If being fervent for college football in April is a requirement for Southeastern Conference membership, then Missouri and Texas A&M should fit in just fine.
Missouri opens its 2012 season at home against Southeastern Louisiana, but it’s a date the following week against visiting Georgia that has the program ablaze. Tigers coach Gary Pinkel was asked Tuesday about the Sept. 8 matchup against the reigning SEC East champion and quickly made clear it would not be any other game.
“It will be mammoth here,” Pinkel said. “Our fans are so excited about being a part of the SEC, and that being the first [league] game is going to be a big, big game here. People are talking about it already, and rarely do they ever do that.”
Texas A&M opens at Louisiana Tech before delving into league play with a home date against Florida.
“There is a big buzz here about our game against Florida,” first-year Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin said. “That’s down the road for us as a football team, but everywhere I go, there is nothing but excitement and anticipation.”