Let’s do a mailbag! And how would Tech fit in the SEC?
That’s right I used an exclamation point in the headline. That’s how excited I am about doing our second e-mail mailbag.
Send me any question you may have about any Georgia Tech sport and I’ll do my best to provide you an insightful answer.
I’ll post the answers on a blog on Tuesday at lunchtime. That’s Tuesday at lunchtime. There was some confusion about the publication of the answers when we did the last mailbag.
—
Now, on to the pie-in-the-sky topic that esteemed colleague (to borrow Mark Bradley’s phrase) Tony Barnhart broached last week.
As many of you know, expansion is the topic du jour for several conferences. The Big 10 has openly said it’s considering it. The SEC said it has reviewed scenarios. I await an answer from the ACC if it too has reviewed or is reviewing scenarios.
Should one or two of the conferences make a move, Barnhart suggested that the SEC may turn to the ACC and try and lure Clemson and Georgia Tech, among others, into the fold.
While I think that Clemson and FSU (the other possibility) would be natural fits because of the stadium sizes and geographic footprint of the fan bases, I’m not sure that Tech would. I’m also not sure that they would want to, unless it came to that.
Financially, it’s a no-brainer. Thanks to ESPN’s largess, SEC schools pull in the second-highest per school revenues behind those from the Big 10, which has its own TV network funding the athletics department.
The ACC is in the process of negotiating new TV deals for football and men’s basketball. It’s unlikely to pull in the $2 billion over 15 years that ESPN pledged to the SEC.
While Tech was once a founding member of the SEC, I would be very surprised to see the dominoes fall in such a way that find Tech back in the fold.
Some comparative stats, courtesy of Wikipedia (so take them with a grain of salt). These are meant for talking points only:
College/Metro pop./Year founded/Affiliation/Enrollment/Joined
University of Florida/ (114,916)/1853/Public/51,474/1932
University of Georgia/ (113,398)/1785/Public/34,180/1932
University of Kentucky/ (282,114)/1865/Public/26,054/1932
University of South Carolina/ (127,029)/1801/Public/27,488/1991
University of Tennessee/ (184,802)/1794/Public/30,410/1932
Vanderbilt University/ (596,462)/1873/Private/12,093/1932
Western Division
University of Alabama/ (90,221)/1831/Public/27,014/1932
University of Arkansas/ (73,372)/1871/Public/19,849/1991
Auburn University/ (56,088)/1856/Public/24,530/1932
Louisiana State University/ (223,689)/1860/Public/28,810/1932
University of Mississippi/ (17,265)/1848/Public/15,289/1932
Mississippi State University/ (24,187)/1878/Public/17,824/1932
Georgia Tech/5,000,000+/1885/Public/12,966/1885
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432 comments Add your comment
Tech Ole Timer
April 29th, 2010
8:31 pm
Savannah Jacket, you’re right – this conversation should be about football, not folderol. I hope Tech rejoins the SEC. UGA, I guess, hopes not. After all, Tech led the long football series with UGA by one game in 1963. Tech foolishly left the SEC the very next year.
Seventeen years as an Independent nearly destroyed its fine football program. Joining the ACC was an “any port-in-a-storm” decision.
SILLY UGA FANS
April 29th, 2010
8:50 pm
socaldawg,
VT has hardly been mentioned in any reports I have read, hence South Eastern Conference. I would agree that Miami might make for a better money draw if you go by the past, but since entering the ACC GT has owned them and Clemson has not done to well as of late. I would like just one dawg fan to state the truth, that being you don’t want GT back in the SEC simpy because the recruiting war would get that much tighter and instead of winning by one TD you might actually start to loss a game or two. Now go follow Auburn and get a limo and start that great instate recruiting UGA is starting now.
yakko I’m still waiting for a response. Does it really take this long to make up more numbers?
yes
April 29th, 2010
8:56 pm
@ Mike: Exactly. The ACC was too short sighted when they set up these divisions. Geographical re-alignment would fix a lot of what’s wrong with ACC football.
Casey
April 29th, 2010
8:58 pm
Tech would fit good if there ever was a playoff system. SEC should have 16 teams with 8 on east and 8 on west. Every one on each side plays each other and 2 non conference games. Then best in east plays best in the west for sec championship. The winner goes on to play in BCS playoffs. We know Tech can compete. In past few years they have beaten Auburn, Vandy, Miss St each 2 times and uga once.
SEC powerhouse not
April 29th, 2010
9:03 pm
I realize the SEC is looked upon as some powerhouse conference but lately, what has any of them done besides AL, FL and LSU with the latter not doing too much to be in that category? VT, Miami, Clemson, GT and FSU are just as tough to battle. The last time GT played Auburn, the Tigers were ranked 2nd in the country and GT with Reggie Ball still won the game. Are GT fans suppose to be in awe or intimidated? Should GT be in literal fear when facing SC, TN, GA, Arkansas, KY, Ms, Ms St, Vandy,? Think not. Didn’t even see UGA play Alabama on their schedule so did they honestly have it that bad? VT beat Tn and Clemson beat Ky who both beat UGA. If it means better revenue then I guess it is a good idea but I do not see better football opponents week in and week out, year in and year out. Maybe GT could stay in the ACC for basketball but really with the current coach the majority aren’t going to care one way or the other
truth
April 29th, 2010
9:04 pm
Tech would struggle in the SEC, let’s be honest. Last year’s vaunted Tech team wouldn’t have won more than 8 games playing an SEC schedule. Overall, Tech would have trouble winning 7 games most years, and certainly wouldn’t have their precious bowl streak.
BS Patrol
April 29th, 2010
9:04 pm
Phobia, I remember that same orientation well. I had a dorm mate who was valedictorian at his HS & went 3 quarters & out. I somehow managed to claw my way to matriculation. 1/2 my freshman class was gone after year one. To compare the two grad rates is folly.
Supersize,
You seem to to know your stuff.If you like college football,I would like to recommend the video “Junction Boys” & the book “BEAR”. They are a hoot. Also the book by Pepper Rodgers”Fourth & Long Gone”
supersize that order, mutt
April 29th, 2010
9:06 pm
BS Patrol, thanks for the compliment. After not getting an answer earlier as to who the “Junction Boys” were, I GOOGLED it. Sounds fascinating, and I’m sure I would enjoy seeing the video.
SEC powerhouse not
April 29th, 2010
9:06 pm
Doug, do you and Barnhart honestly think there is a tougher schedule than what GT will play in 2010? I would like to see Alabama play at Clemson, at Va Tech, at UNC (with all their NFL juniors coming back) and at UGA, not to mention at Kansas too. So going to the SEC would be tougher than that? yeah right
SEC powerhouse not
April 29th, 2010
9:09 pm
I can see Alabama fans on here presenting their argument but dogpoops losing to Ky and TN who lost to Clemson and VT..you inbreds went from preseason number ones to the outhouse in two years…
SoCal Dawg
April 29th, 2010
9:13 pm
“Silly Dawg Fans” you are the kind of Techie that makes it very hard for me to pull for Tech, which I try to do except when I’ve spent some time reading ajc blogs. I believe that Tech does have the skill to play in the SEC, but not to win it. That is my honest assessment. Tech will not bring the fan base that the SEC is looking for… that is not a jab just the facts.
Slick
April 29th, 2010
9:23 pm
UGA Who @ 6:33pm:
I took your challenge and looked at the head to head in the 3 major sports. You sure you want to go there? Maybe you should have looked it up too before running your mouth. Tech holds the edge in only basketball and it’s probably slimmer than you would’ve guessed.
Tech Old Timer @ 8:31pm:
Why does UGA hope not? We play you guys every year anyway. How does it hurt UGA if Tech returns to the SEC?
Reality
April 29th, 2010
9:25 pm
I see no reason GA Tech should go to the SEC. Why lower our standards? Do we really want to be associated with jail birds?
The only 2 good teams in the SEC now are Alabama and Florida. Without those 2 teams, the SEC would fall below the Mountain West Conference.
There is nothing for GA Tech to gain.
Reality
April 29th, 2010
9:27 pm
Why is the ajc asking how GA Tech would do in the SEC? This rag is becoming more and more biased towards ugag and against GA Tech.
To be fair and balanced, they need to run a blog about why UGA should join the ACC!
SoCal Dawg
April 29th, 2010
9:32 pm
Reality you’re so funny… sad, but funny.
Big L
April 29th, 2010
9:46 pm
How would they fit in the SEC…….now? Well, since everybody is figring out that 4A offense, does Tech and Vandy , in the bottom of the heap bowl sound right.
George P
April 29th, 2010
9:48 pm
Tech left the SEC over scholarship limits. Since the SEC limits are no different than the NCAA at this point, no, the reasons don’t still exist. They didn’t exist in 1978, either.
I would love to see Tech back in the SEC.
Auburn is our oldest rival. When we quit playing them in the late ’80s we had played them more than any other team, and the record was darned close before Bill Curry became coach. They were the first team Tech played. They used to have a parade every year before the game. The Auburn game was important. And they’ve got what passes for an engineering school in Alabama.
When I was at Tech in the late ’70s and early ’80s we played, in addition to Auburn and Georgia (which was every year), Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama. These were, as far as I am concerned, our rivals.
As I like to point out to a friend of mine who is a Kentucky fan, we still have more SEC championships than they do, and they’ve had almost fifty years to catch up.
I’d love to keep playing Clemson, but, if it came to it, I’d take SEC membership over that.
Caleb King
April 29th, 2010
9:48 pm
I’ll tell you how tech would do vs. SEC competition, their D would give up 330+ rushing yards, get torched by CK4 and Ealey all night long. Total & complete domination by the men in red & black.
Thirty to twenty-four, all year long.
Tech man
April 29th, 2010
9:48 pm
Reality..I agree with you. Uga would have a lot of problems playing teams like NC,Miami,and VT.Let see what fans think about uga joining the ACC!!
Tech man
April 29th, 2010
9:55 pm
Caleb King..enjoy your smack talk while you can,because that is going to stop in NOV! You know as well as do that your muts could easily be 0 and 2 against CPJ.
supersize that order, mutt
April 29th, 2010
10:04 pm
I’d like to know who the hell has figured out Tech’s offense to the extent that they can consistently stop it. Iowa did a better job than anybody, and yet Tech still had a chance at the end. UGAG stopped the interior game in 2009 but did nothing on the outside or the passing game (Nesbitt’s poor passing and Thomas’ one disastrous drop do not mean that UGAG defended the pass well). You mutts can live vicariously through the fact that Tech sucked against LSU and Miami (in 2009, certainly not in 2008), but Tech sucked in those two games; neither LSU nor Miami did did that much to stop us. Each may have won anyway, but it certainly wasn’t because they figured out Tech’s defense. As far as figuring out Tech’s offense, as CPJ said, he’s been running it for 25 years, and nobody has consistently stopped it yet. Figuring it out is not the problem; executing what they have figured out is, and of all the teams Tech has played in the past 2 years, Iowa is the only team actually to consistently execute an adequate defense.
Big L
April 29th, 2010
10:11 pm
Hey Techman, that is the stupidest logic I have ever heard. Tech could just as easily have lost two years ago. We don’t deal in if’s mi amigo.
Dirk Diggler
April 29th, 2010
10:39 pm
I am a Tech alum and diehard fan. There is nobody more proud of his school from an academic standpoint then me, but I think all the Tech fans that are trying to make the argument that we wouldn’t/shouldn’t take the SEC up on an offer to join because it would hurt our academic prestige is just plain stupid.
Do you walk around feeling proud of your degree because you went to a school that is in the ACC or because of the university itself?
The case for joining is 100% about what it could do for GT from a financial standpoint. Period.
We all like to think of ourselves as smart people and successful business men/women. We wouldn’t be doing a very good job of demonstrating that if we chose to walk away from $20 million a year because we didn’t want to associate ourselves with the “dumb arses” in the SEC.
If D-Rad got an invitation to joing the SEC and turned it down, he should be fired on the spot.
supersize that order, mutt
April 29th, 2010
11:14 pm
Well put, Dirk Diggler
Technophobia
April 29th, 2010
11:18 pm
Supersize, BS Patrol, I made it too and eventually went on to med school. I made it there as well and I can tell you that although the volume of work was much greater in med school, it was not as difficult as Tech was.
supersize that order, mutt
April 29th, 2010
11:24 pm
Techno, I hated those classes at Tech with a passion, but i wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. The proudest moment of my life was in walking across the stage at the Fox Theater to receive my diploma, and than a year later walking across it again to get my Masters degree.
supersize that order, mutt
April 29th, 2010
11:26 pm
Two years later, I mean
HugoStiglitz
April 29th, 2010
11:35 pm
Dirk, you can think its just plain stupid if you want, we can agree to disagree, im not convinced that joining a conference that is basically just made for football factories is very wise for the future of the university. We would go instantly from one of the strongest conferences academically to one of the weakest. There is a reason that all of the members of the Big Ten are AAU schools and why they are supposedly not considering schools like West Virginia even though they would bring in good athletic programs. There is also a reason why most of the articles and blogs about this subject seem to think the SEC would not have a chance to get a school like UNC or Texas because those schools still care very much about their academics. I think of our school the same way.
Martin
April 29th, 2010
11:47 pm
As a Georgia fan, I’d like to see Tech back in the SEC, what AD would look like a genius turning down $20 million annually. That’s crazy talk. I don’t like Tech at all but I do think they could compete in the SEC. But I think the SEC would go after Texas or Clemson or something like that. The SEC would look for teams that would expand the SEC’s fan base. Another Georgia team wouldn’t add another area’s TV audience.
Paul in RDU
April 29th, 2010
11:50 pm
The answer to whether GT should be in the ACC or SEC (or any other conference for that matter) depends on whether you think that universities are academic institutions who field teams in a number of sports, one of which is football, or semi-professional football teams with a library, labs, teachers and a little research on the side.
As an alumnus, I think Tech has a good home in the ACC and should stay there.
Technophobia
April 29th, 2010
11:50 pm
Hugo, do you think that Vandy’s academics have been compromised by the SEC? Last time I checked Vandy was a top notch school. I’d agree that academics are not as respected or valued by much of the SEC but I wouldn’t see the SEC as a threat to Tech’s academics. My biggest reservation about joining an SEC expansion would be the size of the conference. Besides the financial aspect, I’m not sure what the value of having a huge conference is.
HugoStiglitz
April 30th, 2010
12:09 am
Vanderbilt is a great university that has maintained a high level of education even while in the SEC. They are the enigma of the conference, the school that cares about education more then football. I would hope that if we did accept a bid to the SEC we would be more like them and not like the the other schools. If Vanderbilt was in the ACC today do you think they would accept an invite to the SEC? I dont. Too many things have changed since Vanderbilt agreed to become an SEC member 78 years ago. They are basically stuck there whether they fit or not. They will just continue being that one SEC school thats not like the others.
Paul in RDU
April 30th, 2010
12:32 am
Hugo – I agree with you about Vandy. Vandy and FSU should swap conferences.
Paul in RDU
April 30th, 2010
12:36 am
I’ve read a few comments about the SEC going after UNC. Anyone who thinks that UNC will leave the ACC for the SEC knows nothing about what UNC faculty, alumni, students and the regents take pride in.
macrotech
April 30th, 2010
1:08 am
I’m all for Tech joining the SEC! I’m a fan of tradition and would love to get back to where it all started! It would make for some fun match ups…if it avails itself…let’s GO FOR IT!!!
BS Patrol
April 30th, 2010
2:03 am
I personally would love to see Tech rivals UT, AU,UA play again, and I believe we have them scheduled. But I have mixed feelings. We can dominate in the SEC athletically as we have in the ACC. But where are our priorities? Academics? Only Vandy & possibly UF would even merit mention academically in the ACC.
Big time?? Not
April 30th, 2010
6:02 am
Well they would have a really unique marketing ploy. Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
Friday morning buffet « Get The Picture
April 30th, 2010
6:50 am
[...] AJ-C’s Georgia Tech blogger writes that he’s not sure Tech would want to return to the SEC. The extra money might come in handy for Paul Hewitt’s buyout, [...]
Big time? Not
April 30th, 2010
8:20 am
I just learned how to copy / paste for the first time, give me a break…
Reality Check
April 30th, 2010
8:42 am
UGA owns GT. There is no debate. 8/9 all year long. If GT can not beat UGA they would not have a chance against real SEC teams Alabama, UF, LSU. Isn’t that right GT fans talking through both sides of your mouths. You can’t have it both ways and say UGA is secont tier school and then we beat you all day every day. If UGA is second rate then GT= Vanderbilt, but Vandy probably has more wins this decade against UGA than your Jackets do.
Stay in the cream puff FB ACC.
davis
April 30th, 2010
9:02 am
i would love to join the SEC and beat georgia every year and keep them out of the SEC championship but i would never want georgia tech to have to be in the same confrence as any low life georgia team.
Joe
April 30th, 2010
9:43 am
Wow, you Tech fans really aren’t as bright as you think.
Georgia Tech, Clemson, Florida State and Miami would probably kill to join the SEC. It’s the premier conference in the country and everyone knows it, whether y’all would admit it or not. In almost every sport, we recruit better, have greater funding, and bring in more fans.
But it’s all pointless because I believe each member school has veto power. There’s no way in hell UF would allow FSU or Miami to join, Georgia allow GT to join, or South Carolina allow Clemson to join.
Still can’t believe y’all are delusional enough and stuck up enough (oh wait, that’s what you guys call “classy” right?) to think that your academics are too good for the SEC.
Haha, we’ll keep our attractive student body, superior athletics, and buckets of money to ourselves.
secfactcheck.com
April 30th, 2010
9:58 am
The last two years, Florida and Alabama were 15-1 against the rest of the SEC. I think GA Tech would fair just as well as those “other ten teams”. Actually, Tech has a winning record against the SEC the last two years. I suspect they have played the SEC more than any other non-conference team. Yes, Tech had a terrible losing streak against UGA. But during that time they went 2-0 against Auburn (with the infamous Reggie Ball) while Auburn was supposed to have a great team. The SEC is all about protecting their brand. How would it look if a University like Tech came in and actually did well. How could SEC teams continue the claim that the SEC is so tough every week playing in front 80,000 fans if Tech comes in and wins 75% of their conference games. Imagine Tech getting to substitute UGA, Vandy, Miss State (last years 3 of 4 non-conference games against the mighty SEC) with the likes of Charleston, Troy, and FIU which was Florida’s 3 of 4 non-conference games last year. Check the other current SEC non-conference games – for the most part it is pathetic. Tech scheduled THREE SEC teams! If the SEC folks want to say Vandy and Miss State aren’t that tough, then you got to acknowledge then that four cup-cake non-conference games + 2-3 soft SEC teams = 6 to 7 easy wins each year for an average SEC team. What is so scary about that….
dawgfan
April 30th, 2010
10:01 am
How would Tech fare in the SEC? Well, they would be in the SEC East. They can’t beat Georgia with any regularity. Florida would wipe the floor with them. They could probably hang with Tennessee most years. South Carolina would be a good game. I’m thinking 3rd or 4th in the East is the most they could ever hope for. Even last year’s team, their best in 18 years, couldn’t beat Georgia. That team probably would have been 2nd in the East at best, maybe 3rd given the more difficult schedule.
secfactcheck.com
April 30th, 2010
10:10 am
Well, the game last year with UGA was close. You conveniently last out the Tech victory at UGA when UGA was preseason #1 in the country. Each of the last two years UGA started the season ranked above GA Tech. GA Tech went 1-1 against UGA. You tell me who were the under achievers? UGA’s team two ago was supposed to be their best EVER! Can’t remember the last time UGA started number one.
supersize that order, mutt
April 30th, 2010
10:21 am
Joe, you’re full of it there for the most part. I can guarantee you that neither Florida nor South Carolina would veto their instate rivals joining the conference. Georgia is the only one greedy and insecure enough about their place in the football world to veto anybody joining the conference. Dooley already did that once, and there was no logical reason for him to have done it other than pure greed and an unwillingness to share the limelight.
secfactcheck.com
April 30th, 2010
10:22 am
Besides, first two years with a new coach, new system… I’ll take where the program is and where it is headed any day.
Gator CHOMP Champ
April 30th, 2010
10:23 am
Tech is 2009 ACC Champs. They lose to GA every year and GA is a lower tier SEC team. Even Tech kids are sharp enough to do the math here.
Joe
April 30th, 2010
10:25 am
supersize,
Why on Earth would Florida, South Carolina, or Georgia allow anything to happen that would ultimately benefit their hated rivals?
Georgia Tech left the SEC and will never be welcomed back… so I guess it’s good y’all like the ACC better.
mike slive
April 30th, 2010
10:32 am
joe
you can shut your pie-hole now because
you dont know what the hell youre taking about
geez, some sec fans really are THAT stupid