The wild scramble begins: Texas A&M is leaving the Big 12

Now I can read the article!

• Link
• Report this comment

first to read the article and comment?

• Link
• Report this comment

Nice article and I wonder if the SEC would look at adding NC, N.C. State, AND Duke? What about East Carolina? Move Vandy to the SEC West.

• Link
• Report this comment

hey MARK i know this is off topic but please tell the readers about the best basketball tournament in the world; THE SWEET 16 BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN KENTUCKY. one true champion not 5 or 6 like in other states

• Link
• Report this comment

Wow!

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

Meanwhile, Texas A & M kids can’t accept shoes or meal money from boosters. Yeah, the NCAA isn’t a hypocritical organization…

• Link
• Report this comment

rxdawg

i just like the geographical footprint that the SEC has. its not far flung like the ACC or PAC12 is. But you’re right, expansion is inevitable

• Link
• Report this comment

I should have simply said “First!”. Now, I’ve opened up a new level of firsts…to read or not to read.

• Link
• Report this comment

This is going to be interesting to watch. I would love for the ACC to go after WVU, Pitt, Syracuse and UConn. This would add the football season as well as the hoops season and keep the Pitt. vs. WVU rivalry intact.

• Link
• Report this comment

Random guess …

In time, you’ll have 4 – 16 team conferences and everyone else …

SEC – Current 12 plus aTm, Oklahoma, Missouri and Virginia Tech
PAC-16 – Current 12 plus Boise State, Texas, Texas Tech and BYU
Big 10/11/12/16 – Current 12 plus Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Louisville, Texas Tech
Some hybrid ACC/Big East monster – BC, Clemson, Ga Tech, Duke, FSU, Maryland, Miami, Virginia, UNC, NC State, Wake, Cincinnati, Pitt, South Florida, West Virginia, Syracuse

• Link
• Report this comment

For Get Real – if the SEC added two to the West, only one team would then shift to the East. In your scenario, the West would add 2, making it 8 vs. 6 – so one team (likely) Auburn would move to make a 7 vs. 7 balance. For both AU and UA to move, the SEC would have to add 4 teams to the West and shift two over.

• Link
• Report this comment

GT and Dodd fled the SEC in 66. THey feared Dooley and The Bear, and SHug The Yug and Chalie Mac down at LSU and Johnny Vaught over at Ole Miss and an emerging U of FLorida, where Dodd’s own sone played.

No, Bobby Dodd badly damaged GT when the had a vision of being an Independent like Notre Dame, according to Pepper Rodgers, who claimed that ND was GT’s natural rival on a national level.

No, GT and their administrators have stumbled and bumbled for 45+ years and the SEC does not want a lil college program like GT has become. I mean, when was the last time that GT went to two major bowls in back to back years?? That would be around 1955-56. Sad, how that once fairly decent program has been rendered into the level of College of Charleston or Elon College. Sad.

Look at the money that Gt will be losing out on when that ESPN contract with the ACC is cancelled. Wow!!

• Link
• Report this comment

If you think the Big 10 isn’t going to look to the south and try to get a footprint in the Sunbelt, you are mistaken. GT, Vandy even Florida is fair game for them.

• Link
• Report this comment

Do not invite Maryland.

• Link
• Report this comment

That’s is an interesting thought for the ACC, going for more basketball teams.

• Link
• Report this comment

Let Arky go back to whatever is left of the Big Twelve and take in TAMU. Problem solved.

• Link
• Report this comment

DO NOT invite the mess in Texas(A&M)into the SEC.

• Link
• Report this comment

KB – Clemson and FSU would be voted out quickly – no chance on either one of those, imo. Georgia, among others, would not take kindly to either one. Plus, neither adds a market. This is all about money, not name recognition. VT is in the ACC because Virginia took a stand for them during the ACC expansion. VT, for political reasons, likely won’t leave the ACC.

Maryland will be a real candidate. NC State might, but they don’t bring much. There are some smaller schools that will also be moderately attractive because of their markets and large alumni bases (like an East Carolina), but you need to have at least some name recognition.

I still think it will end up being Maryland.

• Link
• Report this comment

If ND ever joined any conference, it would be the Big Ten, (or possibly the Big East, since they’re already playing basketball in that conference). Plus, they’re not in the south. And they have their own TV deal with NBC. Why would they ever want to give that up. Not an option for either. One sleeper to look out for is West Virginia if Va Tech doesn’t take the bait. (And before you Doggie fans get on a roll bashing Vandy, let’s remember that they have very good basketball programs, an excellent baseball program, also great golf & tennis programs. They also make the SEC somewhat credible in academics by greatly improving the graduation rate of student athletes. Plus they’re charter members of the league…the SEC would never let Vandy go).

• Link
• Report this comment

Let me give you some facts that show BYU is the only option as a replacement:

Academics:
Academically BYU is ranked above all Big 12 schools except Texas, and they are not far behind them.

Football:
BYU has a national championship, only 2 other Big 12 schools do, Texas and OU.

Enrollment:
BYU would be the second largest school in the Big 12, behind Texas only, with an enrollment of ~35,000

Stadium Size:
BYU’s Football Stadium would be the fourth largest in the conference behind Texas, OU, and Missouri.

Arena Size:
BYU would have the largest arena in the Big 12 by 6,000 seats!

Endowment:
BYU does not have to disclose publicly its endowment but estimates range from 610 million to about 1 billion
At 610 mil, their endowment would be greater than KSU, OSU and TTech. At 1 billion, they would be behind Texas only and about equal to Kansas. This 1 billion figure is most likely due to the fact that the LDS church utilizes a substantial amount of tithing funds for the school. Again, these numbers do not have to be disclosed.

Support:
It would be easy to argue that BYU’s fan base is larger than all Big 12 schools except maybe Texas. There are 7 million Mormons spread throughout the country and even though not all are BYU fans, many are. Plus many, like myself, are not Mormons but are and have been fans of their style of play since the late 70’s and the superb coaching of the legend, LaVell Edwards. Want proof? They just signed an 8 million dollar contract with ESPN as an independent. Who else can go independent unless you have a substantial following?!

Big 12 commissioner, you are an idiot if you do not jump at this chance.

• Link
• Report this comment

Strictly from a fan standpoint there is little to no interest in having Texas A&M in the SEC. Texas A&M is so far from most SEC schools that there are basically no real rivalries except for LSU and maybe Arkansas. Certainly if the SEC wants it can find equal or better situations in the southeast. Will be interesting to see how the TV contracts impact this transition and what lawsuits evolve.

• Link
• Report this comment

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…

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

And let’s all be grateful that brilliant mind’s such as “Lil Slim” don’t run the SEC…good God…

• Link
• Report this comment

Maybe the SEC should add Hawaii. Great road trips and would help in the recruitment of Samoans to the SEC.

• Link
• Report this comment

Georgia and Auburn have been natural rivals since 1896…and being in different divisions doesn’t interfere with that.

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

But do they have a stylized offense?

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

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…

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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?

• Link
• Report this comment

Take TAM and VT.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

FSU makes the most sense to me for a 14th, but what do I know.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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.

• Link
• Report this comment

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

• Link
• Report this comment

It seems that my post is held up for some reason.

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

@ mutt – you are ok with the alignment except move Ala to west (south) and move florida to east (north)…then we get TAMU added to existing west and VT added to existing east….it will be quite tough to win the East…the west will be easier but you cant have perfect divisional split.

• Link
• Report this comment

Trying this for the 2nd time:

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 eastern-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. I would think that Missouri would be a welcome addition if they wanted to join the SEC.

That’s the way I’ve been thinking, using available information from last year and this.

• Link
• Report this comment

UGASlobberknocker

August 31st, 2011
4:32 pm

Texas didn’t need to come to the SEC, they virtually had their very own conference, in which THEY were driving virtually ALL of the decision-making in the Big 12.

Texas had a very good thing and they ruined it with their big ego and extreme arrogance and the worst thing is that the Longhorns are too arrogant and self-absorbed to even know that they had a very good thing.

Instead of negotiating a better TV deal for the them AND their conference partners, they negotiated a deal with ESPN for themselves and then lied to the rest of the conference about negotiating to join the Pac-10 Conference and the SEC and got caught in that lie by the rest of the Big-12.

With that that type of destructive underhanded arrogance, backbiting, the lies and the me-first additude, I don’t blame Colorado, Nebraska and Texas A&M for wanting to bailout and get the hell away from Texas’ antisocial psychopathic behavior, which broke up the old Southwestern Conference and has now broken up a second, even more viable conference (on paper) in the Big-12.

If I’m in the SEC, the Pac-12 or the Big 10, I would want no parts of Texas’ me-first political and financial games that have proved to ultimately be destructive to TWO conferences and now may threaten the entire landscape of all of college sports.

Texas should just go independent and stay independent so that the only partnerships that they will be able to do irreversible harm to are their own with themselves.

• Link
• Report this comment

People that mention Florida State as a possible addition to the SEC forget that FLORIDA would do all that was in their power to block the Seminoles’ entry into the conference, not to mention that other SEC schools where FSU already pulls alot of recruits from their territories like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn, etc, wouldn’t be too thrilled about the Noles’ entry into the SEC, either.

• Link
• Report this comment

add bosie state and let us end the ongoing BCS buster debate.

• Link
• Report this comment

Delbert,
I’m with you on Missouri. They would bring the needed television markets, an AAU membership and could compete quickly (see Arkansas). That’s who the SEC should be courting.

• Link
• Report this comment

USCGamecock

I am proposing a NORTH/SOUTH split. The only changes from our current format are simply swapping Ala and Florida from what used to be the East/ West arrangement. It makes it all kind of logical from a geographic prespective. Yopu don’t think so?

North picks up the Maryland/DC TV market and the South moves into Texas, which should make everyone happy.

• Link
• Report this comment

Bring back the Sewanee Tigers!

Rip ‘em up, Tear ‘em up

Leave ‘em in the lurch,

Down with the heathen

Up with the Church!

Yea, Sewanee’s Right!

• Link
• Report this comment

Beast – I’m glad you found my post. It took almost 45 minutes to show up. I figured either some interns were really screening it for some reason, or it was so big it jammed up the works for awhile.

Anyway, assuming that Texas A&M will be invited to the SEC, I think Missouri would be a logical choice, if they are interested (they may have Big Ten hopes, as well). There are so many potential moves that could be in play that it may depend more on timing than logic. Would the “Big U Texas” conference try to refill to at least 10 teams (TCU, possibly)? Do leftovers in the Big East merge with Conference USA? That assumes that those primo Big East basketball teams (UConn, Pitt and Syracuse) go to the ACC, and maybe the SEC jumps to 16 with Louisville and West Virginia.

• Link
• Report this comment

Reading the Thamel article, Spurrier is welcoming the Texas A&M move to the SEC.

• Link
• Report this comment

Delbert D.

August 31st, 2011
4:56 pm

I’ve heard the talk of Maryland and Georgia Tech leaving the ACC for the Big 10 and I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that Maryland and Georgia Tech are NOT leaving the ACC to join the Big Ten as I could just see Georgia Tech playing a conference schedule that includes games at Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Indiana, etc…Yeah, Georgia Tech fits right in there with those Great Lakes teams and all of the snow and everything else.

Georgia Tech in the Big 10 is a WORSE fit than Georgia Tech in the SEC. If GT didn’t fit in the SEC with a bunch of Southern party schools, then they definitely wouldn’t fit into a conference with a bunch of even bigger Northern party schools.

As for Maryland, it is a founding member of the ACC. Maryland already throws a few minor fits about having to play the ACC Basketball Tournament in North Carolina every year, I think that they know that they would feel an even more intense feeling of alienation by traveling even farther away to Indianapolis every year.

Being in a conference is NOT just about television money, it’s also about the relationships with the other schools you’re in the conference with, the other teams you would be frequently playing, where you would be traveling to play, how far you would have to travel in ALL sports to play those games and the culture of the schools that you are in this long-term partnership with.

As for Rutgers, I don’t doubt for a minute that they would jump at the chance to join the ACC if the opportunity presented itself, I agree with you on that.

• Link
• Report this comment

BTW the Big 10 may make a push to grab TAMU, Mizzo, and Kansas along with Rutugers or UConn or a combination of 4 of thsoe schools and the SEC would lose out on the big expansion money…

so dont count your chickens before they hatch…you never know how this will play out

• Link
• Report this comment

Delbert D.

August 31st, 2011
5:39 pm

I know that TCU joining the Big East seems like a really surprising move for alot of people as well as seeming like a very odd fit, both culturally and geographically, but when you take a closer look at it, it becomes somewhat understandable.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area has had this thing with New York and the Northeast where Dallas and North Texas, from what I’ve been told by many Texans, look north and east for a strange type of validation or what not.

I guess that it’s a strange mindset that has been helped along by the Dallas Cowboys being placed in the NFC East Division along with Philadelphia, Washington and the NY Giants in the NFL.

Add in the University of Texas’ destructive ways in the Big-12 and with the Dallas-area psychological mindset of looking north and east for validation and acceptance and you can see why acceptance into the Big East would have alot more luster to it for TCU than joining the currently troubled Big-12.

• Link
• Report this comment

UNC Charlotte? I would rather have Mercer or Sewanee.

• Link
• Report this comment

USC GAMEC0CK

August 31st, 2011
6:09 pm

In addition to opening up the Texas and recruiting market to the SEC even more than it was already open (as football is of course very big in Texas so the SEC is already highly regarded and has very heavy TV viewership out there), Texas A&M has a HUMONGOUS systemwide endowment of nearly six billion dollars, which means that if they so choose, the SEC will be bringing a very wealthy school with lots of financial resources that opens up a very large and profitable TV market into what is already a very highly-regarded conference.

• Link
• Report this comment

USC GAMEC0CK

August 31st, 2011
6:15 pm

“wrong”

“TCU would jump at the big 12″

“And a big NO to Texas…nobody wants or needs that me me attitude”

You mean that TCU would jump at the Big 12 if Texas left the conference and went independent as Texas at the sole and only source for all of the Big 12’s current troubles right now, in addition, of course, to the Big 12’s lack of leadership on the issue.

Texas’ undermining of the conference with its own TV deal and continued negotiations with other conferences when it lied and said that it wasn’t should have been more than enough to get it booted out of the conference rather than losing Colorado, Nebraska and now Texas A&M.

• Link
• Report this comment

if SMU would jump to join up with texas…so would TCU …

Booter…u r using a lot of words but iwe are saying the same thing

• Link
• Report this comment

First of all, Texas A&M Aggies is going to SEC, there is no question about it because SEC want to get into Texas for a very long time and this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

Second, Keep your eyes glue about what is going on with BYU, if BYU says No to the BEVO 9, then Missouri would move and since B1G didnt take them last year then they will go to the SEC(more fans of their wants that move)

Third, it looks like VT is stand firm to the ACC, and they are not budging right now.

• Link
• Report this comment

Sorry, no way Missouri joins SEC they’d join the Pac12 first.

• Link
• Report this comment

Its B1G or SEC for Missouri and PAC-12 as a final resort unless they got as a package deal with OU and OSU.

• Link
• Report this comment

Disturbing to me that there’s no consideration in all this for SEC fans. It’s all about money and maybe a little about TAMU fans and their desire to flip off Texas. If the SEC is going to do this, then I hope they do the right thing and invite another strong Texas program, such as TCU. Then at least the new programs would be within reasonable travel distance of each other and a couple of other schools (Ark and LSU). Maybe it means more to me as an Athens native, but I know how great it is for the schools and their towns to host visitors and for the visitors to get to come. This also stokes the rivalries and makes it easier for recruits to visit multiple campuses. Also, TCU would help with the Dallas-FW market, since TV seems to be what this is all about.

• Link
• Report this comment

It all makes sense with OU, OU St and Mizzou! Trust me, it’s happening.

• Link
• Report this comment

Good for football. Not so good for the true student athletes in minor sports that will now be riding on a bus through East Texas some cold winter evening instead of studying for an exam back in their dorm in Athens. But hey, Adams & Richt or his successor will probably make more money off this move.

• Link
• Report this comment

Also, the Big Ten doesn’t want or need a South Atlantic school like Georgia Tech, especially when all of their strategic moves always have been and always will be about attempting to lure in an unwilling Notre Dame.

The Big Ten may say that they want to expand to 14 or 16 teams or whatever, but they’re just selling woof tickets as they’re are just trying to force Notre Dame to hurry up a make a decision to join the Big Ten that ND is NEVER going to make.

The Big Ten doesn’t want Missouri, doesn’t want Maryland, doesn’t want Georgia Tech, doesn’t want Cincinnati, doesn’t want Louisville.

The Big Ten wants Notre Dame and the Big Ten is NEVER going to get Notre Dame.

• Link
• Report this comment

In the know…know’s very little. OU and OSU would join the Pac 12 before the SEC. You need to read more press coverage from their campuses and state newspapers. Hope you like John Denver – wait & see unless the bloc is broken allowing FSU or Clemson. Takes 9 votes out of 12 SEC Presidents but UGA, UF, USCe, and KY are the blockers. Who’d want to play FSU yearly? They generally lead the nation in recruiting on years they win 10 or more games. Give them an SEC invite and they win the East 5 of every 10 years. That leaves 5 (guess UF gets 3, with UT, UGA, and USC fighting for the other 2 per decade).

• Link
• Report this comment

Agree ND is not likely going to Big 10 but if they allowed them to keep their own TV network they just might could get them and Texas. WOW…that would take some of the sails out of the SEC Yacht. If that happened I would pay serious money to see a football SEC vs Big14 series each year. Texas vs Bama; OSU vs UF; etc. I would have no chicken in the fight but I would tune in.

• Link
• Report this comment

SMU to the Big XII let’s go

• Link
• Report this comment

ACC12-SEC12 Booster

August 31st, 2011
6:46 pm

The PAC-12 would like to have games near the west coast, but there are not enough schools. I’m not sure that Cal and UCLA would welcome any schools in the other system, the state university system. The University of California schools are very well represented in the AAU, and they see the “State” schools like San Diego St., San Jose St. and Fresno St. to be much less than equal. I’ve lived out there, and UC-Davis, to name one is a big step up from the State University schools among Californians. California is just different, and they could care less about the opinions of east coast doings. The thing about the PAC-XX is their very long relationship with the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl.

Texas is different, too. The University of Texas is different to an extreme.

Notre Dame is peculiar in that their location is midwest, but their fan base is New York. A lot of actual alumni are there as well as the hoards of subway alumni. I can’t see them affiliating with any conference that is away from their base.

• Link
• Report this comment

Bottom line… This will increase pressure on the big schools in the SEC to recruit and win, and watch the money flow. The NCAA watchdogs are going to be plenty busy.

• Link
• Report this comment

NCAA football

August 31st, 2011
7:02 pm

“Agree ND is not likely going to Big 10 but if they allowed them to keep their own TV network they just might could get them and Texas.”

Notre Dame is DEFINITELY NOT giving up their independence in football and ND is DEFINITELY NOT giving up their relationship with the Big East in nearly every other sport because their relationship with the Big East gives them the spotlight on the biggest stage of all in the New York City/East Coast media.

Notre Dame pulls ALOT of their ACADEMIC recruits from the Northeast (Maryland to Massachusetts, centered on NYC) and has ALOT of their alumni and donor base in the I-95 Northeast Corridor.

Notre Dame’s relationships with the Big East is absolutely critical for them remain viewed as a prestigious school in the much more heavily populated (and wealthy) Northeast.

ND has some important relationships in the Chicagoland and Midwestern areas in which it is geographically located, but make no mistake that all of the big donations, academic recruits, prestige and media attention comes from the Northeastern-New York City social establishment.

The Big Ten and the Chicago establishment could NEVER give Notre Dame want it gets to thrive with a continued East Coast presence.

As far as Texas…Texas is pretty much becoming more and more radioactive by the second to any potential conference suitors.

Any conference that wants to follow the way of the old Southwest Conference and now the Big-12 should extend an offer to Texas, otherwise the Big-12 would be wise to just expel Texas from the conference as soon as possible and just let the Longhorns be their own independent bigheaded problem, which is likely the only way that what is left of the Big-12 will ever have any longer-term stability or viability.

• Link
• Report this comment

The chancellor of Missouri is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Big 12, charged with leading the search for an A&M replacement. I guess it would be embarrassing for him to secretly negotiate with another conference for his school to join. But, as I said in my original post 3 hours ago, maybe timing will be more important than logic. Maybe he could get enough votes to dump Texas while he’s at it. SMU is publicly pushing hard to join; so, get an agreement on their vote. Do the same for TCU. Maybe that would work.

• Link
• Report this comment

Boy, I made a do-do of a misspelling on that 7:12 post. I meant to say “hordes” of subway alumni.

• Link
• Report this comment

FSU won’t get the invite. What do they bring to the table? They’re not very popular in the state of Florida to begin with and Florida isn’t going to allow them to get a better position athletically by allowing the invite.

I’m thinking WVU might be considered. Perhaps Louisville? I doubt Virginia Tech.

• Link
• Report this comment

Delbert D.

August 31st, 2011
7:45 pm

That’s okay, we know what you meant.

This is the college football blog, not the academic blog where some teacher/professor wannabe is going to be taking a fine-toothed comb to every seemingly misspelled word or phrase.

We really only care about football gamedays with tailgating and afterparties with superhot co-eds over here, just as long we can make out what you’re saying, nobody cares.

• Link
• Report this comment

ACC12-SEC12 Booster – The bad thing is I looked at it and said, “yeah, hoards is right.” I think it’s a sign of my creeping old age than my education.

• Link
• Report this comment

No way unc goes. Md wont either. VT possible. nc state yes. If they add another school like mizzou, i would be pissed if i was ga because it might mean moving bama or aub to their division.

• Link
• Report this comment

Delbert,
You might be getting up there in age, but you’re still light years ahead of most of us on here. I enjoy what you bring to the table……knowledge, wisdom and a pretty good sense of humor!!

• Link
• Report this comment

Beast from the East – I think I can still heave a football 50 yards, but I’m wise enough not to try. No more kicking barefoot, either.

• Link
• Report this comment

Dooley never lost to Dodd while at UGA

• Link
• Report this comment

Delbert,
I NEVER could heave a football 50 yards. Not the QB type. Played safety and linebacker in my youth. I have become quite the armchair QB as I’ve gotten older.

• Link
• Report this comment

Enter your comments here

• Link
• Report this comment

bamaguy,
I woudln’t be surprised if that were the case. The SEC’s been very calculated in this whole process.

• Link
• Report this comment

Beast – I played mostly defensive end, but I was hellacious slinger on the sandlot.

• Link
• Report this comment

I’d like to see the B1G invite the following:

• Link
• Report this comment

After the ACC responds by raiding the Big East, the B1G could go after:
#15 Syracuse
#16 Notre Dame

• Link
• Report this comment

Jeff – I thought the Big 10 only want AAU universities of which GT is the only one out of your list. Though Nebraska just lost theirs.

• Link
• Report this comment

I think adding FSU and GT solves the B1G recruiting problems. GT is a great school and can improve athletically, and FSU is a great athletic school and can improve academically.

Do you think GT would be interested?

Also, ND is not an AAU member, and I don’t think that NU is an AAU member anymore either…

• Link
• Report this comment

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/id/26078/nebraska-loses-aau-status

good article regarding NU losing AAU status.

• Link
• Report this comment

I graduated from ND in 99. That year, the B1G actually invited us without our applying. Campus was overwhelmingly against it. I was one of the only few who were open to joining the B1G.

On a side note, I actually would rather ND join a revamped Big 12 as follows:
current 9 Big 12 members + ND + BYU + PITT

Never gonna happen though.

• Link
• Report this comment

GTfan

August 31st, 2011
9:37 pm

“Side note, I wish the ACC would have left out BC, only b/c of location.”

I thought that Boston College was kind of an odd choice for the ACC, a conference of schools based in South Atlantic states to bring in and I still have my doubts as the next nearest conference school in the ACC is Maryland over 400 MILES to the south. But for now it looks like all is well in the relationship between Boston College and the ACC as BC seems to be relatively happy in the conference, despite seemingly being a better geographical, cultural and social fit in the Big East.

• Link
• Report this comment

The SEC’s business plan seems to be forging our conference into the formation of the nations first rough draft of a super conference. Time will tell and the future looks, er, rich… Maybe this is what my great-great granpda had in mind when he said the south shall rise again.

• Link
• Report this comment

ACC12-SEC12 Booster – I didn’t know NYC watched college football . My wife’s family from Long Island thinks its weird that after I graduated I still attend college games, lol

• Link
• Report this comment

GTfan – Long Island (at least out in the sandy beach part) is a different culture from the Bronx, Manhattan and Northern NJ.

• Link
• Report this comment

I have always thought that Louisville would be a good addition to the SEC just for the basketball. As the football program improves that is icing on the cake.

• Link
• Report this comment

Try this. Say good-bye to the Big East, Big 12, Independents , and WAC. New Conferences (1) existing Big 10 plus TX,MO,ND, and SYR. (2) ACC minus VT plus UCONN, Rut, WV, Pitt, and So. FL. (3) Conf. USA plus Kan, KSU, TXT, and Bay (4) MAC existing plus Cin, Lou, and Io.St (5) Mtn West AF, SDS, CSU,WY, NM,UTS,Ida, SJS,NMS,Tul,TCU, UNLV,Fres St, (6)SEC plus VT, TAM,OK,OKS. (7) SunBelt existing plus La Tech, Army, Navy (8) PAC 12 plus Boise, BYU, Nev, HAW. Eight conferences set up for a playoff. 16 nteam conference play 7 divisional opponents and 2 from other division and 2 non conference games. Teams that become “Big Time” in the future such as GSU, App. St , JMU would fill in the SunBelt. Others out west to fill where needed.

• Link
• Report this comment

Money. Too much money that is. It is going to ruin college football just like it has ruined all of Washington DC. Soon it will be our states and then cities on the same level. The love of money. The aspirations of attaining all you can get. The Alpha males that get enough power to influence Washingtom and Congress, that are greedy and overly-driven to get theirs and the hell with the bottom 99% of Americans are ruining this country and the 99% are letting them. We let them change the banking industry and run amok in Washington and on Wall St., get big like they wanted, they got all the money and then went crazy with it and along the way stopped every attempt to regulate them. They big banks have 5,000 lobbyist alone. 5 for EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS! Regulation? Never! So they lose all of OUR money and what do they do then? They get MORE of our money to bail them out so they can keep getting bonuses and vacations and 50 million dollar salaries, while we are unemployed, homes in foreclosure, no college money, no retirement and this was the effect not only here but across the world because we let WALL ST get too much power. If we let them do this with college football, it will not ruin the country, but it will ruin college football. Exclusive TV contracts, donations from corporations used for additional publicity, additional means to recruit, I mean where will it end? We have tv contracts and advertising on billboards. COmmercial wil be next and infomercials during recruiting season, laws getting passed in Congress and State houses. We have BECAME A CAPITALIST nation. We have let our votes mean nothing and elect the same people over and over and they know how to make us do it. MONEY. WALL ST has figured out how to run WASHINGTON AND WE HAVE A WALL ST GOVERNMENT. If we do not vote them ALL out in 2012 we wont have to worry about college football in 10 years because only the top 1% will be able to go to college and the rest of us will not be able to afford cable because do you think that the top 1% will stop being greedy all of a sudden? Do you know our incomes have dropped or remained steady for the last 30 years while the top 1% has raked in all of the increase over that time and then when they lose it all they influence Congress, Rrepublicans and Dems BOTH by scaring them and Americans that to not give the, trillions IMMEDIATELY would be disastrous? No it would be terrific to get rid of them actually. Congress said no when Americans flooded their offices and told them to vote no. Then it was less than 2 weeks later, after the banks were stunned that for ONCE in the last 15 years they did not get what they wanted, called all the people in power that they knew who had influence over certain members of Congress and the White House, got strings pulled came back and now Democrats joined the party and said we MUST do this. Yeah a Goldman Sacs government. They got theirs. Why? Paulson was on staff. Man I could go on and on. Watch Inside Job narrarated by Matt Damon. Watch Capitalism: A Love Story. Corporate greed. It is now taking over College football and if the love of money is always the over-riding motivational factor for decision-making, and the pursuit of it, their will be a HUGE price to pay. Soon there will be 2 conferences and too many teams, cheating will be ramant and the players will be paid huge amounts of money. They should be now, but it will never happen for as long as possible, just like the BCS bowls holding on for as long as they can by bribing people so they can keep taking all the profits from the games while the teams lose money to even go there, they want ALL the money for as long as they can keep it and with ALL the money football brings in, why are tuitions increasing like crazy? Man is the NCAA gettign it all? I mean with TV money, ticket sales, merchandising profits, donors, money coming in from EVERY which way and tuitions are skyrocketing and for what when you get out? There are no jobs! How you going to pay back $100,000 of student loans? You know somebody to call? Who will call somebody in Washington and get a bailout for yourself? I lean Republican morally, but I have came to realize that both parties have good and bad. Democrats wanting to distribute wealth is actually better for America but Republicans say each for their own and I always agreed with that until lately. Republicans say that because the truth is, they want it ALL for themselves. not specifically republicans but the top 1%. Wall ST. The ywant it all and that is why they have been getting it over the last 30 years. They hold onto it and make more and get more powerful and get regulations done away with and whatever changes they need in laws to get MORE and MORE and we get LESS and LESS. They dangle the “American Dream” out there as a carrot and the truth is we have little chance of doing that. It is rare. The exception. Greed. So Republicans and Democrats are in this together really. Dont believe me? Well look at the bailout, how Democrats were all smiles and ready to bailout Wall ST when 2 weeks earlier they were TOTALLY against it. They did a quick vote, got it done and u knwo what? LOL NO REGULATIONS on how the money was spent! So they spent it creaing jobs and loaning money? Nah, they partied with hookers and drugs and vacations and bonuses and champagne. Democrats were bought. When Obama started to look good in the polls when running for president. Wall St. banks, seen this and started crapping on themselves, so what did they do? Yep, threw 1 million dollars his way for this campaign. Obama pledged to clean up Wall St and when it came time to do that, he did NOTHING. Wall ST government. Dont matter the party. Wall St knows just how to get both parties to do what they want. They squeeze them, they buy them. We have to vote all of them out in Congress nationwide, especially Dodd, Gramm, ALL the committee chairmen, all that have been in office more than one term, and then and only then can we get something done and be a great generation for doing so. Term limits, balanced budget, campaign reform, Wall St regulated, banks regulated, tax reform, jobs BACK in America(another Wall ST. idea) We have many more overseas than we have from overseas creating jobs here. So many things that need to be done, than can NEVER get done with WALL ST having lobbyist, money and influence. Never. They will bland the other party and introduce legislation that has no chance and if you come into Congress and do not play ball with the corrupt ones, they will blackball you. Man its crazy. My America. Let us UNITE and be a GREAT generation and VOTE EVERYONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA OUT IN 2012. We can do our part. If they voted AGAINST the WALL ST bailout they can stay in office. If not vote them out for someone new, dont care what party, just someone new. if we can spread the word and get most of the people in other states to do the same, we can be that GREAT GENERATION, that SAVED AMERICA from DESTRUCTION BY CORPORATE GREED. We have the POWER BUT WE DO NOT USE IT WISELY AND WE ARE THE ONLY THING THEY ARE SCARED OF. WHAT IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE USED THEIR VOTE? THEIR POWER IN THEIR VOTE? If we dont we fail as a generation. Our beloved College football might be next. Look where it is headed? Just like the banks. Bigger and better and stronger? I think not. Not for the majority of states and universities, not in the long run and that does not work for too long. There will be a revolt against the NCAA and against the powerful conferences by the little guys. The MANY little guys and it will all crash down. Capitalism gone wild. Does not work. We need a balance of Capitalism and Socialism and Democracy. With EQUAL power for everybody! Equal access, equal oppurtunities and if you think we have EQUAL oppurtunity and access you are blind. Did you get a bailout? Can you get the entire political party to see your way in a week or 2 after they just vehemently said NO? Do you ahve your congressman’s cell number on speed dial and 24 hour a day access? You get special treatment and financing from Countrywide and the others? Goldman Sacs? Bank of America? BCS? Chase? Merrill Lynch? Me neither. Me neither. College football must be EQUAL to all because it will crash without a strong foundation of balance and equal access and exposure. Cinferences are mimicing the banks and corporations. Getting bigger, chasing the dollar, some schools too. (Texas) Where is the voice of reason in America. In the NCAA? How big is big enough? How much money is enough? Leave some to go around. It is better to give than receive. better for everybody. Especially now. The 99% are in need and unhappy and are going to revolt. But the thing is they have the power but dont use it. it is not like we live in Iran or Syria. WE HAVE THE VOTE! REVOLT WITH YOUR VOTE. Revolt with your voice! Hear that BCS? NCAA? Greedy conferences. 12 teams is fine as it is. You know start a SEC II or something. Heck who needs a bowl game? Take the top 2 teams from each conference and have playoffs. Oh we cant get that neither. Just like Wall St controls congress in several ways, the BCS controls University presidents. See if we COULD vote university presidents outm we could get new ones who would give us playoffs, or we vote them out and get in another one until it gets DONE. Same thing in Congress but we dont UNITE FOR AMERICA. For our KIDS, our RETIREMENT, FOR THE SAKE OF EVERYTHING. The BCS bribes university presidents and we dont flood our representatives in the State house and demand ethical behaviour. We just complain. It is time to act America. Are we going to be a GREAT GENERATION? Or the WORST GENERATION? Time will tell if we are lazy and/or brain-washed by drinking their Kool-Aid. We are the ONLY STOPGAP THIS COUNTRY HAS OR IT WILL BE DESTROYED BY GREED AND BY WALL ST. What are you going to do? I will be patriotic and vote in new people in EVERY public office EVERY year for the rest of my life UNTIL term limits are passed. EVERY JUDGE will be voted out also. EVERY OFFICE! What are you going to do?

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

Personally I would welcome A&M and VA Tech. But I think the biggest fight will be over which current SEC team, if any, will have to move over to the SEC East.

• Link
• Report this comment

Wish we could have gotten A & M’s Defensive Coordinator!

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] and it appears that Texas A&M will be kicking off the next round of realignments, as Texas A&M has filed to leave the Big 12 and appears headed to the Southeastern Conference.  Will this kick off a team moving frenzy akin to last season’s Pac 12 and Big Ten [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

I find it very sad that AJC writers continue to promote the total myth that any ACC team would leave the conference. Even ESPN did an extensive analysis on possible teams willing to leave their conference, and THEY said that NO TEAM in the ACC could be lured away, period.

However, the AJC continues to spout this nonsense, seemingly to stir the pot with the SEC idiot fans.

Dream all you want, guys. You may lust after ACC teams, but you will not get even one.

• Link
• Report this comment

I don’t have a big dog in the fight, but it sure seems to me that once we start shuffling conferences for ever bigger dollar payouts, we have lost any sort of academic or charitable pursuits. The conferences are welcome to do that in our society, but why do we allow a charitable deduction for it to go on. To me the formation of the megaconferences should be the final nail in the coffin of an idea that college football is worthy of government deductions for contributions. I wonder if the athletic associations might find more academic priorities if that were included in the debate.

• Link
• Report this comment

A&M has never been better than a second tier team in the Big 12. What good does it do for the SEC to add them? They’ll be the Vanderbilt of the West without the high GPA’s.

• Link
• Report this comment

[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]

• Link
• Report this comment

To bad about the new market thing. As a Georiga fan, going to see my team play in Clemson was always an awesome atmosphere and great time. Ironically, fate has it that South Carolina is in the SEC when Clemson has the college town, tailgating atmosphere, stadium , etc. that is the very definition of an SEC Saturday. Oh well, I guess the powers that be know what’s good for the conference.

• Link
• Report this comment

Tech left the SEC in 1964. It wasn’t about Dooley, Shug, Charlie Mac or Florida. It was about Bear Bryant and the dirty play in an Alabama-Tech game in 1963. http://cecilbuffington.com/catalog_40.html

• Link
• Report this comment

MB – you crack me up. Your comments after are my favorite part!

• Link
• Report this comment

Nobody in ACC will go to SEC, they are tight group right now.
Va Tech will not leave UVA, plus Va Tech’d dream for years was to play in ACC.
No Tobacco road team is leaving, they are the core of ACC

SEC should go after TCU to add rival for A&M move one team from West to the east.

They get Dallas market which is huge for recruiting

or Big 12 should get TCU to replace A&M and

• Link
• Report this comment

Most of the Atlantic Coast Conference schools are bound up by their academic pedigree. When will the other conferences see that the ACC teams is going to place their academic pedigree above all else. It is the BCS Ivy. They are going to stay where they are at. There is no other place they want to be at. Please get the message.

• Link
• Report this comment

You are all…..including YOU BRADLEY…..have missed one HUGE point. The Big 10 has already made two informal inquiries to Georgia Tech (1992 and 2010) to gauge their interest. So how much more attractive is GT to the SEC if it means keeping the Yankees out of Atlanta?

• Link
• Report this comment

As for my feelings as an oldtime Tech fan. I’ve said it 100 times……I’d rather lose every game in football in the SEC than win the ACC Championship.

• Link
• Report this comment

Maryland will NOT join the SEC. They WILL join the Big Ten and I hope it is soon. The SEC will be idiots if they don’t take FSU and Va Tech or Clemson.

• Link
• Report this comment

Interesting stuff, I’ve bookmarked your site and hope to come back.

• Link
• Report this comment

Georgia Tech to the Big Ten is a done deal.

• Link
• Report this comment

If the SEC adds A&M to its western division they should pick up THE U of Miami to balance in the east. Then the ACC should add South Florida to take the ‘Canes place.

• Link
• Report this comment