BATON ROUGE, La. -- It looks like bigger does mean
better in the competitive Southeastern Conference - not just in terms of
television ratings, but on the field as well.
When
Texas A&M and Missouri began SEC play a season ago, few doubted
the addition of the two schools would bring more television viewers to
the league's games from Texas and Midwest. Still, there were questions
about whether adding a pair of Big 12 teams would dilute the quality on
the field in the mighty SEC, winner of seven straight football national
titles.
Apparently not.
Just last
weekend, the Aggies and their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Johnny
Manziel, pulled out a thriller at Mississippi, while unbeaten Missouri
did what No. 6 LSU could not: upended Georgia in Athens. Halfway through
the 2013 season, the Aggies and the newest Tigers to join the SEC have
one loss between them: A&M's one-score loss to No. 1 and
two-time defending national champion Alabama.
"It
made our league better," Alabama coach Nick Saban said when asked about
the results of expansion on the field.
Some of those
who represent the SEC's traditional powers have been a bit surprised by
the quick ascension of the newcomers in the league
standings.
"I'm shocked, but then again, I'm not,"
Tennessee running back Rajion Neal said. "Those have been some pretty
good teams. I can remember times where Texas A&M were making
their strides and I can remember Missouri was in the top
10."
Others saw it coming.
"It
doesn't shock me at all," said Florida coach Will Muschamp, who was
familiar with both former Big 12 programs from his time as a defensive
coordinator at Texas.
South Carolina's Steve Spurrier
said he always thought Missouri and Texas A&M had "outstanding
traditions at their places."
Spurrier said he had no
doubt Missouri now has its "sights on playing for the championship in
Atlanta," and that the Aggies' Manziel is "the toast of the
league."
Added LSU coach Les Miles: "Both Texas
A&M and Missouri are much improved from when I was in the Big 12
at Oklahoma State."
The promise of greater TV
ratings seems to be playing out as predicted. A few weeks ago, CBS
announced its broadcast of No. 1 Alabama at then-No. 6 Texas A&M
earned the highest ratings for a CBS regular season college football
game in 23 years.
Next year, the conference launches
the SEC Network, which is expected to be picked up by cable providers in
every team's market - meaning millions more viewers which the network
might not have had if not for expansion into the states of Texas and
Missouri.
Expansion did not come without some
logistical concerns. Saban said he's still concerned about how
scheduling will work out. Vanderbilt Athletic Director David Williams
said the new travel itineraries will take some getting used to for the
teams and fans.
"There's always things that you sort
of have to get over the hump and you know adding two more teams, there
were a lot of logistic problems," Williams said. "But all of the other
stuff is great. Two outstanding universities. They've brought a lot of
excitement, a lot of fans to the SEC, good teams. So yeah, I think the
expansion has worked real well."
If travel has become
more onerous for fans, it hasn't really shown up in terms of
attendance. If anything, Manziel's star power has provided an attendance
boost in every stadium the Aggies have visited.
In
2011, the last season before expansion, SEC stadiums were at 95.8
percent capacity. In 2012, that figure rose to 97.4. So far this season,
it's at 98.7.
Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze has been
dealt a pair of home losses by A&M, falling victim to
remarkable performances by Manziel in both. He hasn't faced Missouri
yet, but will host Gary Pinkel's Tigers on Nov.
23.
"Competition-wise, they both have added something
to our conference," Freeze said. "It gives us another market and
expands the financial benefits that we all reap.
"The
only negative I have is that you just don't get to see the other half
of the league enough," Freeze added. "I haven't seen any negative other
than that and that's just a personal negative. Probably everyone doesn't
share that opinion."
