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
PhiladelphiaHokie
August 17th, 2011
12:29 am
Virginia Tech is exactly where we want to be–in the ACC! None of the other ACC schools will be joining the SEC either. However, there remains one eastern/southern school that would fit perfectly in the SEC—West Virginia University.
Preston
August 17th, 2011
12:45 am
MatthewH, when was the ACC EVER considered a good football conference? When you’re never there, you can’t slip. That’s just the truth bud. Basketball….yes. Football….no.
Preston
August 17th, 2011
12:46 am
Philly, I’d be nervous too. It’s so much easier to win in the ACC. LMAO!
Preston
August 17th, 2011
12:49 am
I like the idea of adding FSU and Clemson. A & M and VT just don’t seem right for the SEC, but I guess if you’re looking to reach out a little further for exposure and recruiting….whatever.
barbie
August 17th, 2011
1:32 am
this whole article was written just so you can remind everyone how GT won’t be getting the invite to the SEC which probably means they will be since you do not know S__.
yes we know you hate GT
You know CPJ almost beat VT in his first year and would have last year if Nesbitt did not break his arm.
Aren’t you the same writer that reminded everyone on time after time how Nesbitt could not play in the NFL much less QB but there he was Saturday night with the best effort on the field out of the 4 qb’s the Bills have. And no matter what happens tommorow with Nesbitt, he played QB and you were wrong. (once again)
barbie
August 17th, 2011
1:33 am
k
barbie
August 17th, 2011
1:34 am
this whole article was written just so you can remind everyone how GT won’t be getting the invite to the SEC which probably means they will be since you do not know Squat.
yes we know you hate GT
You know CPJ almost beat VT in his first year and would have last year if Nesbitt did not break his arm.
Aren’t you the same writer that reminded everyone time after time how Nesbitt could not play in the NFL much less QB but there he was Saturday night with the best effort on the field out of the 4 qb’s the Bills have. And no matter what happens tommorow with Nesbitt, he played QB and you were wrong. (once again)
john williams
August 17th, 2011
1:34 am
texas a&m is an easy choice for the money and the face they want in the sec. The question isn’t who we all the the 14th school should be. Is there a 14th school who wants to leave their conference now and join the sec. I’m trying to figure out who that might be?
barbie
August 17th, 2011
1:36 am
this whole article was written just so you can remind everyone how GT won’t be getting the invite to the SEC which probably means they will be since you do not know Squat.
yes we know you hate GT
Aren’t you the same writer that reminded everyone time after time how Nesbitt could not play in the NFL much less QB but there he was Saturday night with the best effort on the field out of the 4 qb’s the Bills have. And no matter what happens tommorow with Nesbitt, he played QB and you were wrong. (once again)
dex
August 17th, 2011
1:37 am
Aren’t you the same writer that reminded everyone time after time how Nesbitt could not play in the NFL much less QB but there he was Saturday night with the best effort on the field out of the 4 qb’s the Bills have. And no matter what happens tommorow with Nesbitt, he played QB and you were wrong. (once again)
In other words, I don’t think anyone in the SEC is asking you what you think
CaneDawg: SEC,SEC,SEC ......!!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2011
1:47 am
FSU would be a great additional for the SEC, but historically speaking the SEC has not been really serious about adding the Seminoles until 1990, when they offered to FSU when the Noles were an independent and FSU politely said no and went on to join and dominate the ACC in 1991. I conducted some research on this expansion subject and I was utterly amazed with what I found.
Nobody seems to know or remember that each and every year from 1955 until 1970, the FSU Seminoles were on a serious warpath requesting to join the SEC for each an every one of those 15 years ! The ‘Noles under former AD and Alabama great Vaughn Mancha, lobbied and petitioned tirelessly for SEC membership and were told to come back next year until the SEC tired of the yearly requests and tired of saying thanks for applying, suddenly aborted the membership application process and voted to stay permanently at 10 members in 1970. As a consolation to the ‘Noles, they came within mere inches of becoming a SEC member in 1964, when Ga.Tech withdrew from the league, but were told to re-apply with more of a University of Florida pitch. The Gators provided a lukewarm lobby for FSU, which was expected and LSU suprised everyone by coming out and totally objecting the Seminoles inclusion to the SEC. FSU went back to the drawing board in 1966 when Tulane dropped out of the league. This time the ‘Noles allied themselves with Memphis State to gain entry to the SEC, and were told togo away until Memphis State got more support from Tennessee (which they obviously weren’t going to get from the Volunteers). So FSU worked very hard every year from 1955 to 1970 in futility to join a league which was never serious about their addition. Also during that period Miami and Southern Miss applied for SEC membership and all were rejected the same as FSU and Memphis State. The Noles and Canes barely survived their first five years as independents after the 1970 SEC edit it would not accept any more membership applications. Then came the 1980s and the Canes and Noles emerged as budding powerhouses and began to dominate big time opponents throughout the decade, while the fading SEC watched.
Then came 1990 when the SEC shocked the world by opening their doors to FSU and Miami. The Hurricanes rejected the SEC and closed a membership deal with the Big East, and the Seminoles then led by a national title-less Bobby Bowden stated they wanted no parts of a SEC schedule included in his search of a national championship. FSU told the SEC no thanks, and promptly applied for and gained membership into the ACC in 1991. And you know the rest of the story.
Florida will never support a move by FSU to join the SEC as Georgia won’t support a move by Ga Tech to return to the SEC. The ‘Noles should be content to remain in the ACC and watch the Super Conferences form. The ACC has great potential to expand to a 16 team super conference in itself if it is will to compete with the Big 10 to add new teams.Virginia Tech and Clemson are bound to the ACC for as long as it will continue to exist and will be legally off limits to the SEC.
Oklahoma and OSU are a package deal that the SEC has already said it may not be interested in, so OU & the Cowboys will be headed to the PAC 12 once the Sooners wake up & stop dancing to Longhorn music. Teams that are members of lame duck conferences such as Big East football and the Big XII will be fair game.
The SEC will extend membership to Texas A&M as soon as it clears all legal hurdles and separates from the Big XII. Missouri will then follow the Aggies to the SEC West and the Big East will implode when West Virginia and Louisville depart and petition to gain entry to the SEC East.
The ACC and Big 10 will fight it out for USF, Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers, UConn and UCF in the East. Meanwhile to the West, Kansas, K-State, and Iowa St. will have their reps sleeping outside the Big 10 headquarters begging for consideration. Before the dust settles Texas will be left with Baylor & Texas Tech on its back trying to form a new nine team conference for its network, or the Horns may have to dump BU & TT to join the PAC 12 itself. It’s gonna be a blast to watch all the movements, but there you have it the Super SEC, the first National SuperConference with 16 teams !!!! HunkerDown !!!!!
CaneDawg: SEC,SEC,SEC !!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2011
1:55 am
The 13th team is Texas A&M to be followed by the 14th team, Missouri, followed by the 15th team which will be Loiusville, followed by the 16th team which will be West Virginia. And there you have it the Super SEC, America’s first superconference in college football !!!! Go Dawgs !!!!
CaneDawg: SEC,SEC,SEC !!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2011
2:11 am
Only schools in lame duck conferences like the Big XII and Big East Football will be fair game for the SEC, PAC 12, or Big Ten to pick up. The ACC is NOT a lame duck conference so none of their members will be immediately eligible for any of the power conferences (without a lot of legal red tape and potential lawsuits). So all the wishing for FSU, Clemson ,Va.Tech , or Ga. Tech to the SEC is just a dream or a waste of time. The SEC will not and legally cannot poach any schools from the ACC without paying dearly for it, so let’s move on and keep an eye on the aforementioned lame duck conference teams and where they may end up. HunkerDown !!!!!
Pope UGA XXIII
August 17th, 2011
2:32 am
Please make a note to NOT worry about adding these schools:
— GA Tech: cannot give away enuff hot dogs & Cokes to make a profit
— Miami: soon to be on “double secret probation” & doesn’t draw
— Louisville: Adolph Rupp comes out his grave on this one
— West Virginia: Their fans will not be admitted to the Grove @ Ole Miss
— Clemson: South Carolina wouldn’t gripe that much, but the SEC has a
restriction on the number of schools wtih fans dressed up as
orange popsicles
Glad to be of assistance as we “reguss” this vital issue of national security
Real Dawgs drink POWER-aid: SEC,SEC,SEC !!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2011
3:33 am
It’s unfortunate but truth is that the Engineers of Ga.Tech will never return to the SEC. The Clean Old Fashion Hate rival Georgia would never support the Yellowjackets return, but the day Tech left Georgia’s Wally Butts was deeply disappointed and the Bulldogs were not estatic about their departure. Ole Miss who definately remembers Tech’s arrogance, hated GT bacause Dodd wouldn’t play them and refused to invite the Rebels to Atlanta and wouldn’t allow the Jackets to travel to Mississippi. It’s safe to say the Bears will never agree for Tech to come back. Alabama, one of the reasons Tech left, didn’t shed any tears when Tech departed. Miss.St.,who once despised the Ramblin’ Wreck for not playing the Dogs, now appears to have mended the fence with Tech and forgiven their arrogance. LSU, Kentucky, and Vandy do not appear to bear any past grudges or beef with the Yellowjackets. However, Florida, Auburn, and Tennessee deeply grieved and wept that day Ga.Tech pulled out of the SEC and practically were pall bearers for the Jackets when their membership died. South Carolina and Arkansas just made it to the SEC in 1991, so Tech’s 1964 departure is ancient history to them.
Tech is better off in the ACC, and though Dodd’s dream to make it the “Notre Dame” of the South never came close to fruition, the Jacket’s high academic reputation and standards he cherished are still intact. So GT’s decision to leave the SEC doesn’t look as bad now as it did in the 1970s as Tech languished as an Independent before it officially joined the ACC in 1983.
Tech has won four National Championships and five SEC Championships and we can only wonder what they could have achieved if they had remained in the SEC, where they were far more powerful and respected as a football program than in the basketball-driven ACC.
Columbus
August 17th, 2011
4:17 am
Virginia Tech huh? How do you pass up Oklahoma though if they are interested too? Personally I woud not want them. The conference is tough enough. But it is business and that makes great business sense. VT does too but would you say as much as OK if they are interested? Or Missouri?
I guess you could also look at like this. A & M takes the SEC further west and into Texas and Vt takes us further north. There are good athletes in VT.
But as we all know, it is about money and TV ratings OK? So lets follow the dollar. Which is the largest TV market or fans? Texas and Oklahoma? Florida ST? Missouri? Whichever it is, that is who I say joins in. 4 new teams adds another dynamic.
So there you go Mark, follow the money and see where it leads. Should be an a fairly easy investigation and some analysis of the results and scenarios based on 2 and 4 teams. This must be factored in when prophesying. Is that spelled right?
kevin
August 17th, 2011
6:12 am
Give Auburn to the ACC…Take Florida State ..Then take Texas A&M and try to get Oklahoma…14 teams is fine with me for now..I don’t think we should take 16 until we see how 14 works out
smyrnabob
August 17th, 2011
6:44 am
The key word here is expansion. The schools want to make more money and have more exposure. They don’t want to split the same size pie to their in state rivals. Va, Missouri and NC seem to be the other next big markets not in SEC country presently.
yearofthedawg
August 17th, 2011
7:36 am
Mark, I agree that Va Tech makes more sense… but I’m hoping for Clemson anyway. The old Georgia- Clemson rivalry was one of my favorites.
And to the poster who said the SEC should leave the ACC alone because taking a team would hurt the conference, so we should go after a Big East team instead…. WHAT? Not sure I follow that logic.
» SEC: Miami football scandal touches SEC schools John Clay's Sidelines
August 17th, 2011
7:49 am
[...] SEC expansion will happen soon, writes Mark Bradley of AJC. [...]
SCTexan
August 17th, 2011
7:50 am
The A&M thing is a mess, from the A&M alumni’s point of view. Imagine Alabama running the SEC. That is what the Big 12 is, Texas runs the conference. They take a larger share of conference revenues, because they feel they are responsible for it, they dictate the rules, such as who’s in and who’s out, and it really appears that they are nearly the only ones to be on TV. But the straw that broke the camels back is the LHN. It is very obvious that it will be used as a recruiting tool as much as for revenue generation purposes (that will not be shared). Imagine the Alabama Network showing in Florida, Georgia etc and showing the high school football games of the recruits Alabama wants. Interviewing the kids with Alabama TV people, or even if it isn’t allowed to show the games (still being discussed), they have in-depth recruiting shows only showing the recruits Alabama wants and giving them face time. That’s what is being fought here in Texas.
While A&M will, at least initially be a mid tier team, they do have a rich history and will be good for the SEC, not to mention bringing in the Houston TV market. As for Florida State and Clemson, while good sports programs, they will mainly only further divide the revenues, no significant new TV markets. Oklahoma and VT, and Missouri will.
Thomas Brown
August 17th, 2011
7:51 am
And, you know exactly what about college football, on anything ever you have ever written about college football, Mark Bradley, sir ?
Thomas Brown
August 17th, 2011
7:53 am
Rich history.
Navy has been better than Texas A and M this Century.
Texas A and M has a LOSING RECORD to ALL SIX (6) BCS Conferences this entire Century.
Mtn Dawg
August 17th, 2011
8:01 am
Leave it the HECK alone. 14 teams just dilutes rivalries, and a sense of the SEC being this somewhat balanced power house league. I say absolutely not. But of course as we all know, it’s not about the fans or the student athletes, is it.
Mtn Dawg
August 17th, 2011
8:02 am
Nor tradition!
Real Dawgs drink POWER-aid: SEC,SEC,SEC !!!!!!!!!
August 17th, 2011
8:08 am
Arkansas according to highly reliable sources is pushing real hard for the SEC to take Texas A&M and Missouri in a package deal as the 13th and 14th teams to be added no later than 2013. Both are to be new members of the SEC West when and if they come on board. The Razorbacks are said to be thrilled to have two rivals in close proximity to compete with potentially enter the league. LSU would also be energized to resume its longstanding football series with Texas A&M which was always a kickoff classic (first game of the season for both teams in the past) which is currently dormant.
Oklahoma’s chances to join the SEC are diminishing due to the fact that they are joined by the hip with Oklahoma State. The SEC has stated that this particular package deal won’t be acceptable. If Oklahoma can separate itself from the Cowboys the SEC will seriously take a look at the Sooners. But as of now Oklahoma and OSU are a package deal and will most likely end up with Texas Tech on the road to the PAC 12. There is no chance of the Sooners and Cowboys landing in the SEC as things currently stand.
This is accurate and factual information straight from reliable insiders in the know. As I am trying to get straight-forward substantiated information out concerning SEC expansion as opposed to the multitude of inaccurate propaganda and unfounded rumors based on personal opinions. Stay tuned.
JoeFan
August 17th, 2011
8:15 am
The SEC will only expand where it opens up new TV markets gaining significant TV revenue.That eliminates teams like Clemson and FSU. With all the Big 10 alumni in Atlanta, I would not be surprised to see the Big 10 go after Ga Tech for the same reason. However, with all the new conference television contracts based upon the present conference alignments, any movement of teams opens the door for numerous lawsuits. Just believe A&M was using the SEC as leverage to strengthen its position within its own conference.
404
August 17th, 2011
8:20 am
Bradley just doing his “Jesse Outlar” impressions.
notbspn
August 17th, 2011
8:27 am
Texas A&M & VA Tech Tech to the SEC
Vote and comment on who will be leaving the BIG 12 and joining the SEC @ http://notbspn.com
JoeFan
August 17th, 2011
8:28 am
The SEC will not expand anywhere that doesn’t enhance its TV footprint which means more money. So forget Clemson and FSU. However, because of the many recently negotiated TV contracts based upon the present conference alignments, potential lawsuits becoming a major sticking point for teams wanting to bolt and run. The SEC might not want to open that can of worms just yet.
GT
August 17th, 2011
8:32 am
Va. Tech now there is a school showing America how it is done. The ACC was forced by the Virginia legislature to take them or they would withdraw UVA from the ACC. Some of that Washington political stuff, and now they are flirting with the SEC? There are two sets of rules out there. One that suits the individual and old school rules of civility. Guess who is winning out?
RedandBlackDAWG
August 17th, 2011
8:33 am
Va. Tech. is in Blackburg Va., a good distance away from the Wash.-Baltimore TV network. I don’t see a lot of advantage to them joining the SEC. W.VA. really doesn’t have a TV market until they play Pittsburg, so no real advantage there either. Texas Tech. does open a TV market area, so they might be a good choice as one of the expansion teams. It will not help their recruiting any though, since TEXAS will still be a longhorns favorite with their TV contract and reputation. Clemson and FSU don’t offer any new markets, nor does GT so there is no advantage there. It is about money after all. Miami would be a poor choice as there TV market is not that big, and add on the problems they will most likely encounter in the future with the NCAA, that is a no win situation.
What ever way the SEC goes, it will consider the Tv market first, although the membership will not say it. Any school applying for SEC membership will have to already be an established money maker, which makes A&M an attractive school. If the SEC was even willing to consider Missouri, athough it was never official, then I would say, that they are willing to consider any school, with a good TV market share and a financially sound foundation already. Virginia is close enough to get a good market share of the DC_Balt. viewership, but I doubt they would be willing to leave the ACC as would Maryland. I think both are charter members of the ACC, and I don’t see that happening. The SEC will have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of any team seeking to gain admittance into the league very carefully.
Eventually, the SEC will expand, and there will probably only be about 4 big conferences to award an automatic BCS bowl to. This would render the BCS much less effective, so maybe enough NCAA membership schools can be found in favor of a playoff type format. Then the NCAA can become an offical minor league for the pros.
SCTexan
August 17th, 2011
8:36 am
Rich History: 17 SW conference titles, 3 Big 12 Division titles, 1 Big 12 title, and 1 National title. Like most teams they have their good years and their bad. In the last 20 years they have had 4 losing seasons. I said they would be a a good mid tier team
jaxbeachdawg
August 17th, 2011
8:41 am
Texas A&M and Mizzou would be ideal. If Florida is excluded, there are more TV viewers in Texas and Missouri than all of the SEC states combined. Compare Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Kansas City and St. Louis to Birmingham, Columbia, Jackson, Nashville, Memphis, Lexington and Little Rock. Only Atlanta and the Florida cities are major markets. Post Katrina, even New Orleans is a small market. UF and USC will not support the addition of Clemson and FSU. Why would they? I agree VT is a viable choice, but I prefer Mizzou.
Hal
August 17th, 2011
8:58 am
How can the NCAA allow a Notre Dame or Texas have their own TV deal? To me that’s is not keeping the playingfield level when it comes to recruiting? The The networks have so much invested in the SEC they cannot allow it to fail so you will get a strong bias even when somone else wins the National Chamopionship.
5150 UOAD
August 17th, 2011
9:03 am
See I told you guys early yesterday that Orson Charles was linked to the Miami/ Shapiro money deal.
shankit
August 17th, 2011
9:05 am
Hal
The NCAA has become a dinosaur with regards to college athletics.
In five years, ESPN will dictate conference realignments, scheduling,
recruiting, playoffs, bowls, interleague play, etc.
Did I say five years, heck, they already control College athletics, NCAA
just doesn’t know it.
ESPN is also setting up destroying high school athletics as well.
Greed, Greed, Greed.
I like the comment earlier, if you want pure college football, you now
have to go the Ivy league.
Paul in NH (formerly RDU)
August 17th, 2011
9:08 am
How can the NCAA allow ND or UT to have their own TV deal? Possibly because the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of Oklahoma and Georgia when they sued the NCAA to be able to have their own TV deals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_v._Board_of_Regents_of_Univ._of_Oklahoma
Wes Hanna
August 17th, 2011
9:08 am
‘The Road and the Sky’ is a great and somewhat obscure Jackson Browne song. I’m impressed you quoted it.
Delbert D.
August 17th, 2011
9:46 am
PAC-12 commissioner Larry Scott started this year’s expansion talk a couple of weeks ago. He stated that they will be expanding to 14 teams in the near term. Rumors began immediately about Oklahoma being a part of the PAC-12.
Also, check out this PAC-12 TV network deal, announced at Media Day on July 27: They have created a network of 6 regional networks plus one national carrier that will broadcast every PAC-12 football and basketball game that is not carried by their contracts with ESPN and FOX. Their 4 cable operators in the regional contract will broadcast a total of 850 sporting events each year.
I read awhile ago that the ESPN and Fox deal with the PAC-12 is the biggest in terms of dollars in the country, $3 billion over 12 years beginning in 2012. The PAC-12 will own the network. The Big Ten and Longhorn network aren’t owned by the conferences.
shankit
August 17th, 2011
10:09 am
ESPN, the new governing agency of college athletics, will not allow A & M
to leave the SW conference with it’s new contract with the Longhorns. There
is too much at stake for ESPN to allow this to happen, and I would dare say
there is probably behind the scenes negotiations with Texas, A & M, the SE & SW
conference for a negotiated monetary settlement favorable to all parties, especially
ESPN to keep the SW conference intact.
Delbert D.
August 17th, 2011
11:11 am
I doubt that only Texas A&M leaving the Big-12 would have that much impact with the ESPN Longhorn Network. There would likely be renegotiation, but there is also the scenario where ESPN could set up games that would be more attractive than the A&M game (assuming that the traditional rivalry ends, and that is not a given.) If Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. leave for the PAC-12, that’s another story.
5150 UOAD
August 17th, 2011
11:28 am
Good Day dawgs!!!!!
marinehokie
August 17th, 2011
11:32 am
The Hokies will go if the chance presents itself, They are not tied to the ACC or UVA in fact UVA was forced to accept Va Tech by the Gov and the state legislation, so we would be happy to move to the SEC. Besides we don’t have any competition in the ACC.
Doug
August 17th, 2011
1:17 pm
Auburn and Alabama to thr east; Oklahoma and A & M to the west. Why not bring in two of the best?
Dogg
August 17th, 2011
1:55 pm
The Longhorn Network gives Texas a recruiting boost and financial boost. They will have an unfair advantage over every other Big XII team. Smart teams like COL and NEB got out they saw this coming and MIZZOU tried to get out to. OK OK ST and the rest would be stupid to stay. This means Texas has basically become an INDEPENDENT team like ND or BYU. Why help them out?
Since no other team is going to get it’s own network in order to compete with Texas for recruits they need to add more money and get a better TV schedule – joing the SEC BIG10 will mean they would be able to better compete with Texas.
Beebe is a complete idiot and totally in Texas pocket. If I was OK I would be moving quickly anywhere. If Texas doesn’t go independent the Big XII would be a joke conference with teams like UTEP and HOU playing versus big brother Texas.
If TAMU goes to the SEC or OK to the Big10 they get the added cash and cache and TV exposure of being in the SEC or Big10 and this would allow them to recruit against TEXAS having the Longhorn Network.
If they stay in the Big10 they might as well thrown in the towel as Texas will dominate for EVER.
John
August 17th, 2011
1:56 pm
GO HOKIES GO!!!! SEC! SEC! SEC! Imagine if ACC got what it really wanted…Syracuse, BC, Miami? They still don’t respect the Hokies! My vote would be to CALL MIKE SILVE and leave the ACC!
JB
August 17th, 2011
5:53 pm
If expanding for tv market share, then T A&M in the west and VATech in the east- TX and DC markets are huge. But if expanding to make a true “Southeastern” conference geographically balanced and strong for football- add Clemson, FSU and GaTech along with T A&M. Awesome in state / in conference rivalry in almost every state! T A&M and AK an old SWC rivalry renewed… Only KY wouldn’t have a true rival.
Dan
August 17th, 2011
6:41 pm
These picks crack me up. Fla, Ga, SC and Kent will vote together and block any move to add Fla St, Louisville, GT and Clemson. Plus none of these schools add a new market. They are great schools but bring nada to the table. There really is no East team to get. NC St would be good for a new market but doubt they would leave ACC. They are tied to the North Carolina schools. Duke and UNC are not going anywhere. Wake wont be chosen. When it comes to the Virginia market, Va Tech is out west. Saying they will pull the Balt/DC mkt which is like 4 hours away from their campus is like saying SC will pull Atlanta. Maryland is in the DC suburbs and UVA is a little less that 2 hours away from DC. That said, UVA is not going SEC and neither is Maryland. Those schools are on the big ten radar though. Va Tech wants to play natural rivals in the ACC so I doubt they go. They are not tied to UVA. The Governer forced their addition in the ACC just to keep them from being left out of expansion and ruining their program. That said, they still wont go SEC. After all that, if the SEC expands and adds four teams, I would say their first choice would be Okla, Tex A&M, Missouri and some other west team like Kansas, Okie state, etc. All new markets which means new tv’s and more money.
To go or not to go to the SEC, that is the question for Virginia Tech » ACC Blogger
August 18th, 2011
12:03 am
[...] Mark Bradley of the Atlantic Journal-Constitution says that SEC expansion will happen with Texas A&M and wagers that Virginia Tech will be the 14t…; [...]