Is raiding the ACC still a possibility for the SEC?
I was talking conference expansion yesterday with a Georgia fan who posited that the ACC upping its exit fee to $20 million pretty much kills any chance of the SEC getting Virginia Tech or FSU or Clemson.
Looks like we’ll end up with West Virginia or Missouri, he said, noting that he didn’t view Texas A&M and Missouri/West Virginia as adding much luster to the SEC, though the conference did enter this expansion mess in a stronger position than any other league, in terms of football (which is what’s driving all this change).
A couple of thoughts about all that. First, the only ACC team that’s made any noise at all about studying possible realignment is FSU, and while their president obviously was among those voting unanimously to increase the exit fee, that doesn’t necessarily mean Florida State might not still find it worth its while to pay the $20 million in order to join the SEC. I can’t really see any of the other ACC schools, like Clemson, paying that fee, though.
Whether or not there was a rumored “gentlemen’s agreement” in the past for the SEC not to add teams in states where a conference member already resides — and there’ve been reports there never was any such agreement — FSU would certainly add to the SEC’s TV star power, even if it wouldn’t bring in a new television market. And it would counter the addition of Texas A&M geographically.
But while Missouri might not seem all that sexy a choice from a fan point of view, it would bring the St. Louis and Kansas City TV markets with it, and that would also be pretty attractive to the SEC. Auburn could move over to the SEC East to balance the divisons, thereby also assuring the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry with Georgia continues to be an every-year affair.
West Virginia? Aside from being competitive on the football field, the SEC adding a program that the ACC didn’t want, and which brings very little in terms of TV reach, would justifiably seem like an also-ran choice.
Really, I think most of the SEC would have preferred to keep the status quo, but that has become impossible in the face of all the other changes going on.
So, best-case scenario, to me, is adding Texas A&M and FSU or Missouri.
Feel free to share your own views on SEC expansion.
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657 comments Add your comment
Chris
September 20th, 2011
5:22 pm
Vanderbilt would scratch and claw out eyes to stay in the SEC.
USMC
September 20th, 2011
5:24 pm
“Sooooooo many of the SEC fans on these blogs are delusional.”
What about saying Penn State is going from the BIG10 to the ACC…
That’s not delusional???
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:27 pm
SEC_Fan – The way you’ve been posting, it reminds me of that patrick guy, but without all the statistics drivel. He confronted me last fall with, “I live in a $300,000 home inn San Clemente!” I gotta tell you, that price house in San Clemente is a 40 year old 2 bedroom with a drive under garage.
Paddy
September 20th, 2011
5:30 pm
The way the Gov. of Fla has chopped the FSU budget and fired teachers, don’t think 20 mil buy-out would sit very well with the voting public. FSU is also considering cutting enrollment next year as a cost cutting measure. No, Fla St. is not going anywhere for now! FSU has just finished a hugh construction, renovation and land purchasing deals in the last couple of mons. Voters are not smiling down on more spending for state colleges. Timing is real bad for this subject in Florida.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:31 pm
For the record, I wouldn’t say anyone on this blog is necessary delusional, just emotional. The amygdala in the human brain isn’t fully developed until the late 20s, even 30 sometimes.
Still@theBAR
September 20th, 2011
5:31 pm
What POWERHOUSE is UGA playing this week? We know UGA plays in the Bestest conference so who is the next Ruff tuff team on the slate?
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:32 pm
Paddy – Great to hear from you, man. My psyche is really whacked today. Misinformation overload, I’d say.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:34 pm
“Ole’ Miss”, the way their defense has been playing.
rational
September 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
The ACC presidents voted unanimously to raise the minimum buyout for the conference. If they want to change the rules in their own club then they are more then entitled to do so. All of the presidents had ample opportunity to express concern or leave the conference if they thought it was unfair. Therefore, its hard to feel sorry for any members who feel forced to stay.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:36 pm
Will Houston Nutt find happiness and temporary job security as a line coach at Marshall next year? Inquiring minds want to know.
T.
September 20th, 2011
5:37 pm
ACC- When you get six NC iN a row, come back and talk.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:38 pm
Finally, somebody rational, who also happens to use that as a handle. Welcome, Brother!
Still@theBAR
September 20th, 2011
5:40 pm
T. what conference has 6 NC’s in a row?
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:41 pm
T. – The problem is, there really haven’t been any real NCs, just the 127 different polls through the years and this BCS BS that has been foisted upon us by the greedy sommonbeaches that sucker people in with Carribean cruises and such.
Tom
September 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
Here are a few shocking thoughts — (1) not every school in America wants to be in the SEC. (2) The actions of the ACC schools show that they want to be in the ACC (3) at least 3 schools have rejected SEC overtures to date.
If FSU wanted to be in the SEC they’d already be a member.
I can’t imagine anything duller than going to College Station, TX or Columbia, MO to watch a football game — or Starkville, MS for that matter.
I really don’t see where the SEC has helped itself from a fan’s standpoint by adding A&M. For that matter I’d say the same about the ACC’s additions.
Still@theBAR
September 20th, 2011
5:42 pm
T
you must be using that NEW SEC math!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:43 pm
Whoa! Jakar Hamilton is going to transfer, but he’s going to stay and get his degree, first. Attaboy!
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:45 pm
okey- dokey – I’m calming down now. It took freight-training a Beck’s, a Pilsner Urquell and a Shiner Bock to do it. Got the variety pack deal at Kroger.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:46 pm
I just hope I haven’t killed Bill’s blog. That would be sad.
Snack Shack
September 20th, 2011
5:47 pm
If FSU cannot pony up the whole $20 million exit fee, assess each SEC school a pro-rata share. The resulting enlarged and enhanced SEC would make 10 times the fee over the long run, as would each participating school.
Still@theBAR
September 20th, 2011
5:50 pm
Jakar is finishing his Housing Degree go for him. He can get an Obama GoMent Job.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:51 pm
Recent performance doesn’t indicate “enhanced.” I’d rate that as a Class B, at best.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
5:55 pm
I don’t like the way these kids are steered into certain majors by the coaching staffs. At Clemson, it’s sociology, by a wide margin. I point that out because it is very easy to look up the way their web site is structured.
Mike
September 20th, 2011
6:09 pm
FSU is definitely the long term class of the ACC and would make a great addition to the SEC in terms of Star Power. Its geographic location makes it a natural for the conference.
Still@theBAR
September 20th, 2011
6:16 pm
With all the SEC money why are the scared of getting sued?
GTville
September 20th, 2011
6:18 pm
@SEC_Fan
The BigE leftovers may be meeting and having conversations with possible B12 leftovers, but TX and OK are negotiating how to revenue share the LHN with all conference members. If the B12 does not implode, then there will not be a 4 Super Conference structure and this is all for not.
If OK does leave this week for the P16, TX says they are deciding in 2 weeks. Unless the B10 or SEC pick off a few B12 members before TX and OK decide to stick together, the B12 will just add more teams including BYU. The BigE will add more teams too. ND and PSU will stay put and the ACC will stay at 14. The SEC will then grab FSU, then the ACC will grab UConn.
Thats all that will happen. Boise will play in the BCS championship based on their victory over UGA and past 4-5 year results. Several years will pass with undefeated teams being left out (none will be SEC) and voters will vote the best teams based on popularity.
Richt the Man!
September 20th, 2011
6:20 pm
No way UT; UGA; South Carolina; or Florida allow FSU into SEC. That simply would add a large hurdle to get to SEC CG. Texas A&M is not of that caliber. Adding Missouri is about the same as Texas A&M. Both schools are decent football wise but not danger to disrupting the status quo. Simply move Auburn over to the East and strap on the chin straps. Fact is the SEC is not quite the beast we all thought months ago. The Presidents are the ones that vote on adding teams and they look at academic standing as well as football. That is why WVa was by passed by the SEC. We may not be a strong academic conference but we are better than WVa by a long shot. UGA, UF and Vandy all expect decent academic additions to the addition of the football field. This is also why many of the ACC targets simply would not join the SEC. Gain a few bucks but drop mightily in academic prestige. Also why Missouri would rather go West (Pac 12) or North (Big 10) than join SEC but fortunately for us they do not have those options! LOL
GTville
September 20th, 2011
6:23 pm
@Tom “1) not every school in America wants to be in the SEC.”
You are correct. However, all the schools in the Southeast want to be part of the SEC. It just may not be practicle or possible.
Tav
September 20th, 2011
6:25 pm
The SEC should expand to three divisions South,Central and West allow 4-6 new teams in.
ARdawg
September 20th, 2011
6:28 pm
Jeesus
I have a hard time believing some of you folks won’t eat your young. Kick Vandy out of the SEC? Who’s bright idea is that? Vandy is a founding member of the SEC.
CarolinaStewPie
September 20th, 2011
6:35 pm
Still@theBAR is correct about VaTech. They clawed their way in over UVA objections, and it took some State Govt arm-twisting to get it done. The ACC were proactive in getting Pitt and ‘Cuse so they didn’t get raided, and now their sitting pretty and hoping the Irish come calling. Or the Nittany Lions.
If not, they’ll settle for UConn and Rutgers and still have the NE TV market tied up, probably match the SEC in revenue for that, and still have higher SAT scores.
Go Navy!
September 20th, 2011
6:39 pm
Delbert D, you crack me up! I agree with some, maybe most of what you are communicating (I just can’t be sure). Calm down, it’s just gradual change to a college football playoffs. Yep, there will be lots of money made, but by who? How does it serve the student body? How much money do all involved make? What’s the NCAA’s cut? Lots of questions. Sorry for being so pessimistic but I do not like any of it! Smells familiar!
It is what it is
September 20th, 2011
6:41 pm
And its all bunk. Get Ohio State in the SEC. They will be back in the win column soon. They will be another power house in the future. Also they have fans with class. Something UGA.BAMA. Auburn, Tenn. Flordia, and others have never had.
Dawg Tired
September 20th, 2011
6:43 pm
So ND is a football power? Maybe historically, but not lately. Isn’t 1 & 2 is their current record? What was their record last year? Ok how about the year before? They just aren’t that good.
blazerdawg
September 20th, 2011
6:44 pm
Add Tx A&M, TCU, Army, Navy
Forget WVU….I would rather have Tulane back.
Steve
September 20th, 2011
6:49 pm
It’s all about TV markets. Quite frankly, the SEC should hit the SW schools not that the ACC is killing any chances of the SEC getting into the true Northeast TV market.
That being said, I don’t want any part of FSU in the SEC. They bring in nothing except a pompous attitude and cheating that even makes the SEC schools flinch.
Mizzou and aTm in the West, Cincy and WVa in the East. That is a likely scenario despite it not increasing hitting huge TV markets. It meets the idea of no more teams in shared states. It brings in a couple of good TV markets. I would love to get aTm and UT, but something tells me those two won’t come along together. I would also like OU and OSU, but the TV markets are abysmal.
The only other schools I could see the ACC considering are Kansas (probably would come if we went after them before the Big Ten decides to possibly invite them and KSU), Memphis (state conflict if it really exists), and I would not mind us raiding UVa and VaTech, which would likely have to come as a pair (and I have to believe they would as the only true rivalries they have are with each other and maybe Maryland). The last might be UMass or UConn, though I think that neither is a true SEC fit.
What if we got Maryland, VaTech, UVa and A&M. Good TV areas, a hint of the the South in all but Maryland. Vandy would move to the West (which makes sense as they are further West than Bama and Auburn).
Some other options might be smaller schools with potential. East Carolina, UCF, LaTech, SoMiss, GaState, KSU (the latter two have large enrollments and graduate bases and would quickly develop huge followings in the SEC).
I really hope the SEC leaves the pathetic ACC schools alone. The only one I would consider would be GaTech becauseof their history with the SEC. Other than that the rest of them are garbage though the history of UVa (one of the oldest state schools in existence) would fit in with the heritage of the SEC. I think the SEC could really make a huge statement by going after some up and coming schools instead of deadwood. It really wouldn’t hurt their TV contract though each school might suffer a small hit.
Hounddogman
September 20th, 2011
6:50 pm
The best thing for Georgia would be to add Georgie Tech. Don’t have to add another game as a conference game. And it’s nearly a guaranteed conference win. But Coach Dodd and Georgie Tech already ran once from the competition before, so they don’t want any of the SEC.
CFBanalyst
September 20th, 2011
6:50 pm
The ACC would only ever admit a single SEC school- UF.
Think about that before speculating about the SEC “taking” an ACC team.
GTville
September 20th, 2011
6:55 pm
@houndogman: The best thing for UGA would be to add GT. Both teams would have to step it up a notch and by doing so would keep more in state kids home at either school instead of heading to Alabama duo, UF, or ND. It would be more than just bragging rights, but a potential SEC title play in game.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
6:58 pm
Go Navy! – Hello there! I’m an ex-bubblehead, myself (boomer, cold war). I think the odor is mostly coming from the NCAA.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
7:00 pm
TV markets? Here’s some info I pulled together:
Top 10 TV markets for college football
New York – 2.91 million 14% of total population
Atlanta – 2.63 million 41%
Los Angeles – 2.58 million 17%
Dallas-Ft. Worth – 1.89 million 27%
Chicago – 1.76 million 19%
Birmingham – 1.70 million 85%
Philadelphia – 1.65 million 20%
Houston 1.64- million 28%
Tampa-St. Pete – 1.43 million 30%
Detroit – 1.33 million 26%
Source NYTimes-The Geography of college Football 9/19/2011
Tar Heels Rock and Rule
September 20th, 2011
7:00 pm
UGa needs to apply for admission to ACC. Improve it’s academic status, improve basketball program, add lacrosse, and probably become better in football and baseball. ACC is simply a classier venue.
GTville
September 20th, 2011
7:01 pm
Here is how it will play out in order:
1. Big 12 stays together and adds BYU, Houston, and SMU to get to 12.
2. SEC adds FSU
3. ACC adds UConn
4. Big East…not sure what will happen there.
Tar Heels Rock and Rule
September 20th, 2011
7:03 pm
Steve, you ain’t fast but you sure are slow.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
7:04 pm
There are obviously some latecomers who haven’t heard. West Virginia has been refused by the SEC and the ACC. As in, refuse. As in, dumpster.
Still@theBAR
September 20th, 2011
7:05 pm
GTville
No school is LEAVING the ACC.
keep wishing and please Hold your breath too
rational
September 20th, 2011
7:07 pm
You are correct. However, all the schools in the Southeast want to be part of the SEC. It just may not be practicle or possible.
How can you possibly know what schools want to be in the SEC? For instance, tell me how you know that Duke wants to be in the SEC.
Delbert D.
September 20th, 2011
7:19 pm
More on that odoriferous NCAA:
“The court soon would qualify his clients as a class. Then the Sherman Antitrust Act would provide for thorough discovery to break down exactly what the NCAA receives on everything from video clips to jerseys, contract by contract. “And we want to know what they’re carrying on their books as the value of their archival footage,” he concluded. “They say it’s a lot of money. We agree. How much?”
“The work will be hard, but Hausfeld said he will win in the courts, unless the NCAA folds first. “Why?” Hausfeld asked rhetorically. “We know our clients are foreclosed: neither the NCAA nor its members will permit them to participate in any of that licensing revenue. Under the law, it’s up to them [the defendants] to give a pro-competitive justification. They can’t. End of story.”
“The Shame of College Sports” Atlantic Magazine, October 2011
Toto
September 20th, 2011
7:20 pm
I’m going down to Peachtree Street and whittle until an ACC school jumps to the SEC. I sure hope there are some giant oaks down there. I figure I got some serious whittling to accomplish.
ramramdog
September 20th, 2011
7:22 pm
Pepperdine would be a fine addition. The SEC needs a volleyball powerhouse.