SEC: ‘No action taken’ on A&M, will stay at 12 schools for now

By John TaylorAug 14, 2011, 4:13 PM EDT

At least for now, it appears the heavily rumored move by Texas A&M to the SEC will not happen. Again, at least for now.

Following a special meeting/teleconference of the conference’s chancellors and presidents — all but one of those officials took part in the meeting — called for Sunday to discussion the addition of A&M as the 13th member, the SEC has released a statement that, in essence, slams the brakes on the Aggies-to-the-SEC speculation that’s been rampant for the past five days. In the statement from Florida’s Bernie Machen, Chair of the SEC Presidents and Chancellors, the conference indicated it will not add any school or schools as their 13th or 14th members.

The door was, though, left open for future expansion that would potentially include the school in College Station.

“The SEC Presidents and Chancellors met today and reaffirmed our satisfaction with the present 12 institutional alignment. We recognize, however, that future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league. We discussed criteria and process associated with expansion. No action was taken with respect to any institution including Texas A&M.”

So, where does this leave A&M? For the here and now, it would appear the school will be forced to tuck tail and return to the Big 12 for the foreseeable future.

It’s unclear if a Board of Regents meeting, with one agenda item being “Authorization for the President to Take All Actions Relating to Texas A&M University’s Athletic Conference Alignment”, scheduled for Monday will go forward as planned. Additionally, the Higher Education Committee of the Texas House of Representatives has a hearing scheduled for Tuesday to discuss A&M’s future conference affiliation. As is the case with the Monday meeting, it’s unclear if this one will go off as scheduled as well.

Our semi-educated guess as to this somewhat surprising development is that the SEC is waiting to pull the trigger on adding A&M until they have a 14th school locked down. Additionally, there could be some legal issues with A&M breaking away from the Big 12 that has caused the SEC to pull back the reins on any move to expand.

A&M is expected to release a statement at some point Sunday addressing the news coming out of the SEC.

UPDATED 5:31 p.m. ET: Here’s a mini-update from Brent Zwerneman of the San Antonio Express-News, with word that the Board of Regents meeting scheduled for Monday is still expected to take place.

My understanding is this is simply part of the (convoluted) legal process of A&M bolting the Big 12 for the SEC – that it must be documented that A&M courted the SEC, not vice versa, to avoid potential lawsuits. The A&M regents are still expected to hold a teleconference on Monday to discuss “conference alignment.”

Vick, Fitzgerald and Suggs among stars on College Football Hall of Fame ballot for 1st time

Associated PressJun 5, 2023, 9:04 PM EDT

RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Vick, Larry Fitzgerald and Terrell Suggs are among the college football stars who will be considered for induction to the Hall of Fame for the first time this year.

The National Football Foundation released Monday a list of 78 players and nine coaches from major college football who are on the Hall of Fame ballot. There also are 101 players and 32 coaches from lower divisions of college football up for consideration.

Vick, who led Virginia Tech to the BCS championship game against Florida State as a redshirt freshman in 1999, is among the most notable players appearing on the ballot in his first year of eligibility.

Vick finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1999. He played one season of college football before being drafted No. 1 overall by the Atlanta Falcons in 2001. Vick’s professional career was interrupted when he served 21 months in prison for his involvement in dog fighting.

Fitzgerald was the Heisman runner-up in 2003 to Oklahoma quarterback Jason White. He scored 34 touchdowns in just two seasons at Pitt.

Suggs led the nation in sacks with 24 in 2002 for Arizona State.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be chosen by the National Football Foundation’s Honors Court and announced in January. Induction into the Atlanta-based hall is the following December.

Alabama freshman DB Mitchell says he wasn’t sure he’d get to play again after arrest

Associated PressJun 5, 2023, 8:59 PM EDT

Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama defensive back Tony Mitchell said he feared his football career was over after his arrest on a drug charge.

The Crimson Tide freshman said in a video posted Sunday on social media that he knew “something much bigger could have happened.”

A judge in Holmes County, Florida, sentenced Mitchell to three years of probation with a fine and community service on May 24 after Mitchell pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of more than 20 grams of cannabis.

“I didn’t know if I’d be able to play football again, but I continued to work out and stay close with the Lord and those who love me unconditionally,” Mitchell said. “During those times, it helped me to keep my mind off it. But when I was by myself looking at social media, what everybody had to say about it, it just felt like it happened again.

“I didn’t sleep at night.”

He was suspended from the Alabama team following the arrest, but Mitchell’s father, Tony Sr., posted on Facebook last week that the defensive back had been reinstated. An Alabama spokesman declined to comment on Mitchell’s status.

Tony Mitchell Sr. shared his son’s video on Facebook, saying it was filmed during a talk to youth.

“I was doing things I knew I shouldn’t to try to fit in,” the younger Mitchell said, “but not everybody’s your friend.”

Mitchell, who is from Alabaster, Alabama, was a four-star prospect and the 15th-rated safety in the 247Composite rankings.

He had been charged in March with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell after a traffic stop when authorities said he drove over 141 mph (227 kph) while trying to evade deputies in the Florida Panhandle. A deputy had spotted Mitchell’s black Dodge Challenger traveling 78 mph (125 kph) in a 55 mph (88 kph) zone on a rural highway north of Bonifay.

He also received 100 hours of community service and paid a fine of $1,560.

Mitchell and a passenger were both charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to sell or deliver, according to a Holmes County Sheriff’s Office arrest report. The other man also was charged with carrying a concealed gun without a permit.