?

There are two lines of thinking: adding the top dogs in the Big 12 would make it nearly impossible for the lesser teams to compete, or adding A&M and Oklahoma would add to the conference's legacy.

Personally, I would go with the second line of thinking.

The SEC already has some impressive schools underneath its heading, including 2010 national champion Auburn, Alabama, Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi State and South Carolina, who were all ranked inside the top 25 in ESPN's final rankings last season.

It also has the storied program Florida.

But adding Oklahoma and Texas A&M, who were ranked sixth and 19th respectively at the end of last season, could lead to some truly fantastic seasons in the SEC and even more magnificence than the glorified conference has already given college football fans.

When you are constructing a conference, you should go all the way. Make it the "premiere league," as Slive points out.

It may be unfair for the lesser football programs, but when you have a chance to raise the competition in your conference, you do it without hesitation.

All college fans should be rooting for this to happen, because it's going to give us even more to cheer about come the start of each season.