AUSTIN, Texas -- Gov. Rick Perry says Texas A&M's move to the Southeastern Conference is good for the school and the state of Texas.

The A&M graduate is on an economic development trip to Italy. But he said by phone Monday that he watched the end of the Aggies' loss to Florida on Saturday via Internet.

Perry joked that he "probably should have watched the first half" since Florida rallied to win 20-17, spoiling A&M's SEC debut.

He added that the SEC is a "league that plays amazingly high-quality football."

Perry also attended Sunday's Italian Formula Grand Prix ahead of the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin in November.

He said "we think of Texas being a die-hard football state" but that he saw an Italian crowd with "the same intensity for this sport."