The best quotes from the SEC Celebration event in Texas

Commissioner Greg Sankey welcomed Texas to the Southeastern Conference in front of more than 30,000 fans during the lavish SEC Celebration at the campus’ south mall Sunday evening.

Here are some notable quotes from the event:

Sankey on how Texas and Oklahoma will fit in the SEC: “I think it’s a match. Today’s turnout is a good indication of that.”

Texas athletics director Chris Del Conte on joining the SEC: “I am really proud of our student-athletes and our coaches. We live where our feet are. We decided not to post ‘SEC’ anywhere until today. We are going to celebrate today and turn the page tomorrow and get to work.”

President Jay Hartzell on the SEC: “We will revive old rivalries and start new ones. And we don’t just come to compete. We come to win.”

Soccer coach Steve Sarkisian on reaching a national semifinal: “That’s the challenge, that level of consistency that’s needed. Not just having to play a game or two. It’s about playing a brand and a style of football consistently and that starts in the off-season.”

Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife: “We believe the SEC is where we belong. We respect the schools in the SEC and we are excited to compete against them.”

Men’s basketball coach Rodney Terry on the SEC’s style of play: “The Big 12 has always been a physical league. You go into the SEC and play Tennessee the last two years, Rick Barnes’ teams are always going to be physical, but there are going to be other programs that are physical and have the same mentality.”

Women’s basketball coach Vic Schaefer on what SEC opponents can expect against Texas: “If you come to Austin and play one of our teams, you’re going to get a dose. You better be prepared. We have elite coaches and elite student-athletes and our leadership is off the map.”

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum on Texas and Oklahoma joining the league: “It’s the biggest moment in SEC history.”

Baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle on the reaction of Texas A&M fans to his departure for Texas: “I had an idea it would be nuclear, but I didn’t know it would be apocalyptic.”

Volleyball coach Jerritt Elliott on his SEC mentality: “Our biggest priority is to get out there and do some damage early. It’s the best conference in the country. The last three out of four years, the national championship has come out of the SEC with Texas and Kentucky. We’re excited to bring our brand and add to it.”

Three-time NCAA champion rowing coach Dave O’Neill joins the SEC and adds the sport: “For SEC fans, you now have the best rowing conference in the country. We won the national championship and Tennessee finished third.”

Softball coach Mike White on the 2025 season: “We have a lot of people coming back. We lost four players, but we have some good players coming back. I like the depth of our program right now. We have a really good coaching staff that’s doing great things.”

Former Texas football/track player Marquise Goodwin on the new league: “Coming from the Big 12, where we competed against a lot of teams, I think the level of competition in the SEC speaks for itself. Coming into that conference gives these guys a chance to be drafted higher, play against better talent and be seen on TV in bigger games.”

Former Texas football/track star Jamaal Charles on the SEC football schedule: “It’s crazy because every game is like the NFL. It’s a dog fight every week. Every match is one you want to go to.”

Football coach Angela Kelly on her recipe for winning in the SEC: “Pursuing the best talent in the country and figuring out every day how to let the best talent in the country excel and take them to the highest level in their career. That is a mission for me every day.”

Beach volleyball coach Stein Metzger on why he took the job: “I really love that they are about people. It’s about bringing everyone together and winning championships. It’s just a special place. To see this Longhorn nation come out, there’s no place like it.

Tennis coach Howard Joffe on joining the SEC: ““Competitively, it’s a great marriage to have the best athletic program in the conference three out of the last four years. As a competitive person and as a coach, it’s challenging and very exciting.”

Texas ex/free agent cornerback Quandre Diggs on Texas vs. Texas A&M football: “Wherever I end up, I hope we have a bye week that week so I can get back to the game. It’s getting crazy.”

Men’s golf coach John Fields about the new competition: “I feel like the strength of the SEC right now is so dominant, with Auburn winning the national championship, Georgia is always outstanding. Alabama. Vanderbilt. There are so many great coaches, players and programs in the SEC.”

Golf coach Laura Ianello on why she took the job: “This is such a great opportunity. University of Texas women’s golf has never won a national championship. Coming here motivates me to do great things, to make a great effort and hopefully help these women find a new destiny and start their own legacy.”

Women’s swimming/diving coach Carol Capitani on the SEC move: “We’ve been waiting a long time for this. The Big 12 has been great. It’s been great to win championships. We’re ready to move on. It’s a lot more competitive. It’s fun. We get to race against the best people in the country. “

Men’s diving coach Matt Scoggin on what he tells recruits about the NCAA vs. the Olympics: “I tell them the NCAAs are a great stepping stone because you’re not just diving for yourself, but for a team. It prepares you for the Olympics.”

Texas volleyball legend Logan Eggleston on the two newest members of the SEC: “Bringing in two powerhouses like Texas and Oklahoma will just take the SEC to a whole different level.”

Texas decathlete and two-time NCAA champion Leo Neugebauer on his fondest memories of Texas: “Winning all these championships was of course exciting, but being at training with all my great teammates and coaches is just incredible.”

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The best quotes from the SEC Celebration event in Texas

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