SEC Expansion (Poll)

[JessN]

First of all, it's hard to do more than 12 teams because after you get finished playing the other 6 teams in your 7-team division at the 14-level, you've got two conference game slots to rotate the other 7 teams through. If you have one yearly out-of-division rival -- let's say Alabama retained UT as its annual game -- you'd only play the other 6 teams twice every 12 years. Either that, or drop UT from the yearly schedule.

The real consideration here is not who fits best geographically, but who fits best economically. Of the other teams in the Southeast, the only ones that fit are Florida State, Miami, Clemson, Georgia Tech and Louisville. With the exception of Louisville, all are already in a major Div-IA conference, and Louisville can make an argument for the Big East.

Of the teams that would "move up" from a lower conference, only Louisville and Memphis have the facilities and have demonstrated fan support in multiple sports. Southern Miss draws 25,000 on a good day. Tulane is a shell of its former self and the conference doesn't need another Vanderbilt hanging around (heck, Tulane dropped its marching band a few years ago and I'm not sure it's back).

Louisiana Tech has some of the worst football facilities I've ever seen. Georgia Southern would be coming from an entirely different division. UAB has no fans at all.

Then, you have the issue of whether the current schools would approve this team or that team. The Mississippi schools, LSU and Alabama would shoot down Southern Miss in a heartbeat. Their economic profile doesn't warrant them getting a shot in the first place, and why invite another recruiting competitor? Same for Tulane (LSU, MSU, Arkansas), LaTech (Arkansas, LSU), Memphis (Arkansas, OM, UT) or one of the directional Florida schools.

I suspect, eventually, you might see Baylor drop out of the Big 12 and Arkansas go take their place. At that time, you could add a replacement for Arkansas. Also, in a twist, at that point the SEC would go from being buyer to seller. Without 12 teams, by NCAA bylaw you cannot have a championship game. The SEC would be leveraged against that fact.

Georgia Tech, Clemson or Louisville would likely get the first call from the SEC office, as they have the fan support, facilities and endowments the SEC crave. As many have mentioned, the "fix" there is to move Vanderbilt to the SEC West (they're already further west than Auburn is) and put the new team in the SEC East.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I'd like to vote "neither" to state that I hope the conference doesn't move to 14 teams.

 

[ncbama]

None of the above.

 

[KrAzY3]

First of all, it's hard to do more than 12 teams because after you get finished playing the other 6 teams in your 7-team division at the 14-level, you've got two conference game slots to rotate the other 7 teams through. If you have one yearly out-of-division rival -- let's say Alabama retained UT as its annual game -- you'd only play the other 6 teams twice every 12 years. Either that, or drop UT from the yearly schedule.

I think the resolution is actually going to 16 teams. This would leave the SEC teams with only game outside their division. When aligning rivalries could be taken into account, but the out of division game could be static (there is already a static game) and to insure fairness they could do what the Mid-American did this year and make division champs based on divisional, not conference records. The advantages to this is that all SEC teams could keep their most important rivalry games, but we would be much less likely to see repeat meetings in the SEC championship game.

This would be a huge undertaking though, but if this were to happen I think the SEC would/could consider expanding their territory a bit. Perhaps into North Carolina, Virginia or Missouri (all adjacent to more than one SEC state). Logically expanding would need to increase exposure for the SEC, that's one reason doing something like adding UAB, Southern Miss or the like doesn't really make sense.

I think if the SEC went on the hunt, they could become the first "super conference" or what have you, 16 teams with a larger reach, more bowl tie-ins, bigger championship game and so on. In this case I think looking to the Big East for USF and Louisville and then a couple of Conference USA schools (Tulane... they'd come back with their tail between their legs and at least they have tradition) and Houston (why not? if nothing else it would add a big city to the SEC ranks and move a bit more westward). I think that would water down football yet at the same time add more rivalries and broaden the realm of influence for the SEC.

 

[dennychimes76]

None of the above :BigA:

 

[alatider]

Lord the SEC is tough enough, i'd want some cream puff teams. Lets add Duke, Tulane, teams like that.

I'm with you. With Petrino moving to Arkansas and Nutt at Ole Miss, this conference is too competitive. We are beating up on each other so bad that almost no one has a chance to be #1. Lsu, who as you know is playing for the NC, has 2 losses to SEC teams.

 

[CrimsonChuck]

I gotta go none of the above too. What would be the advantage of going to 14 teams?

 

[GrayTide]

My vote is cast with the caveat that any of the above is acceptable to me provided VANDERBILT is asked to pack up and get the hell out of the SEC. :cuss:.

 

[Purplepossum]

I would drop Arkansas, pick up Memphis.
Add a school from Texas (Houston, Texas A&M or SMU)
Add Cincinnati to the East.

 

[AlistarWills]

I think it makes no sense fiscally to add 2 more teams. That's 2 more teams you have to split bowl and TV revenues with. Without being able to add at least one more guaranteed bowl with a decent payout, you are just going to be funding some no name school's athletic budget at the expense of those who made this conference what it is.

 

[J.E.B. Stuart]

Lord the SEC is tough enough, i'd want some cream puff teams. Lets add Duke, Tulane, teams like that.

Cream puffs??? Then let's add Notre Dame and any one of the 11 Big 10 teams. Miami of Fla., SMU, Baylor, TCU.

But, I would rather add Georgia Tech. They were once in the SEC. Coach Bryant even tried to help them get back in.

 

[Kevin4Bama]

Where's "None of the Above?"

 

[Big_Fan]

My vote is cast with the caveat that any of the above is acceptable to me provided VANDERBILT is asked to pack up and get the hell out of the SEC. :cuss:.

You mean the 9-0 #20 basketball team in America, and flagship academic institution in our conference?

Seriously?

What a narrow minded view.

 

[rolltide_21]

If we were going to add teams, which I am not in favor of, I would want to add GT to east and Sou. Miss. to the West. They would be two more quality opponents. Also, I do like the idea of La. Tech being added so that LSU would have some competition in recruiting. They might be a better choice than SM.

Also, this is my first post, I just joined and am looking forward to visiting the board often.

 

[Delta Don]

If we were going to add teams, which I am not in favor of, I would want to add GT to east and Sou. Miss. to the West. They would be two more quality opponents. Also, I do like the idea of La. Tech being added so that LSU would have some competition in recruiting. They might be a better choice than SM.

Also, this is my first post, I just joined and am looking forward to visiting the board often.

Welcome rolltide21. This is a great board with plenty of information and comraderie to whet your Bama sports appetite. And better yet, it's free!! Roll Tide Roll!!!!

 

[CrimsonSnake]

None of the above. But wouldn't it have been interesting to have added Texas and aTm, or Florida State and Miami, back in 1992 rather than South Carolina and Arkansas? The opportunities were there, but they wouldn't join.

 

[bamanut_aj]

You mean the 9-0 #20 basketball team in America, and flagship academic institution in our conference?

Seriously?

What a narrow minded view.

Speaking of narrow minded, they are #20 THIS year. They are good once in a while in basketball. They made the tourney last year, but had a dry spell before that, before that they had a small run. They are no better or worse in basketball than most of the league. If we're counting on vandy to hold up the conference academically, then the conference is in trouble.

In your opinion, what is the advantage of keeping vandy in, besides that they apparently keep the conference out of academic hot water?

 

[MasterShake]

I can't vote in this poll. It makes no sense to expand the SEC and add these little tiny directional baby schools.

 

[banjeaux]

You should have added a "none of the above" option for us realists.

Ditteaux!

 

[rolltideas]

Birmingham Southern and Milsaps