"In enlightening meetings with Maddox and other city officials, chamber of commerce employees and the convention and visitors bureau, the Normanites learned that, despite just 95,000 residents in Tuscaloosa to Norman’s 130,000, Tuscaloosa’s average economic benefit on a game day weekend is $30 million. Norman’s is only $11 million."

"Furthermore, the prosperity in Tuscaloosa helps it employ 295 sworn police officers to Norman’s 151, according to Pyle, and the total impact is seen in its 1,400 public service employees to Norman’s 900."

We bust each others chops regularly... that's part of our passion for this sport.
As an old fart who goes to every away game and has watched each university/campus grow since the 80's, top to bottom there is not another conference that can come close to what a weekend in the south is about. Just as much passion in Starkville, Ms on Saturday night as there is in Red Stick as there is in Knoxville, Gainesville and all points in between. Both new members are going to have to step up and spend some bucks to catch up with the "Arms Race" that is the SEC.
Not a knock on either school.

This post was edited on 4/13/23 at 10:09 am