Whole lot of nothin’

Jere Morehead’s Q&A with Seth Emerson ($$) is a tour de force of deflection.  A sample:

I think people understand that when Texas and Oklahoma come to you it’s too compelling to not discuss. But to people who worry that it’s becoming too big, that college sports are going to super leagues, that you’re losing intimacy and regionality that makes college sports and college football special, do you share any of those concerns?

Well, change is never easy. But these were the same arguments made a decade ago when Texas A&M and Missouri joined the Southeastern Conference, and I think they’ve been very strong and capable members. So I think we have to adapt to a changing landscape, and really just always keep at the forefront that our focus is on our student-athletes, and on what’s best for our young people in the decades ahead.

Yes, this was all about doing it for the kids.  Isn’t it always?

If we’re to believe Morehead, the SEC presidents haven’t discussed conference consolidation, yet it’s “transformative”.  They haven’t discussed scheduling.  Nor have they discussed a particular time frame for when the new schools will actually participate in conference play.  The CFP never came up in discussion.  As a bonus, he has no strong opinion on Georgia’s current conference rivalries.

Honestly, I give Seth some credit here.  I would have given up half way through.  Instead he managed to finish on this high note:

Is there anything else on this that you want to add?

I would just emphasize that (Texas and Oklahoma) are two great institutions, great athletic programs, a lot of tradition, culture and success. And we think they align very well with the current members of the Southeastern Conference.

The whole thing is truly five minutes of my life I’ll never get back.  Thanks, Jere.

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