Speaking of being shafted, Houston has been on the SEC's radar for a long time. Don't know if they still are. A&M was also on the SEC's radar for a long time too. So far, one was taken in.
"When they win, the city really gets behind them," said an SEC administrator, directly referencing Houston's Southwest Conference membership from 1971 through its disbanding in '95. "They've always been caught in between the Texas and Texas A&M crowds, but if they were ever to get back to a top-level conference, where they really have a shot at competing for big championships, the potential there is through the roof."
There is more proof out there. So much for all this no-one-in-Houston-cares talk.