Anyone who follows college football (or watches Sports Center) has undoubtedly heard about the turmoil surrounding the Big 12. Following the breakup, rumors immediately surfaced regarding which conference the remaining ten teams would be picked up by. The latest rumor circulating says that the SEC will be picking up Texas, Oklahoma, or both.
Let me be the first to say: hell to the no. Oklahoma, we'll deal with later. As far as Texas? No sir. I don't care for 'em, I don't watch 'em, I don't give two hoots about 'em, and I certainly don't want them in my conference. To me, the state of Texas is its own entity. Texas pride, Texas culture, Texas this and Texas that. The vast majority of the Texas roster comes from the massive state of Texas, where kids are bred playing cult-like Texas high school football.
To me, the best thing about the SEC is the love for the conference, not just individual schools. Obviously, I have my favorites (Tennessee) and I have teams I hate (Kentucky), but some of the most fun games to watch are the inter-conference rivalries. In my opinion, Texas and Texans are too...self-secluded to acquire the sense of family that I love so much about the conference.
As far as Oklahoma...I'll compromise. The Sooners would come in with a natural geographical rival (Arkansas) which would make things interesting, and I feel like Oklahoma would better encompass the spirit of the conference. And just what will I do if the SEC does decide to take Texas? Easy. Put them in second on SEC my sh*t list...right under Kentucky.
The only reason in my estimation to keep conferences in tact is, as you say, the traditional rivalries. Without those, the game is much poorer (in all ways save, perhaps, revenues).
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