SEC expansion: It’ll happen soon, and there’ll be a 14th team

Uno?

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I don’t understand one thing about the Longhorn Network. Texas A&M doesn’t like it because it gives Texas an unfair advantage in recruiting (or so they feel). Well, Texas A&M will still have to compete against Texas in terms of recruiting, so how will a move to another conference change that?

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first maybe?

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The big “12″ is a dying conference, of course Texas A&M wants out of there…

I don’t see VA Tech leaving the ACC for the SEC right now.

Louisville seems like a much more likely candidate, to leave the big East and join the SEC, that gives the SEC 2 teams in the state of KY as well.

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VT will not go to the SEC neither will Clemson. VT and Virginia are too politically tied together to separate. Apparently MARK you forgot the mess when they came into the ACC. The SEC is already in South Carolina and and will not get more TV ratings.
Mark you need to do more research before you pick the TEAMS you think the SEC will choose.
The SEC has a better shot getting Boston College than Clemson or VT. It is about money and money is TV Contracts not teams closer to the SEC.

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Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech should be the targets!!

The second most popular school for Texas High School recruits is Oklahoma. You want to tap into that Texas market then OK has to be in the discussion. Oklahoma State is the kid brother (like Zander Ogletree) that tags along (and we all see how that is playing out…not so bad). Plus, OK State has a SEC caliber facilities and boosters. Virgina Tech would be the most awkward geographical placement but it opens up more of the East Coast viewership from Baltimore –>> south.

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I think that ACC schools should be left alone only to preserve that conference. Adding FL st, Clemson or, Virginia Tech would be a great move to build the strength of the SEC but it would kill the ACC to loose anyone of those teams. The only way to expand the SEC and, keep the ACC competitively relevant would be for the SEC to poach the Big East and, take a team like south Florida, Louisville or, maybe West Virginia with W.Va being the ideal choice.

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….typing too fast, excuse the mistakes.

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This is Dan Beebee’s fault in the first place. He made a deal with the devil (Texas) to keep his job rent is due.

The Big 12 signed it’s own fate when they decided to become Texas (and some other teams)

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I’d like to see a&m make the move when the time is right, but the problem I have is for sports besides football. College Station is along ways from columbia for a thursday night girls basketball game , softball or even baseball..

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@Stinger2, Mr. Bradley never gave a timeline, only “Called the election”. He’s dead on. The SEC didn’t reject A&M, they couldn’t make an offer to a team that is still in another conference. BIG difference.

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Louisville? Seriously? It’s the SEC…not the ACC. What a joke. COME ON MAN!

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Clemson and Mizzou are both Tigers and thus have at least that much in common.

As for VT, I think that pick makes sense, but I keep hearing that the State of Virginia has somehow required that UVA and VT be in the same conference. Any truth to that? If so I find it highly unlikely for VT to get in.

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The SEC is the King Conference and they should not be worried about what the Big 12 thinks. The Big 12 should be ashamed of themselves for bending the knee to UT. I think that Texas AM, VT,FSU and Clemson would make great additions to the SEC.

The ACC will naturally try to respond, but they do not have the muscle to match any moves that the SEC can make. I think that the ACC will eventually return to its roots and become a basketball conference. Personally, I’d like to see Georgia Tech join the Big 10. I think that they, along with BC, UV and U Miami would make natural additions. The travel distances can be mitigated by the creation of divisions. The Big 10 is rumored to want to make a move into the South. Footholds in Atlanta and Miami would be attractive to networks.

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Thanks Mark, good insight. When the SEC expands to 14 teams, watch for the Big Ten and PAC 12 to expand, the ACC merges with the Big East, and Texas becomes an independant like ND. Then the BCS will become the ruling body for this group, rendering the NCAA meaningless in football, and maybe BB. Just my hunch.

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Mark, I agree that its coming, and 14 is the number. That way the divisions can remain intact, and the league can even go to a 9 game conference schedule to preserve the cross division rivals and rotation games. To make this work it must be a team from the East and one from the West which will be A&M.

As for the teams from the East, Va Tech, Louisville, Miami and Ga Tech are the ones that are likely in that order. The SEC has to be careful not to upset current members that already fly the SEC flag in their state. This means Clemson and Fla St. are likely to draw ire from South Carolina and Florida. So lets look at the 4 I mention:

1) Va Tech – in a new state and new TV market area for the SEC. I dont buy they are as tied to Virginia and the ACC as people think. However, why would they go to the SEC where they are less likely to rule the roost as they do in the ACC? Will the money be that good?

2) Miami recruits mostly in the south Florida area and doesnt stomp on UF’s toes as much. The UF-Miami rivalry would resume. The south beach area is far enough from SEC country to justify it as an attractive TV market. They also have the national name brand. Miami needs a boost to get back going again, and the SEC could be it.

3a) Louisville would obviously not be as strong for football, but basketball would be a boost. I dont think Kentucky would have issues with this move either.

3b) Ga Tech is more attractive in football than Louisville and clinches the Atlanta TV market. Im not sure UGA would be as opposed to this move since they rule Tech anyway. They were once an SEC program and would renew deep rivalries with Alabama and Auburn.
I could see them mixing back in very well.

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What about UCF in all of these transitions?

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I’d rather have Virginia than Virginia Tech.

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Lawsuits just over the hill……ESPN has lots of work to do as well before this can end well for the SEC. The ACC didn’t slip because it never was anything other than FSU!!! Then Bobby got old and now we know the rest of the story.

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The SEC should dump S. Carolina, it’s an academic wasteland , and in general an embarssment in the way the football program is run (look out Auburn, you could be next on both counts). Replace it with let’s say VA, then add the Texas A&M and VT programs. Next shoot for OK and Louisville if they want 16 teams.

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We still receive the Clemson newsletter that they started sending us when they wanted us to come there and play ball. From what we are reading we would not be at all surprised to see Clemson in the SEC. They are already talking about a cosmetology college and a tree removal degree. That would be some good majors for some of the SEC athletes they would attract.

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And whatever happened to Tony Barnhart? Did he get too big for his britches and leave the AJC?

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sogadog

with all the A&M schools in the NEW SEC if Texas A&M and VT join the new name will be: the REDNECK Football Comference. YaHOO we got 2 Academic Institutions and 12 football & farming factory schools.

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I’m all for the ACC to go back to the “original” eight teams (minus SC of course). The ACC is and always will be a basketball conference. Expansion for the sake of football money hasn’t worked. The football has gotten worse since then. GO AWAY BC, VT, THE U, and FSU.

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SEC ought to look at West Virginia—that would tie up Pittsburgh and a lot of alumin in the DC area—they are between both-

Great football team–to get better with Dana Holgerson; and BB always very good–Bob Huggins just outstanding. Oliver Luck is the AD…class act!

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[...] on college football realignment related to his home state. Perry, a Texas A&M alum, …SEC expansion: It'll happen soon, and there'll be a 14th teamAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)SEC to Discuss Admission of Texas A&MNew York TimesR.I.P. Big [...]

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Fine by me
you didn’t study finance in school did you?

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I wrote this last week but I really think the SEC should trade Vandy for Clemson from the ACC.
The ‘Dores fit the ACC and the Tigers are a natural for the SEC.

Moving on from earlier statements, Virginia Tech is a little north for the remainder of the conference, so my other pick would be FSU. Sure, Florida will complain but the Seminoles are a natural link to the SEC.

As for Texas A&M, it doesn’t fit in with the SEC, ACC or any other conference. Maybe they can go independent and pretend to be a full-fledged service academy. Even though the Aggies have never won a lot of bowl games, they’d always be up for a Commander and Chief’s Trophy and a trip to D.C.

It’s like little league where everyone gets a trophy of some sort.

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The SEC does not have to raid to be a villain…already are. They should get Ohio State to join…their pedigree is on par with the other villains.

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sogadog – Don’t forget the peckerwoods.

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bite your tongue bamaguy…the SEC needs the Cats for basketball revenue….UK aint going no where

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There is no reason for Vandy to remain in the SEC in football. It obviously is not serious about intercollegiate competition, it went so far as to integrate its intramural program. Perhaps Vandy would prefer to state that it is more serious about intramural sports. Vandy could easily be replaced. Vandy and Kentucky are the only two teams in the east to never appear in the SEC Championship game (Ole Miss in the west holds similar status).

Bammer has two teams in the same division, UA and AU. That is a tough position. I doubt that UF wants to be in the same position by having FSU or UM added to the SEC, I would not want it. If I were a USC guy, I would not want ClemPson in there either for the similar reason.

VA and NC have no team in the conference, though clearly being in the geographic region. Adding teams there would open up big TV markets from Charlotte through DC.

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Bronko,
Not serious, but both would benefit financially don’t you think?

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TAMU, TCU, FSU, and Clemson seem to be the best fits. Miami possibly, rather than FSU, should league members choose to overlook the rumored blatant cheating in athletics and academics. Georgia Tech would be a better fit than either FSU or Miami and have a big plus of enhancing academics, in additionTech and TCU provide huge populations from which to recuit real students.

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No to Tech. Must have a stadium that’s seats over 40,000. Tech not interested. Their best hope to play for a trophy is the ACC.

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Hey, hold on just a minute!

Personally, I would like to see the SEC remain as it is. I am still not crazy about the expansion to 12, but understand. However, 14 offers no real advantages. It really doesn’t matter if the Big Ten (which is now larger) gets 20 members, they cannot compete with the SEC. A conference that has the present members of the SEC will always be nationally competitive and justify the largest contracts.

Ga Tech? Are you kidding me? They left years ago because they were too big to remain in the SEC. Unless everyone has a spell of amnesia, they will NEVER be invited back.

Miami? Not what you would presently like to add to your family.

FSU? Given the chance years ago and decided to be the big fish in the small pond. Next!

Texas A & M? Could bring a lot to the table if expansion occurs as Mark points out.

Louisville? Kidding again, right?

And all you folks talking about trading Vandy. I don’t see Vandy wanting to give up their present situation and the rest of the SEC wouldn’t want to lose them.

Why do you feel the ACC is superior in basketball and academics? Basketball in a given year maybe, but certainly not in others. Not in the past decade.

Clempsun? Don’t see it.

Not sure of a complement to Texas A & M, but you are right, never 13 without a 14th.

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just saying. I’m with you, I like the present roster. I don’t want the Dawgs traditional games messed with. I wouldn’t want to rotate Auburn with A&M. Yuck.

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“I don’t want the SEC to expand. It seems like there is a lot of potential to become unwieldy.” chazzo

Unweildy is the perfect word for this mess. I think a conference member should play each other once in football and twice in basketball each year. That horse is out of the barn at 12 menbers. What an unweildy mess at 16.

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Excellent work, Grandma!

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Just Sayin….

Do some research before you blog….. You just look Silly…

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Missouri and Clemson have nothing in common? Not true. They are both “Tigers.”

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“Why do you feel the ACC is superior in basketball and academics?”

Ignoring basketball, the ACC has 5 schools that are members of the AAU. Texas A&M and Missouri would bring the SEC total to 4.

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JB
are you really that stupid? Look at the size of some of the stadiums of the teams you are talking about. GT has 55K it is not 80k but it ain’t small either.

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No to Clemson. Add Missouri to get the 3rd tiger mascot.

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GT, Vandy, Air Force, Army, Wake Forest, Navy and Slippery Rock need to be in a conference by themselves.

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Mizzou seats 71K

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Sure I like to see Clemson in the SEC….They had much better football history and traditions than South Carolina ever did.
Along with FSU, Texas A&M , and Louisville. Yes, Louisville..it will add to the basketball side.

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If the SEC goes to 14 with Texas A&M and, say, Missouri, The PAC-12, whose commissioner has already said they are looking at adding 2 teams, to invite Oklahoma and OK. St.

Next, the Big Ten (Twelve) would move to add 2 to 4 teams. On the list last spring were Notre Dame, Maryland, Rutgers and Georgia Tech. All except ND are AAU members. Notre Dame is positioning itself for AAU membership; they now value membership in the AAU over their position as the leading Catholic university (article on SI last week). Nebraska’s stinky exit from the AAU in April (voted out by 2/3 of the member institutions) gave the Big Ten a black eye, academically.

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If A&M is really in. UGA better hope a school on the east coast is picked. If the 2nd new team is farther Left, then UGA could really be looking at Auburn and Bama in the EAST. Are you Dawgs really up for that? Do you think Richt will keep winning those 10 games/yr?

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Why does everyone assume that the fans and members of the SEC want to add more teams? Apparently we are doing just fine in regards to the football aspect and we have had a few national championships in basketball this past decade. Adding more teams would lessen the talent pool by watering it down. Instead of these talented young men attending 12 schools; they can spread out and attend 14. A&M would not have the recruiting advantage; they would open up the recruiting advantage to the SEC. I like the egotistic approach aggies have when saying that they have an open invitation. Which I regard as extremely funny; seeing that Big Brother was offered a spot on the team first; but declined; now little brother thinks they are the best in the World because of there “Open invitation!” If the SEC had a brain, they would push UT harder because they bring much more to the table; and a heck of a better TV market because of UTs national followers. FSU, Clemson, and GT are out of the question, they do not increase the TV market share and they dilute the talent pool for the current SEC teams in the respective states.

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If Missouri and, Clemson join the conference would that force Auburn to uses its real mascot the War Eagle?

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The jury is out if Richt can win 10 games again…ever……..The slide is real. I’m pulling for him, but after the last two years, like Obama, he’ll have to show me and not tell me.

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People

GT would be an embarrassment to the SEC

Look at all SEC games they are full and except for VANDY MISS ST and Ole Miss every stadium is 89,000

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JB Ok I can see that.
I don’t see the draw for the SEC and FSU. It doesn’t increase the TV foot print much. New TV markets is what drives the BIG Money and with more teams the SEC has to get more new TV viewers.

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ACC is a good fit for Tech. The game has changed since the Dodd era. Tech has stuck to their academic pedigree and that’s a good thing.

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The SEC NEEDS Texas and Va. for recruiting and TV

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I can’t see Florida wanting to give FSU any additional edge in recruiting in the state. Also, what is the advantage for the SEC? The Tallahassee-to-Pensacola TV market?

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JB: Obviously, the SEC needs no one for recruiting; let there record speak for itself

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I meant VT and the state of Virginia, Not UVA.

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Lets discuss the new look conference. In order of power rankings this year.

East:
VT
USC
Florida
Georgia
Clemson
Tennessee/Kentucky
Vanderbilt

West
Alabama/LSU
Florida St
Arkansas
Texas A&M
Miss. St.
Auburn
Ole Miss.

And that is a wrap …folks….

Overall our beloved dawgs would fit somewhere between 9-11 in the conference. 6-9 if lucky and turned things around.
Auburn

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If anything, I think conferences should split and become smaller so that everyone can play everyone in a regular season. 10-team conferences will mean 9 conference games with 3 out-of-conference games. Either that, or add more regular season games.

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As others have said, you can forget Va Tech. The Virginia legislature and the University of Virginia spent themselves driving the ACC to accept Va Tech vice Syracuse. Ain’t no way in hell that VT comes even if they want to because UVA wouldn’t even consider joining the SEC (not that they would be invited). If it is true that Carolina, Georgia and Florida are going to block their sister schools from joining, the SEC really does have to go West. Mizzou doesn’t seem like a good fit, but they have two advantages. Lots of TV sets in St. Louis and Kansas City and they do not have another state university that will tie their hands. They have a good overall athletic program with excellent basketball tradition and an ever improving football program.

That would give you 14. Then, if you go for 16, try for OU and OK State. The Cowboys are an improving program and they have an excellent basketball tradition. OU is the absolute best option available in any conference and is one of the Top 5 programs in the history of College Football.

This is not perfect, but it draws on new territory. OU is a natural rival for Arkansas. A&M the same with LSU and Arkansas, not to mention the line between College Station and Tuscaloosa that is still there with Gene Stallings.

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fsu and clemson don’t make sense. vt does. and blacksburg is actually further south than lexington. im sure mb knew that.

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VaTech[sic] is a much better fit in the SEC than the ACC. Their schools has the ideal mullet to jorts ratio that suits the rest of the ACC (sans Vandy). As the second-lowest ACC institution academically, the SEC is naturally a better fit. Moreover, they boast an impressive record of players’ run-ins with the law that even UGA fans can admire. Blacksburg is much more akin to the likes of Starkville, Tuscaloosa, Auburn, Fayetville, and Lexington that Boston, Miami, Atlanta, and the Research Triangle. They do have a solid football program to boot, but we’ll see what happens when Beamer retires. In short, they’re a natural fit for the SEC.

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the 16 team super conferences are coming as a precursor to a 16 team (8 conference champs and 8 at large) playoff, so I think Clemson and FSU will both be in the SEC before all is said and done (and possibly GA Tech). why? because Clemson USC, FSU-UF and Tech-UGA will not fall victim to scheduling prohibitions. Or maybe the Dawgs and Jackets will just square off in the Chik-fil-A Bowl EVERY year, as neither will ever get close to the BCS championship (take the short money and the gravy from the Title Game payout)

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What makes college football so great is it’s traditions! When teams like auburn and Georgia have been playing each other since 1892 their is history and rivalry the same with a lot of teams. To me throwing in 2 or 4 more teams would take away from those games to not be a yearly meeting! Don’t screw up our football!

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Ok- and let’s invite Ohio ST, Nebraska, and Pittsburgh! The SEC is big enough, let the Aggies, FSU, Clemson, Louisville and the other interested parties form their own conference. No realignment-

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“The truth” is a Techie who is not over the best Tech team in 20 years losing to the worst UGA team in 20 years, At Grant Field, on National TV, favored, and on the way to a BCS Bowl, which also resulted in a smack down. ACC champs and all……..whoops………ex ACC champs.

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Mark
Do you believe that mega expansion, which is coming, would kill rival games if teams like gt and uga, clem sc fsu uf were split up? Because I think if you go to 16 teams, then you will have to play 10 conference games. That leaves 2 ooc games. And you know at least one will be a cupcake and most teams will probably want another cupcake in the middle of the season. So Sayanora rival games. College football would stink if the gt uga game went away. I guess we can consider gt a cupcake since were 9-1 this decade.

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You bet we would Beast.

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The SEC will not let anything happen until Texas A&M straightens out their legal mess. Texas A&M should have gone to the SEC last summer before they signed a 10 extension to their contract with the Big-12. All legal matter will have to be settled with nothing coming back against the SEC. If that happens Texas A&M will most definitely get an invite.

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The SEC will make money from winning and for having the majority of the best conference games. We do not need an SEC network because all of the SEC games are broadcasted on ESPN or CBS. If you start making it a super-conference; the dominance will dissipate with excuses. Further more; with all the rambling about the SEC cheating and all of the hatred thrown in its path; why not take the high road and remain a solid conference. Aggies agreed to stay in the Big 12 when it was on the brink of collapse; now because they are tired of being left out by Big Brother, they create havoc for all of the others that did remain in the Big 12 (i.e., KU, KSU, Mizzo, ISU) They are obviously (as they state) out for themselves, why bring a spoiled-brat step child into the conference where problems are at a minimum?

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But beast,
Correct me if I am wrong, but Miami UF was never a big rivalry. I began watching CF in the mid 80’s and I don’t remember that game at all. I do remember Fsu Miami. I hope we don’t lost the Gt Uga game. That would suck.

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The bottom line is the SEC will get who it wants and it will not matter if the ACC,Big 12 or Big east likes it or not.Georgia tech will never be considered for the SEC again,the SEC already owns the Atlanta TV market and Ga tech brings nothing to the table that would be advantageous for the SEC, small fan base, little modern football tradition (53% wins since 67′), and for those thinking Vandy would voluntarily leave the SEC for a smaller payday had best think again.

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Mad,
Used to be the first game of the year for both teams. If I’m not mistaken, UM’s first NC team had one loss……to UF in the season opnener.

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OK for all you techies let me explain something. Tech was in the SEC and left, therefore, Forget it you’re NOT getting back in. PERIOD. Tech should have stayed. but who am I to burst your fantasy. Clemson on the other hand would make a great addition, even evil genius thinks so.

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Post @7:13 is right out of the RAT freshman handbook. Old, stale Stereotype BS

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SEC ^5

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Why isn’t Georgia Tech in the mix? I think they would be a good fit for the SEC East

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HelluvaEngineer…write back when you’ve enjoyed the comfort of a woman you didn’t have to pay for or blow up

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Jordan just look at SEC and my comments above….maybe you can figure it out

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Just saying…

August 16th, 2011
6:22 pm
….
Why do you feel the ACC is superior in basketball and academics? Basketball in a given year maybe, but certainly not in others. Not in the past decade.
—
Let me see. In basketball – maybe because the ACC has 5 NCs from 3 different schools since 2001 while the SEC has 2 (from UF).
In academics – maybe because the ACC has 7 schools ranked in the top 50 in the US, 5 AAU members and no tier 3 schools while the SEC has 3 schools ranked in the top 50 (Vandy, UF, UGA), 2 AAU members. and 2 tier 3 schools (Ole Miss and MSU)

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I’m a Tech fan, but I think VT is probably the best fit for the SEC. I would love to see GT renew rivalries with the likes of Auburn and Alabama, but the truth hurts, and GT will not be back in the SEC anytime soon.

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Damn truth, I labeled you a Techie earlier. My bad.

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JB

Thats why GT is located right square in the middle of the crime capital of America

Fits the fanbase just right

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Just had a vision. What if college football ends up with 4-5 mega conferences with each one having it’s own championship game, of course, and from that a plus one for the NC.
What’s wrong with selecting Texas Tech as the 14th team. We already play Auburn every year anyway.

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buzzer

August 16th, 2011
7:23 pm
I Guarantee you that the SEC doesn’t want to see Paul Johnson’s option week in and week out. Not sure we have the depth yet to compete with the SEC elite, but over the last 3 years, we certainly have had the depth to go down to the wire with the Dogs.

I TOTALLY AGREE

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Mark,

I agree….I’m a Gator and have no interest in FSU sharing in the SEC wealth!!!!

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A&M will leave eventually for the same reasons Nebraska and Colorado did, uneven revenue sharing between members. The Big 12 was doomed from the start with a plan like that and it only got worst after they left because the remaining schools had nowhere to jump except down and UT knew it and shoved the Network deal down everyones throat too. If the NCAA had not stepped in couple of weeks ago UT would be showing texas high school games on thier network giving them additional advatages and more money.
The big 12 was the only conference set up this way and UT is doing all this for the worst of reasons… THEY CAN!

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M – do you have a “Moral Victory” banner for that accomplishment going up at the Joke by Coke during this season’s opener?

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If you are VT or Fsu, why would you want to go to a conference where you have to play 6 games a year against incredibly hard opponents. And why would you want to coach those teams? You would want to stay where you pkay 2-3 hard opponents a year. It’s all about winning championships and sorry but dilution kills that. If this happens you will see 3 loss sec teams complain they deserve a better ranking over a 0 or 1 loss team from another conference. And to that I say, you shoulda stayed.

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Joe Tech – don’t you have a World of Warcraft game to attend to? Last I checked, UGA has handled your merry band of midgets even in it’s worst times over the past 10 years.

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I don’t understand why the SEC wants Texas A&M. Is it because they can’t get Texas?

I know Texas has good players to recruit, but outside of the Longhorns I can’t see any of their programs that would elevate the SEC? A&M is a .500 program, and they’ve never been good in my lifetime except for the late 80s and early 90s when they got put on probation three different times.

Texas Tech? They are just A&M-West with a few less NCAA probations. Baylor/SMU/Houston etc? no need to even elaborate on them.

If we want to recruit Texas we should just get Oklahoma. They recruit Texas better than anyone except The University of Texas.

A&M is just watering down the conference as is any other school from that state not named Texas.

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“certainly had the depth”

No you just lost to a poorly coached team

TRUTH

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SEC should be careful with VA Tech – they may be a one trick pony. Before Frank Beamer they were nothing in football and may well amount to nothing after his coaching days.

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BJ:

“See Tech Bowl game against Iowa for how they do against talented, fast teams”.

We lost by 10. How’d you do against Central Florida A & M?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA….HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!

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I would like to see an ACC team handle the SEC schedule week in and week out.

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Orson Charles under investigation as linked to the Swartz guy paying players at Miami.

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You Georgia schools crack me up.

S
H
R
E
V
E
P
O
R
T

IT’S THE BEST YOU GUYS CAN HOPE FOR!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

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Texas A & M , Oklahoma , Oklahoma State , Missouri to the west……shift Alabama and Auburn to the east……all the natural rivalries remain ( Tenn-Bama ) ( Auburn-Bama ) ( Auburn-UGA ) plus UGA and Bama would play every year like it should have been all along……in the west you’d have ( LSU-Texas A & M ) ( Texas A & M – Arkansas ) ( Oklahoma- LSU ) ( LSU-Missouri ) ( Arkansas-Oklahoma )…..and before all my fellow Dawg fans start hyperventilating over the brutal schedule,the only team we’d play every year that we don’t already is Alabama…..we’d probably end up only having to play LSU and Oklahoma like twice every 10 years or something,so that would balance the brutalness of it out somewhat

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BJ:

Rivals had Georgia ranked pre season at 1 in 2008 and we took you to the woodshed (in your own yard). Hahahahahahahahah!

((((((((((((((( 45-42 ))))))))))))))) hahahahahahaha

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Hey Stan, I think you guys got beat by a school over there not to long ago.
ALABAMA FOOTBALL: where the games between Stallings and Saban really didn’t happen……..And a lot have been stripped by the NCAA anyway.

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@ldawg121 – I like that scenario…..nice!!

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Wish Georgia would join the ACC! Then our games would matter

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The ACC should add some teams from the northeast. BC has no natural geographic rivals in the league. Maybe Rutgers, if they’d leave the *big east*, and if they don’t get tapped by the BIG TEN. Pitt is also AAU member, UConn isn’t. Short of raiding the Ivy League, I can’t see any other obvious candidates.

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THE FINAL SEC EXPANSION FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS:

2013 SEC EAST’
Florida
Florida State ***
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Va Tech ***

***ACC will regroup as they add UCF and/or USF, Louisville, Pittsburg, West Virginia, Rutgers and Syracuse

2013 SEC WEST
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi
Miss State
Oklahoma ***
Texas A & M ***

***the Big 12 will survive and become greatly weakened as Texas becomes an Independent and they add TCU, SMU, Houston, Southern Miss and a couple of other schools.

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Buzzer, LOL at a tech fan trying to trash talk UGA, seriously 15 wins over the past 57 years 1-9 over the past 10. Go to the Duke board where your posts would have some relevance.

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Lol @ Stan. The best you have to hope for is a cousin that hasn’t already been worked over by the rest of your brothers, cousins, and uncles!

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31-0 BLACKOUT!

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and you know I’m right

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5150 UOAD
August 16th, 2011
6:40 pm

UGA plays Auburn EVERY year already, and last 4 games with UGA / Alabama… we are 3 and 1…the Bear died a lonnnnggg time ago. We aren’t scared of Tide, dude.

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Tech will continue to get out-talented every time they play UGA. Tech cannot handle a bruising running game.

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Look. Vanderbilt sucks. What business does that school have being in the SEC when 99% of the time Vandy is a cake walk? Most of their students don’t even care, as evident if you have ever driven up to the Dawgs play @ Vandy. The SEC needs to do something no one is expecting. Texas is not in the “South”. Texas is not part of the South EAST. Sorry but any school from Texas will not fit with the history and culture of the SEC. Texas might as well be it’s own country and no teams from Texas have any business in the SEC. What the SEC DOES need to do is expand but make a splash doing so. Invite GSU. That’s right, Georgia State. Why not? Imagine a 3 way rivalry. Everyone already wants to play in the dome, so why not? Imagine the amount of fans that would come to the dome to see their teams play. It would make SO much money once GSU is good. It will put another Georgia school in the spot light and make players REALLY want to go to State. Won’t have to travel too far either and GSU would get amazing road support when traveling in the SEC. It sounds way too early and too much too soon, but no, it’s not. Make the splash, remove Vandy and put in Ga State.

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Texas A&M will be in the SEC sooner than most people think. The Big-12 is dead because they have always had an unequal revenue sharing distribution going back 15 years or more. Add in the fact that the new Texas LHN will provide Texas with $30M a year, well you have to be stupid to not read the writing on the wall.

The 14th team will be FSU. You people that try to talk about markets have no idea what you are talking about. FSU is the only ACC team that has a NATIONAL market, the Q-rating of FSU is off the charts compared to other teams mentioned. Do the research and you will see that FSU has some of the highest rated games every shown on ABC and ESPN. Also, do a little more research and you will see that FSU also has some of the highest rated bowl games. All the talk about Louisville, VT, Clemson, Missouri, all these teams do is take money out of the pocket of the existing member schools. Only FSU brings money to the table.

Also, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are tied together via state legislation, so they will have to come as a package deal, which would then force the SEC to move a school from the west into the east. As has been mentioned, VT and UVA are also tied together so VT won’t be leaving.

Texas A&M will be in, FSU will be in, and in a few years the sec will add 2 more teams and get to 16. At each intervall they will renegotiate their TV deals (just like professional athletes) and they will get more and more money.

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SEC must be careful to not dilute the conference to an also-ran

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“Tech cannot handle a bruising running game”.

WHO HAS THAT? HAHAHA.

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Buzzer, 6-7 in 2020 . Where’s PJ team ranked this year? Picked to 5th in ACC Coastal , do you think thats because he’s done such a great job of recruiting and coaching? Uga as a program has accomplished more over the past 10 years in major bowl appearances, conference title , BCS bowl wins,than Tech has over the past 50 years. Take you tired crap somewhere its relevant.Think PJ will ever coach a team that wins a bowl game?

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Here’s the best solution. Since the mutts can’t ever win in the SEC even with great teams, let them move to the ACC to make room for three quality teams!

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SEC should add Georgia state. Largest Television Market in the conference, best home field (Georgia Dome), best coach (Bill Curry), Very large school 31,000 and almost 200,000 living alumni. Would be the best option and would be a perfect fit.
GO PANTHERS!!

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Well, I assure you expansionists that the established coaches want no part of this because, and, this is one of the reasons the muckety mucks are counting to ten before making a decision: Vandy, MSU, Ole Miss, Kentucky and USC would never ever again win a football conference championship and hardly be competitive for one, and the big boys themselves will go much longer between division championships. Say what you will, but championships are what matters in coaching longevity. The only way around this dilemma is to have four 4-team SEC divisions, but then you’d have to add another playoff game to the schedule, and the presidents ain’t going to let that happen. Or, you have to drop one of the directional schools from your schedule, and the NCAA ain’t gonna let that happen.

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The bloggers who love to point out how ‘wrong’ columnists are really crack me up. Apparently they’ve never been wrong about anything, and just as apparently they don’t realize that your column is your opinion. You, Schultzie, Bisher, Grizzard, Hudspeth or any other columnist the AJC has ever had has never, to my knowledge, said that without a doubt they were 100% right and should never be doubted…….okay, maybe Terence Moore did, but no one else. It’s an opinion, and everyone has one.
Me? I could care less if they expand or not, right now I’m more concerned with whether or not the Dogs have a nice enough season to beat Florida and prevent a coaching staff turnover.

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BAMA STAN
August 16th, 2011
7:57 pm

Like I said, you aren’t scaring anyone…us, and certainly not Auburn.

Herschel still has a year of eligibility…don’t make me open up a can on your scrawny a@@.

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bama 3-7 vs Auburn over past 10 years.

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Bama Stan’s cousin-wife has been run through by her family more times than a puddle at a school bus stop

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Heels, Clems(paw)n’s President that will do what is best for the University as a whole. Being in the SEC will provide much more revenue for Clems(paw)n than remaining in the ACC.

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buzzer
August 16th, 2011
7:50 pm

Buzzer, you are an idiot. He has won “ONE” game, I know that’s a BIG DEAL, the only one in TEN YEARS!!! The Only statistic that matters in football, the Score!! I love to hear PJ “WHINING” about his offense not being stopped , the post game is priceless.

Get in the bed by 900 tonight, it’s a school night…lay that pocket protector out so you don’t forget it in the morning and drink that juice box! Nighy night, now

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I think NC state would be a great fit for sec. Brings in a big market.

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There have been some great sports writers to make the print pages at the AJC. We all may fuss about what they write, but when they leave we seem to wish they were still here. Here is a partial list.

Stan Awtrey [3]
Tony Barnhart [2]
Furman Bisher [3]
Mark Bradley [4]
Curtis Bunn [5]
Michael Carvell [4]
Guy Curtright [5]
Craig Custance [6]
Michelle Hiskey [6]
Steve Hummer [7]
Mike Knobler [7]
Derrick Mahone [8]
John Manasso [9]
Darryl Maxie [8]
Terence Moore [9]
Dave O’Brien [10]
Karen Rosen [11]
Bill Sanders [12]
Jeff Schultz [10]
Sekou Smith [13]
Carter Strickland [14]
Chip Towers [15]
Tim Tucker [11]
Matt Winkeljohn [16]
Steve Wyche [17

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Yeah, just like Jarvis Jones had to sit.

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Beamer would love to join SEC to get closer to Ponzi money.

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“…St. Louis and Houston markets had the highest number of available homes tuned to college football games on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays.”

There you go. Along with the existing SEC markets. It makes the case for Texas A&M and Missouri. I’m guessing that Orlando isn’t focused very heavily on UCF.

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clemson blows are u kidding, every year they “almost” dont suck and blow it in the end. i say its all the inbreds in the state >.<

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If you think about it if ga tech was n the sec and UGA went to the big 12 GA tech would recuit like a

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MatthewH: I don’t think it’s as much about jealousy or competing in recruiting with Texas. I think the Longhorn Network simply reveals that the Big 12 structure is inherently flawed. Any Big 12 network that the conference might have an interest in starting in the near future would essentially be cut off at the knees because it would have to compete with the Longhorn Network, rendering the conference as a whole in a tough spot compared to the Big 10 and SEC. Moving to the SEC would allow the conference to either start its own network or renegotiate their existing TV deals w/ ESPN and CBS, which would result in a financial bonanza for all the member schools. Therefore, Texas A&M would be in a better spot financially compared to where they would be if they stay in the Big 12.

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Delbert – Texas plays Rice, why? Because tradition demands it. JFK said “why does Rice play Texas, we choose to go to the moon…. rah rah rah (insert crowd roaring here)”. The politics of college athletics is that the little guy has to at least have a chance to beat the big guy. If the big boys go to scheduling only each other, they’re going to quickly find themselves in federal court with some splaining to do. Otherwise the little guys will dry up and in the big picture that will hurt college athletics. The NCAA has to at least maintain a mirage of not being the NFL’s farm system.

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Again; the A&M is the spoiled-brat step child that looks out for themselves ( as they state) why would any conference want that?

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Mark

Dont think it will be VT. They like there dominance of a BCS conference with easy access to the Orange Bowl too much. Plus it would create bad blood after the mess they pulled to get into the ACC. FSU and Clemson arent getting invites ’cause they don’t add TV value and this about TV money not football. Plus USCe and UF dont want to lose a competitive advantage over in-state rivals.

If I were the SEC I would look at TCU as its 14th, it gives you another quality team and deeper access to the Texas market. The only option I could see would be WVU but not a lot of TV dollars are gonna come from adding them.

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BrotherHOg, the Automatic Teller Machines have a legitimate gripe. Nebraska and Colorado left for the same reason. You cannot have a viable conference where there is unequal sharing of the revenue. Imagine if Florida, Alabama, Auburn, LSU, or Tennessee (all BCS NC teams) started their own network that competed with the SEC network.

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Mary Chestnut – I understand that regarding Rice. They are hardly a directional school; they are a member of the AAU. No doubt that the smaller schools benefit from the road games for pay at the big schools, but the way that some of these big schools find it necessary to play 3 of these little guys in a season is ridiculous.

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BAMA STAN
August 16th, 2011
7:51 pm

I wish we could swap Florida for Alabama on annual basis. All the cross breading you guys are doing has messed up your football talent, a lot like they have done with UGA dog line…. Can’t wait to get on ya’ll next year. I wish you would make it to the Dome this year, but that looks like it will be LSU to me.

Is your trailer hot? I saw that Bubba’s Hardware had window units on sale, get you one…you’ll be in a better mood.

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Is GT relevant

Seriously

I dont know why a team that has appeared in only 1 BCS bowl game in 40+ years and cannot fill a stadium the size of a mid-level high school team unless UGA fans do it for them, has fans on here talking trash

WOW!!!!!

Back to cleaning the graffiti off your buildings and cars Techies

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If Texas A&M comes you will see VT come with the DC market and eastern alignment. But the SEC will expand to a full 16 teams when they expand. They will not go 14 then a year or two later to 16. It will be 12 to 16 then done and the SEC wants first pick.

There will be 4 or 5 16 team super conferences, and my guess it will be in place by 2014 2015 school year. Oklahoma’s market share is not as big as many folks think it is. The St. Louis market and KC markets, DC and eastern shores markets, and Dallas/Houston markets are what the researchers hired by the SEC are saying will provide the biggest bangs and the Big 10 knows that the markets without NFL teams seem to do better in market shares.

Whether we like it or not the superconference days are fast approaching.

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Is GT relevant

Seriously

I dont know why a team that has appeared in only 1 BCS bowl game in 40 years and cannot fill a stadium the size of a mid-level high school team unless UGA fans do it for them, has fans on here talking trash

WOW!!!!!

Back to cleaning the graffiti off your buildings and cars Techies

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Is GT relevant

Seriously

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ATLpowderhorn – Didn’t see the post. The headlines there were about impermissible benefits to several SEC players provided by that Miami booster who is cooperating with the NCAA.

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Let Ga. Tech back in. This way they’d be assured of not winning a national title for another 100 years.

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If this happens (A&M and FSU, or Oklahoma) the BCS will be a bigger fiasco. In a conference with Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Texas A&M, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas, and FSU I suspect the conference champion will normally have a loss or two and there would be no way one could argue that winner does not deserve a title shot. No way. This is stupid. Someone should look out for the entire CF entity not just the conferences.

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One more thing and I will shut up..

The new superconferences will force the NCAA and Presidents to create a new level of competition and scholarship plans. The nature of the game will force some schools not to be part of the power broker divisions. With the expanse of money and markets we will see some less dominant schools be in a lesser version of FBS play without a playoff system, while others will be in the super division that will create a playoff format style play.

Just my opinion but the money does rule the schools and the presidents know it.

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With UGA and FSU in the SEC, would that mean special funding from the SEC for player lawyers and police presence at games played in Tallahassee??

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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?

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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.

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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!

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I think it very funny that you idiot sec fans think highly enough of ACC teams to desire them. LOL! Keep dreaming.

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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.

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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.

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Delbert,
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Jags become the Vegas Gamblers one day…..soon.

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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?

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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?

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Make My Day, the NCAA and money doesn’t rule UNC. And that’s a fact.

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great, way to royally screw college football.

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SEC – white trash

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Those ACC boys don’t want any part of the SEC.

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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?

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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

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@ 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!!

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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A new candidate for SEC expansion just surfaced. Miami nows qualifies.

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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.

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FYI Texas A&M is also a AAU member.

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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.

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The SEC is first in the rankings with over $1 billion in revenue in 2009-’10.The Big Ten Conference ranks second in athletic revenue among conferences, bringing in $905.2 million.

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Dostoyevskiy,
It only takes one idiot to bring the entire program to it’s knees, give the university a black-eye and then you have to start all over. I wish they would start getting the wallets of the individuals involved (coaches, agents, etc.). Maybe a $250,000 fine would slow some of this garbage down?

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Ultimately, the NCAA needs to just eliminate about half the schools out of FBS (division 1) and just make it more NFL-like.

I say have about 50-60 teams in different divisions. Some teams just won’t make the cut and will have to play lower level football.

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Personally, I’d love to see A&M and Oklahoma in the West and VA Tech and UNC in the East. There is a gentlemen’s agreement in place which will ensure that only “new markets” are added, thus no Clemson or FL State.

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Whatever! You were wrong the other day and wrong now.

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I hope no pay for play stuff is going down on the Flats.

The way some Tech grads sling around all the rupees they are making, it makes one nervous.

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Rupees on the Flats? I thought that it was renminbi getting thrown around.

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Clemson, GT, Louisville, FSU, Tulane are the only acceptable additions. Otherwise they would need to rename the conference. Greedy Bastard/ESPN Conference would be a good name.

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Beast – “I wish they would start getting the wallets of the individuals involved (coaches, agents, etc.)”

The good news is the NCAA is conducting the interviews with Shapiro in his jail cell, and he’s singing like a canary. Yahoo sports says that the NCAA may not have to adhere to the 4-year statute of limitations on this one. He’ll go down on the Ponzi scheme, but it’s unclear to me how the extensive fraud (money laundering and more) will affect everybody else. If it can be tied to his criminal enterprise, it looks like one former coach at least may be in trouble.

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Paul – I’ll record one game and tape construction paper over the trailers on bottom of the screen where the scores scroll by. Oh, and I’ll have to turn the sound off on the live game. What a hassle.

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Delbert – the only other way to see both games and not have the scroll on the bottom is to watch it on line – but who wants to do that?

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Beast – Well, he’s doing 20 years for the fraud. The article details what Yahoo covered in their investigation, and it’s a truly massive amount of information. The details on the inducements given to high school recruits and parties for UM players is disgusting.

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The old adage is, if it isn’t broke don’t fix it. When you start getting creative and add this team and that team you may not like what comes out in the wash. The SEC has been successful with the teams on board and should remain that way. Don not let revenue be a driving force in making this decision.

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I hate WVU….but you got to respect them. They might be the best choice.

Also, bringing them on would in essence kill the Big East and their automatic BCS berth.

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To the fans who insist on continuing to fight the Civil War, West Virginia would definitely not be a good fit. Missouri would.

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Ga State and the SEC would be a perfect fit, then Al. Ga. Fl. and all the others would not have to go out of conference for all those patsy’s they love to play. !!! Git er done.

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Let’s kick out thUGA or Bammer and bring in A&P…umm A&M

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I vote for extending an invitation to Tulane to return to the SEC…What a road trip New Orleans would be!

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we should have teams wanting to pay to be a select member of the SEC yaaaw

@=dele-bert D====troll —take you and your chip and act like a tree—just leave—hahahah

————————–dawgs 43–boise 42——————–could be greatest game ever

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I think that the SEC should invite Duke or North Carolina. Geographically and financially either school would be a good fit and it would also give the SEC a chance to extend its exceptional-ism into the sport of basketball. It would also allow either school to establish themselves in football by going head to head with the best of the best each week. Win/win for everyone imho.

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Mark;

It’s evident that you haven’t done your research. Former Governor Warner had to move mountains to get VT into the ACC, the political firestorm would be over 2,000 degrees if the SEC came calling. VT is not going anywhere.

The original Southern Conference of the 1920’s and 30’s comprised many of the teams from today’s SEC and ACC. It was a mega conference and it didn’t work.

!2 team conferences are the max. The reason that the SEC is the best is because it’s focused on a specific geopgraphical area with great schools. The rush to 14 or 16 is pure fools gold.

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The problem with any conference standing idle will make you less of a player in the big picture. The fact that the ACC is at a crossroads in football television viewerships is going to play out very soon.
Take out the FSU market share, BC market share and VT market share and the numbers do not reflect much of negotiating power. BC is being strongly courted by multiple conferences and if some of the television people had their way you would see Rutgers, UConn, BC, Pitt, as the core to a television built conference. The market will force some of the college presidents to change their attitudes when money is being tossed around in shopping carts and armored trucks.

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Switching Auburn over to the east seems like an easy solution but there is a reason why the Tigers are in the west instead of Vandy, which is actually further west than Auburn. Each team has only one permanent opponent in the other division. This would be fine for Auburn since its only traditional opponents in the west are Alabama and Mississippi State. Alabama could be the permanent opponent of Auburn and the MSU series isn’t important enough for it to be an issue. The problem would be for Alabama which already has Tennessee as their permanent east division opponent. They’re not going to give up the Iron Bowl and they’re not going to give up the Third Saturday in October. You’d have to move Alabama to the east which would not make geographic sense.

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If there are going to be 14 teams in the SEC, they should add Ga Tech and FSU. Lets keep it down home cuz! Remember, “South Eastern Conference.”

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Clemson, please! If you’re looking to revive some real heat, Clemson fits the ticket. Just the idea of it gets my motor racing. There has never been any love lost between the Georgia and Clemson folks. Forget Texas A&M. They are the needy people across the tracks. I think Florida State would be a better fit for the SEC.
Drop one patsy off everybody’s schedule. Add in a second open date for everybody. And let’s play some SEC Football. Yahoo, Mountain Dew. Slobberknocker City!

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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.

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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.

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k

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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?

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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

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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 !!!!

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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

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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?

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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.

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[...] SEC expansion will happen soon, writes Mark Bradley of AJC. [...]

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And, you know exactly what about college football, on anything ever you have ever written about college football, Mark Bradley, sir ?

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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.

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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.

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Bradley just doing his “Jesse Outlar” impressions.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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See I told you guys early yesterday that Orson Charles was linked to the Miami/ Shapiro money deal.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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[...] 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…; [...]

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WIth the allegations going on with Miami in ACC…

I dont’ think it’ll be long at all before we see FSU, VT or Clemson begging to join the SEC

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“Georgia, Ole Miss, and Alabama will keep Ga Tech out of the SEC.
Florida, LSU, and South Carolina will keep FSU out of the SEC.
Va.Tech and Clemson are happy in the ACC and will never leave.”

None of this makes any sense.

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[...] 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…;  [...]

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OH YEAH, DIDN’T CLEMSON STUMBLE INTO ATLANTA RECENTLY AND GOT THEMSELVES HUMILIATED BY THE CRIMSON TIDE ? MY MEMORY IS FADING … MAYBE I DREAMED ALABAMA BLEW OUT CLEMSON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO !!! CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG AND LET ME KNOW IF CLEMSON HAS SET UP A REMATCH WITH THE TIDE.

OH YEAH 2 : CLEMSON SHOWED A LOT OF HEART BEFORE THEY LOST TO sCAM NEWTON AND AUBURN LAST SEASON. THEY REPRESENTED THE ACC WELL, BUT NOT EVEN ESPN COULD PAY CLEMSON TO SECede THE ACC FOR THE SEC !!! DITTO FOR FSU, DITTO FOR VA TECH !!!

AND BEST OF ALL THE SEC DOESN’T WANT OR NEED ANY ACC SCHOOLS TO WATER DOWN THE BEST COLLEGE FOOTBALL CONFERENCE IN THE WORLD !!

THE SEC ONLY WANTS SCHOOLS THAT WILL EXPAND THE CONFERENCE FOOTPRINT !!

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Texas A and M still has a way to go in football I’ll admit. But even with Texas big ESPoNu contract they didn’t break the top pre 10 this year and A and M did. However, better be afraid of A and M in baskeball (the women won it last year), track(men and women won it this year),baseball(men invited to the playoffs), softball(women in top nearly every year), tennis(men’s doubles won it this year. Would be a great plus to SEC for all the other sports other than football. And, football is on the rise again in Aggieland. A and M leaders have to know the SEC would help improve their football program. Sogadog, I agree with you except one thing, Texas is in the Southwest. Remember the old Southwest Conference?

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As a UVA man, I sure hope Tech doesn’t go to the SEC. That said, I wouldn’t blame them if they did. Got to remember the ACC never wanted Tech. They wanted Syracuse, BC, and Miami. It took Governor Warner to pressure UVA into backing Tech’s entry into the ACC. Tech going to the SEC would give it a huge recruiting advantage over UVA, UNC, and UMD. In terms of rivalries, the UVA-VT game would continue. Tech could quickly develop a real good rivalry with U. Tennessee, which, I think, is only about four hours away.

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It’s about cash – and lots of it. Lucrative television contracts are based on viewing audiences. With three of the nation’s top 20 metro areas in Texas, the addition of A&M substantially increases the SEC’s viewing audience (some estimate by more than 1/3). The SEC has a lucrative contract with ESPN which will balloon if A&M makes it’s move. Could A&M simply be using the SEC as leverage?

Logically, the SEC would need to add a 14th school. But let’s face it, the big prize here is A&M and the mega bucks it brings with it. A&M is frankly tired of being the Longhorns bitch and it finally has the clout to negotiate a deal that could rival the one that Bevo (or is that Butthead) cut in forming its own network while refusing to share with its Big 12 mates.

My sources (and they are pretty good) tell me that A&M’s departure is “imminent”. But the matter is complicated by the fact that ESPN who also has a contract with the Big 12, does not want to be seen as a facilitator in breaking up the league. My guess is that ESPN is working hard to find an acceptable replacement for A&M so the league can retain its status as the Big 1 and the nine little dwarfs (10 schools in all) and ESPN’s option to terminate its agreement with the Big 12 is not triggered. Until this happens, ESPN will be reluctant to negotiate with the SEC and the SEC (at least to some extent) may be reluctant to finalize its deal with A&M.

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