To answer the original poster, "they were who we thought they were," and that's in a very good way. There is something even about most of the "hatred" in the SEC that I enjoy. There is a love of the game, its history and pageantry that is special in the SEC.

The Big 12 when it started was on par with the SEC of that time. Later, cracks started to show and they were reflected in the weaker teams of the conference who fell further and further behind due to unequal sharing of resources. OU, UT, and NU didn't see the problems with that then. NU figured finally figured it out too late. Mizzou was a loyal member and tried to do what it could to help less affluent members and the conference as a whole, but our voice fell on deaf ears. At the end, the decision was easy. Texas' and OU's hubris drove the conference into the ground and they didn't care until it was almost too late (it probably is too late).

A little history: The Big 8 was a storied conference with a lot of tradition and it was successful. IMO, Texas all but destroyed the SWC by themselves, and nearly did the same to the Big 12. That school brings a singular focus that never thinks of the "we," only the "I," and they truly believe they are the straw that stirs the drink and therefore deserve preferential treatment. Big 8 leadership made a huge mistake and gave the 4 new schools veto power over ANY new legislation after they changed the conference by-laws to suit themselves, eradicating all previous Big 8 records and history of operations.

I am thrilled to be in a conference that gives the same respect to the smallest and least affluent schools. SEC leadership gets it: The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. A rising tide lifts all boats (no pun intended).

I personally believe we would have been much less happy in the Big 10 had we immediately accepted their offer of junior membership, and so far, the SEC has been nothing but a joy and is making Mizzou programs better with its membership in the conference.

Great football is great football. Depth is crucial in the SEC, because any school can beat you if you aren't at your best.

The Missouri fans I talk to are proud to be in the SEC and love being a part of the best conference in the country. We made the right decision for the right reasons and are proud to call y'all brothers, even if some still consider us the red-headed stepchild.