The SEC has an "informal offer on the table" for Univ. of Missouri to join the conference, according to Mike DeArmond of the K.C. STAR. DeArmond notes SEC officials are "willing to wait for an answer from Missouri until the future of the Big 12 is decided, but that future looks much better without the Pac-12 as an option for Oklahoma and Texas to join." The Univ. of Missouri system's Board of Curators will hold a meeting tomorrow morning "that is expected to include a closed-door executive session." MU Chancellor Brady Deaton has "gone on the record numerous times saying that, as chairman of the Big 12's board of directors, he is working on keeping the Big 12 together." DeArmond reports considering the "threat of legal action Baylor has raised against Texas A&M and the SEC, Missouri and SEC officials would likely prefer to keep any offer to MU under wraps until the Big 12 situation works itself out" (K.C. STAR, 9/21). Sources said that a majority of SEC presidents "has endorsed the informal agreement," and Auburn "will move to the SEC East Division" with the addition of MU. The SEC last night issued a statement that said, "The Southeastern Conference has not agreed formally or informally to accept any institution other than Texas A&M and there have not been conference discussions regarding changes in divisional alignment" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 9/21). An MU source said there is a "very real possibility" the school could land in the SEC if the Big 12 continues to lose members. But another MU source said the report of an actual offer from the SEC was "premature and not entirely accurate" (COLUMBIA DAILY TRIBUNE, 9/21).
REPEAT ROBBERY? In N.Y., Pete Thamel notes it is "widely understood that Missouri would be the SEC's preference as its 14th member, but the SEC is also not interested in appearing to further bludgeon the Big 12" following the pending addition of A&M. The Board of Curators meeting tomorrow is "not expected to reach a decision about moving to the SEC" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/21). In St. Louis, Vahe Gregorian writes, "Lest it be accused of torpedoing the Big 12 or expose itself to further legal entanglements a la the Baylor-led movement regarding Texas A&M and the SEC, the SEC almost certainly wouldn't beckon Mizzou unless the Big 12 disintegrates beyond recognition" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 9/21).
COOLER HEADS CAN PREVAIL: In Birmingham, Kevin Scarbinsky asks, "The Southeastern Conference is going to expand its footprint, alter its landscape and enhance its future by adding Missouri?" Scarbinsky suggests that SEC Commissioner Mike Slive, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany, Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe, Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, ACC Commissioner John Swofford and Big East Commissioner John Marinatto should be locked "in a room together until the commissioners come to their senses and call the whole thing off." Scarbinsky: "When is someone in a position to understand the potential fallout and do something about it going to wake up and ask everyone to walk away from the nuclear football whose button they're about to push?" (BIRMINGHAM NEWS, 9/21).
