Toggle sidebar

Question: SEC expansion, conference alignment?

GrandBayTider

GrandBayTider

All-SEC
Nov 21, 2004
1,813
0
0
57
Prattville, AL
With the projection of UT/Tx A&M going to the PAC 10/16, it seems the SEC will have to raid the ACC if it is going to expand to 16 teams. Say they add teams like Va/Va Tech/Duke/UNC or FSU/GT/Clemson/Miami to the conference. It would seem these teams would fit into the Eastern division of the conference but someone would have to move to the West to balance it back out right? Looking at current members, who would that be?
 
Without the ACC in danger of collapsing from defection the way the Big XII did, I don't see why any ACC members that would help the SEC would want to leave.
 
I think the SEC should go after Duke and Carolina for basketball purposes. Then go after 2 of these for football.....Clemson, FSU, Miami, VT, or UVA.
 
GrandBayTider said:
With the projection of UT/Tx A&M going to the PAC 10/16, it seems the SEC will have to raid the ACC if it is going to expand to 16 teams. Say they add teams like Va/Va Tech/Duke/UNC or FSU/GT/Clemson/Miami to the conference. It would seem these teams would fit into the Eastern division of the conference but someone would have to move to the West to balance it back out right? Looking at current members, who would that be?
Click to expand...

You could move Kentucky to the West. My thoughts are thought that if you add four teams, you need four divisions instead of only two. Here is my idea:

I don't know what you would name the divisions, but would break them down this way...

East Division 1:
-Georgia
-South Carolina
-Clemson
-FSU?

East Division 2:
-Florida
-Tennessee
-Vandy
-GT?

West Division 1:
-Arkansas
-LSU
-Va Tech?
-Ole Miss

West Division 2:
-Alabama
-Auburn
-Miss. St.
-Kentucky
 
Last edited:
BigGunn said:
I'd prefer Va Tech and N Carolina. Both to the east and have Kentucky move to the west. Great divisions.
Click to expand...

You can't get UNC without Duke, and the SEC isn't going to get either one. Those core ACC programs (Duke, UNC, UVA, UMD, etc...) take too much pride in basketball and lacrosse (yes, lacrosse is a big deal up there) to split up. Out of the ACC, I only see VT, Mia, FSU, GT, and Clemson as viable options.
 
i didn't even think about the other sports involved! So- with that in mind- how about VT, TCU, Clem, and Duke. Cutcliffe is doing a good job with there football team and we all know about their bball team....I think that it would be a big plus for us to add these 4.
 
rolltideface said:
i didn't even think about the other sports involved! So- with that in mind- how about VT, TCU, Clem, and Duke. Cutcliffe is doing a good job with there football team and we all know about their bball team....I think that it would be a big plus for us to add these 4.
Click to expand...

Again, Duke is not an option. No way they break up what they feel is the best rivalry ever. Basketball will keep together those core ACC teams.
 
I am starting to like the idea of just leaving the SEC the way it is.
12 teams is enough. Maybe we should wait and see how 16 teams will work fo these guys. Then the SEC could expand the right way.
 
Just wanted to point out, the question wasn't who would be nice to add, but rather what teams could end up in the West since the additions would most likely be added from the eastern part of the geographic region.
 
The only two teams mentioned that would not be a good fit in the SEC are Georgia Tech and Miami. Two college programs who cannot compete in their own hometowns with the professional teams in football, basketball, baseball, and hockey. Pro sports towns, not enough sports dollars to go around.
 
GrandBayTider said:
Just wanted to point out, the question wasn't who would be nice to add, but rather what teams could end up in the West since the additions would most likely be added from the eastern part of the geographic region.
Click to expand...

I hear ya...back on track. Assuming any new members are from the east, UGA, Vandy, and UK are obviously the best candidates to move to the west. However, the tricky part will be to keep those east/west rivalries intact that everyone loves so much. Of course, if UGA moved to the west, then they could play UF every year as their natural east rival and would play the barn every year b/c they are in the same division. LSU could play some other SEC team yearly instead.
 
CrimsonMapper said:
I hear ya...back on track. Assuming any new members are from the east, UGA, Vandy, and UK are obviously the best candidates to move to the west. However, the tricky part will be to keep those east/west rivalries intact that everyone loves so much. Of course, if UGA moved to the west, then they could play UF every year as their natural east rival and would play the barn every year b/c they are in the same division. LSU could play some other SEC team yearly instead.
Click to expand...

UK or UGA. Can't split up UT/ Vandy. I guess it would mean just one cross-conference team rotates every 2 years instead of 2 teams. I'm sure it would be worked out. I say lets worry about that IF we expand. I'm still in favor of don't fix what is not broken. I think if we wait 2 or 3 years, the SEC can still pick and choose any team we really want. Who wouldn't want more $$ from our conference?
 
I feel as though the SEC will raid Texas first.

Think aTm, TCU, Baylor or UH...

Otherwise huge missed opportunity there and I don't see Slive letting that pass by.
 
CrimsonMapper said:
You can't get UNC without Duke, and the SEC isn't going to get either one. Those core ACC programs (Duke, UNC, UVA, UMD, etc...) take too much pride in basketball and lacrosse (yes, lacrosse is a big deal up there) to split up. Out of the ACC, I only see VT, Mia, FSU, GT, and Clemson as viable options.
Click to expand...

According to a report in another thread on this board, Maryland is leaving to join the Big 10. I say we grab UNC and Duke.
 
tidepreacher said:
According to a report in another thread on this board, Maryland is leaving to join the Big 10. I say we grab UNC and Duke.
Click to expand...

Repeat after me. Conference expansion is centered around football. Unlike basketball, the conferences control the large majority of the media revenue generated from CFB. Football is as popular as it's ever been, and college basketball doesn't have nearly the star power it did 15 years ago. Basketball is receding while football advances.

No one gets all worked up thinking about the next big grid iron slugfest in Chapel Hill or Durham.
 
If we want to remain the top conference in CFB, go after the most tradition rich programs you can. The Big 10 now has:

OSU
Michigan
Penn St
Nebraska

...and possibly Notre Dame

The Pac 10 will soon have:

USC
Texas
Oklahoma
A&M

The SEC has:

Bama
Tennessee
Florida
LSU
Georgia

I don't know what other SEC teams have numerous national titles (Arkansas maybe?), but I think we might need to go after big teams to compete with the huge tv markets we could possibly be going up against...

I would pursue:

FSU
Miami
Va Tech

...and maybe WVU
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New Posts

Advertisement

Trending content

Advertisement

Latest threads

Top Bottom
Back