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Once upon a time, people questioned the SEC's additions of Missouri and Texas A&M. I read articles on how the SEC and Mike Slive were making a bad decision and how they would certainly regret it. Hold on -- let me laugh out loud for a second.
Recently, I saw the renovation and newly built Aggies locker room. You saw it, right? Man. A few years ago, when the University of Oregon unveiled their football performance center, I was practically floored. A barbershop, an NFL alumni floor (not room, a floor), and even a lobby with interactive televisions plastered all across the wall. It was remarkable. I guess when Oregon does it, you expect others to follow, and Texas A&M is certainly one of them. The thing is, the Aggies might have the advantage.
Okay, so let's start from the top. Here's a rundown of the perks of the A&M locker room:
- Personalized barber shop
- Digital nameplates on lockers (with Twitter handles)
- Televisions in the bathrooms
- State-of-the-art equipment displays
Safe to say, A&M is lucky Johnny Manziel is gone, because the parties he would've had in this thing -- but seriously, this is a top-notch addition to a top-notch program. This is the identity that Kevin Sumlin wanted to create and boy, has he done it. A&M is now the Oregon of the SEC. But that's why those thinking A&M's addition would be a detriment to the SEC are on the polar opposite end from the correct side of the spectrum.
The SEC is built on tradition; Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, for example. Texas A&M? They are the new guy on the block, trying to make a name for themselves, and this locker room certainly helps that cause. But this isn't the only thing.
If you hadn't heard, A&M is renovating and expanding Kyle Field by spending upwards of $450 million. Not too shabby, but it's what they are willing to do to become one of the best. Not to mention the fact that they've ranked in the top 15 when it comes to recruiting classes since 2012.
Facilities, players, a coach. The reasons why Texas A&M football is here to be a force in the SEC for many years to come.