If the SEC asked, would/should Georgia Tech say yes?
Not long after the conference expansion issue really started to heat up, I found myself in a charity golf foursome with a couple of Georgia Tech guys. We were waiting to hit, so I just asked them point blank:
“If Georgia Tech got an invitation to leave the ACC and join the SEC, would you vote to go?”
Response No. 1: “In a New York minute.”
Response No. 2: “Can we go today?”
Now look, Georgia Tech has had a very good football home in the ACC since 1983. It is the defending ACC champions. And the situation got a lot better on Monday when the ACC landed a very good television deal with ABC/ESPN that will pay the league $155 million per year. In this economy, the ACC essentially doubled their money from the previous contract and that is quite an accomplishment. A number of people (this writer included) thought that the numbers might be lower so give the ACC kudos for getting that deal done.
Having said all that, there are two questions we will ponder today:
How/Why does Georgia Tech get on the SEC’s radar?
Why would/should Georgia Tech even consider leaving the ACC?
First, some history: Georgia Tech was a charter member of the Southeastern Conference in 1933 and remained in the league through the 1963 season, when the school withdrew and became a Southern Independent. We won’t debate the reasons why or the wisdom of Georgia Tech’s move. The fact is that Tech was a member of the SEC for 31 years.
People of a certain age will remember going to Grant Field and watching Georgia Tech, as a member of the SEC, play in some of the best rivalries in all of college football. The Georgia rivalry you know about, but did you know:
That Georgia Tech and Auburn have played 92 times? Tech first played Auburn in 1892 and from 1904 to 1987 the schools met every year but two (1905, 1943).
That even after it left the SEC, Georgia Tech also kept playing Tennessee? Between 1964 and 1987 Georgia Tech and Tennessee met every year but three (1974, 1975, 1978).
That there was no fiercer rivalry in the 1960s than the one between Alabama and Georgia Tech? Bear Bryant and Bobby Dodd were friends until the 1961 game, when Tech’s Chick Graning received a blow to the head from Alabama’s Darwin Holt. It broke Graning’s jaw and nose and put him in the hospital. The episode touched off a war of words between newspapers in the two states and drove a wedge between Bryant and Dodd. A year later Alabama came to Grant Field with an 8-0 record and ranked No. 1. Georgia Tech handed Alabama its only loss that season, 7-6. After the 1964 game the two teams did not play again until 1979. They played six straight years until 1984 and have not played since. They were scheduled for a two-game series in 2013 and 2014 but those games have now been postponed.
The point is that Georgia Tech has a lot of history with the current members of the SEC.
Here is how Georgia Tech could get an invitation from the SEC: If the Big Ten expands to 16 teams and exponentially increases its revenue (now at about $22 million per team), the SEC, which pays about $17 million per team, will have a decision to make. If the SEC decides that it must expand as well, some teams from the ACC could come into play if the SEC wants to strengthen its Southeastern footprint.
Whether or not the SEC would extend an invitation to Georgia Tech is a matter of some debate. The argument could be made that with the University of Georgia, the SEC already controls the state’s market place. But the same argument could be made about Clemson (because of South Carolina) and Florida State (because of Florida).
Why Georgia Tech would say yes:
1) More money. Georgia Tech needs it. Even with the ACC’s new contract, there will be about a $4 million gap in shared revenue per team. If the SEC expands, that gap could grow.
2) Easier scheduling. If Georgia becomes a conference game, then Tech has another non-conference game to play with. That would guarantee at least seven home games a season. That is also more money.
3) Better attendance: Bobby Dodd Stadium holds 55,000. With Paul Johnson in place, attendance is picking up as over 50,000 turned out for five of six games last season. The year before (2008) only one game drew over 50,000 (Florida State). But what if Georgia Tech were placed in an SEC division that included Clemson, Georgia, Florida, Florida State, Miami, South Carolina and Tennessee? How great would the demand for tickets be? How much more would people pay just for the right to buy them? More money.
Why Georgia Tech would say no:
1) The school has 27 years invested in the ACC. It has become a good fit for the Institute, both philosophically and academically.
2) Winning the ACC football championship is hard. Winning the SEC is harder. That’s just a fact. Writer Rick Bragg once said that every SEC game “is like a knife fight in a ditch.”
3) You can’t go back. As much as the old guard romanticizes about good old days the fact remains that it’s been 47 years since Tech left the SEC and the world has really changed.
So if you’re a Georgia Tech fan and you got a vote, would you vote to go back to the SEC if the invitation came? Or do you think the ACC is still the best place for the Yellow Jackets?
If you’re an SEC fan, would you like to see Georgia Tech come back?
The floor is yours.
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661 comments Add your comment
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:33 pm
UGA79
Well that’s what happens when the record books you look at have a Marvel emblem on the front and a coloring section towards the back
I suppose that same record book in 1942 has no mention of the Ohio State Univ as the solo national champion
dawgfan
May 18th, 2010
12:33 pm
Winning the SEC would be harder for Georgia Tech Tony? Try next to impossible. This is a program riding a 5 game bowl losing streak and has lost to Georgia 15 of the past 19 years. That is not SEC Championship material. Tech should stay in the ACC where they can pad the W column with tobacco road cupcakes and then feel all full of themselves because they beat an 8-4 team for the all important ACC crown. Its freaking hilarious and I would miss it dearly. An SEC schedule would make an already unenthusiastic Tech fan base even less enthusiastic. They like their big overtime wins over Wake Forest at home. That’s enough for them. They don’t want to see the Gators or Tide rolling in to town. Nobody would show up for such a bloodbath. I’m serious. I think Tech’s attendance would actually decrease in the SEC. They wouldn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of playing for anything meaningful and their fairweather fan base just wouldn’t show up. True story.
Paul Johnson
May 18th, 2010
12:33 pm
I’ve already told Dan to not even think about going to the SEC if he wants to keep me as the coach. Going 6 – 6 every year in the SEC is not going to be good for my career or resume. I’d much rather stay in the ACC where I can be guaranteed of winning 8 – 10 games every single year against inferior competition.
Milky
May 18th, 2010
12:34 pm
JW – Yards != Wins. Last time I checked, the only stat that truly matters is the final score. But moral victories gotta count for something, right?
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:34 pm
uga99
and UF owns you every year? what does either have to do with UGA not being relevant national championship-wise since the 80’s?
it’s a fact – a hard one for you all to digest, but a fact nonetheless
Doug
May 18th, 2010
12:35 pm
I’m a UGA grad, am the boss of 11 Tech grads, make more money than them, and have a much hotter wife.
Thirty Points To Your Twenty-Four Points
May 18th, 2010
12:36 pm
Colorado: 1990 National Champions
ajax
May 18th, 2010
12:37 pm
Money, money, money, money, monnnnnneyyyy!
It won’t be Tech, or Clemson, or FSU.
Expansion now is driven by TV markets (BC in the ACC?). The SEC already has the Atlanta market, and Miami is not a college football hotbed. The SEC would go after the Dallas and Houston markets so the Big 12 Texas and Oklahoma schools would be the first choice. Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, and either Okie State or Texas Tech (would lean to Okie State, emerging football program with good basketball program). Split the divisions at the Alabama/Mississippi line, Alabama & Auburn move to the east. Renews Arkansas’ SWC rivalries, SEC gets the Red River Rivalry, Bedlam game, and Texas/TAMU game. Tech, Clemson, FSU and Miami just don’t have that to offer.
Milky
May 18th, 2010
12:37 pm
GT being in the SEC isn’t going to help in recruiting. At least now they can sell recruits on winning in the ACC. Gonna be harder to tell recruits, well, you get to play in the SEC, but we’ll be competing with Vandy for SEC East cellar-dweller
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:37 pm
Milky
The statement was that the offense wouldn’t work against UGA, LSU, etc..
GT is avg 376 yds and and 35 points against uga and has a 1-1 record
if that is not proof of the offense working then there’s nothing else for me to say to you because you don’t deal in reality
GT Alum
May 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
So, dawgfan, you’re saying UGA is a better SEC team than Tech because Dawg fans are actually delusional enough to think they can really compete with Bama and UF on a regular basis and show up en masse for those bloodbaths?
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
Thirty Points To Your Twenty-Four Points
1942 Ohio State National Champions
Paul Johnson
May 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
I’m going to petition the rules committee to outlaw the forward pass if we join the SEC so that we can level the playing field a bit.
UGAY in the Papa Johns Bowl
May 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
INDEPENDENCE BOWL
UGAY in the Papa Johns Bowl
May 18th, 2010
12:38 pm
SHEREVPORT, LA
uga99
May 18th, 2010
12:39 pm
JW-What does FL owning GA have to do with UGA biatch slapping Tech every year? Your post was about bad UGA is, but you are not in our class.
UGAY in the Papa Johns Bowl
May 18th, 2010
12:39 pm
1980
Milky
May 18th, 2010
12:39 pm
Doug – Of course you do… There’s not a whole lot of girls at the local “Dungeon and Dragons” club for them to find a mate. Fingers crossed that comic-con will bring ladies… if not, another year in mom’s basement….
UGAY in the Papa Johns Bowl
May 18th, 2010
12:39 pm
RAPE
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:40 pm
Paul Johnson
Great! While you’re at it, see if Richt will petition the rules committee to allow future rapist like Zach Mett to still play after fondling women!!
Paul Johnson
May 18th, 2010
12:41 pm
I’m doing the best I can to stop recruiting drug dealers and athletes that overdose on heroine.
Jaybo Shaw
May 18th, 2010
12:41 pm
SOCON dudes!!!
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:41 pm
If the AP is the poll that you want to use, then of course the SEC loses a championship won in 2003 (LSU).
And please just stop with the nonsense about Tech not being able to compete in the SEC. Tech is 4-2 under CPJ in the vaunted SEC.
Milky
May 18th, 2010
12:41 pm
I never said the offense wouldn’t work.. you were throwing around all these “yards” statistics. Pretty meaningless. And let’s face it, when a team has ample time (and a defensive coordinator not named Willie), the triple option is usually shut down (see LSU and Iowa)
GT Alum
May 18th, 2010
12:42 pm
ajax, there you go with the SEC fantasizing again. You’re right about it all being about money, which is why Texas and Oklahoma wouldn’t leave the Big 12 for the SEC. They’re not about to take the same size slice of SEC money as Vanderbilt when they get a larger payout for bolstering the Big 12.
kgator79
May 18th, 2010
12:42 pm
5 downs Colorado did not deserve a share of the 1990 title. They should have had a loss counted if the refs knew how to count to 4.
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:42 pm
Doug and his “hot” wife probably weigh a combined 650 pounds.
And you know you don’t 11 people working for you. At least be honest with yourself.
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:43 pm
Is Bud Foster competent, Milky?
Dan's an idiot
May 18th, 2010
12:44 pm
“And you know you don’t 11 people working for you”
Huh? Learn how to communicate fluently in the english language you dolt.
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:44 pm
Milky
Sounds like an excuse to me
So if GT blitz your D for another 400+ yds, your excuse will be “the offense doesnt work against UGA except when the DC names is Wille or Todd Grantham”
UGA79
May 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
Yes JW, I did read that far back. I was looking for tech’s last NC. And, how dare a tech fan accuse someone else of reading comic books. That’s pot and keddle, right?
Hey Dogtards
May 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
Did you know that not a single poll in 1942 voted uga #1? They claim the national championship based on 1942 computers. Doesn’t that make you feel good about it?
kgator79
May 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
Dan….are you really going to throw out the 4-2 record vs. the SEC by GT under Johnson? Come on now. 2 wins against Miss. State, 1 win against Vanderbilt and 1 against Georgia. Not exactly murders row in the SEC there.
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
kgator79
Thank you for pointing that out – most delusional UGA fans refuse to accept that fact
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:46 pm
Typo. Allow me to clarify.
You know you don’t have 11 people working for you.
Good enough, dip$hit?
Tide Rising
May 18th, 2010
12:47 pm
Kgator79,
I’m pretty sure that’s a dawg poster you’re sparring with and not a Bama fan. No Bama fan would put BamaU when its univ. of Alabama. In my entire life I’ve never met a fellow Bama fan who refers to us as BamaU instead of UA or univ of Ala, etc.
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:47 pm
kgator, you can’t talk about how strong the SEC is and then act like some programs aren’t part of it. That’s one the apples you give up when you start talking about how strong the SEC is.
Also, Miss St. gave y’all everything you wanted this year. We handled them pretty easily.
Gen Neyland
May 18th, 2010
12:48 pm
If GT were to come back into the SEC, would we have to consider their current pro ACC-GT bloggers family..? I’m all for forgiveness, but TB, Really..!
L S U
May 18th, 2010
12:49 pm
Dan and Milky are “life partners”. Of course they are not concerned with Doug’s hot wife.
JW
May 18th, 2010
12:49 pm
UGA79
I’m sure some GT alums fans read Marvel, but the difference between a UGA alum and GT alum reading comics is that almost certainly a GT alum understands linear models and statistics which most true record books are derived from and most UGA alums don’t. Meaning a GT alum knows the difference between a comic book and a book that contains statistical evidence/records
Dan's an idiot
May 18th, 2010
12:49 pm
Sure. Typo.
The convenient fall back excuse for the intellectually deficient.
Now get back to digging that ditch you troglodyte.
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:49 pm
I have no idea what that means, L S U.
kgator79
May 18th, 2010
12:50 pm
Tide….funny I thought that same thing with the BamaU screen name. But Im not a bama fan so thought maybe thats something you all might refer to yourselves as.
GT Alum
May 18th, 2010
12:51 pm
True, Dan. If Miss St is such a cream puff, why did they give UF and LSU so much trouble?
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:52 pm
Yeah, typos are a reflection of intellect. Anything else ya got, assclown?
BamaU
May 18th, 2010
12:52 pm
Tide Rising, UBama was taken. I’m sure that I was watching the Tide before you were thought about. You must be an Auburn fan.
kgator79
May 18th, 2010
12:53 pm
Dan….GT handled Miss. State pretty easily? You won 42-31 (11 points) at home. Florida won 29-19 against them on the road (10 points) and you consider 11 points handling them easily but 10 points struggling? Nice logic.
HugoStiglitz
May 18th, 2010
12:53 pm
You can bash GT for only beating Miss St, Vandy and UGA but lets be honest, the SEC is usually two or three good teams and alot of mediocre teams after that. I would love to play Florida, Alabama, and LSU every year but its not going to happen and therefore we will continue to just play bottom dwelling SEC teams. However, those teams are still SEC teams and therefore represent your conference.
L S U
May 18th, 2010
12:53 pm
Dan. Of course you don’t. You are an idiot.
Dan
May 18th, 2010
12:54 pm
Ummm, it was in Starkville, kgator79. But don’t let facts get in your way.