The wild scramble begins: Texas A&M is leaving the Big 12
And the Aggies come marching into the SEC. Who'll be joining them? (AP photo)
The mad shuffle has begun. Texas A&M has told the Big 12 not to leave the light on for any Aggies anymore, and if you’re counting you’ll note that the Big 12 has been reduced to a Puny 9. That’s the way of this zero-sum game: Your loss is somebody else’s gain.
Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin said in a statement Wednesday: “We are seeking to generate greater visibility nationwide for Texas A&M and our championship-caliber student-athletes, as well as secure the necessary and stable financial resources to support our athletic and academic programs.” And if that doesn’t sound like, “Hellooooo, SEC!” … well, my name’s not Rockey Felker.
It’s all but certain the SEC will seek to balance the Aggies’ arrival by enfranchising a 14th team, but these endeavors can assume a momentum unforeseen. (Back in 2003, who’d have thought the ACC would wind up with Boston College and not Syracuse?) The SEC might decide to expand to 16, which brings us to the overarching point:
Any school the SEC adds must come from somewhere.
Geographically, the prime poaching ground would seem the ACC. It’s believed the SEC isn’t interested in adding teams in states where it already has outposts — meaning: no Georgia Tech, no Florida State, no Clemson — so that would, by process of elimination, leave Virginia Tech, North Carolina, N.C. State and Maryland as targets. But would the latter three choose to break an alliance of more than a half-century’s standing? Would Carolina, which is big on basketball, want to leave its old pal Duke?
The ACC must be on its guard. The league has forged a nice fat football contract with ESPN, but everyone realizes that, regarding the sport that pays the freight for most every athletic department, the SEC is the place where the biggest money flows and the brightest lights shine. If you’re serious about college football, the SEC is the place to be.
When it added Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College, the ACC sent the message that it was getting serious about the sport. Alas, that plan hasn’t found fruition. So what, knowing the SEC will surely seek to pounce, can the basketball league do?
Larry Williams, who covers Clemson for Tiger Illustrated, made an intriguing proposal a couple of weeks ago:
Everyone is wondering whether the ACC will be proactive to secure its place amid the anticipated conference realignment Armageddon, and we tend to frame it all in football terms. But what if the ACC’s audacious move consisted of raiding the Big East of some of its basketball jewels (Connecticut? Syracuse? Louisville? Pitt?) and supplanting the Big East as the nation’s premier basketball aggregation?
That would be one way to go. But the other BCS leagues will try to strengthen themselves in the months ahead, and it’s just as likely the Big East and the Big Ten will take a run at ACC schools. (And the Pac-12, having already scarfed up Colorado, might well try to pick the carcass of the Puny 9.)
This is, in sum, going to get messy. High-minded academic institutions will be scrambling to find the best fit — i.e., the most money — and conferences will be down on bended knee to try to lure/keep these high-minded institutions lest their league fall to the level of Conference USA, and pretty soon we’re going to end up with Southern Cal in the Atlantic Coast Conference. (Don’t laugh. Know who’s joining the Big East next season? Texas Christian.)
As bad as all this figures to be, it might also be good. College sports have become the place where cognitive dissonance runs riot. We wax poetic about the color and pageantry of these stirring tableaus, but when you cut through the color and pageantry you’ll find these games aren’t games at all. They’re performances staged by massive businesses. Shocking revelation: Businesses run on money.
As much as college sports attempt to tug at our heartstrings, it’s the purse strings that count. Texas A&M got miffed that Texas is making too much money with its Longhorn Network, and the Aggies want to go where they can get rich, too. And so it begins. When it ends, the map of college athletics will have been redrawn.
By Mark Bradley
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259 comments Add your comment
NC Dawg
August 31st, 2011
2:59 pm
KB, it isn’t idiotic to put Vandy in the West. If Auburn, Al. lines up in the west on an SEC geography map, Nashville certainly does.
KB
August 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
Charles – I agree that you might have UGA & USC vote against Clemson, for example. But all it takes is 12 votes. Clemson brings a huge fanbase, national recognition (major merchandising), and a brand name for football. They would also be in the upper echelon of academics were they to join. The Greenville market is one of South Carolina’s largest, plus their is a major Clemson base in Charlotte and other areas of North Carolina. They seem the most “SEC-like” team, to me, (along with FSU). I agree that Maryland is a possibility, but they emphasize basketball, and might think twice before being bottom-feeders in the SEC every year in football. They’re barely competitive in the ACC…
L'il Slim
August 31st, 2011
3:00 pm
Don’t bother me with your “basketball” nonesense. Real men don’t put their balls in a basket. This is the SEC; football reigns.
KB
August 31st, 2011
3:02 pm
It’s idiotic to consider moving Vandy anywhere. They’re charter members with natural rivalries in the East (Tennessee & Kentucky, mainly. Especially in basketball). Plus, their is no good reason to do that, especially since A&M would be added to the west.
Charles
August 31st, 2011
3:02 pm
Sure, bakerman, those divisions look balanced…not. The SEC will look to add an eastern division team from the east coast. Travel is expensive, especially when you take Title IX into account. Alot of things folks aren’t considering on the realignment stuff.
KB
August 31st, 2011
3:03 pm
And let’s all be grateful that brilliant mind’s such as “Lil Slim” don’t run the SEC…good God…
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
August 31st, 2011
3:03 pm
I think this is awesome. Texas A&M is a great school with an excellent culture (gotta love the 12th Man) and fanbase as well as a rising football program (the Aggies are ranked in the top 10 in some polls).
Yeah, there’s all the monetary benefits this move entails, but the match-ups are gonna be fantastic. The Bear’s three teams (Bama, A&M and Kentucky) going against each other regularly? Sounds great. A&M coming between the hedges for some hard-nosed football? Gotta have it!
Now, as for member #14, I’d go after Oklahoma hard: from what I hear, they’re getting tired of Texas’s attitude, too, and might be looking for a way out. And for those who say the Cowboys would have to come with them, if we can get Texas and A&M to separate, then we can get the Sooners to split from the Cowboys.
If not OU, I’d probably go for Virginia Tech. They’re the best football team in the ACC (alongside FSU, but the conference won’t get teams from states we’re already established in), and I’d love to see an annual Tennessee/VT game in Bristol (as was suggested a couple years ago). And for those saying we’d have to take the Cavaliers, see the previous paragraph.
If we go to 16, then I have no idea who we’d take. An OU/OSU combo along with Maryland? Who knows.
I think we’re gonna go to 14 teams and be comfortable for a while, or at least until we realize the BCS won’t budge on a playoff, and we have to add more teams to try and create all the big match-ups during the season so that there won’t be so many unanswered questions after every season.
Seriously, if you think TCU had no chance of beating Auburn last year, you’re nuts.
Exciting stuff, though!
Go Dawgs!
ClinchCountyDawg
August 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
Maybe the SEC should add Hawaii. Great road trips and would help in the recruitment of Samoans to the SEC.
NC Dawg
August 31st, 2011
3:04 pm
KB, move Vandy to the west along with A&M…this opens up 2 slots in the east for expansion.
NC Dawg
August 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
Georgia and Auburn have been natural rivals since 1896…and being in different divisions doesn’t interfere with that.
JoeFan
August 31st, 2011
3:06 pm
The SEC gets a team that is not even number one in its own state. Maybe not even number two if you look at the overall football rankings. No natural rivalries except for maybe LSU which equates to low fan interest. Any move is likely faced with lawsuits due to TV contracts. The SEC can do better than this.
What’s next for Big 12 with Texas A&M bolting the conference? – USA Today | Live Newsline
August 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
August 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
And for another $0.02, I think after all this expansion dust settles, Texas becomes independent. They’re already acting like it: why not make it official?
Charles
August 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
KB – the only market that the league cares about is a television market, and Clemson adds nothing there. The sole reason for realignment is so that we can renegotiate a new TV deal. That’s it. Clemson doesn’t help in that respect. Tennessee, Florida and Georgia, along with one or two in the west would vote Clemson out.
Again, you’re thinking from the wrong perspective. The league brass simply doesn’t care about adding a good football school with a passionate fanbase. They are looking for dollars through an improved TV contract, something Clemson is useless in helping with.
KB
August 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
or just keep Vandy in the East, (which is what is going to happen, because nobody but you thinks that is a good idea. Hence, nobody is even discussing it…). Then, just follow me here, add one team to the east (which makes 14). Further additions would involve: one to the west, one to the east. Got it?
Dr. Sigmund Football
August 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
But do they have a stylized offense?
Texas A&M Says Goodbye to the Big 12 – New York Times | U.S. News Daily
August 31st, 2011
3:09 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
KB
August 31st, 2011
3:11 pm
I don’t agree that Clemson adds nothing to a television market. A large, expansive fanbase, which both Clemson and FSU have, involves having many fans that watch TV, (which is why I brought up large southern cities like Charlotte…). Both of these schools have national brands, which translates into television markets. But I agree with you, in theory, about Maryland.
Sean
August 31st, 2011
3:14 pm
I say, bring in South Florida to balance out the league after Texas A&M arrives.
What’s next for Big 12 with Texas A&M bolting the conference? – USA Today | Latest News Wall
August 31st, 2011
3:15 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Charles
August 31st, 2011
3:17 pm
Also, KB, I’d say the eastern powers are actually seeking someone who won’t dilute the already difficult prospects of winning a division crown. Clemson is a no-win for the big three in the east. Just makes life more difficult for everyone, especially when you consider that would only bolster Clemson’s recruiting.
Clemson won’t get more than a cursory mention, if that, imo. This has to be mutually beneficial, and Clemson would be benefitting solely. But I can see why their fans would be all for it…ha.
KB
August 31st, 2011
3:22 pm
Charles – Most Clemson fans would not be for it. Some would. But if you look at the last ten years, Clemson has been able to recruit with SEC teams, That’s never been their problem. They consitently rank in the top 10 nationally in most rankings. Recruiting has never been Clemson’s problem. Not sure how much of a boost that would give them. I can’t see Clemson fans being too excited, especially since they haven’t won the ACC since ‘91. The only way I see Clemson or FSU moving is if we see super-conferences and the SEC expands to 16. If the SEC raids the ACC for that 14th team and it’s Maryland or Va Tech…watch out. If that happens, I believe you will soon see FSU and Clemson become the 15th & 16th teams in the ACC…
robodawg
August 31st, 2011
3:23 pm
Does the SEC really need A&M? People say we need to expand to stay on top, but really, the SEC is where it is b/c of fan support and b/c of the talent base in the southeast. No other conference matches us there. We have more than enough money to keep up our facilities and maintain our programs. I don’t see a need to go looking for new markets. As long as the Big 10 doesn’t expand into the southeast, we’ll be fine. C-USA, the Big East, and the ACC aren’t going to supplant us.
collegeballfan
August 31st, 2011
3:23 pm
SEC should look at adding Missouri if it takes A & M & put them in the SEC West. Then Ala & Aub to the East. The winner of the SEC East would be the National Champ every year.
A&M borders 2 SEC states while MIssouri borders 3 SEC states.
Old Tech & Mountaineer fan in NC
August 31st, 2011
3:24 pm
If the $EC wants in North Carolina, go after the newest North Carolina team…UNCC! All you guys would just love to come to Charlotte and visit the NASCAR HOF while here…it’s a natural. ASU is jumping up to the big boy league but you guys are probably too afraid to ask them to join.
NC Dawg
August 31st, 2011
3:24 pm
KB…OR add two teams to the east and have A&M and Vandy in the West, it’s an idea and no it isn’t idiotic to anyone but you. Va. Tech opens up the D.C tv market…and grab N.C. State to draw the Raleigh market. N.C. State is sick of being in the shadow of UNC and Duke. It is all about revenue and exposure.
coachx
August 31st, 2011
3:31 pm
NC State and Virginia Tech makes the most sense to add to the East from a TV market share perspective. (Clemson and FSU would add little knew market share since the SEC is already in those states.)
If VT is too whimpy to play with the SEC big boys then just threaten them with Virginia as the next target and they will jump in with the SEC in fear of state vival Virginia gaining an advantage over them.
Mizz and Texas A&M add huge TV markets to the SEC.
Stinger2
August 31st, 2011
3:35 pm
Seems like everyone has a vision of how the college conferences will settle out. Some of these proposed allignments may well happen. I believe there will be the four super (16 team) conferences at some point. Will take at least a couple of years to shake out. As a GT fan, I think it would be best to stay in the ACC provided it becomes one or the four super conferences.
Vince Lombardi
August 31st, 2011
3:40 pm
Maryland will go to the Big Ten before the SEC. There’s more money to be had in the Big Ten than in the SEC.
Mark Richt
August 31st, 2011
3:41 pm
Whatever happens, I sincerely hope the SEC doesn’t invite that powerhouse down on the Flats into our conference. That would scare the heck out of me.
orlo
August 31st, 2011
3:56 pm
Va Tech is not an option for the simple reason of how they were jackhammered into the ACC. If you recall, Hokies were not invited by the ACC originally. Governor of Virginia forced the Chancellor of the University of Virginia to be a no vote for any list not including the other State power, Va Tech. The reason being at the time, was that it would irreparably harm Va Tech and it’s athletics programs, and by extension the State Virginia, if Va Tech we to stay in a Big East expected to disolve. That did not happen, but the favor was still done.
There will be no abandoning the ACC and UVA for the SEC by the Hokies. Being chained to UVA works both ways, and there is price to be paid by Va Tech for having been done a solid by the State of Virginia and UVA.
Just Asking
August 31st, 2011
3:57 pm
Mark Bradley. “The mad shuffle has begun……When it ends, the map of college athletics will have been redrawn.” Good beginning and very interesting ending. In between, an excellent article.
The SEC should have their pick of the other schools to choose from. I hope they take their time and get the best fit (Virginia and/or Virginia Tech). If they don’t rush in, other schools will come calling like Texas a&M did. Please don’t bring in Clemson. They may bring fans in but they don’t bring TV or National exposure. Plus, we have all the orange we can stand now.
ACC12-SEC12 Booster
August 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
“Geographically, the prime poaching ground would seem the ACC. It’s believed the SEC isn’t interested in adding teams in states where it already has outposts — meaning: no Georgia Tech, no Florida State, no Clemson — so that would, by process of elimination, leave Virginia Tech, North Carolina, N.C. State and Maryland as targets. But would the latter three choose to break an alliance of more than a half-century’s standing? Would Carolina, which is big on basketball, want to leave its old pal Duke?”
So here we go with all of the wild conference realignment conspiracy theories, once again…
I can tell you, straight up that North Carolina (or Virginia Tech, or N.C. State, or Maryland) is definitely NOT leaving an academically-focused conference in the ACC to go a conference where academics may not always be the first order of business.
In fact, I can’t really see any of the current 12 members of the ACC really wanting to leave a conference where they have a much better chance of competing in football EVERY week to defect to a conference where they would be playing just an absolutely murderous schedule almost EVERY week in football in the SEC.
You’ve also got to remember that schools that keep frequently being mentioned for defection from the ACC to the SEC like UNC, NC State, Maryland and Clemson are CHARTER members of the ACC, meaning they founded the conference in 1953.
Conspiracy theorists have also got to keep-in-mind that Georgia Tech left the SEC because of oversigning and over-recruiting and some differences with the rest of the conference about the importance of academics, so I doubt that a niche school like GT would ever want to go back to the SEC where once again, they wouldn’t necessarily fit in with a bunch of larger football party schools with much larger fanbases for football.
Also, as far as the argument that Florida State would improve their recruiting if they joined the SEC, Florida State already brings in recruiting classes that are frequently ranked in the Top Five, if not #1, year-in and year-out, so recruiting is clearly NOT a problem for them in the ACC.
just curious
August 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
Could someone explain to me why UVA would even be interested in considering bolting for the SEC? Athletically, they don’t fit with a huge presence in non-revenue sports (soccer and LAX). Culturally, they do not fit. Financially, neither the athletic department nor the school are hurting for money (and if they ever were in need for capital their alumni would give them all they and more). Academically, they are a top 5 public school in a conference with two other top 10 public schools, and three prestigious private schools. So why would UVA want make to itself Vandy 2.0?
KB
August 31st, 2011
4:00 pm
NC Dawg – The Raliegh market? I hope you’re joking. I don’t the SEC really cares much about the Raleigh “market”. Again, Va Tech makes some kind of sense, but you’re forgetting that they go to a BCS bowl game almost every year being in the ACC. The three most marketable teams in the ACC, as far as football goes, are Va Tech, FSU & Clemson. Nobody else is really close. NC State would be the fifth or sixth choice in the ACC. Maryland makes more sense because of the DC market. And please find me one credible source that has suggested moving Vandy to the west. Just one. They’re not going to mess with the structure that is already in tact. Part of the reason Auburn is in the west is because of Alabama. Same for Ole Miss and Miss. St. And the same goes for Vandy/Tennessee/Kentucky. Maybe not idiotic, I apologize. But silly, absurd? Absolutely.
SimpleDawg
August 31st, 2011
4:09 pm
Take TAM and VT.
ACC12-SEC12 Booster
August 31st, 2011
4:14 pm
At this time, it looks like Texas A&M wants the SEC more than the SEC wants Texas A&M. Because of the mega-huge endowment that A&M has (about $5.6 billion systemwide), it looks like the SEC may bite and go ahead and take in the Aggies, but I don’t think that the SEC will be in too much of a hurry to expand anymore beyond 13 teams, because if a conference brings in too many teams than it may run the risk of fracturing the conference and doing more harm than good not too far down the road.
The SEC has the best thing in college sports going right now, winning the last five national titles in football and being regarded far and beyond as the best conference in college football so they will tread carefully before making any decisions that could possibly dramatically alter or change the “chemistry” of what may clearly be the best-ever winning product, when thought of in those terms, the 16-team megaconference talk, and even expansion to 14 teams, sounds a bit out there on the edge.
Bobby
August 31st, 2011
4:16 pm
SEC Invites 8 new schools into the conference.
Clemson
Louisville
Virginia Tech
Florida St.
Texas A&M
Texas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma st.
From their the Conf. breaks into 4 divisions
Coastal
Tennesee (Yes I realize they are land locked, work with me)
South Carolina
Clemson
Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech
Southeastern
Georgia
Florida
Kentucky
Louisville
Auburn
Southern
Alabama
Florida St.
LSU
Ole Miss
Miss St.
SouthWestern
Arkansas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma St.
Texas
Texas A&M
Scheduling
Each team plays 12 games every year
- 4 games within division ( every team )
- 5 games vs. another division within conf. i.e. Southern vs. Coastal
- 2 games vs. team that finished in the standing s at the same spot as you in other divisions not matched up with i.e. similar to NFL scheduling
- 1 neutral site game each year vs. team not on schedule that year ( these games would all take place week 1 in places like Atlanta (Georgia Dome), Dallas ( House that jerry Built ), Jacksonville (Whatever they call the Jaguars stadium now, but to me the Gator bowl) Nashville (LP Field), New Orleans (Superdome) , D.C. (Fed Ex Field) , Houston (Reliant stadium), Tampa Bay (Raymond James ), and I would need 2 more neutral sites maybe where the Dolphins, Ravens, or Panthers Play.
Each of those 4 divisions crowns a champ, then the 4 teams are seeded 1-4. 1 plays 4 at the home of the 1 seed 2 plays 3 at the home of the 2 seed. Then a championship game at a neutral site ( it can rotate between Dallas, Atlanta, New Orleans, Jacksonvile or find a home, whatever the sponsor likes.
This team is then crowned SEC champ. That team would then play the NCAA/BCS champion for a Super National title very AFL VS. NFL or Champions league esque.
I realize this will never happen, but admit it, it’s cool.
chilidawg
August 31st, 2011
4:17 pm
The Big 12 is done. Get three more to come with A&M and move Bama and Auburn to the east.
CornDawg
August 31st, 2011
4:20 pm
FSU makes the most sense to me for a 14th, but what do I know.
DawgDog
August 31st, 2011
4:22 pm
Am I missing something …but why does the SEC want Texas A&M? I know another football school but Texas A&M!! Surely, there are others that simply make more sense. Can’t we do better somewhere else!!
All DAWG
August 31st, 2011
4:22 pm
Just don’t put them damn Sooners in the East. We got our hands full with the Gators. Hell, we won’t never win the East if they do that.
Tech Grad
August 31st, 2011
4:23 pm
Who cares? Only one more day until Dragon Con!!
Delbert D.
August 31st, 2011
4:23 pm
Last year the talk was expansion to 16 teams. The PAC-12 is halfway there, and their commissioner has said recently that it is under consideration. There are hints that have appeared in some press outlets that they want Oklahoma, and Oklahoma St. would very likely be the other team. The PAC-12 has the richest TV package of all the conferences, and it has a clause that requires renegotiation if schools are added. Separately, the new PAC-12 network, which is owned by the conference (unlike the Big Ten network) will ensure that all PAC-12 football games are televised, along with all basketball games and many other sports.
The Big Ten was making similar comments last year, but I believe the inability to win over Notre Dame stopped that expansion talk with only the addition of Nebraska. Recently, a poll of several thousand Notre Dame alumni indicated that they would value admission to the AAU more than their standing as catholic university. That fits with the Big Ten’s values being a 100% AAU conference. Unfortunately, Nebraska was voted out of the AAU in April. The best laid plans sometimes go awry. Anyway, even with Notre Dame as the 13th team the Big Ten needed 3 more to fill out the conference to 16. At the time of the discussions, meetings and rumors 3 schools were mentioned in the press: Maryland, Georgia Tech and Rutgers, all AAU members and all in significant TV markets.
On the subject of BYU, turn back again to last year’s expansion talk when Texas and 3 other schools were reportedly in discussion with the PAC-10. Part of the bargain was that Baylor would need to be included in that package. Reports at the time were that UC-Berkley opposed the addition of a school centered on religion. That alleged criteria quite possibly resulted in Utah being selected by the PAC-10, and BYU choosing to go independent.
Shifting 2 schools from the ACC to the Big Ten would disrupt the ACC makeup, but it could also hurt the Big East beyond just losing Rutgers. I think that UConn, Pitt and Syracuse would be prime targets for the ACC, not only for basketball prominence but for balancing out a conference of easter-southeastern schools that has Boston College as a lonely member in the north.
Maybe SEC expansion would include ACC members, but I doubt that the North Carolina group of 4 would join. I don’t see East Carolina as a possibility of being invited by the SEC, nor do I see Memphis. Academic reputation-wise, those schools are well below the bottom schools in the SEC. West Virginia and Louisville are possibilities except for a desire by the conference to add significant TV markets.
That’s the way I’ve been thinking, using available information from last year and this.
ap
August 31st, 2011
4:24 pm
t am and tcu to the west—-ncst and va tech to the east
USC GAMEC0CK
August 31st, 2011
4:27 pm
some of the posters have no conference re-alignment sense at all….
and most everyone else is just retyping what has already been published by the AJC or ther sources…
add something to the conversation or do us all a favor – just read and don’t post.
ACC12-SEC12 Booster
August 31st, 2011
4:30 pm
just curious August 31st, 2011
3:58 pm
A lot of the wild conspiracy theorists on here just don’t get that it’s not just about the money. In the ACC, all of those schools have an ACADEMIC relationship with each other that is important to all and has greatly benefited each of the 12 schools in the partnership with the rest of the conference.
Many of the schools in the ACC have a reputation as being schools with ACADEMICS that are just a notch below Ivy League status and football schools like Florida State and Miami have benefited greatly from their relationships with schools like UNC, Duke, Maryland, UVA, Wake Forest, Va Tech, Ga Tech, Clemson & Boston College and, honestly, the wilder Florida schools (FSU and the “U”) add a much-needed flair to a conference that was perceived as just being mainly about basketball and academics before they got there.
UGASlobberknocker
August 31st, 2011
4:32 pm
All of the conference possibilities are fun to speculate on.
I personally believe that there is no way that any NC school would ever leave the ACC due to the BB rivalries..and Va Tech fought very hard to get in the ACC, with UVA assisting..cant see them leaving after that.Nobody wants Miami. I dont see any benefit in the SEC adding Clemson..however, I do think FSU would be a good fit despite UF’s presence..there are 18 million people in Fla and about half are Nole fans..so they are the one ACC school that could play in the league and that could bring marketing value.
I want to see the SEC add Texas Am and Oklahoma, Fla State.
Then go to Texas and try to work a deal to fit their tv deal into the SEC deal and then get them as the 16th team. The argument would be …hey Texas, your three biggest and best old time rivals, TAM,.OK and Arkansas are all now in the big boy league. Do you want to man up and come play with the studs, or just be a big fish in a little pond and beat up on Baylor and SMU every year?.. How much value will Texas’ TV deal have if the three teams above quit playing Them?A whole lot less. I think Texas is afraid to join the SEC where they would be just another good team..they would rather fill up their schedule with creampuffs. I feel sorry for their fans who are awesome..I would bet their fans would love to come to the SEC.
and if Texas chickens out, then fall back to Clemson or Okla State for 16th team
GTBob
August 31st, 2011
4:33 pm
Virginia Tech will never go to the SEC for mostly political reasons. Duke and UNC would never consider it just because it wouldn’t make any sense for them and they will never split up. Oklahoma won’t go anywhere without Ok. State. That leaves NC State and Missouri as the only decent options for adding a new market. Assuming NC State would want to move. Missouri would probably be easy though.
Delbert D.
August 31st, 2011
4:34 pm
It seems that my post is held up for some reason.