The SEC sure is being quiet on expansion
Okay, I tried to stay away. I tried to be a good boy and take time off and ignore the computer. But the expansion story is just too good. Some quick observations today. You already know most this stuff but I just want a chance to weigh in and get your thoughts.
1. The SEC is being awfully quiet in all this. Various media reports say Nebraska to the Big Ten is done and will be announced on Friday. There are also reports out there that very quietly, Mike Slive and his folks at the SEC could still invite Texas and Texas A&M if the Big 12 breaks up. Would Oklahoma and Oklahoma State come along? Yes, I know about the Pac-10 offer to the six Big 12 teams (Texas, A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Colorado). But as one official put it to me yesterday: Do you think DeLoss Dodds (the Texas athletics director) would rather send his women’s softball team to Pullman, Washington (home of Pac-10 member Washington State) or Tuscaloosa, Ala? I know all about the academic arguments in favor of the Pac-10. I’ll believe it when I see it.
People keep telling me that the SEC should do nothing. But if the Pac-10 and the Big Ten both go to 16 teams, can the SEC stay with a pat hand?
There is absolutely nothing coming out of the SEC on this. This is as locked down as I’ve ever seen them. That should make some people nervous because Slive is one of those “speak softly and carry a big stick” kind of guys.
2. Can Texas, Texas A&M save the Big 12? Various media reports have officials from the two schools meeting today. Understand that Dodds and A&M athletics director Bill Byrne have the juice to hold the league together even if Nebraska and Colorado (to the Pac-10) both leave. The Big 12 can pick up TCU, which further strengthens the Dallas market. I would also pick up SMU. Great academics and a football program on the rise with June Jones as coach. If the Big 12 doesn’t fall apart, then this process could be relatively calm. But Texas could decide that staying in the Big 12 is simply delaying the inevitable breakup.
3. But does the Big Ten stop at 12 teams? In the short term it could happen. Commissioner Jim Delany recently put it out there that expansion for his league could come in stages. Because Delany’s grand plan could put two conferences (Big East, Big 12) out of business, perhaps he decides to go on the installment plan.
4. Forget Notre Dame. With Nebraska set to accept the Big Ten’s offer on Friday, I think it closes the door on Notre Dame becoming a member of that conference. I could see Notre Dame becoming the 12th member of the Big Ten. I can’t see the Irish being the 13th or 14th or 16th member. Now all of that could change if the Big East falls apart. The Notre Dame would have to find another home for men’s basketball and its non-revenue sports.
5. The Pac-10 will expand. Even if the grand plan (inviting six teams from the Big 12) does not come to pass, that conference will still add at least two teams (Colorado and perhaps Utah). The league is getting ready to negotiate its next TV contract in football and it has to bring someting new to the market place. Here is another factor: The Pac-10’s marquee program, The University of Southern California, is about to get hammered by the NCAA. The Pac-10 has gotta do something.
Stayed tuned. The next 24 hours could be really interesting.
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748 comments Add your comment
secaccfan
June 10th, 2010
5:10 pm
Here’s my thoughts on what the SEC should look like..
West:
Texas, A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss St., Arkansas, Missouri
East:
Fla, Tenn, Auburn, UGA, FSU, Va. Tech, and Alabama
With S Carolina, Vandy and Kentucky joining the ACC..
and each team required to play 3 teams from the other division. If you’re going to claim to be the best, prove it by playing the toughest schedule and winning..
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
5:10 pm
By the end of next week I expect that Iowa St., Baylor, Kansas and Kansas St. are going to be looking for a new home in somebody’s conference.
Maybe Association of American Universities members Vanderbilt and Florida will seek better opportunities for collaboration for the $17 billion available in grant money than those in the SEC.
The U
June 10th, 2010
5:12 pm
Cap,
You’re right on some of the Miami stuff but wrong on others. Miami is a national brand. You can go anywhere in the U.S. and see Miami gear. You can’t go out of the southeast and see many SEC programs represented. Miami doesn’t sell out games, but has a very large following. I’m almost certain UM vs FSU is the #1, 2, and 4 highest rated shows ever on ESPN and that’s during the down years. UF is doing very well now, but they are scared to death about Miami joining the SEC. You see it’s the gators that are the main ones saying Miami wouldn’t be a good fit. UF wants in on the South Florida recruits so bad they will do anything to try to keep Miami down.
I don’t think the ACC should or needs to expand either. The ACC currently has 5 teams in preseason top-25 polls (VT, GT, UM, FSU, UNC). As long as none of these 5 leave the ACC, I think it should stay just like it is. USC and Texas were able to play for the National Championship in weaker conferences.
Dave In Tampa
June 10th, 2010
5:14 pm
secaccfan –
Highly unlikely. However, that would make an incredible conference. No Patsies there. If a team goes undefeated in that conference there would be no question about going to the NC Game.
Dale
June 10th, 2010
5:15 pm
The U – Miami WAS a national brand. Not anymore.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
5:16 pm
Texas and Texas A&M are not going to split up. The state won’t allow it; between the 2 universities, they have over $1.1 billion in research grants currently. A&M is one very few universities that is land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations.
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
Drop vandy, then add a few and the south will retain the greatest sports conference in the land.
West East
Alabama Clemson
Arkansas Florida
Auburn Fla. St.
LSU UGA
Mississippi Kentucky
Miss. St. Tennessee
Texas Va. Tech
Texas A&M
Neki Ecko
June 10th, 2010
5:18 pm
@fbfan
Maybe so, but there isnt too many dance partners that Okla cant take with them but Okla and Okla is connect it to the hip like Texas and TAMU. So if I was trying to play this, so there is two ways around it.
1) Get Okla, Mizzou, VT, and TAMU(to get to Texas you might have get through TAMU first)
2) Get Okla, Baylor, Mizzou, and one other, like GT/VT
This day fill like a start of free agency or days before a draft. Thank you Neb.
HugoStiglitz
June 10th, 2010
5:19 pm
Im with you GT Grad. I would hope that we dont have to accept an invite to the SEC. If things start falling apart we may have to though. I would much rather stay in the ACC and replace whatever teams may leave. We have a great conference and could improve the academic prestige and basketball competitiveness by inviting some of the solid Big East teams to join. I would much rather go that route then sell out to the SEC.
Dave In Tampa
June 10th, 2010
5:19 pm
Have to agree with Dale on this one “The U” – Miami just has not scared anyone the past 8 to 9 years.
fbfan
June 10th, 2010
5:20 pm
another report about the Texas & Texas A&M to Big10:
http://kentsterling.com/2010/06/10/big-ten-expansion-texas-and-texas-am-may-choose-big-ten/
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
5:22 pm
Sorry ol ball coach I forgot to put your name on the east side. Who in the southeast would have ever thought spurrier would eventually be an afterthought.
Gary
June 10th, 2010
5:24 pm
Actually Dave and Dale, its only been 7 years since Miami started to fall from grace. 8-9 years ago they were the most feared team in college football. Even though they are currently a shell of their great teams, they still have a national following and they bring very good ratings to ESPN and ABC whenever they are on.
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
5:27 pm
Miami who? Get real!
Dave In Tampa
June 10th, 2010
5:30 pm
I agree Gary. Fans know Miami. It was mostly a little fun ribbing. Let’s say it was 7 years. In that time they have not brought much to the table.
As for a National Following. I think it would be safe to say that ANY major Football program has a National Following. Yes, I graduated from UGA and I know for a fact that in my birth town of Los Angeles their is a big UGA fan club that gathers to watch UGA football and meets several times during the year.
There are people out there that think think UGA is only known in GA.(mostly techies) Not true. They are a major player in football like half of the SEC teams they have National following.
Hamad Meander
June 10th, 2010
5:32 pm
If the SEC expands, which I personally don’t think is necessary, I pick Texas A&M and Georgia Tech. With A&M, you tap into the Texas market. With Tech, you increase the SEC’s exposure in Atlanta. 14 teams is more than enough – haven’t we won the last (4) BCS Championships with 12?
These conferences that are expanding are NUTS if they don’t put a Championship game in place. That should be required for entry into the BCS series.
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
5:32 pm
hey gary,
you work for Nielson or something? Show me some numbers. Also, and most importantly: have any of you so called U fans been to a game at the orange bowl? This is the SEC, where fans actually attend games.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
5:32 pm
The only scenario that I see for GT leaving the ACC is for the Big Ten (some published rumors on that.)
The average ranking of the 12 ACC schools in the upper tier is 48.5.
The average ranking for the 10 SEC schools in that tier is 90.6. The list of the ranked tier bottoms out at #128. Arkansas, LSU and Kentucky are tied at #128. The 2 Mississippi schools are not ranked; they are Tier 3 schools.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
5:32 pm
The only scenario that I see for GT leaving the ACC is for the Big Ten (some published rumors on that.)
The average ranking of the 12 ACC schools in the upper tier is 48.5.
The average ranking for the 10 SEC schools in that tier is 90.6. The list of the ranked tier bottoms out at #128. Arkansas, LSU and Kentucky are tied at #128. The 2 Mississippi schools are not ranked; they are Tier 3 schools.
The U
June 10th, 2010
5:32 pm
Tell ESPN Miami isn’t a National brand.
Dave In Tampa
June 10th, 2010
5:36 pm
I just don’t believe that GT is a good fit for the SEC. They would not enhance football in the SEC. Basketball yes, Football no. Not a good fit. Bring on Oklahoma and FSU. If not OU bring in VT.
Otto
June 10th, 2010
5:36 pm
Vandy does bring academic prestige to the SEC.
If anyone is kicked out of the SEC to make room for another team IMO it would be S. Carolina.
Vandy would create a fire storm for the academics that say it is all about money.
It would be interesting to hear what would legally have to happen to kick a team out. I highly doubt it would ever happen.
Ben, Agreed on the national pull of Miami. Miami at Oklahoma was a big draw and Miami was not expected to be able to compete. Miami at UT/Bama/UF would be a big game to market on national TV not to mention the steady money of the UF/FSU/Miami games.
Dave In Tampa
June 10th, 2010
5:37 pm
I just told ESPN Miami isn’t a National Brand…. They said that they’ll get back with me..
Yeppie
June 10th, 2010
5:38 pm
You know I was 90 percent convinced that Texas and Texas AM were likely to join the Pac 10 conf. Now… I am still confident that the scenario will evolve. However, Texas and Texas AM are joined politically by legislature. I wonder if the Longhorns and Aggies are in discussion with the SEC.??? I am sure it is being discussed by whether it happens is a different reality. Still think it is a power play so that Texas and Texas AM can negotiate more perks in the Pac 10. Give us (Texas and Texas AM) what we want or we will goto the SEC.
Baylor, Texas Tech have been riding the coat tails of Texas. Texas wanted to goto to the SEC before the big 12 was formed and it was pulled back by the legislature.
SIZE OF TEXAS. Baton Rouge is about the same distance from Austin to Lubbock. Lot closer than Arizona.
I'm Confused
June 10th, 2010
5:38 pm
“Georgia Tech casts their lot with these schools so that the very name of its institution wont be looked upon as an oxymoron.”
What does that even mean?
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
5:38 pm
Other than the very well made documentary, the U, I never hear anything about them on espn, unless it is a noon game in the fall being called by a chick and some dude who never played the game. All good things come to an end. Live with it.
p.s. The only following the U ever had, which at one point was huge, consisted of bandwagoneers. That school and town has no football culture or following.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
5:40 pm
The “Tech problem” in the communications between the Big Ten commissioner and U of Texas president on Friday is Texas Tech’s Tier 3 academic position. The Big Ten under no circumstances would invite a Tier 3 school. Texas and A&M are fellow AAU members with the Big Ten schools. The only school that is not an AAU member in any discussions among the Big Ten universities is Notre Dame.
XpatHeel
June 10th, 2010
5:42 pm
All you sec posters who’ve filled up 6 pages of wishin’, hopin’, and whinin’ about getting Tx and TamU can forgeddaboutit. Aint happenin’. In 24 hours or less, you’ll find out.
Ditto for your wet dreams of stealing away ANY ACC team. None are going anywhere. None. Why would they? The money you think that’s going to entice them is a tiny gap now that the ACC has a new espn contract. And the research money from being a real university dwarfs what comes in from football.
And why are all you secretins obsessed with expanding? Just to keep up w/ the Joneses? You honestly think you’re going to get into untapped media markets by raiding into the DC area? Don’t you realize 4 more teams cuts your share of the espn pie? They aren’t going to automatically throw you $80 mil. more just because you think you can pull in 4 more teams?
Gary
June 10th, 2010
5:43 pm
Stafford – the Orange Bowl closed down several years ago. Miami now plays where the Dolphins play. And if Miami was not a big draw, then why did ESPN/ABC have them on prime time at least 4 times last year? Miami vs FSU, Miami vs Va Tech, Miami vs Clemson, and Miami vs Ga Tech(Thurs.) were all on prime time on ABC/ESPN last year. Also, why did ESPN have a 30 for 30 special on “The U” if Miami didn’t have a national following? Not a Miami fan here, but one that does see the positive they bring to the SEC which is more national exposure and great football matchups.
UGA WHO
June 10th, 2010
5:46 pm
I admit that I am an absolute idiot. I know nothing about college football. But, I sure do love the goober we have for a coach at GTU, Paul “Fish Fry” Johnson. He is a real class act. CPJ and I will be fitted for men’s bras, along with Phil Mickelson, before the 2010 season starts.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
5:49 pm
Vanderbilt is in a unique position among SEC members. They are a private school and therefore immune to any state legislative “input” on their status.
Neki Ecko
June 10th, 2010
5:49 pm
Let see, we got so many rumors going on right now I dont know it is true or false.
1) Texas and TAMU is going to Big 10 + 1, while Okla is talking to SEC (need dance partners) and Okla State is going to PAC 10
2) Texas, TAMU, Okla, Okla State, and one more going to PAC 10, while SEC is going to be staying quiet about this.
and there is many more out there. This is the type of chaos is going to be like this for the rest of the week
Gary
June 10th, 2010
5:50 pm
Ok Stafford now I know you are doing nothing but trolling the blog in regards to Miami. Noon games on ESPN being moderated by a woman? No that would be the lower tier Big Ten and ACC teams. And Miami has no football culture or following? Tell that to a Dolphin fan and you will probably get smacked.
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
5:50 pm
Gary,
Obviously you were too busy thinking about what you were going to write, but I referenced the documentary, which was great. And since the 3 times I have seen miami play have all been at the old orange bowl, then obviously I am not speaking on the current location. What I do know, and have said already here, is that miami does not sell out, and does not travel well anymore. These are two attributes of sec schools.
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
5:52 pm
What does a dolphin fan have to do with the University of Miami?
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
5:53 pm
Gary – I thought that the U’s new stadium is going to be the site of future Orange Bowls. What’s the scoop on that?
Gary
June 10th, 2010
5:56 pm
You said that town does not support football. Dolphin fans would rudely disagree with you.
77DAWG
June 10th, 2010
5:59 pm
UGAWHO? Sound like not only any conf want you but also afraid the ACC would drop you Bees too. Relax brothers your team has a potential of a normal bottom dweller. And we need another one of those in the SEC. Hopefully annual share will help pay for weeding of your cracked concrete seats stadium.
Gary
June 10th, 2010
6:00 pm
Delbert – I don’t know if the Orange Bowl will go when Miami gets a new stadium as I have not heard. I think plans are to keep it at the current site since the stadium is of desired BCS seating capacity.
Stafford Infection
June 10th, 2010
6:02 pm
Tennesse, UGA, Alabama, Florida – 90,000 +
Miami – 47,551
Got any other OPINIONS?
Jake Snake
June 10th, 2010
6:02 pm
I think UNC and Duke would be a great addition, too. Plus, you some huge tv markets in NC. I still think the SEC needs to get TCU for a Texas & Dallas/Ft Worth presence.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
6:02 pm
The PAC-10 has been considering a staged approach, as has the Big Ten. However, with the USC probation, loss of scholarships and no bowl games, I imagine they want to ramp it up and go to 16 while they can get suitable schools. The Big Ten commissioner has stated that they won’t necessarily expand to 16.
Ray Goff
June 10th, 2010
6:06 pm
I think all this conference shifting may be an opportunity for me. What do ya think?
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
6:07 pm
Gary – It’s not the greatest place to watch football, even on TV. The early games on the dirt infield don’t help, either. Once they set it up for football, it’s better.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
6:12 pm
I think that one of the conferences should just invite everyone to join and then have a conference tournament at the end of the year to determine the national champion.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
6:12 pm
Jake Snake – TCU, not a bad idea. As to the other idea, I don’t think it will happen. The Research Triangle area universities’ goals are not really compatible with the SEC.
Delbert D.
June 10th, 2010
6:15 pm
Tom – with 4 super-conferences x 16 teams, you can get 64 teams playing for a 64-team championship, at least. All of this is predicted to be the demise of the BCS.
Tom
June 10th, 2010
6:17 pm
Delbert – just trying to be funny – I agree with you. Except Notre Dame gets an automatic bid if they get six wins – or something strange like that.
Yeppie
June 10th, 2010
6:18 pm
Went to the website orangebloods.com
Texas and Texas A&M are meeting today to arrange the schedule to assure that the rivalry will be scheduled every year. I am sure other agenda items are being discussed too. SO the idea of Texas or Texas AM going to the SEC should be minimum. Although, logically it is a good fit as there are many common traits shared, but it is a business decision being made for best revenue short and long term.
The SEC and ACC will have to reorganize. Why??? because they will want to get at least 2-3 teams potentially into bcs bowl games. Currently only 2 members of a conf can goto bcs bowl games. Obviously that rule will change and the SEC will be seeking a 14 to 16 member conf.
Gary
June 10th, 2010
6:22 pm
Delbert – The dirt infield situation at the stadium will be all gone come April 2012 when the Marlins move into their new ballpark. At that point the stadium will be for football, soccer matches, and some concerts. Dolphins own the rights to the stadium and basically told the Marlins to find someplace else to go.