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Respectfully,

I am not an Aggie, I am an Alabama graduate, Class of 1966. Proud of being an Alabama graduate.

As to answering to an ill mannered and outright disrespectful individual as yourself, some background. I have worked in actuarial analyticals for major Universities and major conferences for over four decades. I worked with Bear while at Alabama and came to know Bear, Gene Stallings and a cursory knowledge of Texas A&M.

I have worked with the likes of John McKay, Tommy Prothro, Tom Osborne,Frank Broyles, Charlie McLendon,Grant Teaff, Joe Paterno, Hayden Fry, Jimmie Johnson, David McWilliams, Pat Hayden,and countless University CFO's and conference commissioners.

As to the individual whom I respect, I have not asked nor will I ask, their permission to divulge who they are. It is known as manners. As to why I am on this blog, opining on issues on Texas A&M, I was asked to conduct due diligence on Texas A&M by the SEC office and then commissioner Slive on school background. Spent better part of six months conducting formal and informal analysis on Texas A&M University as a prospective member for the SEC.

Came to respect and love Texas A&M for what they are.

I guess an individual like yourself is from an ill mannered generation that has such closed minded and myopic views that people from the outside looking in(using Texas A&M's own words, not mine.) could actually understand, respect, and become advocates for your University. You are now the second individual to be outright rude and condescending to me personally, and I guess the legend of Texas A&M being warm and hospitalable is a myth.

To be brutally honest, I am dying and this blog, along with the Bama blogs, provide a respite for me to take my mind off the pain and to keep my mind active and engaged. Life is way too short to let simple minds like yours ruin what time I have left.

Roll Tide

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Hood said:

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How cool is it that one of the people responsible for effectively vetting us for the SEC fell head over heels for us and then gave us the pleasure of his knowledge, wit, courtesy and insight.

So awesome.

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Very interesting. I'd love to hear more about what exactly something like this entails, what you found, what a study like this looks like, etc. And more importantly, i hope and pray for your healing and comfort, and that God bring you peace and joy if this really is the end of this part of your journey. Really sorry to hear that.

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Flex,

Deeply appreciate the thoughtful words. The due diligence is property of the SEC. I can say that the turmoil of the Big 12 opened a door that to this day we cannot believe was opened for the SEC. Texas A&M metrics and analytical results blew away University presidents as to academics,culture,facilities, name brand,social environment,financials and academic trending. Nothing about athletics. When athletics were added at a later date, we could not suppress the excitement that we could actually add Texas A&M to the conference given the pedigree, location and over all match Texas A&M would bring. We kept saying,"please Texas, keep screwing up!"

During SEC media days in Birmingham, When the call came from Dr. Loftin to commissioner Slive, we were beyond cautiously optimistic, we could not believe the bird nest on the ground delivered to us by Texas. The rest is history.

When you see my sign off, "We have the correct Texas school", it is a direct reflection of what Texas A&M actually is to the SEC, and a monument to just how stupid Texas was in allowing a crown jewel like Texas A&M to be driven off. Their loss is our gain.

Roll Tide

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