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
POAD
May 18th, 2010
2:10 pm
UGA 99 UGA players seem to find enough trouble in Athens. Atlanta and Miami are CITIES, but Athens is a town. Like Auburn, Athens & Clemson the cops have plenty of college kids to chase, but big cities have other issues.
Hal
May 18th, 2010
2:13 pm
UGA’s biggest fear is that Tech would return to the SEC so there is so much bias as eveyone can see in the statements already made. If you think money Tech should go if it is asked. The ACC needs Tech to anchor its spot in the south. IF FSU and Miami were to go there would be no team south of Atlanta in the ACC. If Clemson and FSU were to go what kind of shape Tech be in for it’s big rivals? Tech would be playing UCF or South Florida who is going to want to see them?
L S U
May 18th, 2010
2:13 pm
No Dan. Again, you’re wrong. It’s true. Anyway, how old are you? Must you tell everyone that they’re wrong? I bet if I were to call you a name, you would say, “I know you are but what am I”, and then tell on me.
BILLY JACK
May 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
Georgia Tech left the SEC because SEC teams played too rough.The Graning incident just gave them the reason-read the book BEAR by John Underwood.Furthermore there is only 3 teams in the SEC that Tech could beat anyway.1-8 vs UGA and it will only get worse.
Suspended SEC Officiating Crew
May 18th, 2010
2:15 pm
LSU actually lost 5 games last year,
if you count the gimme the refs gave them in Athens.
LSU is going downhill fast.
L S U
May 18th, 2010
2:16 pm
Tech fans. Please stop comparing our record to yours. It’s apples and oranges. We play in the SEC and you play in the ACC. There is no comparision.
Hey Dogtards
May 18th, 2010
2:18 pm
@uga99
Manhandled and destroyed? Did we watch the same game? Uga escaped with a 6 point win and had the game been longer (i.e. a couple years earlier when the out of bounds rules were different), GT would have easily ran the ball in at the end of the game for a 31-24 win.
You killed our defense, but what else is new? GT had more than 5 yards per rush and more than 10 yards per pass (play, not completion). GT had 80 more yards the second half and outscored you 21-13 in the second half, when we were apparently getting manhandled and destroyed.
Fact remains, if our backup QB doesn’t have to get in the game (and I’ll leave the dirty hit part out because I was at the game and couldn’t see it) those are two drives we get back where we didn’t score a TD. When Nesbitt was in the game, we had drives of 60 (missed FG), 83 (TD), 80 (TD), and 56 (TD). Nesbitt’s only had three other drives – one stopped by the clock in the first half, one fumble, and the final drive of the game.
It was by no means a manhandling but you can keep thinking that if you want. I happen to think it was a pretty good game. Certainly entertaining.
But again, you are sadly mistaken if you think the better team won. The uga team that showed up against Ok St, USC, Arkansas, Arizona State, UT, UF, Auburn, and Kentucky would have gotten smoked. Y’all only had 5 penalties for 39 yards and 1 turnover – how often did that happen all year?
I give it to Richt. He knew that he had the worse team and had a great gameplan going in (run and keep the ball away from GT). He had to make the game shorter by burning the clock. It worked really well and you won.
Did you have the better gameplan? Yes.
The better team? No.
ga gator
May 18th, 2010
2:18 pm
Tony, Tulane also used to be a member and them or Tech would benefit the SEC other than give Vandy a chance to win a game.
NVAJacketsfan
May 18th, 2010
2:19 pm
No I would not vote to go. I like being a academic elitist. And I like having UGA(sic) as an out of conference foe.
I am all for renewing the old Rivalries with SEC teams, but lets stay in the ACC and keep a focus on an entire athletic department instead of just on Football. We don’t need to become a better academics version of Hokie High.
L S U
May 18th, 2010
2:19 pm
We’ll be back after Les is gone.
ga gator
May 18th, 2010
2:20 pm
Hey Dogtards, the better team and coach won. Your defense was pathetic.
POAD
May 18th, 2010
2:20 pm
UGA/GT record is always questioned over the war years, but it stands UGA 56 GT 30 5 Ties. GT 49 Clemson 22 2 ties. UGA 38 Clemson 15 4 ties.
Preston
May 18th, 2010
2:21 pm
tech does not deserve a share of the SEC wealth. PERIOD!
sugarpikegang
May 18th, 2010
2:21 pm
As a Tech alumnus, “No” and “No!”
uga99
May 18th, 2010
2:21 pm
dogtard,
tech was manhandled. no, the score did not show it, but you were dominated. tech is lucky to have escaped with only a 6 point loss.
POAD
May 18th, 2010
2:21 pm
UGA 56 GT 38 5 ties.
GT Fan
May 18th, 2010
2:23 pm
Yes! I would love to see GT in the SEC.
Vandy and Miss St Head Coaches
May 18th, 2010
2:25 pm
We decided to make a joint statement; To give us a better chance to win games, please admit Pauls Johnson and the Jackets.
Facts for Clarity
May 18th, 2010
2:25 pm
NVA, you put the “sic” after the “U” in UGA [eg. U(sic)GA], not after the entire acronym…it’s a joke meant to connote that the school in Athens should not be considered a university.
MartinG
May 18th, 2010
2:25 pm
As a Georgia Tech fan, my answer is no to joining the SEC. Actually my answer is HELL NO!
The ACC overall has much higher academic and ethical standards than the SEC. With the exception of Vanderbilt, the SEC is riddled with schools like UGA that recruit people like Zach Mettenberger; i.e., high school punks with no morals and little discipline who often end up in jail and seldom if ever graduate. Tech already plays UGA, we don’t need any more games with that kind of school.
SEC Spokesman
May 18th, 2010
2:27 pm
Facts for Clarity, yours isn’t a University, it is an Institute.
Facts for Clarity
May 18th, 2010
2:27 pm
Other ways to say it are “the Un-iversity of Georgia” or “U-Agg” (aping their agricultural roots – much in the same way Auburn was “that cow school” to Bear Bryant).
SEC Spokesman
May 18th, 2010
2:28 pm
MartinG, Reggie Bawl was a fine young man.
Facts for Clarity
May 18th, 2010
2:28 pm
Spokesman, right. Hence the anti-university elitism. We like being “The Institute”
Bryant
May 18th, 2010
2:28 pm
Speaking for Bama fans, we will play any one any where any time. Dont hate the player hate the game!!
Stevie Wonder
May 18th, 2010
2:29 pm
I will say this though, Tech has some beautiful women.
Facts for Clarity
May 18th, 2010
2:30 pm
Spokesman, that’s exactly why UGA fans call Tech “GTU” or the “North Avenue Trade School” traditionally. Same spirit.
uga99
May 18th, 2010
2:30 pm
Yes, SEC spokesman, as are many, many more of Tech’s “model” citizens. I love the way the Nerds claim academics when they lose.
'92 Dawg
May 18th, 2010
2:31 pm
We need a couple more “patsy” games in the SEC, Kentucky has actually gotten better. Why not make GT an easy conference win? On second thought, naaah. It’s like the nerdy kid on the playground that you don’t want on your team. Stay with Basketball and that “bush league” football conference NERDS!!!
POAD
May 18th, 2010
2:31 pm
I wanted to see BAMA in Atlanta so I could throw Old Crow Whiskey Bottles at Nick like we did at Bear. Bear was not as Classy as y’all want to remember. Dodd left because he didn’t think a hurt player that couldn’t play should lose a scholarship to a kid that could play. If the kid was given a scholarship it was for 4-5 yrs. even if he got hurt. now, the Scholarship is a year to year contract, but not so in the 60’s. Bear gave out scholarships left and right then kicked kids off the team he couldn’t use. “Kill them All and let God Sort them out” US ARMY. Sign them All and then I will kick them out” Bear Bryant.
uga99
May 18th, 2010
2:32 pm
No, we just hate people who say “don’t hate the player, hate the game”. What a goober.
Lady Ga Ga Gator
May 18th, 2010
2:32 pm
kgator79
May 18th, 2010
11:55 am
Sorry dont live in Georgia. What exactly does it offer besides a city who equals Cleveland in producing losers who cant win titles in Atlanta and a theme park built on a farm in Valdosta? Yeah! We are all missing a lot there.
We should read the Gainesville Sun.
Hey Dogtards
May 18th, 2010
2:33 pm
Mark my words – Tech wins our second straight ACC championship, only one loss all year (VT), marches into and wins the MNC against Boise State and Josh Nesbitt brings the Heisman back to Grant Field.
CPJ administers YET ANOTHER beatdown of the leghumpers in the cesspool known as Athens!
L S U
May 18th, 2010
2:33 pm
Stevie…Tech has beautiful girls. Are you joking-you must be blind.
Stevie Wonder
May 18th, 2010
2:33 pm
POAD, Tech left the SEC because they were greedy and wanted to keep all of their Bowl money. Funny thing, the first Bowl they played in was agains UF in the Orange bowl and got ripped.
Lady Ga Ga Gator
May 18th, 2010
2:34 pm
I mouth kiss Mr. Two Bits while he tickles my undercarriage. Work ‘em, Silly Gators!!!
Stevie Wonder
May 18th, 2010
2:35 pm
Hey Dogtards, if you would of been in the SEC last year, you and clemson would have finished behind UGA and SC.
Dodging Stray Bullets on North Ave
May 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
Tech
Please get out of football and work on your studies on becoming a Toilet Engineer
Now Patrick is a woman! Lady Ga Ga Gator
May 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
Enter your comments here
L S U
May 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
Dogtard, let me know when you wake up and your dream is over. That was funny though!!
'92 Dawg
May 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
LMAO @ “Hey Dogtards” ! “CPJ administers yet another beatdown of the leghumpers”…. you act like there have been many “beatdowns’. I don’t need a slide rule to figure out you’ve won 1 out the last 9. That high school offense didn’t work out so well this time did it????? Get used to it, you’re second tier.
bamakp
May 18th, 2010
2:36 pm
All you ACC/Tech fans talking smack need to recognize that the SEC has won FIVE, that’s right, FIVE national championships in a row.
Bring that weak high-school style offense into Tuscaloosa and Saban and Smart will shutout your beloved Johnson. Oh wait, I forgot, you guys chickened out of the deal!!!
Tanya
May 18th, 2010
2:37 pm
The SEC already has the Adversity of Georgia, also known as “Parole U.” There is no way that Georgia Tech should join a conference that has UGAy in it.
Dodging Stray Bullets on North Ave
May 18th, 2010
2:38 pm
Josh Nesbitt for heisman
blah ha ha ha ah aha ha aha h
Now I have heard it all
What a retarded statement they really must be passing out diplomas to the Tech athletes
Facts for Clarity
May 18th, 2010
2:39 pm
What’s a Toilet Engineer? Are you 7 years old? “Hey, the poop store called – they want YOU back!” Nice one…
Dan
May 18th, 2010
2:40 pm
bamakp, the SEC hasn’t won five in a row. Not that we expected you to be able to count that high…
NEVER!!!
May 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
Nope – never – nada. We are about education, not just sports. Find the real reason we left the SEC (Thank you Bobby Dodd) and make sure we still have those kinds of principles
Chiquita
May 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
It’s funny that most of the morons who run down “nerds” work for nerds, that is if they’re lucky enough to have a job. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you, boys.
uga99
May 18th, 2010
2:42 pm
Tanya, and you should not join this blog with idiotic staements.
45 Points to Your 42
May 18th, 2010
2:43 pm
Listen here bamakp, now that we have a solid D-Coordinator in Al Groh we would march into T-Town and have you bleeding a Crimson Tide by the end of the day. Saban and Smart haven’t EVER seen an offense so versatile and unstoppable as the Perfect Option.
Lest you forget we beat 2 out of 3 SEC teams last year and were within 6 points of beating Ugay.
Rambling Wreck would ROLL the tide!