The SEC ventures west of the Mississippi to poach the University of Texas and Oklahoma University from the Big 12. The Big 12 was mostly the Big 1 and Eleven Others. Whatever, the SEC was already the dominant college athletic conference and adding Oklahoma, four college playoff appearances, enhanced that. Maybe Texas being in the SEC will motivate them to find a way to join the top tier in ways other than big hat talk. Credit to the Longhorns for beating Georgia in a less meaningful non-playoff bowl a few years ago. A win is a win and this Dawg fan doesn’t make excuses for his team’s losing, although it wasn’t a playoff game with high stakes, blah blah.
Most Southern Baptists live in SEC country. Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri west of the Mississippi; through Kentucky and Tennessee; down South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. There’s a slight aberration+ with no SEC teams being in North Carolina or Virginia but we already have one Vanderbilt, and NC, NC State, VA, Duke, Wake Forest, and VT aren’t SEC material.
In case you haven’t recognized it this is college football arrogance on steroids. I was born within hearing distance of the UGA stadium. It’s atmospheric for me. Deal with it.
For perspective, about all (maybe all, I didn’t check) of the athletic budgets for SEC teams are higher than the Annie Armstrong Offering, $65 million or so, and a few are larger than the Lottie Moon offering, around $165 million. There’s no head coach that is paid less than three million and several are in the $5-10 million range. Oklahoma and Texas will up the average pay. The SBC may have one million dollar employee but no one is saying. If there are any $5-10 million employees, I’m quitting Southern Baptists but I don’t think we’re anywhere near that.
I’m seeing tickets offered for several thousand apiece on a Dawg ticket forum. Not a lot of church folks give several thousand to the mission offerings. I hear Texans pay megabucks to watch mediocre football. Money to burn I suppose.
Anyway, it’s all about perspective. One soul has inestimable value. Put your money where it will work the hardest for the Kingdom. I bought a ticket to a Dawg game a few years ago for $20, on the street prior to the game. Last money I spent on football tickets. I am providentially blessed to score a free ticket or two every year. No way I’m spending thousands on season tickets.
Have a great Lord’s Day tomorrow.
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There’s wild talk about the SEC poaching Clemson, Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, etc. Heresy to venture north of the Ohio River or Mason-Dixon Line. We’ve stretched “Southeastern” a bit beyond its limit. But, regional conferences are a thing of the past.
