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That would be the smart thing for them to do. The reason they haven't tried yet is simply pride. Truth be told, Texas didn't believe TAMU would pull the trigger on an SEC move, and their administration has been in scramble mode dealing with it ever since their bluff was called. Simply put, all of their history of how they've done business with us over the years no longer applies to the current complexion of the rivalry, and they honestly don't know what to do with the new status quo.

It's an odd situation when an in-state school leaves its conference rival for another conference but it's happened before even in the opposite direction - when one school wanted to run the whole SEC.

**SEC History below**

GA Tech being a prime example of a school leaving because they thought they could run the entire conference (they left the SEC because their coach was in a long running feud with Bryant over various issues, but the official reason used by Tech is Bama and others were oversigning due to the 140 rule but Dodd had always refused to do that because he was so moral, but many believed Tech was looking for a reason to leave because they wanted to either run the conference completely or be their own boss).

When they left, Tech thought they'd become like Notre Dame and didn't realize they'd pissed a lot of programs off so much that many but not all of the great programs nearby - their former conference mates didn't want anything to do with them (notably both Auburn and Georgia wanted Tech to stay badly). But even before the split Tech was only scheduling 5 of 11 schools - completely ignoring those farther West and they were viewed as elitist.

Even though Dodd was right for being mad at Bryant over not punishing a player who clearly took a cheap shot that ended the playing days of a Tech player (Alabama return man had signaled a fair catch and the Tech player was pulling up/no threat to the return man when suddenly an Alabama player threw an elbow to the Tech player's jaw causing massive damage - fractured facial bones, 5 front teeth knocked out, fractured sinus, fractured nasal bone, fractured bone beneath his eye, concussion AND fractured skull at the base. Bear was heavily criticized by the national press over the incident and even by Alabama papers but the feud between coaches had gotten so strong that he refused to apologize or punish the player in any way.

But Dodd's biggest mistake was giving the SEC an ultimatum over the 140 rule. He said Tech would flat out he'd leave if the rule wasn't abolished. The irony is that according to most press the rule would've been abolished (the first time it lost 6-6 but more had come out against it the following year) but when Dodd laid down an ultimatum over it he spread bad blood throughout the conference.

As one writer put it, “I know some athletic directors consider Tech’s position as a challenge. If we had voted a few weeks ago, there’s no doubt that the rule would have been rescinded. Now I’m truly convinced that the league won’t change the rule. I know some schools have changed their votes in the last few weeks.” The vote failed 11-0. Tech left and went from being a perennial player on the national scene to being a nobody in large part because Dodd thought he could lay down an ultimatum for everyone else.

Obviously UGA kept the rivalry intact but now Tech is poor and we are rich. And honestly UGA's longstanding rivalry for them is one of the few things keeping them relevant.

This post was edited on 4/25/14 at 6:22 pm