Perry, a former yell leader at A&M, did not specify to The Dallas Morning News reporters if the conversations were being held internally at the school or with SEC officials.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive could not be reached for comment.
Texas A&M, in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, did not deny its interest in a possible move: “President (Bowen) Loftin is committed to doing what is best for Texas A&M, not only now, but also into the future,” the statement read. “We continue to have wide-ranging conversations regarding all aspects of the university, including both academics and athletics.”
The Big 12 nearly split apart last summer after Colorado and Nebraska decided to leave the conference for the Pacific-10 and Big Ten, respectively, and the Pac-10 targeted several other Big 12 schools for possible inclusion in what it hoped would be a 16-team league.
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However, Texas scuttled the Pac-10 prospects after Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe convinced Longhorns officials and administrators from other schools that his league could be stable and financially viable with the 10 schools that remained.
In the intervening 14 months, however, concern has risen at A&M and other Big 12 schools about the new Longhorn Network. Texas, in a deal with ESPN, will be able broadcast its own athletics events, something other schools fear could have an adverse impact on the conference by giving the Longhorns a competitive advantage.
Texas had also planned to broadcast some high school games on the network, although a one-year moratorium on such broadcasts was agreed to last week after concerns were raised about possible recruiting advantages from the arrangement.
If the Aggies were to join the SEC, that league would have 13 schools, meaning it likely would look to add at least one more for balance between its two divisions. Futher additions could again shake up the conference landscape and leave the Big 12 with a cloudy future.
