MU Chancellor Brady Deaton

University of Missouri Chancellor Brady Deaton appeared on the school’s athletic website to talk about the upcoming move to the Southeastern Conference and what the institution is doing now to prepare for July 1and future.

Some of the highlights of his interview:

To say Missouri was ready to bolt from the Big 12 is not accurate. Deaton said he and other university members traveled to Texas A & M in an attempt to sway the Aggies from not leaving for the SEC. It was only after the four schools (OU, OSU, Texas and Tech) were considering the Pac 12, that Missouri circled their wagons and concluded they needed to take a broader look at their options.

VIDEO Brady Deaton on mutigers.com (14:00)

Regarding athletics, Deaton thinks Missouri will be competitive, but they’ll need to look at improvements in stadium and operational facilities to keep pace with the SEC. They expect large crowds and with a new group of people traveling to the state, Deaton sees a positive impact on the state in terms of economic growth.

Deaton says fans can help by giving their support with strong showings at athletic events and he’s calling on donors to continue with their financial support.

AUDIO Brady Deaton why the SEC is a good fit (1:30)