Fan talk: Does Clemson belong in the SEC?
One week to go. Time for some more Junkyard Mail. First up, a couple of readers want to talk SEC expansion. …
Jonathan London writes: I don’t understand why the SEC wants another member to add to the conference. All that will do is decrease each school’s share when we split up revenue. It might increase overall revenue, but I don’t think enough to offset the decreases. We have the greatest league in college football history right now. Why would we want to dilute it by adding another school, especially some inferior, middle of the road program like Texas A&M? Compared to Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, Auburn and Florida, adding A&M is like adding another Arkansas. FSU isn’t much better.
And Carolina Pup writes: Looks like Texas A&M joining the SEC is pretty much a done deal. But how long can the conference go with an unbalanced 13 teams? So who should be added as the 14th team? Or should the SEC go all the way to being a 16-team mega-league? I know who I’d like to see added: The Clemson Tigers! What do you think?
As I’ve said before, to me it only makes sense for the SEC to expand if it moves into new television markets, which will increase the revenue when the conference undoubtedly opens talks on renegotiating its current TV deal. Texas A&M gets the conference into the Texas TV markets, so I think it’s a win for the SEC. As for making Clemson the 14th team, I disagree. Yes, Clemson would be a good fit in the SEC in terms of football culture and fan support and most years would be competitive, but the SEC already has the South Carolina TV market, so the Tigers don’t bring anything new to the table. If the conference does decide to expand to 16 teams then, yes, I think Clemson should be one of them. But if it only goes to 14, the logical choice to be added to the East to balance A&M joining the West is Virginia Tech, a major program that would bring the Washington, D.C. television market with it. Now, I know that the Hokies’ athletic director has said he would “politely decline” a bid from the SEC, but that’s probably about as firm as a Nick Saban denial. If, however, Virginia Tech does decide to stay in the ACC, picking a 14th team becomes a bit trickier. Although on the surface Missouri might not seem like a good fit for the SEC, I’ve heard a pretty good case made for them in terms of adding the St. Louis TV market. So for the 14th team it looks like Virginia Tech and Missouri are the best options. If the conference adds a 15th and 16th team, Florida State and Clemson would be my preferred picks.
Barry Smith writes: Bill, I thought Boise was supposed to wear blue in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game but I see now that their Pro Combat uniforms have been unveiled, and they’re all white. What gives? And which team do you think fared the best in the Nike fashion makeover?
Boise State's helmet for the game against Georgia. (Nike)
The game contract did indeed call for both Georgia and Boise State to wear their home colors, but in today’s college football world Nike gets what Nike wants, so the Broncos will be in what’s been dubbed their “ghost horse” uniform. (By the way, Boise State is asking its fans to wear blue to the game.) While I’m not crazy about Georgia’s jerseys, as I said earlier this week, I don’t mind the all-red look and like it better than Boise’s white on white, a look that I’ve never been fond of, whether it was on Penn State or the Georgia Tech band. But I must say I really like the Pro Combat helmets Nike came up with for Boise with that cool Bronco logo. Meanwhile, if you haven’t yet watched the Nike promotional video for UGA’s Pro Combat look, check it out here.
Myles writes: Hey Bill, so, how many WR/Flanker screens will Bobo call in the opener? Over or under 3? Whatcha got? Semper Fi and GO DAWGS!
I’m betting Bobo calls more than three screens and he’s likely to be dumping it off to the backs quite a bit, too. It makes sense to get the ball to Georgia’s playmakers in open space against the Boise defense.
Speaking of Bobo, Wes Starr writes: When are the Bulldogs, and Richt in particular, going to rid themselves of Bobo as a coach for the offense? The Bulldogs have not had a great quarterback since David Greene when it comes to flat out confusing defenses. Matthew Stafford was talent mixed with an idiot Bobo. If Stafford was under the direct coaching of Richt, there would have been a National Championship. When is Bobo gone?
I’ve had mixed feelings about Bobo the past few seasons. At times, he makes really smart calls, and I disagree with you about Georgia’s quarterbacks. I think Bobo is an excellent quarterbacks coach. But he’s inconsistent and impatient as a playcaller. It drives me crazy when something’s working and he goes away from it in some misguided attempt to keep his offense balanced. But to answer your question, I think Bobo’s fate is linked to that of Richt, his mentor. The only way I see Richt getting rid of Bobo is if Richt is told he needs to make a change in order to keep his job.
Got a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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240 comments Add your comment
4vatech
August 27th, 2011
12:50 pm
The SEC would be better served grabbing another team that contends for their conference yearly. Clemson, A&M, Florida State, Miami, what have they done in the past 10 years, nothing. VT has been a party to 2 different conferences and just about owned them both. They would find a way to get into the top 20% of the SEC in a relatively short period of time. The last 10 years proves it.
Top Dawg
August 27th, 2011
12:50 pm
Va tech=ghetto trash on the field, the miami north.
TJ
August 27th, 2011
12:51 pm
Clemson won’t join the SEC. South Carolina will never allow it, the same way that Georgia won’t allow Tech to join, and Florida won’t let FSU join.
poof!!!
August 27th, 2011
12:52 pm
You don’t like white on white unis? What’s wrong with you. That’s the best combination of all time. All white unis lets the opponent know that it is all about the game and not the unis. I love Penn St. unis. They scream “we came to play”.
Top Dawg
August 27th, 2011
12:55 pm
They scream all right….every time they look at an opponent.
4vatech
August 27th, 2011
12:56 pm
All those great Georgia football players equal about the same, nothing for a long, long, time!!! Ballyhooed Bulldogs Bust again! Just kidding hope Georgia can at least win the East and keep Richt his job. He’s a good man.
shane#1
August 27th, 2011
12:57 pm
VT is option#1, USCe, and Florida have both stated that they do not want another SEC team in their state. SOS and company would block Clemson. If not VT, then look closely at UNC or NCState. Either will give the SEC access to the Middle Atlantic states and the high tech triangle. I know UNC is on probation as far as football is concerned, but I hear their b-ball teams are pretty good.
UGAer
August 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Can’t wait so see the dawgs lose to Boise and then SC. 0-2 start for the perennial NC in 2011. Looking forward to the annual whupping they get from Florida (does not matter who coaches Florida)and then all the “Dawg Nation” start talking about how somebody stole the game from them. Poorly coached, poorly recruited rabble of a program. A degree from UGA and $1 will get you a cup of coffee. GO UCF!!!!
4vatech
August 27th, 2011
12:59 pm
Top Dog go easy on Penn St they’ve got a 16 – 16 record all time against the SEC and 1 – 0 against Georgia (for the National Championship), I know that still hurts a Georgia fan.
CLEMSONDUDE
August 27th, 2011
1:00 pm
Sure why not….Clemson would be a good fit in the SEC. A good overall sport program and closing in on a Top 20 Public University status. Clemson has great sports facilites. Death Valley is one of the top football venues in the country. An 83,000 seat stadium with room to expand to the upper 80,000 seats. TV market would be fair. The Greenville-Spartanburg- Asheville is not a bad market. You may could even add the Charlotte TV market as well. So why not Clemson.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 27th, 2011
1:00 pm
UNC football is not on probation – yet.
dawginduluth
August 27th, 2011
1:01 pm
Cool. Richt AND Bobo get the boot together! What are we waiting for?
Delbert D.
August 27th, 2011
1:01 pm
Paul – I’ll have to look this up again, but one of the other national journalists really slammed Pete Thamel for his reporting by drawing his own conclusions when the facts didn’t support his position.
Top Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:02 pm
Put GA Tech in….GA plays them anyway….can then add a new non-conference opponent to schedule!
Rick
August 27th, 2011
1:03 pm
Don’t need Clemson in the SEC, but it would be better than adding Missouri. Moving Alabama to the east would be the death knell for UGA.
Top Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:05 pm
Clemson belonged 30 years ago….not since
Top Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:07 pm
Rick, Look at schools geography, bubba. Auburn is more east than Alabama.
Those Bamards think they ended on a high note last year…amazing
Hey Now.....
August 27th, 2011
1:10 pm
I’m gonna go get involved with the national guard girl———->
Alphare
August 27th, 2011
1:10 pm
I think SEC should expand to 15 teams with 3 divisions. 3 division champions plus a wild card team battle for conference champion.
The 3 new teams I’d like to have: Tech, A&M, VT.
gvltiger94
August 27th, 2011
1:13 pm
@Carolina man. Figured there would be at least one clown coot on the board. Dump, take a look in the mirror. That pit of a stadium known at Billy Brice is a joke by most standards. I bet you are one of the many rednecks that crow like a chicken, attractive. You should know enough about being an anchor, you’ve been the tail end in the East since you came aboard. Oh, and don’t worry, you’ll be back to your prime backseat soon enough. It’ll be a pleasure to watch your bozo coach, qb and team fall flat.
Bobby
August 27th, 2011
1:18 pm
Have to agree with you about the GT band all white uniforms; I think their former uniforms looked much better. However, someone paid for the band uniforms so unless another alumnus is going to come forward the GT band will remain in all white. It really looks bad when they sit down on dirty bleachers and then stand up. Looks like they crapped in their pants.
Preston
August 27th, 2011
1:18 pm
I keep reading posts that ask things like “Why would USC or FL want their main rival in the SEC to share in state recruits?”. My question to that is: Why not? They recruit against each other for home grown talent anyway AND they play head to head EVERY year anyway. So what the hell is the big deal if they’re in the same conference or not? USC will play Clemson and UF will play FSU EVERY single year. Now I do understand why the SEC does need to look into new TV markets for expansion but the aforementioned question is illogical in nature.
Still@theBAR
August 27th, 2011
1:20 pm
The ACC should make the SEC happy. The SEC should take Texas A&M to make 13 and the ACC should take VANDERBILT to keep the SEC at 12. The ACC will be 13 and ask East Carolina or UCF to goin. The SEC should be happy with that.
Preston
August 27th, 2011
1:22 pm
Alphare, GT was a member of the SEC and they chose to leave because they got too big for their britches and decided to be like ND. Now they can suffer in a weak ass conference that doesn’t make nearly as much money and watch it lose it’s premier members (VT, Miami, FSU) to other conferences. The SEC should NEVER allow GT back in. Sucks for them but that’s what they get.
Inlet Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:24 pm
Would love to add Clem’s son to the SEC and give them or anybody that would take him BOBO.
Preston
August 27th, 2011
1:26 pm
Besides, why would the SEC want GT anyway? They rarely fill up that high school stadium they call home. LMAO! When they do it’s UGA fans coming to Atlanta to watch the Dawgs kick their butts!
shane#1
August 27th, 2011
1:31 pm
Paul, my bad, you are right. I forgot that the NCAA has only been nosing around the UNC program for about a year now. I can’t wait to see what they do to Miami, if I live long enough. I would love to have the Tarheels in the SEC! Good academics, big tv market, and I could watch the freakin’ Duke-UNC b-ball games! Mediacom has decided that this is SEC country[GO DAWGS], so they black out UNC-Duke and show either the Big 10[12?] or ESPNU. They also black out the Braves a lot, a pox on Mediacom!
Saban
August 27th, 2011
1:32 pm
Just put the dawgs in the same conference as Central Florida. Maybe 4 wins a year.
boise state 66 dawgs 3
Alphare
August 27th, 2011
1:35 pm
Preston,
GT is my hometown team and I root for them. GT holds more SEC titles than UGA although they left 50 years ago.
Once GT is in SEC, they will have better recruits and will man-handle UGA again. Well, maybe that’s why you don’t want them.
Tom
August 27th, 2011
1:51 pm
I would drop Vandy and Kentucky. Pick up Clemson and Florida State in the SEC east. Texas A&M should stay in the Big 12.
Remarkable
August 27th, 2011
1:51 pm
Clemson does NOT belong in the SEC. Not now and not ever. They don’t bring anything to the table. No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No,No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No,No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No, No,……………………………
ca dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:52 pm
i’d like our helmets if they had narrowed the red stripe and not extended it to the facemask. GATA.
sogadog
August 27th, 2011
1:53 pm
Its an arms race. The SEC will expand to stay ahead of the other conferences and Texas AM and Va Tech make sense from a $ standpoint.
I would prefer the status quo, but other conferences may outgrow the SEC if we dont expand.
I thought the ACC would surpass the SEC when FSU and Miami joined but I was wrong. In fact, the ACC has declined since it expanded in terms of revenue, attendance at its championship game, and on the field competitiveness. (ie no ACC team has played for the National Championship since 2000 season when FSU lost to Ok. Could the same happen if the SEC expands?
I would love to see what the AD at Va. Tech does when the SEC sends over a lucrative offer. Money talks and BS walks.
I like Bobo, he is a loyal Dawg and a good QB coach, but I hate to admit the offensive coordinator position is over his head and the game is too fast for his play calling abilities. Also, a lot of offensive talent has failed to develop under his leadership and I think Coach Richt should hire a new OC. How about Ralph Friedgen? I hope Coach Bobo proves me wrong.
dawgfan
August 27th, 2011
1:53 pm
I think the only kind of SEC expansion that would make any sense at all, and even this is a stretch, is to add someone like VT or WVU to the East and A&M or Mizzou to the West. Bringing in Clemson or Florida State wouldn’t accomplish much. The SEC already rules those areas.
Slaw Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:55 pm
With all due respect, Bill, I think it’s a shame that the primary consideration given on a fan site for including a conference member is TV revenue. Where’s the respect for good rivalries, tradition, convenience for fans (e.g. Travel) and what’s good for the local community? Why should TCU fans have to travel to Hartford or Syracuse to see their team play and why should Nebraska fans have only one conference rival within decent driving distance of their Alma mater? If the conference must expand–and I for one don’t see why it must–can fans be something more than a grubby afterthought?
dolla dolla bill
August 27th, 2011
1:56 pm
listen up necks…..TAMU would immediately be an upgrade for the SEC…opens up Texas, more eyeballs, more money…and drop this dumb a– argument that we are a southeast region conference only!! those days are over…I say no to Clemson, no to FSU, yes to VaTech for the mid-atlantic viewers, yes to WVirginia, which would get you Pittsburgh and the western PA/eastern Ohio fertile recruiting area. I’d also try to convince uga to move to the ACC, since their brand of catch me-kiss me football is a better fit over there.
War Dang Dawg
August 27th, 2011
1:58 pm
Mark Richt = energy vampire
Ellijay dawgcatcher
August 27th, 2011
1:59 pm
please bring Damon Evans back. We should be playing big boy teams, not Coastal Carolina and NMSt.
War Dang Dawg
August 27th, 2011
2:00 pm
When did Bobo become head coach? I thought Mark Richt called the shots and the buck stopped with him. Apparently not.
doug dawg
August 27th, 2011
2:01 pm
oh, PLEASE, not GT in the SEC. they left out of pure selfishness years ago; their ‘fans,’ what few of them there are, only trash uga and the sec. they think they are ’superior’ to any sec school, maybe even including vandy, which has ALWAYS been a loyal sec member. the ‘institute’ as they call it is just too damned ‘good’ for us sec folks, even though any number of sec schools, including uga, fla, vandy rank above them on every measure of academic capability. they have a small stadium, never filled except by dawg fans once every other year. that is their ‘cash cow.’ they play teams in the acc and w.carolina, app. state, mid tenn, and on and on — how about elon, or, well, just look at their pitiful schedule. they are a third-tier program. i’d much, much rather see east carolina pirates — the pirates are scared of no one, have beaten a lot of good teams, and are always exciting to watch. i’d go for, realistically, txam, wva, flstate, ecarolina. btw, greenville, nc, home of ecarolina is a great town with a fine university and super fans.
moleman
August 27th, 2011
2:07 pm
the University of Georgia..the Dale Jr. of the SEC!!!!!
RxDawg
August 27th, 2011
2:13 pm
“UGA hasn’t had a great QB since David Greene”
Huh? That’s ingnorance at it’s finest right there. Shockley (who won an SEC title by the way) and Stafford (who finished the #2 team in the land by the way) were fantastic QB’s. Then you have Murray who shattered every freshmen QB performance stat across the board. While it’s yet to be seen if he will be considered “great”, I’d say he’s certainly on the right track.
About the only time we didn’t have a “great” QB was with Joe Cox. But even his passing numbers were very respectable. He looked all American against Arkansas that year.
Good grief, we’ve got some fans that just don’t get the big picture.
USC GAMEC0CK
August 27th, 2011
2:16 pm
For SEC expansion
1 Texas A&M makes sense so they get a yes vote
2. Va Tech too so yes vote
3 Missouri should come if no Va Tech so yes vote to Missouri
4. Maryland is also an okay choice so yes vote if no Va Tech
5. OSU or OU both would get a yes vote but the SEC must get no bigger than 14 teams.
6. Get unc or nc state to come is a BIG yes vote if one came…take them and A&M only this would actually be 1st choice
No to Clempson a HUGE HECK NO
No to GT
No to fsu a BIG NO
No to Miami they are a big nothing
Renegotiate TV contracts to get each school 30 million a season in TV money right now with an inflation factor to increase the money each year but eventually maybe start an SEC network and get 50 million to each school each year….dont laugh could happen the dollar is worth less and less so that number would be fair
The prime conferences in the USA would be SEC, Big 10 and Pac 12
btw, texas ends up an independent and USC takes the SEC
RedandBlackDAWG
August 27th, 2011
2:17 pm
If Clemson joined, it would probably benefit more in recruiting, than the SEC would benefit with any increased revenue. That said, it makes more sense to have Clemson than it would to have a Georgia Tech. Tech. doesn’t offer anything that the SEC needs or wants. It is a no gainer for Tech. as well, since it probably would affect their recruiting and it would not appreciably increase the SEC revenue.
GO DAWGS and GATA
U of DB(GA)
August 27th, 2011
2:18 pm
GT = astronauts, UGA = fry guys…nuff said
USC GAMEC0CK
August 27th, 2011
2:22 pm
Oh i forgot….HECK NO TO West VA…they are a poor school and the SEC doesnt need any more mississippi level schools besides wvu would add nothing to the SEC…absolutely nothing
Dexter Jenkins
August 27th, 2011
2:26 pm
I like how some people on here act like if the SEC wants a school, they can get them. Va Tech will not leave UVA. NC St will not leave UNC or Duke (and why would the SEC want NC St, it would be another Ole Miss). I’m a Mountaineer. I’d rather we stay in the Big East unless it looks like the conference is going to fold, which I doubt considering it is better than ACC basketball now. WVU would probably go to the ACC if they expanded, because once again it looks like the Big East is going to get raided.
USC GAMEC0CK
August 27th, 2011
2:28 pm
who is going to raid the Big East??
moleman
August 27th, 2011
2:32 pm
why do you dogtards suggest kicking Vandy out of the sec??? something for you losers to chew on – vandy has beaten uga more times than uga has beaten florida in the last 21 years. maybe uga outta be the one kicked out!!
RxDawg
August 27th, 2011
2:34 pm
My biggest vote for expansion besides aTm, is North Carolina.