Junction

Funny, naysayers say we won't continually get these recruits because we can't win, but logic would say if you get top recruits you win, conundrum...

I think it gives the programs more to sell in getting the unofficial and official visits, which is the key.

College coaches are looking for any thing they can to enhance the chances, get the kids on campus, etc...

That would be the benefit for SEC programs IMO. I'm talking the programs that already put money/budget into recruiting the state, but have a tougher time getting the kids to campus. They now have a little more to try and sell.

The Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State types.

You can take what I said and blow it out of proportion too though, fine by me. Just know that what you are blowing out of proportion is not what I meant or said.

I think a lot of it is unknown. I don't think it's a lock Texas A&M gets a big beneficial kick from the move, just like I don't think it's a lock SEC middle of the road programs do either.

What I do think is that it gives programs a better chance to get kids on campus, which is the first key part of the recruiting to sign possibilities.

Closing the deals, have to win games and the key games. That has and never will change.

Gerry, We all know that you know what you are talking about but there are two example smacking us in the face to why we believe what we believe... Santos and McNeil. They chose SEC to play in the SEC. Santos loves A&M but loves SEC more (and possibly the same can be said for McNeill - I quite frankly do not know). Those kids could be a lock for us and thus RECRUITING BUMP!
Just like JohnnyAG said... Better recruting wins games, games wins recruting. What is it, the chicken or the egg? It was just released that A&M has the #6 recruting class in the nation right now thus that should count has wins in the future but we wont know until the future comes. But after one good season - look at what the Ags can put together. This is our future and we are not backing down from it, we are excited about it.

This is why we love you over here Gerry. Your responses are always intelligent and thought out and for that I must say... Thank you. I do not mind the Horn posts if they come across with thought like yours. And yes, we can admit that Santos (and even some others) were hoping for TU offers that never came. But like Kipp said above me, if you can't beat them at their game - change the game. With the SEC we will finally have something different. Is it worth it? I believe so and only time will tell if I am right.

I think Taylor mentioned some time ago that he thought McNeil was seriously looking OOS.

I agree with 1939 all the way. I posted awhile back that something smelled fishy with santos because his decision made no rational sense and was chided by some it wasn't the case. Now McNeil pulls Tn completely out of his ass, where every recruiting service was saying he was totally high on US, okie lite or TCU...no coincidence here..

But then again if something was going on under the table there ain't nobody who gives a shit anymore, especially the joke ncaa compliance committee. They see what they want to see and turn a blind eye to everything else that is dirty. I mean everybody is doing it so why the **** not? That kinda explains the situation at miami right now. You cant tell me that no one that had the authority to do something about that shit had absolutely no idea what was going down. As long as Donna Shalayla kept getting that check every thing was just okie dokie. Give me a break..

So if Santos and McNeil are getting that paycheck then good luck for them and i would not be surprised if the ncaa came back and said that MU was a victim of an out of control booster.

Well??...So what....

First question for AB, was this the big 'how A&M recruiting will be affected by going to the SEC' article you were promoting a little while back? I was expecting more insight from actual recruits I guess, not that this is a bad article but just not the expecation I was thinking

Second, I find it funny how A&M joining the SEC suddenly 'opens the doors' for SEC programs to come into Texas to recruit. I get what Gerry is saying with the possiblitity of getting some official visits but in todays recruiting game 90% of your class is filled up before those even happen.
I'm not saying A&M is going to beat texas out for every head to head battle but this won't hurt by any means. Isn't there some stated fact that over 80% of kids stay within a certain mile radius of home (say 200 miles)? Well if we snare our regular top 20 class that we have been getting but also land those 2 or 3 kids that we can sway with the SEC sell that puts us up into the top 10 range where we can compete.

We have to remember, we are recruiting locally in TEXAS. We aren't recruiting locally in Arkansas, or Kentucky or Tennessee. We are recruiting arguably the most fertile state for High School football recruits.
Swaying those 2 or 3 high caliber kids can put 8 to 12 more playmakers on your team that we normally wouldn't have had staying in the Big 12 (they would have gone out of state or taken the texas offer immediately).

Von, no, it's not, but with the timeline on the SEC pushed back we're also pushing back the timeline for that article. There's no reason to call recruits about something that isn't official yet.

Well Gerry, this is just my opinion, and I will openly admit I am the furthest thing from being "recruit" knowledgeable... I look at all the SEC schools and see them consistently in the Top 25 (not all but most) in recruiting even when they have a down year so I expect that year in and year out. But I think A&M has the will and the ability to be in the Top 10 every year which over time will produce dividends on the field to build consistent success in the SEC.
Thanks again Gerry for being in this love/hate relationship with us, your type makes it all worth it.