The Southeastern Conference is staying just at it isfor now. However, the game of major-college conference realignment appears far from finished.
University of Florida president Bernie Machen, the chairman of the SEC’s presidents and chancellors committee, said the group met Sunday and “reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment.”
Machen said no action was taken regarding Texas A&M or any other schools. But he didn’t close the door on change.
“We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league,” Machen said in a statement.
The Aggies reportedly are looking to leave the Big 12. The Texas A&M System’s board of regents is to meet today, and among the items on the agenda is conference alignment.
Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement Sunday there is “a considerable amount of misinformation” regarding his school and the SEC. Loftin said he didn’t participate in Sunday’s meeting with the SEC but would be authorized by the regents to “take all actions related to athletic conference alignment.”
Texas A&M football coach Mike Sherman reiterated that his focus is on the Aggies’ Sept. 4 season opener against Southern Methodist. “My comment that I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to (conference realignment) is accurate,” he said.
The Associated Press
