UPDATED: Tech denies Big Ten rumors
Amidst rumors and reports that Georgia Tech has applied and been approved for membership into the Big Ten, the school denied their veracity.
“There is no truth to the rumors,” Institute spokesman Matt Nagel said in an e-mail Friday afternoon.
In his conversations with school president G.P. “Bud” Peterson, acting athletic director Paul Griffin said that Peterson “has told me there’s been no communication (with the Big Ten), nor does he expect any.”
Griffin spoke from Charlotte, N.C., where Tech will play Florida State for the ACC football championship Saturday. Griffin said in addition he was not aware of any communications between Tech leadership and the Big Ten or any other conference.
Wednesday, on a teleconference with news media following the ACC accepting Louisville as a member, commissioner John Swofford said that the nature of conversations he had had with Peterson in the past 10 days regarding Tech’s future “has been emphatic in terms of their commitment to the ACC and Georgia Tech’s future.”
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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252 comments Add your comment
Father of 5
November 30th, 2012
4:47 pm
SEC will block the B1G’s intrusion by offering Tech a better deal. FSU will round out the 16 teams of the SEC superconference. The B1G will settle for the Boston and possibly Miami markets. ACC is toast, which is what it deserves (e.g. $4 tickets to conference championship).
ACC has abused its football schools for too long. Even the basketball schools realize they can’t compete without football money. The ACC offers half the money of every other major conference (not including the mid-major Big East — which is why all those teams are willing to settle for the formerly prestigious ACC). As of Sunday, you can stick a fork in the ACC.
GT Joe
November 30th, 2012
4:50 pm
GT in the SEC? Please! We run in a different crowd, to put it nicely.
jw
November 30th, 2012
4:52 pm
This is great
“There is no truth to the rumors,” – - – - – - today.
There will be truth to the rumors between 11pm Saturday night and 11pm Sunday night. Just love how those white shirt dudes spin with a forked tongue (oops, stinger).
They can’t turn 50 million a year in football money down – no way. Every college blog in that conference said it’s a done deal – so we will (fingers crossed) trust you that “There is no truth to the rumors,” until Sunday night……
Then you got some ’splaining to do! LOL. Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State at the Flats – guess I’ll be buying tickets to that stuff!
dexterjenkins
November 30th, 2012
4:52 pm
UNC, NC State, and Duke will NOT leave the ACC. You also will never separate UVA and VT. I’m not sure if ND doing well this year helped ACC football or hurt their chance of getting ND in. The Big 10, and as a Mountaineer, the Big 12, have a lot of work to do in my opinion…but then again I grew up in Atlanta.
frustrated fan
November 30th, 2012
4:52 pm
i dont think gt moving to another conference at this point in time would be beneficial because the acc is still a very strong conference especially in non football sports. if fsu and clemson leave or sec invites us back, maybe should reconsider because then would at least stay in the same geographic region. also i hate all of the fans that say are football program is dead. i mean we should continue one of the longest current streaks in the country of bowlgames this year and were not losing too many seniors this year, even if they are important like uzzi and orwin.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
@ Pope UGA XXIII……your odds are probably 100% correct, but not all of your logic is. Tech once had the largest on-campus stadium in the SEC, and it was full to capacity weekly. We also had more SEC championships at that time than did UGA. Whether returning to the SEC would solve Tech’s problems or make them worse is an unknown, but the SEC is where Tech belongs. The only bridges that were burnt when Tech left the SEC in 1966 were with the Mississippi schools, and those bridges had been burned long before then since Dodd always refused to go to Mississippi for games. UGA does not want us and abstained on the vote in the 80s when Tech tried to return. Whether other schools outside of UGA and the Mississippi schools would accept us now is debatable, but it SHOULD be considered.
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2012
4:54 pm
I’m in for the Big Ten, especially since the ACC has soiled their own house by admitting Louisville.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 30th, 2012
4:55 pm
It is my understanding that UVA cannot BY VA LAW go anywhere without VT, and vice versa
mike
November 30th, 2012
4:55 pm
As a Big Ten guy (Purdue) I hope this is true. Georgia Tech is a great institution with solid athletics. Beyond the geographic weirdness (which no longer matters in this brave new world) I think they’d fit in really well. With all due respect to Rutgers and Maryland, I think GT is a much better fit than they are.
Jacket Up
November 30th, 2012
4:58 pm
I am amazed at the naivete of some of you guys. First, as Decatur Hurricane and Tellitlikeitis seem to believe, along with the tooth fairy, et al, the financial picture at the GTAA is not peaches and cream. Nor is it with the ACC. We have a chance to not only right our ship but to get it headed in the right direction: Championship Football.
To succeed athletically we have to recruit academically – that is, go for the kids who are smart enough to know there is life after football, college or pro. These kids are much more “available” in the midwest and east than in the south, and they are not totally convinced that you have to play for an SEC team. With the increased income we definitely will receive in this move, we can widen our recruiting net substantially. And we can hire top flight coaches to produce better players. Plus a lot of things like increase marketing and promote a higher attendance at our games. Also, there are many more Big Ten football fans in Metro Atlanta than ACC fans, which also should help our attendance.
The ACC, meanwhile, is falling apart. How long will it take ESPN to completely divorce itself from televising ACC games when the SEC games are available? The Fighting Irish, you can bet, don`t need the ACC to get to the BCS Championship, so the chances of them coming to the ACC`s rescue are pretty slim to none. And, you can bet the ranch that FSU, Clemson, Va.Tech, and Miami aren`t interested in trying to hold this conference up single handedly. You say, “What about basketball?” That`s what the Big East keeps saying. And the ACC will soon be right where they are, if they`re lucky. There are FOUR Major Conferences, and the ACC didn`t make the cut. Wake up, guys. Our opportunity is here. Don`t waste it.
I`ll say this. If Bud Peterson turns his back on this opportunity to get our athletic program on a high and permanently successful level, he will have a hard time leading Georgia Tech, period.
Tech To Big Ten!
November 30th, 2012
5:02 pm
Supersize, the law says that VT has to stay in ACC as long as UVA does, not that they have to stay together if UVA moves. UVA and GT to Big 10, FSU and Miami to Big 12, NC State and VT to SEC. GSU to ACC, so they can keep the Atlanta market.
old dog
November 30th, 2012
5:03 pm
@Supersize,
It would certainly increase the rivalry/importance of the game if we could get ya’ll back in the SEC…..Ole Miss/Miss.State ‘Bama/Auburn, Tenn./Vandy. Very frankly, it would help ya’ll take the program more seriously and would DEFINITELY help in your recruiting.
yeller bug
November 30th, 2012
5:04 pm
Tech can’t afford to leave with the $50M departure fee. As others have posted above—start winning games and your TV contract revenue will increase. People need to quit whining like someone wanting an Obama handout.
The SEC makes more money because they’ve earned it. The UGA-Alabama will draw far more viewers than GT-FSU. The ACC went 0-4 against the SEC last weekend. Currently, we are their b*tch—that’s the facts. The ACC has the academic prestige, dominance in B-ball, and has former football greats in FSU, Miami, ND, VT and yes Clemson, GT, and Pitt. This year we all su-u-cked. I think the schools need to stick together–get to 16 teams and start producing better results on the field. If we do that the revenue will come.
Prometheus
November 30th, 2012
5:08 pm
Go to SEC and B12 if you have no interest in basketball. I personally luv great ACC rounball after FB season. Or SEC can huddle around TV and watch slick John and the Cats.
George Stein
November 30th, 2012
5:09 pm
Execute a grant of rights and be done with this nonsense already.
wrecked again
November 30th, 2012
5:11 pm
Bama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Miss. State all voted against Tech re-entry to SEC. Tech doesn’t fit in the SEC. If it wants to win football games it should stay in the ACC. GT would be a bottom dweller in SEC or Big 10.
steved
November 30th, 2012
5:12 pm
2 of 3 GA Tech, NC, VA to Big 10. Clemson and FSU to SEC. Both full then at 16. Someone gets left out so Tech better take the offer now.. Big 12 will get whats left over as they move east – with WV in hand, who here doesn’t think Big 12 hasn’t promised WV more teams in the east? TX will go West sooner or later (Pac12) which will leave another opening for them. ACC and Big East will be outside the 4 big conferences. A 4 team playoff will begin to really make sense. Not hard to forecast!
VPI97
November 30th, 2012
5:13 pm
“Supersize, the law says that VT has to stay in ACC as long as UVA does, not that they have to stay together if UVA moves.”
That is completely and utterly inaccurate. There’s no law anywhere in Virginia that says anything about conference affiliations for VT and UVA. It’s amazing what nonsense people come up with.
Dawggies Rule
November 30th, 2012
5:13 pm
Heck, in addition to leaving the ACC for the Big Dud conference, they oughtta just go ahead and move Yech’s physical campus on up there as well. Atlanta could sure use another urban renewal project to upgrade the North Avenue neighborhood!!
Good job, GT Joe...
November 30th, 2012
5:13 pm
…”Georgia State doesn’t fit the B1G academically” – that is the first poignant thing you have posted in about 8 weeks…
But, if GT does go, will Vad still be the QB of choice?
Delbert D.
November 30th, 2012
5:13 pm
Just Google “Georgia Tech Big Ten”. There is enough there to excite that Mel Gibson character in “Conspiracy Theory.” In addition to Julia Roberts, that is.
Uh, VPI97...
November 30th, 2012
5:16 pm
…I heard the same thing the Supersize wrote – however, maybe it is a “legislative agreement” that somehow got misrepresented as “law”, though I do think there is validity to its being true, no matter what verbiage you use…
dexterjenkins
November 30th, 2012
5:23 pm
Why would Tech want to leave the ACC? They made it to the Championship game with a 500 record.
Tech To Big Ten!
November 30th, 2012
5:23 pm
VPI97, I saw it on the Internet, so it must be true!
blazerdawg
November 30th, 2012
5:24 pm
If this is about the money (!) I wish that GT would rejoin the SEC. The Jackets football attendance is fine, and contrary to most blog commentary, they draw better than Vandy and Ole Miss, and about the same as Miss State and even So Carolina in down years, which is mainly what GT has had. This Dawg would welcome them back in and would enjoy seeing them play Auburn, UT, UF and Bama again. It would be good for GT, they would be a good asset to the SEC in many ways, and the SEC would stamp its southern footprint.
If it is not about the money (ahem), then they should stay put in the ACC.
come on
November 30th, 2012
5:24 pm
this is why the acc said that they new uconn and cincy would be there when needed. acc officials new all along tech was going to but not announcing till after the championship game.
DawginNY
November 30th, 2012
5:24 pm
This is crazy. Somebody with higher authority (NCAA? Congress?) needs to step in before this conference market grab destroys college athletics. It was decided a while back the the NCAA couldn’t negotiate television contracts, but conferences could. Now we have a mess where universities are valued for big bucks based upon the size of their TV markets OR athletic department income statements. Despite being a capitalist and a fan of one of the most “profitable” athletic departments, I can see that television money needs be shared equally by every university that competes that we are going to allow to compete for the national chamionship.
VPI97
November 30th, 2012
5:25 pm
“I heard the same thing the Supersize wrote”
Replace the word “heard” with the likely more factual “read some internet post from some anonymous person that said” and see if someone takes you seriously.
Again, there is no validity to that nonsense.
Tech Guy
November 30th, 2012
5:25 pm
If invited Tech will join the Big 10 for two reasons. First, the money. Radakovitch left Tech with a huge debt. The annual debt burden will be one fourth of revene, and Tech cannot be successful with that debt huge burden.
The second reason is recruiting. The majority of UGA’s, Alabama and Florida players are special admits to the schools which means they are not qualified for the schools.Tech cannot recruit those players. By being in the Big 10, Tech will be able to recruit players in states with many more qualified players..
George Stein
November 30th, 2012
5:27 pm
Doubt very seriously there’s been any legislation about what conference UVA or VT can join. However, neither is going anywhere without the other.
700 is
November 30th, 2012
5:29 pm
Vad Lee’s SAT score. Nope, no special admits here at GT.
Not sure why GT
November 30th, 2012
5:29 pm
denies this because it is a done deal.
VPI97
November 30th, 2012
5:30 pm
“However, neither is going anywhere without the other.”
There’s no validity to that comment, either.
George Stein
November 30th, 2012
5:31 pm
After what happened to get VT into the ACC, you’ve got a tough case to make if you think you’re dumping UVA without a fight.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 30th, 2012
5:32 pm
@VPI97…..I think you need to do a little research. Some kind of agreement was reached when VT was invited to join the ACC, and it had to do with UVA and VT staying together. Whether it’s VA law, I don’t know for sure; but that was my understanding.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 30th, 2012
5:33 pm
@ 700 is……so why don’t you tell us what Vad Lee’s SAT scores were. Probably higher than yours ever were
VPI97
November 30th, 2012
5:37 pm
I really don’t think I need to get any lessons about VT or UVA from someone on an AJC blog. I know my school’s history. UVA getting asked by the governor to vote Tech into the ACC doesn’t mean the schools are married and/or eternally attached. I doubt either school wants to have their free will harnessed to the other.
GT Man
November 30th, 2012
5:37 pm
Wish the SEC would take us back. The ACC is really not a football conference. Was hoping Johnson would be gone soon and go for Charley Strong, but now hes in the ACC. Wish this conference crap would never have started, miss the Southwest Conference and just having 10-12 bowls instead of these junk bowls with 6-6 teams. Pretty soon, it will be everyone can go bowling, even winless teams for the tv revenue.
DawginNY
November 30th, 2012
5:38 pm
I am glad to see the demise of the Big East as a football conference. But we need 5 strong conferences to accomodate all the teams that can compete at a high level. Rutgers, WVU, and UConn should be in the ACC. L-ville should be in the SEC, Cincy in the Big 10, and A&M and Nebraska shoud go back to the Big 12.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 30th, 2012
5:39 pm
VP197…..for what it’s worth, they ARE apparently mandated now to play each other every year. I guess that DOES allow for them to go their separate ways, but they still must play each other annually.
DawginNY
November 30th, 2012
5:40 pm
@GT man, I wish the SEC would too. We should also take FSU and Miami and get rid is Mizzou (Big 10), Ark, A&M (Big 12) and S. Carolina (ACC).
Supersize that order, mutt
November 30th, 2012
5:42 pm
VPI97…..If you want a reference for my 5:39PM post, try “Virginia Tech Magazine. Fall 2004″
1310 is
November 30th, 2012
5:49 pm
my SAT score!
GT Man
November 30th, 2012
5:50 pm
@ DawginNY, thats a pretty good setup and I agree with you, always thought it was so stupid for WVA in Big 12 and Mizzou in SEC along with A&M. Might as well put Hawaii and AZ and Boise in ACC. Cant see Maryland and Rutgers in Big 10, never could see Cincy, Rutgers or S.Fla in a big conference. Cant see BC, Syracuse or Pitt in the ACC. I still wish GT would quit playing Georgia, cant beat them and am tired of the annual butt beating because PJ cant recruit players.
USMC DAWG
November 30th, 2012
5:51 pm
As a Dawg Fan, I would like to see Georgia Tech back in the SEC… where they belong. The SEC ought to bring Tech back and just consider it as a Defensive measure to protect the Atlanta TV market against other conferences. AND Tech belongs in the SEC.
Go Dawgs!
USMC DAWG
November 30th, 2012
5:53 pm
I think Tech would thrive in the SEC. Don’t give me that BS about academics. They need a boost!
Go Dawgs!
flagboy?
November 30th, 2012
5:58 pm
I doubt tech is going to be rejoining the SEC. Stranger things have happened, especially with the current conference jumping in college football, but I don’t see it happening.
The ACC as we know it is toast though.
GTJohn
November 30th, 2012
5:58 pm
allenlaw – I like the way you think.
USMC DAWG
November 30th, 2012
5:59 pm
I think there will come a time in the near future when one of these conferences BITES OFF too much and suffers the repercussions of OVER-expansion. For this reason, I would like to see the SEC lock up GT, and either Clem(p)son or FSU.
Sure, these schools don’t “expand” your tv market as much as a school out of your geographic area, but they SOLIDIFY your geographic area and keep other conferences OUT.
I really want GT in the SEC. We really don’t HATE each other(that much
and UGA/GT are a great rivalry!
Go Dawgs!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 30th, 2012
6:00 pm
@ USMC DAWG…..Thanks