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Oklahoma State Football

Statements From Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and More on the Houston Chronicle Report

July 21, 2021
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STILLWATER – With the report from the Houston Chronicle and their reporter Brent Zwerneman that both Oklahoma and Texas had approached the Southeastern Conference about joining that league. The news spread like wildfire and our sources said that there was little known among athletic department officials at Oklahoma. Our source at Texas said that Longhorns athletic director Chris Del Conte was caught off guard by the report and that the move may have been initiated at a higher level.

Either way, anytime there is a report on conference realignment people get panicked. It did not take long before the University of Oklahoma had an official response.

"The college athletics landscape is shifting constantly. We don't address every anonymous rumor."

The University of Texas had a similar response.

"Speculation always swirls around collegiate athletics," a Texas spokesman said in a statement. "We will not address rumors or speculation."

Oklahoma State actually had a longer response than the two schools rumored to be involved in it.

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Gavin Lang at Oklahoma State.

“We have heard unconfirmed reports that OU and UT approached Southeastern Conference officials about joining the SEC,” came in a statement from Gavin Lang, the director of athletic media relations at Oklahoma State. “We are gathering information and will monitor closely. If true, we would be gravely disappointed.  While we place a premium on history, loyalty and trust, be assured, we will aggressively defend and advance what is best for Oklahoma State and our strong athletic program, which continues to excel in the Big 12 and nationally.”

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Oklahoma State and Texas A&M played in the 2019 Texas Bowl.

The most emotional response came from Texas A&M University. Texas A&M left the Big 12 with the idea of getting away from longtime rival the University of Texas.

Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork said he and the school will be "diligent in our approach to protect Texas A&M."

"We want to be the only SEC program in the state of Texas," Bjork said. "There's a reason why Texas A&M left the Big 12 -- to be stand-alone, to have our own identity."

 
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