SEC expansion: It’ll happen soon, and there’ll be a 14th team
One of these teams would balance Texas A&M, and not the one in gold. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
For a dizzying minute, it seemed Texas A&M might land in the SEC soon enough to qualify for the 2011 conference title. Then the SEC offered no invitation and the Aggies decided to take a moment to assess options, and some folks are taking this to mean the whole deal — not there ever was an actual deal, but you take my meaning — is off.
To such folks, I offer this from Jackson Browne, who may or may not have ever seen a college football game: “Don’t think it won’t happen just because it hasn’t happened yet.”
The key point: Texas A&M wants out of the Big 12 because it hates the thought of sharing a shrunken conference with the overweening Texas Longhorns, who are about to launch their own TV network in collaboration with, wouldn’t you know, ESPN. Before it jumps, A&M wants to find a soft place to land. The SEC has made it clear it’s willing to be that place.
No, the SEC hasn’t said so. On Sunday its presidents met and “reaffirmed our satisfaction with the current 12-institutional alignment.” But this is posturing. The SEC, with its five consecutive BCS titles and its billion-dollar TV contracts, doesn’t want to irk anybody by appearing grabby. (The New York Times has reported that SEC commissioner Mike Slive had a heated phone conversation with Dan Beebe, his Big 12 counterpart, last week.)
The SEC has to figure out how to finesse this so its coming expansion — and expansion is absolutely coming — won’t leave the league mired in lawsuits or render it a villain in the court of public opinion. The SEC will be happy to ask Texas A&M into its living room when the Aggies officially say, “Please.” And they will.
The SEC also needs time to triangulate. The best conference isn’t going to sit on an uneven number. It needs a 14th team, and maybe a 15th and a 16th. It was rumored over the weekend that Florida State was SEC-bound, along with Clemson and Missouri, two schools that have nothing in common. The SEC’s problem won’t be in finding a new member or even three new members; the problem will be in identifying the best fit.
The Big 12 is already down to 10, and would Oklahoma want to remain in a league in which, due to the Longhorn Network, it faces a competitive imbalance? The ACC’s ballyhooed expansion hasn’t worked, and the schools who care most about football — Clemson, Florida State, Virginia Tech — must ask themselves if they want to linger in a conference that has had a hard time drumming up interest in its championship game. (In existence only since 2005, the ACC title tilt is on its third city.)
Loading ...If you’re the SEC, would the proper complement to Texas A&M be another Big 12 refugee? Or would Virginia Tech, say, offer better geographic balance than, say, Oklahoma? The Aggies would give the SEC even deeper entree into the fertile recruiting ground of Texas, but Oklahoma recruits Texas, too. Would Florida State do anything to broaden the SEC base? Would Clemson? (Remember, the league already has members in both states.)
A factoid to note: The conference hasn’t expanded with Slive as commissioner. Indeed, each of the other five BCS leagues has taken on new members since the SEC grew to 12 in 1991. Even as critics contend that college football is out of control, it must be said that college football’s flagship league has been content to go with what it has.
As the landscape keeps changing and bigger programs come into play, the SEC cannot be content much longer. It wouldn’t want Texas A&M and Oklahoma follow Nebraska to the Big Ten. If high-profile programs are determined to relocate, the SEC will be duty-bound to open its gated community.
It will, but not just yet. The Texas A&M scenario flared so fast that nobody was ready for it. By the end of the year, Slive will have done his due diligence and his league will be ready to grow. To 14 teams, I’ll venture, with Virginia Tech being the 14th.
By Mark Bradley
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465 comments Add your comment
Silver Dawg
August 16th, 2011
8:45 pm
@ Richard B,
Don’t know about UGA anymore (especially since Demon Damon is gone) but I do remember the Criminoles
SuperB
August 16th, 2011
8:52 pm
Virginia Tech’s overall athletic program is a woeful second– in the state of Virginia! They are not among the top tier programs in most sports in the ACC. And, their non-conference football record lately is poor. Who can forget james Madison?
Delbert D.
August 16th, 2011
8:52 pm
Make my Day – That would be 64 of the current 119 schools, but the independents have to be factored in unless they don’t join a 16-team superconference. Navy, Army, BYU and Notre Dame. I’ve got to believe that ND will join the Big Ten by that time. Navy and Army would seem to be candidates for the ACC. BYU has a problem; the PAC-12 will not take them for the same reason they would not accept Baylor last year when the “package of four” from the Big-12 was being considered.
AceDawg
August 16th, 2011
8:53 pm
As a Dawg grad living in VA, I suppose I have to be happy with such a prediction, though I think Va Tech and Clemson would be better than A&M or FSU.
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
8:55 pm
How about the Jacksonville Jaguars? Maybe then they could sell out their stadium….LOL! I guess I shouldn’t make fun of the team from my home town but I don’t see them being there much longer.
AceDawg
August 16th, 2011
8:55 pm
Best case scenario though – Dump Miss State and Vandy, pick up Tex A&M, Clemson, FSU, and Va Tech. Then, leave NCAA sports and create a separate league!
Reality
August 16th, 2011
8:55 pm
There is no logical reason at all for any ACC team to leave the conference. Accounting for all sports, the ACC schools are the highest paid among all conferences – and that includes the “almighty” SEC. The money from all sports includes not just football, but basketball, baseball, and all sports…… and in that the ACC is #1.
So again, why would any ACC leave more money for less money?
Reality
August 16th, 2011
8:57 pm
I think it very funny that you idiot sec fans think highly enough of ACC teams to desire them. LOL! Keep dreaming.
Delbert D.
August 16th, 2011
8:59 pm
Beast – The Jaguars better act quickly to beat the Bills into LA.
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
8:59 pm
Reality,
You may be correct about today, but what about tomorrow? The ACC cannot even sell out their championship game. When their television contract expires don’t look for it to be on the same level as the SEC’s at that time. Until they can compete on a national level (BCS bowl wins) the ratings will dwindle, IMO.
Prozac Dawg
August 16th, 2011
8:59 pm
I will offer the gaytors more money to join the ACC
Coastal Dog SSI
August 16th, 2011
9:01 pm
I suppose we’ll consolidate conferences and teams until there are just a few “have” conferences and a number of “havenots”; then — not satisfied that that’s the better course — we’ll subdivide and grow more conferences. Don’t know how many teams it takes to do it, but I could see the Southeastern “super conference” grow to split the eastern and western divisions into two separate conferences, each of which would be powerful. Makes sense in that there truly are a couple or three potential national champions out of us each year as things stand now.
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:01 pm
Prozac Dawg,
Why is that? If you can’t beat us, then maybe you should tuck tail and run (to the ACC).
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:02 pm
Delbert,
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jags become the Vegas Gamblers one day…..soon.
Tech-nically Speaking
August 16th, 2011
9:04 pm
Yeah, if those SEC teams had any smarts, they’d leave the conference and go independent for a few years before begging their way into the ACC.
bamaguy
August 16th, 2011
9:05 pm
If the SEC expands to 16 teams, the SEC Championship game in Atlanta will become, for all practical purposes, the National Championship game. Wait, it already is. When, exactly, was the last time an ACC team won the National Championship game?
Dostoveyskiy
August 16th, 2011
9:05 pm
SEC-school grads. Who had you rather have in your conference? Clemson and VaTech, or UVa and UNC?
gtfan2011
August 16th, 2011
9:06 pm
Runnin with Dawgs,
Before you make a comment like that, maybe your team should win a NC, as it’s only been what like three decades for you compared to 2 for GT?
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:06 pm
Dostoveyskiy,
No brainer…..UVa and UNC.
Dostoveyskiy
August 16th, 2011
9:07 pm
Make My Day, the NCAA and money doesn’t rule UNC. And that’s a fact.
Dawg Tell
August 16th, 2011
9:07 pm
I would like GT and FSU to be the new members.GT because of the history and the Atlanta market.FSU because of the talent and fan base in the South Georgia/ South Alabama area.
Reality Check
August 16th, 2011
9:07 pm
great, way to royally screw college football.
techfan
August 16th, 2011
9:09 pm
Virginia Tech’s AD has already said that he would decline an invitation to the SEC, so im not sure why everybody keeps beating the Virginia Tech drum. It took hell to get them into the ACC and im pretty sure they aren’t going anywhere without Virginia. Oklahoma may be off the table as well as they probably have to move with Ok State and they would prefer a Pac 12 invite. FSU and Missouri are the SEC’s best options.
James
August 16th, 2011
9:09 pm
SEC – white trash
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:11 pm
“SEC – white trash”
James – petty little man
Tennis Rodman
August 16th, 2011
9:11 pm
Those ACC boys don’t want any part of the SEC.
Make my Day
August 16th, 2011
9:11 pm
Does anyone doubt that if any of the teams mentioned were added to the conference, ( ACC, BIG 12, or any other school) that the money distributed to member schools through licenses, televsion deals and bowl contributions would dwarf any current deal now available. The numbers would make the money given to ANY school wish they were in the super conference.
Heels Rock and Rule
August 16th, 2011
9:11 pm
I love UNC FB and BB to a fault. I watch every game in both sports, as well as baseball and lacrosse. I went to UNC, my wife went to UNC, my son went to UNC, and my daughter went to UNC. I’m a sports addict. That said, I would vote in a NY minute for UNC joining the Ivy League and playing all sports in accordance with the Ivy League’s scholarship policies. Nothing would be better than watching a FB game in the fall in Cambridge, or Ithaca, or Providence…..It might not be pre-Pro, but it would be good and entertaining. Anyone else feel this way?
Silver Dawg
August 16th, 2011
9:12 pm
I would rather have Texas A&M and Texas Tech. Plenty of Texas to be had in those two and can tap into some of the local talent (dilute UT). Is Texas Tech obligated in some way to stay where they are? Just asking? The Big 12 becomes the Big ?
Delbert D.
August 16th, 2011
9:12 pm
Beast – have you been keeping track with what’s going on at The U?
http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news?slug=cr-renegade_miami_booster_details_illicit_benefits_081611
Steven
August 16th, 2011
9:13 pm
As the rules stand now, the SEC has a max of two BCS slots like other conferences. So you have a 14 team SEC and a 9 team Big 12 each with two max slots. So all the SEC is doing is diluting their own product. I don’t see why SEC would want to do that.
Prozac Dawg
August 16th, 2011
9:13 pm
@ Beast,
Yes. Tired of this every year. It’s gotten to the point I won’t even watch the entire game. I have to close the windows so as not to scare the neighbor children!!
Prozac Dawg
August 16th, 2011
9:14 pm
With my language, etc
outsider
August 16th, 2011
9:14 pm
I have to laugh at all of these comments about GT “bringing” the Atlanta market. The favorite teams in the Atlanta market are (1) UGA, (2) Auburn, (3) whoever is playing in a random SEC game of the week, (4) Georgia Tech. (I wouldn’t put GT too far ahead of Georgia State either.)
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:16 pm
Delbert,
Just a little. Not surprised by anything that goes on down at The U. Too many shady characters close to that prgram for them to stay out of trouble for any length of time. Not saying the institution has anything to do with it……they just can’t control it.
bamaguy
August 16th, 2011
9:16 pm
Conference alignment is all about money. Pure and simple. Each university President and AD will make their decision based on “which conference membership brings me the most money”. When sports (primarily ESPN/NCAA football) enrich the school’s general fund money is the only thing considered. Everything else if fluff.
Sting'em!
August 16th, 2011
9:17 pm
Mark, u dumb F**k! VT does not bring big TV revenue to the SEC but Missouri obviously would! Do some research you dumb F**k!
techfan
August 16th, 2011
9:19 pm
From the VT Athletic Director:
Virginia Tech AD Jim Weaver was a bit more to the point, telling the Louisville Courier-Journal the Hokies would “politely decline” an invitation from the SEC if one ever arrives.
sccatfan1
August 16th, 2011
9:19 pm
I’m not sure why bigger is necessarily better. Look at the Big East in basketball….can anyone name all their teams? Can anyone explain how Marquette (WI) and Depaul (Chicago) are in the “Big East.” They could kick out at least 4 teams and be an even better conference, with the same number of power teams and more recognizable rivalries. I fear the SEC will dilute it’s product, and it’s stock in trade, which are those traditional rivalry games.
Why is A&M and boon for football…what the heck have THEY won lately? Their basketball program is forgettable. The only natural fit for conference expansion if FSU…they are big time in football, and have a solid basketball program, and a quasi national following.
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:19 pm
Prozac Dawg,
I lived with UGA drubbing my beloved Gators almost every year while growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in Jax. I understand your pain, my friend. Ya’ll just need the right coach and the series will go back to 50/50. Richt’s time has passed at UGA, in my humble opinion.
sprtsluvr
August 16th, 2011
9:21 pm
Clemson is a founding member of the ACC and has reported publicly that it has no interest in leaving. I seriously doubt that Virginia Tech or FSU would leave for the SEC either…but I recognize a lot of arrogance in the assumptions that these and other teams already in solid conferences would be clammoring for an invitation. I llaugh every time I read one of these silly rumors.
RamboDog
August 16th, 2011
9:21 pm
Reality
August 16th, 2011
8:55 pm
Reality, PROVE your comments from the 855 post. I’ll be waiting, because it is not truthful…bring the FACTS or shut up. You look desperate, and make the ACC look bad.
L.Thompson
August 16th, 2011
9:22 pm
Would love to see a complete in-state rivalry SEC where possible.
SEC EAST SEC WEST
AUBURN ALABAMA
GEORGIA GEORGIA TECH
FLORIDA FLORIDA STATE
CLEMSON SOUTH CAROLINA
VANDERBILT TENNESEE
MISS ST. OLE MISS
LSU KENTUCKY
Dostoyevskiy
August 16th, 2011
9:22 pm
A new candidate for SEC expansion just surfaced. Miami nows qualifies.
RamboDog
August 16th, 2011
9:24 pm
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:19 pm
Beast, I am giving it this year, and will not be looking for any excuses. Win this game , this year, or be gone. Talent is clearly good enough and always has been, what’s between the ears once a game starts has been a problem… I expect the coaches to fix that, especially at what they are paid now. Good luck, except against us…
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:26 pm
Dostoyevskiy,
Are you saying the ACC is holier than thou? The U, UNC, FSU, Clemson? Short memory? Look, cheating is rampant in big-time college sports. The ACC has just as many problems staying within the rules as the SEC.
Beast from the East
August 16th, 2011
9:28 pm
RamboDog,
I don’t blame ya. I wouldn’t be too happy if the shoe was on the other foot. Come out firing that first game in the Dome and it could do wonders for the team’s confidence level. Best of luck!
Chris j
August 16th, 2011
9:31 pm
FYI Texas A&M is also a AAU member.
Dostoyevskiy
August 16th, 2011
9:32 pm
BFTE. No. I agree w/you mostly. But it’s not really the institutions so much, it is the players and other unethical individuals (J. Blake. The only problem here is that Blake will be suspected of taking money from an agent to steer players his way. Only one UNC player ever signed w/agent Witchard. And the connection will never be proved. Balmer may or may not have been steered to Witchard by Blake. Certainly UNC would have never signed off on that since it in no way would benefit the program from such a relationship; it could only bring them grief. UNC moved quickly to fire Blake when this issue surfaced. If there was any compliance on UNC’s part Blake would certainly squeal.
bamaguy
August 16th, 2011
9:32 pm
Virginia Tech would politely decline an invitation to the SEC just as assuredly as any of us would politely decline a 20% pay raise. And we would all tell our current employer that we were actively pursuing higher paid employment elsewhere.