The SEC held a welcoming party for Texas A&M and Mizzou to officially welcome them to the SEC this past Wednesday in Atlanta. It seems as if not only the programs, but the team’s fans are excited to start the season with some new competition. ESPN talked to a couple of fans who attended the welcoming party to get their thoughts which you can read here.

The party was attended by both football coaches, the Texas A&M president, R. Bowen Loftin, and Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton.

Missouri’s football coach, Gary Pinkel understands how competitive the SEC is and wants to earn respect…

“People ask me about the SEC. I just say they have a lot of great teams,” Pinkel said. “It’s like the NFL, you have to play your best every week and be able to finish games if you want to win. I think no one could argue, no coach in America could argue that.

“I understand everyone is going to want to watch how A&M and Missouri do, coming from the Big 12 into this league. My big thing, when you’re new like we are, you’ve got to earn respect. That’s what we’re going to try to do.”