🏈 SEC should go after A&M, FSU, Miami, and Ga Tech

['65 Cobra]

Here's the thing about the PAC-25 or whatever it is going to be; they are completely ignoring proximate inherent rivalries. The spread between Texas up to Washington is ridiculous. Look on a map at the spatial distributions; having Texas and Oklahoma schools in a "pacific coast" conference is absurd and the travel and lack of inherent rivalries is going to implode over time - just as the WAC did.

On the other hand, there are some natural synergies for the SEC that our conference should take advantage of while things are re-aligning. Texas is right next to LA and AR whereas it borders NONE of the PAC 10 school states. Further, College Station (and Austin for that matter) is on the east side of the state. I think A&M is a natural for the SEC. I also think FSU is a natural as well. But those two schools would do best in the SEC West. So to balance it out, we add Miami and Ga Tech to the East. These all make good geographical sense, they encourage proximate rivalries, and they keep the integrity of what a college conference is supposed to be - that is; at least be in adjoining states for cripes sakes! I mean the PAC 10 might as well try to recruit Notre Dame and Ohio State next!

 

[mhardiman]

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1lace><st1:City>Austin</st1:City>, <st1:State>Tx</st1:State></st1lace> to <st1lace><st1:City>Pullman</st1:City>, <st1:State>Wa</st1:State></st1lace> = 1,700 miles; I do agree with that but we have to gain new markets for expansion to make sense. A&M all the way; Mizzou too and (even though it won't happen) make an offer to the <st1:State><st1lace>Oklahoma</st1lace></st1:State> school's they can't refuse. That does several things; Bama and Auburn move to the east so our rivalry with UT is not be threaten and it will finally shut Auburn up about losing all there old rivalries after east/west div. started, and natural rivalries A&M-LSU, A&M-Arkansas and A&M-Oklahoma survive or reborn. The thought of Georgia Tech back in the conference will think goodness never happen; I myself am right there with Georgia fans with GT back in the SEC, they've had there fun in the sun they chose to leave it so now they can (and have been) pay for there consequences.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o></o>

 

[LBS]

TAMU and Oklahoma from an SEC perspective is doable, even referable, but word from the SEC has trickled out that Georgia Tech, FSU, Miami, and Clemson are neither. These schools don't "add to the pie" while further "dividing the pie".

Bama and Auburn to the East is also doable, but that requires 4 teams to be added to the west, to justify moving two to regain balance. Beyond TAMU and maybe Oklahoma, who is available?

TCU? LBS has no issue with that, although they do have a small enrollment and smallish stadium (the stadium could see some change as a result of moving from the Mountain West to the SEC).

Tulsa? Geographicly they are West and do aid Oklahoma TCU and TAMU by having another team closer than Columbia, South Carolina. But come on. We can't pull of 16 teams without the Mountain West and C-USA (at least I'm thinking Tulsa is in C-USA)?

 

['65 Cobra]

TAMU and Oklahoma from an SEC perspective is doable, even referable, but word from the SEC has trickled out that Georgia Tech, FSU, Miami, and Clemson are neither. These schools don't "add to the pie" while further "dividing the pie".

Bama and Auburn to the East is also doable, but that requires 4 teams to be added to the west, to justify moving two to regain balance. Beyond TAMU and maybe Oklahoma, who is available?

TCU? LBS has no issue with that, although they do have a small enrollment and smallish stadium (the stadium could see some change as a result of moving from the Mountain West to the SEC).

Tulsa? Geographicly they are West and do aid Oklahoma TCU and TAMU by having another team closer than Columbia, South Carolina. But come on. We can't pull of 16 teams without the Mountain West and C-USA (at least I'm thinking Tulsa is in C-USA)?

"Word from the SEC?" Id like to know more about the source. Aside from that, it doesn't look too promising for OU, otherwise I would be all about them and TAMU. I wouldn't mind TCU, but no thanks on the others.

I am not interested in expanding for expansion sake and taking on a bunch of MWC or CUSA teams with no lineage or prominence. At the same time, I don't agree with the PAC-10 approach of superconference-for-TV-revenues-sake and expanding into areas that don't even have neighboring states. It's ridiculous and I think it will implode as the WAC did eventually.

I like FSU because of its lineage and its natural rivalry proximity. Who cares about the Tallahassee TV market? If the SEC puts an excellent product on the field, the whole country will want to watch and TV revenues will be plenty. Miami is also a prominent program and it happens to have a large TV market to boot and those two schools could be split East and West. I understand the thinking about Ga. Tech, and frankly they weren't my first choice anyway. It would not be too difficult to fill in another Eastern Division spot among Clemson or one of the Carolinas.

As far as "doable" is concerned, remember that's what they were saying about Texas and Oklahoma going to the PAC-10 to begin with, so "never say never" takes on new meaning. Meanwhile, "officially" the PAC-10 has only gotten Colorado and Nebraska has gone to the Big 10. The Texas schools are meeting next week and I believe the OK schools as well, why not make some noise now and see what we can accomplish? The saddest part to me is Kansas; great basetball school with improving football. They deserve a BCS conference in my opinion.

 

[bamajt]

Personally would like to see aTm and Missouri to the west and VT, WVU/UVa or UNC and Duke to the east. Just what I like.

 

[LBS]

"Word from the SEC?" Id like to know more about the source. Aside from that, it doesn't look too promising for OU, otherwise I would be all about them and TAMU. I wouldn't mind TCU, but no thanks on the others.

I am not interested in expanding for expansion sake and taking on a bunch of MWC or CUSA teams with no lineage or prominence. At the same time, I don't agree with the PAC-10 approach of superconference-for-TV-revenues-sake and expanding into areas that don't even have neighboring states. It's ridiculous and I think it will implode as the WAC did eventually.

I like FSU because of its lineage and its natural rivalry proximity. Who cares about the Tallahassee TV market? If the SEC puts an excellent product on the field, the whole country will want to watch and TV revenues will be plenty. Miami is also a prominent program and it happens to have a large TV market to boot and those two schools could be split East and West. I understand the thinking about Ga. Tech, and frankly they weren't my first choice anyway. It would not be too difficult to fill in another Eastern Division spot among Clemson or one of the Carolinas.

As far as "doable" is concerned, remember that's what they were saying about Texas and Oklahoma going to the PAC-10 to begin with, so "never say never" takes on new meaning. Meanwhile, "officially" the PAC-10 has only gotten Colorado and Nebraska has gone to the Big 10. The Texas schools are meeting next week and I believe the OK schools as well, why not make some noise now and see what we can accomplish? The saddest part to me is Kansas; great basetball school with improving football. They deserve a BCS conference in my opinion.

If the source were ironclad, then you would not be hearing it from ol' LBS. You know how it is, you have "Well I heard..." and "This guy on another forum...", and we know its not one to bet the farm on. This is different that a known media type who reports "Two Officials with first-hand knowledge of the situation who asked that their identity not be reveals...", which is some degree more likely to be the case. If I recall, this was the case with the No FSU, Miami, GT,and Clemson story.

This is where the University of Memphis/FedEx story comes in. With $10 dollars and a foothold in eastern Tennessee, maybe the Big XII will shun the PAC-10. With a Tulsa or UTEP, they are back to 12; but that's just LBS' thinking there.

I'm with you about the "quality product" angle, but perhaps that's not the case afterall. I don't know. You see UNC, Wake, NC State, and Duke practically rooming together, and when they play those games draw national attention. One would think that a Bama vs. FSU or a Miami vs. LSU would trump a Texas Tech versus Cal.