Paul Finebaum saw a 'genuine enthusiasm' from Texas, Oklahoma to be in the SEC

The SEC Spring Meetings had two new invites to the party this summer in Texas and Oklahoma. Those additions were welcome ones for everyone down in Destin last week according to Paul Finebaum.

Finebaum discussed welcoming the Longhorns and Sooners to the event during an appearance on ‘McElroy and Cubelic In The Morning’ on Monday. He said that those present from both programs brought a new energy about being part of the conference and showed it in ways that their colleagues responded well too.

“I just detected a genuine enthusiasm from both sides,” Finebaum said. “I mean I would be walking through the lobby and the OU basketball coach would come up and say hello. Or somebody on the Texas side.”

“We look at these two schools as giants and, quite frankly, they are. But they are really excited to be part of the SEC,” said Finebaum. “I think everyone else was too.”

That included the eagerness of both new athletic directors in Texas’ Chris Del Conte and Oklahoma’s Joe Castiglione. Each of them, although rivals in athletics, arrived with a positivity and shared it over their time in Florida.

“I think the thing that you referred to a minute ago with Castiglione and Del Conte? Some people knew this but, I mean, these guys are literally best friends. They’re with the two most bitter rivals and the two biggest schools in the old Big 12,” Finebaum explained.

“As opposed to the cavalcade of ADs who are trying to protect an embattled coach? Or not trip over something in relation to the NCAA v. House? Del Conte just had fun with it,” said Finebaum. “I mean he knew what he was doing and he knew where he was when he said what he did, especially about the Florida–Georgia game and The Iron Bowl. He didn’t care and, as you saw in the video, Castiglione was like the groom laughing at his brother-in-law’s incomprehensible toast at the rehearsal dinner.”

Texas and Oklahoma are both joining this new conference together after a process that has taken a few years. The Longhorns will be moving leagues for the first time since 1996 when they went from the Southwest to the Big 12. The Sooners’ move goes further back with them leaving what has been the Big 12 since joining back in 1928.

Their additions are massive moves both for them as athletic powerhouses and for the Southeastern Conference. That, along with their first impressions last week in Destin, is why each should be so good for the function that is their new league starting now and into their upcoming debut years.

“I thought it was just a breath of fresh air,” said Finebaum.