BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Changing conferences means countless and predictable consequences. Rivalries are lost and stability is gained; budgets are changed and TV contracts become shaped.

But it's the minutiae, like Texas A&M changing so many signs on campus before joining the SEC in three months, that Athletics Director Bill Byrne didn't quite realize until now.

"You wouldn't believe how many Big 12 logos we have up around this campus because we were one of the original members," Byrne said.

If there's a tinge of regret in Byrne's voice, it's because he felt invested in the Big 12. "I regret that it is coming to an end," he said. "On the other hand, looking at what's going on nationally, I think it was a brilliant move to go to the Southeastern Conference, which screams stability. No one is trying to get out of the Southeastern Conference. That's not true of the current conference we're in."

Jon Solomon is a columnist for The Birmingham News. Join him for live web chats on college sports on Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

The Longhorn Network, the 20-year, $300 million partnership between Texas and ESPN, became the final straw for Texas A&M. Byrne said he was happy to deal with the Longhorn Network if it carried only one football game, but that changed once the channel added more and wanted to air high school games.

Several years ago, Texas and Texas A&M discussed creating a cable network together. Byrne said he couldn't commit until he examined the expenses because Texas' budget dwarfs A&M's.

"Once we did that, we said we'd be interested but they said it was too late," he said. "There's a rumor that I turned down $300 million. If anybody knows me, I wouldn't turn down $300 million."

The Longhorn Network has struggled to gain distribution by large-scale cable carriers or satellite companies. Byrne predicts the network won't work.

"I think there's too many other kinds of markets in Texas," he said. "Comcast signed off (to distribute) every single ESPN product except the Longhorn Network. That says something. I think it takes more than one football game to drive a network."

Speaking of networks, Byrne believes models exist for the SEC to create their own.

"They've added about 35 million people to their footprint (with Texas A&M and Missouri), and we're a pretty popular commodity in this state," he said. "I suspect there should be enough of a footprint to do it. There's certainly nobody better at this than Mike Slive. If that's the right thing, he will do it."

Although it's not official, Byrne said it "sounds like" Texas A&M and South Carolina will become permanent partners in football and believes it makes sense for Arkansas and Missouri to annually play.

Texas A&M and Texas won't be playing again anytime soon. Byrne said all of his coaches recently confirmed that Texas won't play Texas A&M in any sport.

"I feel badly about that," Byrne said. "I'm very foolish. I assumed -- and it was a rash assumption on my part -- that our friends over in the state capital would want to continue playing us. It turns out they didn't think we were as much of a rival as we thought of them."

So Byrne prepares Texas A&M for a brave new world, especially in football under new coach Kevin Sumlin. Byrne believes the Aggies must continue developing depth, defensive linemen and linebackers to compete in the SEC.

Recruits who previously showed no interest are talking or committing to Texas A&M because of the SEC tie-in, Byrne said. On the flip side, the door is open for SEC schools to sign more Texas players.

"The SEC has always been coming in here," Byrne said. "I don't see that changing."

Because Texas A&M teams will charter more flights, Byrne will budget at least another $1 million for travel. He's spending $125,000 on a new basketball floor. He's paying $440,000 to change the football clock operations because the SEC, unlike the Big 12, keeps time on the field. There are discussions of major future renovations to Kyle Field.

Yes, the signs are changing in College Station. Out with the old, in with the new.

Jon Solomon's column appears in The Birmingham News. Follow him on Twitter at @jonsol. Write him at jsolomon@bhamnews.com.