Who’s next on the SEC’s expansion list? Here’s a scorecard

First for the tigers!!

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First for the Dawgs!

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WV it will be

good football
Basketball rivalry with Kentucky

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Will an ACC school be willing to hire soon-to-be-former UGA Coach Mark Richt after he gets canned or resigns to “focus more time on ministry and family?”

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Did you ever consider the possibility of adding another Texas team to the west? Go for Baylor or Rice so that we have a Vanderbilt style school in the west. If the football people got their way, the west would take Oklahoma and A&M. The east would take Clemson, fsu, and/or va tech. Who would be the weak team in the west? We’d beat each other so bad that there would never be another sec west team west team with one or less losses! Florida/UGA would still dominate for a half decade. I hope the sec considers one more small/rich school for the west.

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Anyone but WV or Mizzou.

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It will be West Virginia. No one else really fits or there is too much holding them back. I’m surprised you have Oklahoma at 30 percent. I’m sure the SEC would accept them at any time but have they ever expressed any real interest in joining the SEC? It has always been about the Pac12 for them.

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Curious George – They should. Richt can at least run a clean program, unlike 3 of the ACC programs.

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The sad thing is that as a Georgia fan I used to love going to the Clemson campus for games, but not South Carolina. And it always seemed to me that Clemson was much more SEC like.
Clemson = on campus stadium surrounded by campus buildings and lake
S. Carolina = off campus stadium in warehouse district.

Clemson = small prototypical college town
South Carolina = Columbia (too large for advantages of small town and too small for adv. of big city

Clemson = 13 ACC titles, 1 ACC division title, 34 Bowl games, 1 nationat title, 18 bowl wins
South Carolina = three or four bowl wins, 1 ACC title, 1 SEC division title

Clemson leads S. CArolina 65-37-4 and has won 10 of the last 14 meetings, even with SC in the SEC

Clemson = tailgating with the fallen leaves around you, the ESSO club, the downtown street
S. Carolina = tailgating in a railroad car at the warehouse district.

Clemson = 1 hour drive
S.Carolina = 3 1/2 hours on I-20

Yea yea yea, we already have a team in the conference in South Carolina, too bad Clemson1

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Great article, which seems very realistic. More rumors floating around out there this week then during CF recruiting season. The possibilities are intriguing and endless.

Hope we can pick up one of the ACC plums or WVA.

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Anybody but Yech. I vote for FSU.

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I think it’s a shame that our Presidents are all but refusing to take a team like Clemson. I understand the footprint / $$ issue, but tradition and culture have inherent value as well–something that seems to be overlooked in this avalanche of mega-conference expansion. Also, if I were one of the Mississippi or Alabama schools, I might not be so quick to jump on the bandwagon mentality of not adding a school in an existing (eastern) state. Ole Miss, State, Bama, and Auburn all have to compete with an in-state SEC school. Why should Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida automatically have the luxury of no in-state conference rival. It just seems like we’re making a big mistake in our branding by not considering Tech, Clemson, or FSU.

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Virginia Tech hands down..

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Doesn’t matter who you add, they’ll own UGA.

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If we do go to a 16 team mega conference VT looks like the most obvious choice due to the tv market and the fact that its a football school. Mizzou borders 3 sec states so I can see that happening allthough its weird to see them in the sec. WVU is hard to see though and it really isn’t much of a market. There’s only about 2 million people in West Virginia and other than Tennessee who really would want to travel to West Virginia. I’ve been through Morgantown many a times on my way to visit relatives in western PA. and there aint nothing there I would go back for. I’ll be driving there next week to visit and then go to the Penn State game and its a good 12-13 hour drive to Morgantown.

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If the next team (note that I wrote team and not school) after Tex A&M is Missouri or OU or some other western school, would the SEC realign so that Auburn and Bama move to the SEC East? It seems like that would almost have to happen.

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Sure the NCAA vs. XYZ Conference

Essentially creating a AFC vs. NFC approach to college football. The rivalries would still be in place essentially. The money would be through the roof. The NCAA would still have OSU,USC,Texas,ND,Michigan and Oregon. Plenty of talent left to play against. The revenue the conference the cedes from the NCAA would give the NCAA say 10% of the revenue they generate to offset any loses they may have incurred. The playoffs the superconference would have would rival the NFL and sponsership dollars would be huge. Imagine the buildup to that Title game!

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Mark,
You do realize that Washington, DC is closer to New York than it is to Blacksburg, VA (home of Va Tech). So, I’m not really sure that Va Tech will bring in the DC market.

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Isn’t great that “the money would go through the roof?” I mean isn’t that the way we judge the success of college sports?

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Bradley- what a complete moron….the last statement??????? lets see..last I saw we are 1-1 and we beat their butts worse the first time! you make me puke

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Shug,

Money is the only reason why as illogical as that 24 team conference is would be the only reason they make the move. I agree I hate that it boils down to the almighty dollar, but that is the reality we are in.

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Agree 100% Chris – wish we could give S Carolina and Arkansas back.

Would love to see Clemson, Ga Tech or Va Tech, and TCU to go with Tx A&M.

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Curious George,

Love your “escort” reference. I wouldn’t have been so polite.

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Well from what I’ve seen so far it looks like its a consensus that VT would come

What have you seen that would suggest that VT would come? Their AD said they would decline an offer and they somewhat tied to UVA now after the ACC move. I don’t think VT would ever happen.

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SEC will never get Virginia Tech. It was recently made a state law that Virginia and Virginia Tech must be joined in the same conference. Good luck convincing Virginia to come to the SEC. Can you imagine Thomas Jefferson traveling to play an away game in Starkville? Haha, I don’t think so.

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VPI can’t get away from UVA. OU is going pac-10. Mizzou is going Big 10. GT is going Big 10.

SEC will end up with aTm, Mizzou, Clemson, and FSU. It only takes 9 votes to pass an item, the 9 schools that are not U(sic)GA, UF, USCe will vote for FSU and Clem.

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SEC Fact Finder-I’d like to see those numbers. When I lived in DC in the 90’s, it was such a transient town that all colleges were represented. At that time it seemed UVA was more represented than VT. I also would echo what DC resident says-”other than the alums, no one in metro DC cares about VT”

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GTBob,

Sorry. Should have said that the consensus looks like VT should come- not would come. They look like a logical fit but as you say if their AD says they won’t come then the whole point is mute.

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wrek, a month ago I would’ve agreed with you on the chances of an NC school going to the SEC. But apparently there are at least 2 current NC schools that are ACC members that have some interest in doing just that.

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VT and UVA are politically tied. VT isn’t going anywhere without UVA, and I highly doubt the SEC wants the Cavs.

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The reason Tech probably won’t get in is because EVERYBODY recruits Atlanta, not just UGA. Auburn and Tennessee would probably be just as adamant in opposition, seeing as they rely heavily on the fertile Atlanta market.

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we don’t need Mizzou. there’s too many tigers in the west already.

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What I wonder about is who will make the next move? The Big East and ACC might have their sights set on one another. The SEC apparently wants potential member schools to disengage from their current conferences before voting on anything. Will the Big 10 have the same attitude? Or will they feel compelled to make the first strike into the ACC or Big East? I think MD, UVA, and GT would be great candidates for the Big 10 along with Missouri, Syracuse, and Pitt. I wonder if Big East-bound TCU might be a target for the SEC should Mizzou/VT not work out?

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UGA would not block Ga Tech. C’mon D Rad; get after it! Welcome back Jackets – bring it on in here for a big ol Dawg hug!

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A “clean program” is the least that Richt has run! Half the team has the UGA lawyer on speed dial! Be careful how you define a “clean program” ESPECIALLY when takling about UGA. As for Miami- no one was suprised with that!

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Matthew –
Distance from DC to Va Tech is not relevant. Va Tech by far has the largest alumni and fan base in the DC market. The majority of students who attend Va Tech come from the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC. Driving around the Beltway in DC you will see as many Hokies stickers on cars as you see Dawgs stickers on the Perimeter here.

Also VT will bring the Richmond and the Tidewater/Hampton Roads markets which together are pretty large too.

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VT alums are indded heavy in the D.C. area, but the D.C. area includes 5 million people who care less about VT, or much about college football period, check Marylands attendance figures…This is a Redskin area….Hard as it is for SEC fans to imagine college football here is second tier….

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I wonder if the B1G is considering these 4 teams:

1. GT
2. Maryland
3. VT
4. UVA

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[...] A few quick notes concerning Baylor, Texas A&M and the SEC at this lunch hour:1.  Chaos in college athletics is now here according to The Wall Street Journal.2.  Orangebloods.com says the SEC wants all remaining Big 12 schools to sign waivers stating that they will not sue… and that’s not going to happen.3.  Baylor’s poor attendance, poor record and poor facilities are forcing it to throw out legal threats.4.  This writer for the International Business Times can’t figure out why more Big 12 schools aren’t threatening to sue.5.  Mark Bradley of The AJC looks at who might be next on the SEC’s dance card. [...]

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We need about 8 more teams like Georgia Tech so I can have a winning season.

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Why is Vandy still in the SEC? Take on Texas A&M and just drop Vandy. The pretense that they compete with the other SEC teams in football is ridiculous.

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Although VT probably has a larger market share of fans in the Virginia, DC, and Maryland viewership area, it seems to me that WV would potentially bring the same television market exposure as VT. No doubt WV’s viewership market share would increase if they were to become members of the SEC as the matchups would become much more interesting than those currently on their schedule. However both VT and WV are are big time football schools and I would happily take either. Why not bring both and add a second Texas team? That would expand the conference to 16 with 8 in each division. That would be a hell of a conference!

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Georgia Tech doesn’t want to step backwards in basketball, and the football competition is just so-so!

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Ga Tech doesn NOT deserve an invite. They were in the SEC many moons ago and bolted for independence. They made their choice, now they have to live with it. I dont care if they go to the Big 10 or wherever, just not the SEC, they dont deserve a second chance.

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WVU!!! Screw the castrated turkeys.

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I believe the SEC would love to have VT but I don’t see the Hokies joining the SEC. I believe the most viable possibility is Missouri, especially if Oklahoma leaves the Big 12.

I don’t see how the SEC has anything to gain by adding WV, a small market.

Clemson, Ga Tech, Miami and FSU won’t be joining the SEC either. They will be blocked by some of the current member schools.

Thus the logical 14th member is Missouri, unless OU expresses a desire to join.

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I’m ALL for the super conference model….they could succeed from the BCS and create their own playoff system! Disparity no longer seems a concern, anyway! Anything that leads to playoffs is a step in the right direction and we could see some really interesting match ups down the road….let’s do it!

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The one group of fans who travel well to away games are the player’s families. They get good seats for free and so they travel to support their kids. Super conferences will sharply curtail that activity. Try driving to College Station after work on Friday and getting back for work on Monday morning. Again, another example of not thinking of the impact on the players. Greedy administrators get more money to pay ever larger coaching salaries and build more elaborate palaces.

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Virginia Tech: “An even more attractive candidate than West Virginia. The Hokies would offer penetration into the Washington, D.C., market, and they play BCS-level (meaning SEC-level) football.”

Ummm…hate to break it to you, but WVU is 2-0 in BCS games & Virginia Tech is 1-4. WVU finished in the Top 10 three straight years 2005-07 and has twice played for the national championship. WVU is also 28-21 all-time against the Hokies (counting their days as Gobblers, of course).

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Ole Miss and Miss St would love to have West Virginia join the conference. WVa would be the new standard bearer as the lowest ranked school in the SEC academically (#176 USN&WR.)

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I say Ga Tech, Clemson, and FSU. It would increase the TV market, especially in the ATL, strengthen recruiting conference wide – particulary in Ga, SC, and FL, and renew some old rivalries (UGA-Clemson, GaTech-Alabam, etc, etc).

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Do you people go to DC? There are NOT may CFB fans there. Barely anyone there with money is FROM the area, so, no, they don’t care about VT or Maryland really compared to the Redskins. I go there monthly and the college gear I see most is as follows in this order: Georgetown, GWU (the two schools in the District), Virginia, and Georgia Tech. They sell VT and Terps gear in the stores, but people around town have the things I listed on. It’s that way every time.

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Point is that DC is not an SEC town and probably won’t care if they get a major CFB team nearby. Their talk radio and TV hype is all Redskins.

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PCJ – I worked in Rockville, MD and lived in Gaithersburg awhile back. The only college football talk I heard was Virginia and Maryland.

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Well, Army and Navy, yeah. Different kind of people and extremely loyal.

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I would be shocked if WVU were the 14th school.

The school presidents are not sitting around talking about who is good in football and do we want them or them or them…

The conversation revolves the following issues (list in order of importance):

1)What potential schools could enhance revenue with the reopening of the TV contracts?

2)What schools are likely to consider an offer?

3)Who would the SEC preferred to be associated with? WV flunks this question. The SEC has enough ‘tard schools with Arkansas, Ole Miss and Miss. State. Interestingly enough, Alabama and Auburn are generally well regarded, ranked in 60’s or 70’s in the US News National rankings, but their non-student-alumni fanbases create the impression that they are ‘tard schools. The SEC does not need another lousy academic school like WVU.

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I dont believe the SEC will ever expand to 16 teams. Ask yourself why? Honestly, why would they need to? Texas A&M brings a huge Texas market…both TV and recruiting. That is the only reason the SEC is expanding with them and that’s the prize of this expansion. They only need a 14th team to balance things out, and they dont want one from a state they already represent. IMO WVU is the likely target. That will keep both divisions intact. They could go to a 9 game conference schedule and keep the current rotations and rivalries. Here is the order (with rivals listed across from each other):

East West

Georgia Auburn
Florida LSU
Tennessee Alabama
South Carolina Arkansas
Kentucky Miss St.
Vandy Ole Miss
WVU or Va Tech or Maryland Texas A&M

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PCJ – I spent almost as much time at Muldoon’s in Gaithersburg as I did at work and my apartment. A lot of the conversation around the peanut barrel was about whether or not little Johnny and Sally would get accepted to UVA or have to go to Maryland. I didn’t hang with the Georgetown types.

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Couldnt we just add A & M and drop Vandy. That should even things out. Seriously, I think we need a school that represents tradition and excels at a variety of sports. I like Clemson but I understand the TV situation. Va Tech sounds good. They have no real loyalty to the ACC and they figure into some pretty decent basketball games…not to mention their football team’s success. I really like West VA based on history. Either would be nice and make for some intriguing Fall matchups.

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Mark, when these stories and rumors first started floating (or re-floating) around a month ago, several posters from the state of Virginia pointed out that VT had no hold on the DC market. They are too far away from DC (in the middle of nowhere, in fact), and that there are other schools closer to DC that hold more interest in that area.

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Well, Delbert, to your point I’m not sure UVA to the SEC would be half bad. I know they and VT might be tied together now, but UVA is a big state (well, going private) school. It’s been good in football before (90’s). And Maryland’s not a terrible choice, but the place has little identity. I’m a fan of CU, GT and FSU going all together. They’re the 3 ACC schools nestled in SEC states. I think they’d make the conference more complete and competitive.

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Mike, I understand UGA, UF and SC might not like it, but I also know that of the ACC team who aren’t VT (who seems married to UVA now after the big cryfest to get into the ACC) the best brands and regional rivalries in football (rivalries bring the fans who build the culture and cashflow) live at FSU, Clemson and GT in that order. All three have good basketball. And CU and GT add academics while FSU adds size (GT and CU are each at around 20k total enrollment).

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Mike – You are right, a 14-team conference would be a lot easier to schedule, and to maintain somewhat more frequent games with the non-rivals in the other division. The only thing about the number 14 is that it doesn’t provide for a natural playoff set, e.g., 16, 32, 64. The 4 x 16 conferences model works great, except for the schools that aren’t in those conferences. If you get more than 4 conferences, it would be very difficult to fit the playoffs (which I think are the inevitable result or this) into the time schedule of 1st 2 weeks in December, and the CG in the 2nd week in January.

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@PCJ – I agree in general, but I think those three (Tech, Clemson, and FSU) would be the last ditch backup plans because of current member objections. THey might even go after Louisville before them since UK might be less inclined to get their feathers ruffled. Again the 14th isnt about competition, just balancing the scales. 16 isnt happening. I just dont see why the SEC would want that.

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Mike, I see your multiple points about balance. I guess my argument is that the current twelve make so much money and earn the hearts of their fans because of rivalries. All SEC games are rivalries pretty much. FSU GT and CU only fuel that. Hate is love in the SEC when you’re talking money and fan revenue.

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Mark,

So ’splain to me what the SEC presidents are looking for when they admit new member schools. Is it money (TV revenue), prestige, preventing in-state conference rival, academics (doubtful), similar institutional goals? I just don’t get the appeal of T A&M other than opening up the Texas TV market to the SEC. Why does the SEC want A&M?

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Seems the UGA folks want Missouri because that would move Auburn to the East whom UGA already plays each season thus easing the schedule. Adding WVU to the East puts another quality mouth at the table leaving UGA where? The bread line with Vandy and Kentucky???

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reebok – The NCAA only allows 12 plus championship game. Of course if we disown the NCAA and create our own rules organization then that would be possible.

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@ Mike

I don’t think they would take WVU to just ” balance things ” . At that point it would be smarter to move Auburn to the east a keep their rivalry game with Alabama , then put Mizzou and A&M in the SEC west .

Thanks for filling in on the UVA , Va Tech law about them in the same conference . Interesting stuff .

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I hope GT does not go to the Big 10. I don’t even know who plays in the Big 10. If it’s not ACC or SEC football, I don’t watch or follow it.

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ramblingbuzz, you don’t wanna know…it’s something called a Buckeye and then a lot of snow and cornfields….I think there’s a Purdue in there somewhere, but I’ve heard it might not actually exist…

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SEC WEST – “The NCAA only allows 12 plus championship game. Of course if we disown the NCAA and create our own rules organization then that would be possible.”

No need to do that. Georgia Southern played 15 games last year. The Div.1 schools can get a playoff without seceding from the NCAA. The school presidents simply have to want it. The payola by the BCS needs to be brought to a screeching halt.

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Sheesh…is SEC going to soon stand for SouthEast of Canada?

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Hell, I am just hoping that our Dawgs are allowed to stay in the SEC, now that we are clearly on the level of Kentucky and Vandy. If they start cutting weak teams, it’s time for us to get nervous in Athens.

Having said that, I guess it’s time for our ‘playas’ to begin tweeting insults to the A & M coaching staff (provided they can spare the time away from braiding their long hair), as A & M is now headed our way.

Yep.

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The SEC does not have the guts it would take to return GT to the conference.

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NC State makes the most sense, since the VT president has already effectively said no. NC State is in a similar position to Texas A&M, being in the perpetual shadow of UNC and their sidekick Duke. NC State would not collapse the ACC like UNC’s leaving would; in fact, it would actually help the ACC, since they would probably add Syracuse, UConn, and/or Rutgers and expand their media footprint. Having four schools in one state is not good for negotiating with networks.

Granted, NC State’s football program is not stellar, but neither is Texas A&M’s, (though A&M has historically been much better). And there is a lot of good football talent in North Carolina, that currently goes to ECU or out-of-state, that would be drawn to an in-state SEC school.

The benefit to the SEC is two top-30 media markets, NC recruiting, another AAU school, and proximity (NC already borders three existing SEC states: TN, GA, & SC). Also, like Auburn, Florida, LSU, and A&M, NC State is a land, sea, and space grant school.

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Robodawg, NC State may have decent academics per SEC standards, but according to the just-released US News & World Report rankings, they are dead last in the ACC.

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GA Tech to the Big Ten….this could open the Atlanta market to the Big Ten schools!

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Virginia Tech’s chances are closer to 3.75 percent. The SEC might want the Hokies, but the Hokies aren’t interested. Very, very slim chance the Hokies will leave.

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UGA administration and most alum would support Ga Tech in the SEC, but Tech needs to reach out to Slive – and now! UGA will cooperate and work in the best interest of the system and state.

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Unless the SEC drops its opposition to expanding in current markets, nobody’s leaving the ACC. Clemson, Georgia Tech and Florida State could probably be picked off by the SEC, but those will get blocked (especially the Seminoles, who would also be opposed by Alabama). Any Virginia or North Carolina schools are simply pipe dreams, unless the SEC decides it wants East Carolina.

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I have really bad breath.

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Lowcountry – Well, that’s sort of over the top, but creative. Wouldn’t call it the SEC, though. The old SEC members would be out-voted for naming considerations. Also, I’d recommend just about any other school to replace Memphis.

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Yeah, Nebraska sure had a big TV market. The Big Ten would not put a dent in the SEC’s hold over Atlanta TV ratings if GT goes there.

They wouldn’t need to put a dent in it. The Big 10 network gets a higher payout for markets that include their teams. If they expanded to Atlanta then they would get a higher payout from all Atlanta subscribers, including any new subscribers from GT being added. That alone would probably be worth it.

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AIT – The Big Ten Network is already carried by Comcast in Atlanta. There are so many people from the northern midwest in Atlanta, I’m sure that it would increase the number of viewers with Georgia Tech followers buying in.

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harold, OU would be at the top of the list of the SEC, except that OU leadership doesn’t seem interested, probably because they see the PAC# as an easier path to the BCS Championship. And the SEC would probably take OSU, if (and only if) it’s a package deal. Agreed that the SEC is a more natural fit for OU.

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There would be so many problems with Notre Dame and the SEC it is a non-starter. Number 1, they see the south as inferior. I attended a Tech-Notre Dame game several years ago, courtesy of the president of the NYC Notre Dame Alumni Club, and he told me so. Number 2, they have their own national network. Number 3 is the obvious cultural difference apart from the inferiority thing. Number 4 is that they cannot be persuaded to do anything that they didn’t come up with themselves.

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Forest Foxx – Oklahoma also sees participation in the largest media payout of any current conference, which has a clause to renegotiate the payout whenever the PAC-12 adds members, plus participation in the PAC-12 network (conference owned) that will televise every football, basketball and virtually every other sporting even in the PAC-12.

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Please people, stop with the GaTech, Clemson, FSU. Expansion is about one thing, TV revenue. Those 3 schools do NOTHING to enhance the TV market for the SEC. GT can’t fill a 50,000 seat stadium, Clemson’s TV market is Anderson, whoop, and Fla delivers that state’s market plus FSU had their chance and chose the easier route the ACC.

SEC expansion to 16 should involve adding A&M and Missouri in the West, in the East the choices seem to be Maryland and either UNC, VaTech, NC State, WVU or Rutgers. Each offers an expanded TV market share which translates into many $$$$. This isn’t about who you want to play, it’s about who brings in eyeballs and dollars. Like it or not, that’s the way it is.

Don’t leave out the other sports in this equation. The SEC is a strong basketball conference, the nation’s best collegiate baseball conference, a premier track, swimming, golf and tennis conference and perhaps the best overall women’s conference in the nation. Which of the many potential members can enhance those programs?

For those who dismiss Vandy, be reminded Vandy is an excellent basketball and baseball school, and strong in other men’s sports as well as in all women’s sports. This is about more than simply football. The TV contracts cover broadcast of other sports.

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Yes would drop Memphis for Ok State and tweek a couple of teams. Definetely a fantasy move for sure but would be interesting. Would make the week before the Super Bowl more interesting for sure.

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Delbert-

Drop Memphis for Ok. State. Tweek a couple of divisions, but it would make th eweek before the Super Bowl more interesting. Definetly a fantasy though!

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[...] for the Big East situation it MIGHT still work out if the SEC goes after West Virginia as Team #14, reopening a space. (The other Big Integer, meanwhile, is sitting back and counting its [...]

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Forest Foxx – One thing to keep in mind is that only 9 “yes” votes are needed to add a member. The first four you mentioned would be sufficient to block, but the recruiting angle is iffy. It looks like FSU is going to get pretty much whoever they need now, under Jimbo.

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If the SEC is interested in adding ‘brands,’ and going into new markets then the prospective list consists of VaTech, UVA, UNC, and even Duke. Second tier would include Maryland, NC State, WVU, Missouri.

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East Carolina…ACC back yard, a sleeping giant with excellent facilities, huge fan base and takes the TV market all the way to DC

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PCJ – Assuming that Tech is not going to the SEC (the Bradley Postulate), The way to fill that stadium is to either play Notre Dame 10 times a year or join the Big Ten. Now *that* is over the top.

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West Virginia’s fans would be a natural fit for the SEC.

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As a Tech fan I would rather have a nearly full stadium with mostly Tech fans then have a full stadium that mostly other teams fans. The boost in attendance from joining the SEC wouldn’t exactly be a good thing.

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King Peabody presents an intriguing scenario. The Southenr mega-merger. Of course, the SEC needs a reason and the ACC wouldn’t dream of it unless TV rights were to be negotiated together and the conference would include all the Tobacco Road schools.

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Delbert D., on the 9 votes, that will go to 10, once A&M joins; but yes, there are sufficient votes to block, which was my point. (Probably should have said it only took 9.)

As for recruiting, FSU is currently doing very well. Whether they continue to do so, will depend on what they accomplish with those recruits. SEC membership is an advantage for attracting top talent, but it is not the only factor. Top programs and coaches along with expectation can mitigate that advantage, but it is still a factor for some recruits, due to the exposure that the SEC brings over the ACC. The four schools mention will not want to give up that advantage, since they all recruit heavily in Florida.

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I would add East Carolina as an outside candidate…avoid lawsuits with other conferences and they have a great football tradition and fan base. Gives USC another close away game too.

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Cluett Peabody – I wasn’t responding to your post, mostly just rambling along in my own thoughts. The Notre Dame…not a clue what they will do. I’d like to see Army and Navy get something out of this. I wish the U of Miami would just go away. If Tampa is “South Florida”, the government should reassign Miami and anything further down that way to Puerto Rico, or the Virgin Islands or some place. No, on second thought, keep the mangrove coast along the west side of the state, and also the Keys.

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I think if the Dawgs run the table in the SEC that Bradley should don a Speedo and pom poms and sing UGA fight song!

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AIT, The Big Ten Network currently gets about 70 cents per subscriber in states in their footprint and about 10 cents per subscriber in states outside of their footprint. I don’t know how many Atlanta subscribers the Big 10 Network currently has but in Missouri there are around 2.2 million subscribers. If the Big 10 expanded there it would be an increase of around 1.5 million dollars a month not even including the added Missouri fans. Atlanta would probably have similar if not higher numbers.

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Cluett Peabody – Oh, yeah, about the potential merger? Just call it the Southern Crescent Conference, because it would sort of be shaped like one, Arkansas to Maryland. It’s also a train, from D.C. to New Orleans, I think.

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As far as East Carolina is concerned, who outside whatever state it is in would know what state it is in? Coastal Carolina is somewhere on a coast. These directional schools seem pretty limp, name-wise. Maybe there is a West Virginia Eastern, that would take the cake.

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If you look at the DC market, Navy is an after thought. I live just outside of DC and in terms of coverage and who’s on regional / local TV, it is either WVU, VT, Maryland, East Carolina, Penn State, and UVA. Navy is on the same levels as a James Madison around these parts. Nothing against Navy or the service academies but they will not get through a full BCS schedule. MASN shows Big East games of the week including many WVU games and has shown many ECU games as well. I would love if WVU joined the SEC but not sure if our administration would want to break ties with the Big Least / eat sh!tPitt. When it is all said and done, I think the ACC will stay in tact, VT will not go without UVA and the NC schools are all together so and it will be either us or ECU in the SEC to balance the east.

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GTBob, again, the money is in ad revenue. That is why a Nebraska goes before a Mizzou or a GT. Subribers is secondary and finite. I just think that if the Big Ten were interested, they’d have been there already.

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No to WVU. They really don’t bring anything to the table. Their academics would rank dead last among SEC schools.

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You have it wrong, they are keeping it at 12. UGA is getting kicked out to join the ACC where it can be competitive.

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Mark: Why mention GT with only a five percent chance?

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When Mississippi State & Texas A&M play one another, how will we tell them apart?

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Argh, posts getting filtered. Look, the SEC needs GT because it has too many teams wearing red and it just took another one. Lookahere now:

Arkansas – Red
Alabama – Darker Red
Ole Miss – Red
Missy State – Mar(red)oon
Georgia – Cwayola Wed
Texas A&M – Maroon

Potentials:
VT – Red AND Orange (don’t get me started on Orange)
FSU – Purplyred
GT – Beautiful shades of prestigious White and Gold! JOY AND WONDERMENT!

Tech is the clear choice, people. Clear and gleaming!

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Curious George, when Bama played Arkansas I asked myself the same thing. Red, White, A-logo, tall passing QB’s…

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Couple of things. 1) WVU brings the DC market as well. There are more WVU Alumni in DC area than anywhere else outside the state. 2) While West Virginia’s population is approximately 1.8 million, WVU’s television market is incorporated with the Pittsburgh market (being it’s only an hour away).

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* convinced

I’m not CONVINCED market is what matters.

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Notre Dame. Wait, they are Catholic–not sure how that would go over at UGA.

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I’m not at all surprised that more WVU graduates are located in D.C. than anywhere else. Anywhere beyond D.C. is too far to walk.

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OK, MD is not “very good at football” but it is good at football. I think MD (along with ND) will end up in the Big 10. I think either FSU or GA Tech makes better sense, and I think the SEC will opt to keep “good ol’ fashioned hateful” rivalry games alive and not worry so much about more than one team per state. When this thing is over (6 16 team super conferences, 2 at large for 8 team playoff) there will be little room on schedules for out of conference rivalry games. Which reminds me; VA Tech might want to look into the SEC, lest it have to play JMU again

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SEC with 16 teams: 4 divisions with each team playing the three other teams in the division, one rival in each of the other three divisions, and one rotating game in the other divisions, resulting in nine conference games per season. All rotating opponents are played twice every six years.

West: Arkansas, LSU, Ole Miss, TAMU
Central: Bama, Miss. State, Vandy, Tennessee
South: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina
East: Kentucky, NC State, Virginia Tech, West Virginia

Nearly all rivalries could be accommodated, though a few of the more lopsided ones would be lost, notably Auburn-MSU, but Auburn-Florida, which was longer before the split and nearly even would resume. (Note: Auburn’s traditional rivals were east and south [UGA, GT, FL] whereas Bama’s were north and west [MSU, UT, LSU, Vandy], so it makes sense to put them in different divisions.)

This configuration assumes that OU deigns not to join and that Mizzou prefers the B1G, but those could work in lieu of VaTech and NCSU.

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Cool, Flat Tire. You sayin’ LSU’s gold is any better? Or Vandy’s? Well, no one ever really SEE’s Vandy’s gold, becuase of all the blood but…anyway I’m a stadium half full man myself. Or totally full if we go back to the SEC. Our fans wanna see the old rivals come back. That’s all I’ve been sayin…

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Based on your logic and percentages MB, there is a 257.50% chance that Mizzou, WVU, VaTech, Ok, Nc, NC State, Maryland, GT, FSU, Miami,Clemson, OR Louisville will be in the SEC….GEE THANKS MARK FOR THIS WONDERFUL INSIGHT!!!!!!!!

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30% for Maryland is too high (how many SEC teams play lacrosse); 20% for NC State is too high (they are one of the Big 4); and 5% for Grorgia Tech is too high (the Institute is heading in another direction-see overseas affiliations).

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It will be GT. Back where they belong….

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I think Georgia Tech has a greater chance than most think. Of all the schools mentioned above only one has a history with the SEC…GT. If you’re seen to be tearing down tradition by adding Texas A&M, you could be seen returning to tradition by adding GT. Plus GT sits in the unofficial capital of the SEC, Atlanta and the home of the college football hall of fame. Wouldn’t the SEC love to claim all that territory in its entirety?

The Carolina teams would have trouble politically by leaving each other. Same with Virginia Tech leaving Virginia. Florida State is a possibility as is Clemson. But I believe Florida and South Carolina would have a bigger problem with allowing them in than UGA would with Georgia Tech (not talking about fans) because those programs are historically on par or better with them.

It’s possible.

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Chicago Richie

September 7th, 2011
12:37 pm
“WVU does a better job of delivering the DC market. The school is only 200 miles from DC and has a huge alumni-base in our nation’s capitol. So much so, that AD Luck scheduled multiple neutral-site games in DC.
VT, on the other hand, is about 370 miles from DC and their alums don’t spend money. Blacksburg is not Fairfax.”

This is an example of the stupid couch-burning logic you’ll be dealing with if the SEC admits WVU…

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Ah yes, Coach Ross. Dang’d San Diego Chargers….

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Flat Tire, yeah actually that’s way more a product of us having Russell Athletic as our sponsor. We’re their guinea pigs these last 4 years (we get a cool 4 mil for it) but it’s a new jersey every season now, and they’re just not as flashy as UA, Adidas or Nike when they do special uni’s. I dunno. White tops at home is supposedly tradition, and the alumni like gold, so they decided gold numbers on white at home and navy numbers on white for away (the players think darker jerseys are more intimidating I hear.) So Tech is being toyed with in my opinion by Russell until we figure out what everyone wants. Plenty of people hated the Gailey era uniforms. I personally don’t care. I just want wins. Wins against rivals. SEC rivals. *saliva*

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PCJ, he left College Park after the Len Bias mess, said he was gonna be QB coach for the Buffalo Bills (has coached under Marv Levy before coming to MD), but did a U turn and headed to Atlanta when Curry left for ‘Bama.

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It will be Tech or Maryland, hope it’s Tech

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I know UGA is in Athens in 2013 – just speculating on future SEC schedules for G Tech

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WVU will stay in the Big East, notwithstanding the attractions of the SEC. Why leave when they have a good shot at a BCS game every year and are making $$$$ now anyway. The Big East actually has the rest of the conferences by the balls in both basketball and football- they just don’t know it yet. More TV markets, more national fan bases equals more $$$$.. The only thing missing is a deal with Notre Dame of some sort better than the one that exists.

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OldWVUFan, when the music stops playing, there will likely no longer be a “Big East”. BC, UConn, Rutgers and perhaps Syracuse will be absorbed into what it left of the ACC. The ACC will essentially be absorbed into the Big East, but the ACC hoops brand (Duke, UNC) is too solid to ignore.

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meant Louisville

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The SEC should just add every FBS school from the Mid-Atlantic coastline to the Rocky Mountains. That should about do the trick.
Greedy! Greedy! Greedy!

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MP – SEC did not start this – this is self-preservation at this point. Look to the Longhorns for the greed.

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PerimeterCenterJacket

This is the one Im talking about not sure if what you wrote is what your thinking

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=georgia+tech+2009+uniforms&hl=en&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4TSNA_enUS394US394&tbm=isch&tbnid=zlA9OxeImVx8vM:&imgrefurl=http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/2010/7/19/1576404/now-for-the-great-debate-the&docid=611f4HDY0×4WeM&w=2048&h=1536&ei=rt1nTtuJE5K-tgegreW7DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=337&vpy=108&dur=1487&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=181&ty=110&page=1&tbnh=171&tbnw=222&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0&biw=1366&bih=641

Sorry for the link best I could

One of the best uniforms in college football and Im a diehard dawg. Still love my red though but not that crap from last Saturday

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Yeah, MP, what’s greedy is Texas going “Hey thanks for being in this conference completely controlled by us, but now you’re gonna have to endure us using our own TV network to recruit highschoolers too. Yall cool with that?”…”Aw, Colorado, Nebraska, where ya goin?” “Well at least we got our Texas schools, right lil Aggie buddy?” *gets the finger from Reveille* “What’s that? SEC?” “Noooo!!”

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TECHnically, nice pun.

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Oh holy crap, yes, Mr. Flat Tire! Those were the throwbacks we wore against UVA in 2006. They were glorious. It’s from the Bud Carson era (same as our Budweiser song tradition.) I don’t know a SINGLE Tech fan who didn’t love those. I think that gold shade might get a little old after a while, but it’s such a great traditional uniform. I think Russell Athletic (if we even keep them in the next few years) should pay attention and put us back in something like that full time (with toned down shade of Old Gold just a bit.) The white helmets were the big hit though. Totally boss, in my book.

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I need to set the record straight there is no law that Uva and Va Tech have to be in the same conference. I live in VA and they talked about making it a law. The Va Tech fans (voters) flipped out and the politicians didn’t want to lose their jobs and dropped it. Tech is free and clear to do what they want

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* mean
You MEAN VPI, right? typos…killin my edge…needadrank

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West Virginia? Seriously? The SEC does not need any more inferior academic schools. Auburn and LSU are already dragging down the whole Conference’s academic reputation. Please, no WV!!

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Their is only one Tech relavant to College Football and its not in Atlanta

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You might be right! Blazerdawg – “UGA administration and most alum would support Ga Tech in the SEC, but Tech needs to reach out to Slive – and now! UGA will cooperate and work in the best interest of the system and state.” I hope it happens – it would liven up the UGA-Tech series, along with Alabama, Auburn, Florida.

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If Maryland is going anywhere it is to the Big 10 who is looking to expand further east. It already has the New York media market with Penn State and will capture Washington-Baltimore with Maryland. Additionally there are a lot of alumnai from Big 10 schools in that area. Maryland has always been a poor stepchild to the deizens of tobacco road and will not miss the ACC.

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Doug the Jacket, wouldn’t mind seeing GT back in the fold. And given the rivalry, Auburn would probably not block it. Only thing though, the SEC would have to redraw the divisions; you can’t bring Tech back in and have Auburn remain in the West; that would be just plain wrong! Auburn has already had to give up playing the Gators every year, despite being the closest school to Gainesville and being the third longest rivalry, behind UGA (114) and GT (92). (Technically, Auburn has now played more games against Miss State (84) than Florida (82), but it doesn’t date back as far, and it isn’t really much of a rivalry.)

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Clemson & Florida State in the eastern division, Texas A & M and Oklahoma in the west. Perfection personified! Nuff said.

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Just in Georgia has accepted a conference USA invite. The SEC is replacing Georgia with Georgia Tech.

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Why is your puke orange and purple?

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I live in the DC area. Almost every VT game is televised regionally here. It doesn’t matter how many fans or stickers you think you see compared to others. Or what percentage of people in DC are interested in college football. What matters is that in the DC area, VT is regionally covered. That is what it means to capture a TV market. Thus, VT would in fact bring the DC TV market.

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Cause he eats clemmons tigers for breakfast. nom nom nom

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What if we somehow traded UGA for TCU???

A perennial underachiever with a terrible fan base for a fantastic overachiever with a tremendous fan base. What do ya say SEC fans?!?

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Could we trade UGA for TCU???

A perennial underachiever with a terrible fan base for a perennial overachiever with a tremendous fan base. What do ya say SEC fans?!?

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If the SEC goes to 3 divisions, it may make more sense to have 2 post season games. 3 division winners plus best of the rest. One game in Atlanta, one game in Dallas. You lose the Championship game but you gain another big revenue game for TV, plus the possibility of two undefeated SEC teams making it into the BCS.

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If academics matter, the only choice is Missouri. West Virginia’s are too weak to convince the presidents it adds anything. Of course, the SEC could always just exterminate the lawsuit by inviting Baylor.

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Climbing Out of the Box, the 3 division w/ wild card approach has a distinct appeal, especially when one division is clearly stronger, like last year. There would be the obvious temptation to have a two-level playoff, semifinals with #1 vs #4 and #2 vs #3, then the championship, but maybe that’s not necessary. Deserves consideration.

Obviously, it would require the SEC to go to 15 teams. Each team would play its 4 division opponents with one rival and one rotating game against the other two divisions. It keeps the total conference games at 8, but it means that rotating opponents would only be seen twice every 8 years (excluding championship games). It could work.

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Actually Delbert, if you think about it, East Carolina makes a little more sense, they are the only FOOTBALL school in NC, have a rich tradition, a lot of fans, and it would give the SEC a school in NC. SEC is much on the same lines as Carolina and Arkansas were when they joined the SEC, same cut and mode but maybe a little better. If the SEC had a BCS school in NC, it would kill the ACC in terms of recruiting and I can only imagine how a football school like ECU could do with BCS recruits. Also, doubt anyone will credit the US News rankings as it is just a survey based on responses from about 70 schools on their school and other school.

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You worthless twits with your mindless drivel are smoking crack if you think the academic bulwarks of a UVa, UNC, UMd and Duke want to be affiliated with the likes of some the SEC schools

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And Dave, nobody will ever accuse East Carolina or any of those other unranked schools I listed in my 7:20 post as an “academic bulwark”, as Titus so succinctly put it.

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James – Nebraska is not in the Big East; they are in the Big Ten. The other Big Ten member schools probably wish Nebraska had gone to the Big East, since they were kicked out of the invitation-only Association of American Universities in April of this year. I don’t think that Georgia Tech would want to take a step down to the Big East. Yes Georgia might be able to get an invitation to the ACC, but their massive fan base would be highly ticked off.

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VT and uva are not tied together at the hip. Although our administration has denied interest in the SEC, the same rhetoric was out there from the same officials when it came to us leaving the Big East to join the ACC. We have been injecting millions into all sports recently, have revamped our coaching staff, and we have the fan base that fits the “SEC mold”. The only thing that has ever kept the Hokies from getting over the hump has been the inability to land a number of the blue-chip recruits. Said recruits have always chosen SEC schools over us. Membership in the SEC would be beneficial to all parties involved. Would add a consistent upper-echelon football program, solid academics, bring in the DC Tv market, (2/3 of our student body is from northern VA/DC), as well as the rest of the state, an even further up the coast as there is a contingent of students/alumni from Maryland, PA, NJ, and NY. The current rivalries would not be messed with, and geographically we are a fit. 3 hours from UT, 5 from Vandy, 5 from SC, 5.5 from UK, 6 from UGA, etc. We already play teams from Miami and Boston within our conference, and our non-revenue sports play many SEC schools every season, so the travel thing wouldn’t be a roadblock. Add in a game with UT every year at Bristol Motor Speedway (has been discussed between the schools for years) and you have record crowds. Whether VT would be the 14th, 15th, 16th team, or whatever number the SEC decides to go to, I believe it would be a move that both sides would look back and realize was a great one.

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[...] regarding expansion after aTm. West Virginia would be an interesting addition to the SEC East. Who's next on the SEC's expansion list? Here's a checklist | Mark Bradley __________________ A man's just got to know his [...]

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This is my percentages and the Teams more than likely to make up the 16 Team SEC. I believe it will be/could be any 4 of the below mentioned Schools that will evenually be in the SEC.
My List of Schools:
A.Texas A&M 99.9% B.West Virgina 65% C.Clemson 65% D.Missouri 65% E.Florida State 50% F.South Florida 45%; .

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james – I understand, now. As to the comments regarding Georgia Tech’s offense fitting in, that shouldn’t be a consideration any more than what defense they are using. A reshaping of conferences of this magnitude would probably result in stability for many years. 5 years from now, June Jones’ offense at SMU may be the big thing. Some schools will always try to emulate the NFL systems, but very likely, various shotgun spreads, triple options, pistols, etc. will still be used.

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I don’t want to go to the SEC and be a perennial doormat. I’d rather stay in the ACC where I know I can compete with inferior talent, week in, week out. -Dabo

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Conference expansion realignment:

The ACC
Atlantic. Coastal. Carolina’s. Sunshine
Syracuse. Virginia Tech. UNC. Ga Tech
Boston College. Virginia. NC State. Miami
Pittsburgh. West Virginia. Wake Forest. FSU
UConn. Maryland. Duke. Clemson

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Hailing from Missouri, I don’t see how Missouri comes to the SEC. Kansas-Illinois in football and basketball are just too big in terms of tradition and payoff. Politically, there would be repercussions arising from severing the Kansas-Missouri ties.

At this point anything is pretty much a moot point when it comes to money, but there have to be compelling reasons to deep-six some long-standing traditions. Imagine breaking up Auburn-Alabama, that’s pretty much what Missouri-Kansas is, albeit on a smaller scale.

Texas was the rotten apple in the Big-12. They angered the other schools with strong-arm tactics at the conference level, eventually providing the motivation for Nebraska, Colorado, and A&M to take flight. Personally, I think the Big-12 is better off without those schools AND without Texas. Oklahoma and Ok State may take a hike, too, for the big football money, but either way the conference has some attractive options to reconstruct.

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ECU fans get all puffed up because their fans get drunker, louder, and more uncouth at games than do UNC, Duke, or Wake fans when they play each other. ECU fans think this creates a better game atmosphere. ECU fans will drag your school down to their level.

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It would be interesting if the 8 schools trying to force Texas A&M to stay have an enemy in their midst. I bet they do…Texas. They obviously don’t care about the rest of the conference; they’ve bought a pie that only they can eat. The rest of the members should dissolve the the conference and regroup without the Longhorns. I find it frankly ridiculous that those other schools are naive enough to think things are somehow going to work out.

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Mark,

Listen to ole pal Tony and Wes on the radio and you’ll be better off with your facts.

Oklahoma doesnt wants no part of the SEC academic legacy.

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Cajdawg – your comments about WVU academics are ridiculous. But what can expect from somebody who consistently uses the word “tard”. WVU is very similar to many SEC schools, it has a fanatical fan base who love football. I don’t think WVU will be invited to the SEC, but if they do, you will quickly see the value in that addition.

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I can’t stand Clemson. Little redneck school that has history for 2 reasons: 1) they play in the ACC, and 2) they cheated like he’ll and many believe they still do. SC (the university) brings class and money to the league. Clemson is bush league.

I wish we weren’t expanding but if we have to VT and FSU are best fits.

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It is good the concept of conferences is being challenged. Perhaps rankings and bowl games will also soon become obsolete, with a true tournament for a national championship like the other real sports. However, the crap that the SEC is some powerhouse conference does not hold water. The SEC needs to jettison Valderbilt, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Missy State, and Arkansas. Those teams could form a new conference with Texas A&M, which is simply another bad college-university that has a bad football record against the “AAAA” pay-to-play schools. Teams like Georgia, Alabama, Florida, LSU, and Auburn (are they still calling that place a college?) need to man up EVERY week and play teams like Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma, USC (Sou. Cal), Va Tech, FSU, and others who have suspended all sense of being institutes of higher learning for the big buck of “big time football program.” Miami was there, but they need the death penalty, as do most of the other big time programs. Let the “big dogs” determine which one will end up 0-11, because they have no Western Carolinas, La Techs, Miami (Ohio)s, Furmans, VMIs or other patsies on the schedule.

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Sunny Skies’ ACC alignment is awesome…and make a lot of sense. I think the ACC should push for it while the scent is in the air.
VT does not belong in the SEC…acedemics plays a big part of VT and the ACC. TX A&M in SEC is a mistake as others have noted. Then again…who can really understand those Aggies.
I love the idea of the Big 12 picking up ND and BYU…although ND looks better in the Big 10.

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VaTech, you make perfect sense. Also it is worth remembering that the ACC never wanted VT to begin with. They wanted Syracuse, but politics in the state of Virginia required the ACC to take VT. Now that situation can be reversed. VT is the obvious first choice if they are willing and if the politics can be worked out.

Second choice is N C State. Big chance for the Wolfpack to get out from under UNC’s shadow. With the ability to recruit SEC-caliber players, State will soon dominate UNC the same way that Georgia dominates Tech.

So far as the others are concerned, I’m not really sure that the SEC has any real interest in Oklahoma. It might be doable if OU can ditch Okla State-but two teams in Oklahoma? If you don’t need two teams in Florida you sure don’t need two in Oklahoma. For that matter, I am not convinced the Pac 12 will take OU without Texas and I don’t think Texas will go.

Mizzou I suppose could happen eventually, but they really want to be in the Big 10. With all the chaos that seems likely to happen, they may get their chance. So it makes sense for them to hold out for what they really want.

There may be an outside shot for Maryland, which is well situated demographically. Culturally they are not a good fit, though, so I have trouble seeing it.

I see little chance for West Virginia, though it’s not a zero chance. What does WVU really bring to the table? Not much that I can see. They have a great sports tradition and I wish them well, but I just don’t think they will bring enough revenue.

Also with virtually no chance is FSU. I don’t think they will come, to begin with, as long as they have another alternative. And the SEC already owns Florida, TV-wise, so where is the upside? Clemson and Georgia Tech have zero chance. They don’t bring much additional revenue (in the case of Tech they would actually be a drag) and there is no chance UGA and USC would be stupid enough to allow their in-state rivals onto the SEC gravy train. Also zero: Louisville and East Carolina. These are marginal schools with virtually no following and no prestige.

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I hope they add A&M and Oklahoma, then shift Auburn and Alabama to the East division. Lots of natural rivalries would result.

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We should not care about the DC market. It is pro sports territory. There is little interest in college football in that region. They like college football. They just don’t love it like folks in the South, Texas and Ohio do.

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the logical thing to do is put Auburn in the East,and add A&M and Oaklahoma State to the west,But after all the tv contracts,24 hrs news and sports,and the coming super conferences,it is not about sports anymore just the money.At the end of this arms race college football will only be a shell of its once unique sport,the stadiums are already littered with corporate ads,will the teams look like nascars in the future,a moving billboard,anything for a dollar,what a shame

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[...] more of “Who’s next on the SEC’s expansion list? Here’s a scorecard” from [...]

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Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. If GT returned to the SEC the ACC is out of the Atlanta market .

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I would love to see Georgia Tech move back to the SEC.
It would be like the old days, it would be great.
GO JACKETS !

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None of the original ACC schools are interested in the SEC– period. UNC and Duke are dominant in BB, but average in FB. N. C. State has dominated both recently on the gridiron.

As for Baylor, the only reason the Big 12 let them tag along with the other powers was Ann Richards was the governor of Texas at the time, and a Baylor grad, and forced the league to take the Bears.

Virginia Tech offers little other than a good “in-conference” FB team. Their record outside the ACc against top teams is poor and their overall athletic program is sub-SEC standards. Their TV market is small.

The SEC needs a reality check if they think they will get a top team outside the Big 12 schools. They need eithe rTexas or Oklahoma to join– or let Texas A & M look elsewhere.

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It’s all about money guys, which is the reason that Tech & Miami
won’t get a serious look. Tech’s stadium is a perfect example of a
rambling wreck while Miami doesn’t draw enough to get a any kind
of a serious look. Tech also burned bridges back in the 60’s when
Bobby Dodd thumbed his nose at Ole Miss, Miss State, Kentucky
and Vanderbilt all of whom didn’t draw enough fans. The Virginia
legislature probably won’t let Va tech leave after all they went thru
to get them into the ACC. None of the Tobacco Road teams will
give up the bsketball rivalries which basically leaves Clemson and
Florida State, both of whom will more than pay their way in the
money sports of football & basketball, not to mention occasional
big years in baseball.

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Any consideration for Memphis? Still Tennessee but the other end.

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If the SEC does expand to 16 teams, there is no doubt that they should get GT, Clem, and FSU. Clem and FSU bring a huge football following with fans that travel well. GT brings a rich football tradition back to the SEC. All three schools are extremely competitive basketball (GT should improve without Blewitt). By doing this, the SEC would shore up the GA, FL, & SC recruiting.

East

UF FSU UGA CLEM USC GT KY AUB

West

AL TN VAN MISS MISS_ST AK TX_A&M LSU

Cross div Head to Head

AL-AUB
UF- LSU
UGA-TN
FSU-TX A&M
KY-VAN
CLEM- MISS MISS_ST or ARK
GT-MISS MISS_ST or ARK
USC-MISS MISS_ST or ARK

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Would love to have Clemson join the East.

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regarding Va Tech bringing the DC market. WVU brings that and more

Blacksburg to DC = 269 miles
Morgantown to DC = 209 miles

Also
Morgantown to Pittsburgh = 75
Morgantown to Baltimore = 210

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WfV fits right in with the rst of the inbreds in the SEC.

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Correction – I should have said “West Virginia is a southern Appalachian state” to be more specific. The culture of southern Appalachia is pretty much the same through WV, KY, TN, western NC.

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UCF. Not there yet, but they have the potential to be a big time program. Big school and great area. If not the SEC, then, if ACC loses team, UCF can slide in. They keep getting blocked from Big East by South Florida.

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The Sooners are “the most prestigious program in the history of college football”(ESPN). They get the superior athletes that would enhance the play of the SEC. Let’s entice them while we still have the chance!

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Reinstate Tulane in the SEC! Go Green Wave!

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Great website for GT leaving SEC

http://oversigning.com/testing/index.php/2010/02/14/why-did-georgia-tech-leave-the-sec/

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You are in SEC land, you are a SEC newspaper, please DO NOT ever refer to UNC as Carolina again. It’s insulting. They are NOT Carolina, they are not in the SEC and they are almost not even very southern. Sherman burned Atlanta and Columbia but he left Raliegh because he thought of North Carolina as being forced into a decision they didn’t want to make. Screw the entire state of North Carolina, and screw the SEC if they even consider inviting that POS university.

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i’ve noticed a few comments, and anyone who thinks Virginia is not southern is f-ing ignorant, also, VT is further south than UK, VT has a lot of out of state students, but im from VA and i didn’t ever experience yankee’s until i went to UT, which is in the sec, so come up with another arguement against them and visit the damn state(not including DC suburbs)

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SEC choices after Texas a&m…….
*Missouri
*Florida State
*Clemson
*West Virginia
*VTech

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I will make it a political issue for GT to join the SEC. I want the City of Atlanta to host a home SEC game every other week. It will be great revenue for the city and not just wait once a year for the SEC championship at the Dome. I support Tech in the SEC. Its putting a founding member back in the SEC and putting money in a city that needs revenue.

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@Mayor K. Reed – Wow! Great point!

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I agree with the Atlanta in the SEC idea, but i don’t think GT would be successful in the SEC with the offense there running now. I think they would have to open up the pass game. The reason i say this is in 2009 when GT was just so good running the football, Georgia, not a stellar SEC team that year, shut that 1 dimensional offense down. I think GT belongs but I’d like to see the playbook change.

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Hogwash,

The reason Georgia tek left The SEC was revenue sharing and a tackle of a Georgia tek player from a person on the sidelines not in the game but out of bounds, where Georgia tek got only a 15-yard penalty instead of the TD.

You guys, none of you know. You were not there. The whole entire reason why Bobby Dodd said what he said above, is because EVERYONE KNEW why. He can say it is something else all he wants. That he had to say it was a 140 rule and defend THAT as why, is because ALL OF US KNOW why Georgia tek left The SEC. Unless of course, you were not there.

Anyway, this is not a Georgia tek blog, and it is also hogwash that you want to REMAIN in the all cupcake conference. You want to stay in the ACC because The SEC will NEVER welcome you back. You complained to SEC officials about the call, when obviously there was nothing you could do about the 15-yard penalty because there is no rule that would award tek the TD you obviously would have had without the illegal tackle. You held The SEC responsible for that 15-yard penalty rule. Then, you complained about the Revenue Sharing and SAID you left over both these reasons and these 2 reasons only. I don’t need a URL link to a blog about what 2 generations later posters think might have been the reasons. A censored site at that, where they only post opinions that AGREE with their shallow, incorrect opinion of it now.

Anyway, you are on NCAA PROBATION back-to-back in FOOTBALL repeat offenders. Get lost, talking in here like someone gives 2 hoots about your lousy football program.

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The SEC needs to maintain its geographic integrity and establish a presence in every southeastern state. Going to West Virginia or Maryland, while leaving gaping holes in North Carolina and Virginia, would be ridiculous.

Since getting one of the North Carolina schools to leave the ACC would be politically difficult, if not impossible, take the path of least resistance. East Carolina, the state’s third biggest school, serves the same purpose.

So make East Carolina the 14th school in the SEC. Turn the eastern third of the state into solid SEC territority and finally give South Carolina a pseudo-rival in the league while screwing over the ACC teams in football.

The 15th spot can then go to Missouri, Oklahoma, or maybe even Baylor depending on whoever says yes first. Then come back to the east and put the 16th spot up for grabs between Virginia Tech, Louisville, and WVU.

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It is very clear to me that academics is a distant consideration for all of these “college” conference expansions. It is time to call a spade a spade. College Athletics is all about the mighty dollar and that is fine if that is the way they want to conduct business. However, why do we still allow them to get tax breaks for their money hungry moves that clearly have very little to do with higher education.

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Based on the bulldogs performance in the first 2 games Mark Richt has requested a moved to the Sun Belt Conference

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I think the best thing to do would be to add Clemson, Florida State, West Virgnia, and Virgina Tech, and move Tennessee and Vandy to the west. I don’t want a Texas school, or a midwestern school in the conerence, It ruins the hole purpose of regional conferences. The Big Ten should take Kansas, K State, Missouri, and Iowa State. SMU, Houston, and TCU should join the old Big 12 with all the Texas and Oklahoma schools in a kind of a revival of the Old South West Conference, minus Arkansas, as they would Stay in the SEC. The WAC should merge with the Mountain West, which could give them more depth, and a grea

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Dawgmatic, I believe Kentucky football upset South Carolina in football last year, who won the SEC East, but I do believe Kentucky basketball (if you hadn’t heard of it) reached the Final Four last season and has had back to back tournament games versus West Virginia, making a good rivalry. But I agree that it will probably be West Virginia, but I’d love to see the Hokies in action in the SEC

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just when you thought SEC academics couldn’t get worse…. people want to start talking about adding WVU. come on now…

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