As luck would have it, University of Florida president Bernie Machen and Texas A&M President R. Bowen Loftin would always sit together at meetings of the Association of American Universities, which includes 61 of the leading public and private research universities in the U.S. and Canada.
Machen was a good sounding board as Loftin debated which conference would be best-suited for Texas A&M academically, culturally and athletically in what he called a "100-year-decision." Florida, in addition to its lofty academic status, is one the nation's top all-around athletic programs and has finished in the Top 10 of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup, which was formerly the Sears Cup, every year of the award's 18-year existence.
A beaming Machen, chairman of the Southeastern Conference presidents and chancellors, welcomed Loftin and the Aggies into the SEC on Monday evening at the Zone Club on the Texas A&M campus. A&M, which becomes the league's 13th member, has been the top all-around athletic program in the Big 12 Conference the past two years.
"I've been looking forward to this day for some time," Machen said. "Bowen [Loftin] and I have been in communication literally every day for the last several months. We've all been pointing toward this day. We really do think this is a perfect match for our conference."
Texas A&M will replace Florida as the conference's largest school. A&M's enrollment is 50,054. Florida's is 49,679. The Aggies also are a threat to Florida in the Directors' Cup. The Aggies were eighth last year, four spots behind Florida.
"We will be competing fiercely with you for all the championships that are out there," Machen said. "But I can tell you, I can't wait to come to Kyle Field and see what goes on there on a football Saturday."
Machen got a couple of standing ovations and several "Whoops" from the festive crowd for what was called "It's a time to celebrate." A new SEC logo was on display that had A&M at the top of the circle. A&M had several of its national championship trophies on display with maroon and white balloons for what resembled a Friday afternoon pep rally for a high school football team. The festivities started with a video of A&M athletic highlights, which only fired up the crowd more.
"I have a question," A&M director of athletics Bill Byrne said. "Are you ready for the SEC?"
The crowd was deafening in answering, "Hell, yes."
Loftin said it probably wasn't as monumental as when women started attending A&M when he was a student in the 1960s, but "it's close."
The Aggie Band played with Reveille alongside, and the yell leaders ended the fans' involvement with the Aggie War Hymn as Byrne and Loftin swayed with the wide-eyed Machen and SEC commissioner Mike Slive.
Slive, who made a run at Texas A&M last year when the Big 12 almost dissolved, said the passion and spirit of the school are what impressed him most.
"Over the last month. I have watched your game and enjoyed the passion that surrounds you," he said. "The 12th Man, the Corps, Muster, the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, yell practice, the yell leaders and a packed stadium of maroon-clad fans."
Slive said the Aggies' love for athletics will fit in nicely with the tradition-rich SEC, which also happens to be the best conference in the country, having won the past five BCS Football Championships.
Slive had a little fun, mentioning that A&M played an SEC team in the Cotton Bowl last year, losing to LSU. "I'm not going to mention the score," he said.
The SEC also last year had six of the nation's Top 10 leaders in home attendance -- No. 4 Alabama (101,821), No. 6 Tennessee (99.781), No. 7 Georgia (92,781), No. 8 LSU (92,718), No. 9 Florida (90,511) and No. 10 Auburn (86,087). The Aggies were 13th at 82,477.
"The Southeastern Conference is a conference of championships," Slive said. "We take great pride in our athletics, academics and culture."
Loftin said the SEC was the best choice to give A&M and its student-athletes the best possible national visibility. He said too many great facts about the Aggies have gone unnoticed, but no more.
"Now, we have a venue," he said. "The SEC will be our national stage every day, every month, every year, giving extra value to our former students. The brand of Texas A&M is made by you, and it will be seen every day."
A&M, which will play future SEC rival Arkansas in a non-conference game Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, won't start play in the SEC until the 2012-13 season.
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