Georgia Tech, ACC content to watch expansion for now
Dan Radakovich has been a bottom-line guy since becoming athletic director at Georgia Tech and he isn't oblivious to the conference expansion talk in college sports. (AJC file photo)
Depending on which rumor you choose to believe, the Big Ten hopes to expand by one school, three, four, five or possibly 17, after which time it would become the first major college football conference to set up an international division based in Lisbon.
As Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich said, “It’s accurate to say nobody knows where this is going. I told somebody the other day it’s a similar situation to when there’s literally hundreds of scenarios about bowl games until suddenly the whole thing gets settled in a couple of days. There’s no certainty in college athletics right now.”
If you’re Radakovich, you’re watching with more than a casual interest. Tech’s athletic department has had to deal with budget cutbacks and economic issues in the past couple of years, and the ACC is in a delicate situation right now — so much so that other conferences may be looking to pick off members.
A recent ESPN story mentioned two ACC teams, Tech and Maryland, as possibly being in the mix in Big Ten expansion plans. Once you get past the initial shock of Georgia Tech road games in Ann Arbor and Columbus (the real one), you begin to realize nothing today is off the table.
Conferences are like corporations. They’re going to swallow college teams like Walmarts swallow corner markets. Greed is good. Lunch is for wimps. Gordon Gekko didn’t have a conscience and neither do conference commissioners when ESPN knocks on their door.
Expansion leads to value. Value leads to bigger television contracts. Bigger television contracts mean money for bigger and better libraries. (Kidding.)
It doesn’t quite jibe with the “mission” of college athletics. But the NCAA has been a hypocritical outfit for some time now, and the SEC blew the roof off with gluttonous contracts with ESPN and CBS. Total value: $3.075 billion over 15 years. That’s $17.1 million per school per year before they have ever sold a ticket or opened bidding for a recruit.
How does Georgia Tech and the rest of the ACC fit into this? Expansion with Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College, compounded by Florida State’s slide, has kept ACC football lower in stature than other BCS conferences. That is why the conference’s current television contracts, which expire after next football season, pay out about $5 million per school – the equivalent of change found under Mike Slive’s couch cushions.
That could be about to change. Sports Business Daily is reporting the ACC is set to announce a new 12-year deal for football and basketball rights with ESPN worth $1.86 billion. That would be a significant step up for the conference at $12.9 million annually per school, though still behind the SEC.
But this game isn’t going to end any time soon. The Big Ten, which wants to start a conference football championship game and is angling for SEC TV dollars, will start picking off teams. The Big 12 and the Pacific 10 will react.
At some point, the ACC will have to react. But right now, they’re just watching, and so is Tech.
The SEC is proactive on all matters with a dollar sign. The conference easily could expand and cherry pick from the ACC. How’s this for a scenario: Georgia Tech and Florida State joining the SEC? (The Jackets were once charter members of the SEC, for those not familiar with history.) The conference would have built-in rivalries with Georgia-Georgia Tech and Florida-Florida State.
Radakovich has heard the rumors. He says they’re unfounded. He says all the right things.
But does he close the door to change? No.
“Right now we’re very happy with the ACC,” he said. “If the landscape changes, we have to do what’s best for Georgia Tech. That’s our job.
“We’re all fans. We understand this is a business. We’re not turning a blind eye to what’s going on. In any walk of life, you have to ask yourself, ‘Can we do better?’ But I’m also reminded of the saying that the grass is always greener on the other side. It’s not occupying my thoughts right now.”
The Big Ten is still plotting. When it makes a move, it could be like the tipping over the first domino.
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83 comments Add your comment
Jeff Schultz
May 18th, 2010
3:19 pm
Shane: $205 million per year vs. $155 million per year, if I did my math correctly. So I guess it all depends how you define significant. But repeating: It’s a good deal.
Jeff Schultz
May 18th, 2010
3:22 pm
Wawe78….I hear what you’re saying but they wouldn’t be moving the whole school there. We’re talking about a few of college Saturdays on the road in the cold (maybe).
Atlanta--Home to GT & SEC Championship Game
May 18th, 2010
3:29 pm
Georgia Tech belongs in the SEC period.
Trade-In Time
May 18th, 2010
3:35 pm
Give Georgia Tech back to the SEC
and South Carolina back to the ACC
Ramblin Wrecker
May 18th, 2010
3:41 pm
The Big Ten and Jim Delany have said it themselves, that expanding the membership into the South is a motivating factor. It sounds more and more like Georgia Tech would be a likely target. It’s in a big media market that isn’t currently a Big Ten fan base. It’s a fertile recruiting ground. GT is a member of the AAU and GT is a competitive program.
Check out this story:
http://www.startribune.com/local/94162499.html
TECHTOWER
May 18th, 2010
3:46 pm
tech stays
i say the sec falls!
Heath
May 18th, 2010
4:16 pm
Again, what does the SEC gain from adding a school that can’t sell 40,000 tickets per week? Maybe the draw would be that you could always get a seat at NATS if you were traveling with your team.
George
May 18th, 2010
4:20 pm
Prior to joining the ACC, Tech was nominated for membership in the SEC by Alabama. According to the AJC at that time, Bear Bryant made a passionate speech for acceptance. The vote had to be unamimous.
Georgia and Mississippi voted no. Mississippi’s Johnny Vaught still held hard feelings toward Bobby Dodd. Vince Dooley felt it would give Tech a recruiting edge on Georgia. Every school must still vote yes for admittance, but this time dollars will rule and not hard feelings.
wawel78
May 18th, 2010
4:29 pm
Sorry Jeff, I meant the Big 10 grabbing recruits out of the south if they were able to land Ga Tech. The recruits would still have to play in a cold atmosphere if they didn’t go to Tech. If the money was right, I don’t think the weather would influence Raddy’s decision.
Tech Monster
May 18th, 2010
4:35 pm
The SEC should dump arkansas and get Ga Tech.
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[...] a team that makes no sense, and somehow all the sense in the world to Jim Delany? According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Georgia Tech is a hot button team that should be interrested in a move, Conferences are like [...]
IL Jacket
May 18th, 2010
5:55 pm
Jeff, I don’t know what website you are quoting, but Scott’s numbers are closer to accurate with respect to TV rights. The Big Ten Network paid $122 Million to the conference last year, ESPN paid $100 for football pursuant to their 10-year deal (compared to the $150 Million under the new SEC deal in its third year) and the separate basketball deal with CBS. These total to approximately $22 Million for each of the eleven teams. You will note there are no bowl fees or licensing fees in these totals. So we really are comparing apples to apples and the Big Ten is still $5 Million ahead. One other thing-each of the Big Ten teams is building equity in the BTN for the future. For the backup see the ozone.net on Big Ten expansion.
Clout
May 18th, 2010
7:05 pm
Schultz, enough of your SEC posturing. The ACC just doubled their revenue – and the deal is over 12 years, not 15 — and all you can do is poo poo it. Yes, there’s still a difference but the SEC negotiated their deal at the height of the economy. Besides, there’s a bigger picture here when you talk of school affiliations — things like faculty, academics, reputation and researh dollars. Heck, even the Big 10 knows that.
If a Clemson or an FSU leaves (I wouldn’t put Tech in their category), do you think the faculty at at UNC, Duke or UVa are going to bat an eye? The reality is Clemson and FSU — like every other ACC school — have many decision-makers who would prefer to remain ACC members. There’s a bigger picture here that you cannot seem to grasp. And make no mistake, the 5M delta b/t what UVA takes in versus Mississppi State’s 17M from the $EC is inconsequential
Ramblin' Wreck
May 18th, 2010
7:25 pm
Real built in rivalries:
Tech vs Auburn
Tech vs ‘bama
Tech vs TN
Clout
May 18th, 2010
7:44 pm
Schultz, you poo poo what the ACC did in a tough economy and over 12 years not 15 like the SEC. Do you think an institution like UVa will bat an eye that an MSU or an LSU makes 5M per year b/c of TV bucks??? Have you seen their endowment??? All your SEC posturing is fine and dandy but there’s a bigger “pecking order” from an institutional standpoint. Big 10 maneauvering aside, whatever overtures the SEC makes and whatever the hell a Clemson or an FSU does (or a Tech which I doubt the Pres. woould want to step back academically), there are a number of ACC schools that will never, ever be affiliated with certain schools from the situational ethics conference.
GT GRAD
May 18th, 2010
8:40 pm
GT in the SEC or Little10…………no thanks.
Legitimate question: After the new ACC football contract is finalized………….what will the combined TV revenues be for Football, Basketball & Baseball (ACC, SEC & Big10) per team.
I imagine the SEC is still #1, but the differential is probably not as significant since the ACC would most definitely draw more money for Basketball & Baseball in comparison to the 12 SEC teams.
IL Jacket
May 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
GT Grad, after giving effect to the latest contract negotiated by the ACC and after giving effect to the amount of each contract going to the respective conference offices, the totals per team appear to be approximately $22 Million (Big Ten); $15.77 Million(SEC); and $11.92 Million(ACC). As far as I can tell the SEC and ACC contracts are comprehensive and exclusive covering all sports. The Big Ten has a separate basketball contract with CBS that I believe ends after the next season. Most
of this information comes from the Sports Business Journal.
Pope UGA XXIII
May 19th, 2010
8:33 am
Hope the humble bumbles are content to watch conference
expansions, cuz that’s what they will be doing – watching.
ihavewud4GT
May 19th, 2010
1:30 pm
jeff schultz = brian posehn
Bryan
May 19th, 2010
2:45 pm
I think Maryland, UVA, or Virginia Tech all make much more sense for the Big 10 than GT. Sure GT has some Atlanta pull but Maryland would bring you DC and Baltimore. VT and to a lesser extent UVA bring you DC, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Roanoke. New markets. However, I like others here think the whole mega conference expansion talk sucks. It’s not good for college athletics.
wesleywhatwhat
May 19th, 2010
4:28 pm
the acc signing a billion + dollar contract with ESPN does NOT equal “the ACC is in a delicate situation right now”.
my advice – stop reading tony “mr sec football” barnhart if u want an unbiased look at college football.
Tony
May 19th, 2010
6:09 pm
It doesn’t matter to me which conference Tech becomes a member but don’t believe there are no many Big Ten supporters in the Atlanta area. I know several and I would bet many of the posters here do also. Recruiting would also open up for Tech in the Big Ten and the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl would be a draw for many in the South. But that is just football. Basketball would not be hurt much as Big Ten basketball is well respected. But the spring sports may suffer. Playing baseball or tennis may not be as appealing it travel was required in Feb and March. The ACC only wanted Tech because of the Atlanta media. Techs athletics were in shambles and were not expected to win many games much less conference championships. The Atlanta Media would help the Big Ten more than the Virginia- DC Conection at least as far as players. May be not viewers but players as there are many more Division I players out of the South than the DC area. As I said I really don’t care were Tech goes just get out of the ACC where nothing is done to Officials when it is obvious they cheat. At least the SEC has suspended Officials when a review indicates they were wrong. The ACC doesn’t suspend Officials when a player goes out of bounds and gained a first down with less than a minute left in the half as in Tech vs N.Carolina this year. Of course the ACC Commisioner was the AD at NC for over 10 Yrs. No wonder they get the advantage in calls. May be the REfs are told they will be fired if they don’t.
THWGT!!!
May 19th, 2010
10:10 pm
THWGT!!!!!
GT2B10MYIDEA
May 19th, 2010
11:35 pm
Actually since we’re on the subject…
If Notre Dame and Texas joined the B10 along with Nebraska, Missouri, Rutgers, and Georgia Tech the added revenue per year would be $40M per school NOT $22M.
GT2B10MYIDEA
May 19th, 2010
11:43 pm
minus either Nebraska, Mizzou, Rutgers or GT from the equation. My point, it’s going to be a dog fight to get that 16th spot and make that extra $40M per year.
Fillin' up @ Juniors
May 20th, 2010
9:20 am
Don’t care who Tech plays, when they play em, or their liklihbood to win, just love my jackets… But honestly I would keep my vote in the ACC, the new contract is bound to help the ACC recover competitive ground on the SEC, and its only a matter of time before the big time programs re-emerge ala FSU, Miami, Clemson, VT…and when three of those can put together strong seasons the ACC will be back to football promise land. The Big 10 doesn’t offer any more excitment, and I feel the SEC would make us into the new South Carolina of the SEC…great games, great rivalries, and probably not competing for championships every year. In the end, don’t care going to love on my jackets no matter who they play….
ACC
May 20th, 2010
1:21 pm
I for one say stay in the ACC. The only benefit for Tech joining the SEC is football and money, which is great but theirs more to it than that. Think about the institution. Think about the ACC and what it means. The academics are the best. Best basketball. Do you really want to travel to Ann Arbor and Columbus every other year? Not to mention Happy Valley. Yes great match ups but a lot of cash for John Doe fan. The ACC has been great to us since the beginning. We just need DRAD to schedule more opponents from the SEC every year. Stay in the ACC.
JawjunY'all
May 22nd, 2010
9:55 am
Wait’ll Obama reads about all that cash floating around. Schools with incorporated athletic programs – - don’t walk, don’t run, fly to your smartest corporate tax shysters.
Stinger
May 31st, 2010
8:53 am
The ACC should raid Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and LSU. This would strengthen football and not hurt basketball. I can’t see UGA is the ACC. They have no basketball or baseball team and the football team wasn’t even ranked last year.
VTCSA
June 2nd, 2010
10:15 pm
Virginia was the capital of the confederacy and Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, J.E.B Staurt etc.. were Virginians and I doubt anyone would say Robert E Lee was not a southerner. Virginia joined the Confederacy before Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. Virginia is as much the South as any of the 11 seceding states and belongs in the SEC. Kentucky didn’t even secede by the way. You talk of SEC culture, VT is it. I say the SEC should add FSU, Clemson, VT and one of UNC/GT/UVA. Lane Stadium is as intense and loud as any SEC stadium. I think it would be great plus open up new TV market.
Impartial
June 5th, 2010
5:10 am
Tech in the Big 10? Doesn’t work for obvious reasons. Tech needs to be back in the SEC where they have belonged the whole time.
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