re: Setting the record straight on Mizzou and the Big 10

Feels like a cheap ploy to gain acceptance into a fraternity that hates your guts.

Application: denied.

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We had one with the Big 8.

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No argument there. You are a product of your circumstances. You aren’t quite SEC or B10 caliber from a football standpoint. You are better than your average current Big 12 program, but could just as easily have been left behind there with your other Big 8 brethren. You got very lucky that the SEC badly wanted aTm, didn’t have an obvious 14th school, and it was in the last few years where tv households in the bundled cable tv era was more important than national ratings appeal.

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You aren’t quite SEC or B10 caliber from a football standpoint.

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By what metric?

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We had one with the Big 8.

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"Mizzou don't belong in the SEC" comments aside, the Big 8 should have never merged with the remnants of the SWC.

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By what metric?

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The metrics in terms of pure winning % and division titles would say you have been in the top half of either conference since you left the Big 12. What you still lack is the fan base, facilities, passion, name brand/prestige, etc. The intangibles that make playing Mizzou a must have ticket. That’s where you don’t quite fit yet. I will give you guys credit though in that you could have easily fallen to bottom dwellers but keep sticking around the top 25.

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I will give you guys credit though in that you could have easily fallen to bottom dwellers but keep sticking around the top 25.

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Please... They took advantage of the worst SEC east in 40 years and still couldn't get to an overall winning record. Missouri is a bottom dweller. This new money shite they think they have going on, is a house of cards, waiting for someone to bump the table. They ain't shite now, and have never been.

I agree that Mizzou fans were not necessarily clamoring for the Big 10. We all were kind of luke warm on it at best, but honestly I do think Mizzou fans would have been happy to go there to get out of the Big12. In the end - we were fortunate that Gov Jay Nixon ran his big mouth saying the Big10 would be foolish not to invite us. That soured the Big10 on Mizzou and they only invited Nebraska (Mizzou was never offered partial money or full money - it was no money as there was no invite at all).

That of course left us available when the door opened as Texas pissed of aTm one time too many (read R. Bowen Loftin's book "The 100 Year Decision"). I have no illusions that we had much leverage at that point, and freely admit we were fortunate the SEC wanted a second school when adding the Aggies . I don't think the SEC was really on many Mizzou fan's radar as a possibility - nor was Mizzou on the SEC's. But once it was - as you say - it was practically unanimous and obvious that Mizzou fans wanted to go to the SEC (other than a few still holding out for the KU rivalry) - the excitement was everywhere once it became a real possibility. As for the SEC, when they took a look at the potential in adding Mizzou (TV Markets, Alumni base, donor potential, academics, etc) it was really an easy decision.

Sometimes, things happen for a reason - Nebraska has all but disappeared in the Big10, and Mizzou's profile is so much higher in the SEC than it would have been in the Big10 or ever was in the Big12. To many's surprise Mizzou has held their own in football - even over achieved. We have seen, and continue to see, many improvements in our facilities and significant high $ donations. Other programs are rising (see Softball and Gymnastics). Admittedly, basketball has been up/down - but that was happening before joining the SEC. We still have a way to go in other areas (baseball comes to mind), and championships have been elusive - but anyone that thinks we aren't able to compete in the SEC and don't belong is not paying attention - and that's ok.

You don’t extend an offer unless you are relatively certain it will be accepted. The junior membership offer was a no go unless Oklahoma, okie st and others jumped to PAC 10. No idea if landing in SEC was result of luck or strategy.

Disagree. Big 10 membership criteria has historically required AAU membership. Less than 60 or 70 universities hold that distinction. Mizzou had the qualifications and the tv markets. I believe Nebraska was an out when Mizzou realized they had other options.

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It’s the only addition from the original 10 that doesn’t have a cultural obsession with college football.

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Agree with this to an extent...

While Missouri has always had pro football (and baseball) to contend with in its state....

Don't believe for one second that if the Tigers get it going... that the state won't get behind the Tigers like they do the Chiefs or did the Cardinals/Rams back in the old days.