SEC Coaches Playing Nice

If the media was hoping for some fuel to get offseason fires going, it certainly hasn't come from the coaches. That's especially true when asked about their newest conference mates, Missouri and Texas A&M. 

Auburn's Gene Chizik is among the coaches with positive things to say about A&M early on.

"What we all tell our players is the best league just got better," said Kentucky's Joker Phillips. "Two quality institutions in Texas A&M and Missouri coming into our league. (...) Two quality football programs that both have great coaches with Coach Sumlin and Gary (Pinkel.) Those guys do an unbelievable job. Somebody asked me, 'what advice would I give them?' I don't need to give them advice, they understand how to compete at a high level."

Even Will Muschamp, who famously criticized the city of College Station earlier this summer gushed about the Aggies and Tigers.

"(Missouri) are very different offensively as Texas A&M is from what we see in our league and there will be an adjustment on both sides in my opinion," said Muschamp. "You look at what Kevin (Sumlin) and Kliff (Kingsbury) did at Houston, they put up video game numbers as far as the offense is concerned. They go a great job of spreading the field in a little different manner. They give you the illusion that it's a throw offense. Their tempo to the line of scrimmage, getting the ball snapped, they took 106 snaps in the spring game."

"Kevin did a group job at Houston, now moving to Texas A&M, I don't see anything different. They'll be able to recruit well, great recruiting base in College Station."

Muschamp isn't the only SEC coach with experience in the Big 12 though, Auburn's Gene Chizik spent time at Texas and Iowa State. And, like everyone else, said the Aggies and Tigers may not be getting enough respect coming in.

"I'll tell you what, I don't think a lot of people are giving Texas A&M and Missouri the credit they deserve," said Chizik. "I will say that standing up because for four years I played in that league. Gary Pinkel is one of the best football coaches in the country. If you look at what he did in turning Missouri around, the point he's got them to, you know. I hear a lot of things. Missouri and Texas A&M aren't coming into the SEC with their hat in hand saying 'Thank you for letting me be here." 

The media throughout the week has, at times, hinted that the Big 12 may have been an inferior league. At other times they've said it outright. However, Chizik said that's 'insane'.

"To think that Missouri and Texas A&M are going to come in here and all of a sudden they're going to have their eyes open to football, that's insane," he said. "These are two dang good football teams with dang good football coaches."

Even Les Miles, who's known for saying whatever crosses his mind at the moment, didn't have anything negative to say about the Aggies.

"I think the Aggies bring a very, very capable team," he said. "Very lucrative recruiting area. They bring the experience of a real quality conference. I think they'll step in and be able to compete on a very even basis very quickly. I think we look forward to them, I think it really makes the conference stronger."

In every room, with every coach, all week long, it's been the same tune. The fraternity of SEC coaches have welcomed the Aggies and Tigers with open arms and wished them well in their debut seasons.

For now.