Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com has been paying attention to the growing rumors of Big 12 dissatisfaction (over Texas’ Longhorn Network) and the potential move to the SEC that Texas A&M might want to make as a result. According to Dodd, Mike Slive has been paying attention, too, though he has no immediate plans of extending an invite to the Aggies.
“After last year, and the way in which it unfolded, prompted me to say we’re really comfortable (with 12 teams) unless there’s a paradigm shift,” Slive told Dodd. “Now things have settled down. At the same time, one of my responsibilities is to do what’s in the long-term best interests of the SEC.”
If that means expanding the conference, it sounds like Slive is confident there will be no shortage of schools willing to join the nation’s top athletic league.
“I could get to 16 (teams) in 15 minutes,” Slive said (“semi-boastfully” according to Dodd).
i think leave the east and west the way they are. but if you add any more teams. these are the teams that i think that should be added. for the east i think you could had unc,nc state, clemson, ga tech, fsu,miami,south florida. for the west i think you could louisville,missouri,ou,ok state,a&m. but i would only had one team to each side. play 6 games in div 2 from the other. then play at least one other team from a bcs conf for a non conf game and three give me games.
I say dump Vanderbilt and add Texas A&M. Move Auburn to the East since they have traditionally play Georgia and could play Alabama annually as a rival. The reality of 14 and 16 team leagues is that unless you go to a POD system of 4 x 4 school groups, you will simply have too many strong teams beating each other up. I don't think the money is going to be that much more in a 16 or 14 team league versus 12. As we see major universities going for the $ a la the Longhorn Network, you may see big time football schools like Texas, OU, VT, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, LSU etc look at becoming independents. With enough indy schools (including ND, BYU, service academies etc), you could see a loose association of major schools where they play and indy schedule. The leverage would be where they team up on a TV deal that allows them to play patsies at the beginning of the year and rivals at the end of the year. In between would be monumental matchups that would drive huge TV deals. Having enough indy schools in a pool would allow teams to have an easier time schedule non-revenue sports.
Sam,
how many conference games? With 14 you could play 9 conference games, 1 quality OOC, and then play your pay check teams.
3 x 6 = 18 TEAMS
West, Central, & East Divisions
3 division champs & the Wildcard (highest ranked BCS) for two play-in games to the SECCG OR, or just let the highest ranked div champ play the winner of a match-up of the other two.
Does several things, 1, changes the paradigm - 3 divisions in the biggest, baddest league. Adding teams from NC, Texas, OK, Va, expands geography from DC to Old Mexico, and about 1/3rd of the country. Add some strong basketball programs to the mix and the SEC Basketball becomes must-watch TV.
Imagine what such a league could do with TV. Maybe it's own network, maybe just zillion dollar contracts with ESPN. Either way, brings mucho mucho mula to the coffers.
I would love to see 16 teams. We would then get rid of Buffalo and the other gimmies that are no fun to watch.
I was told today that Tim Brando on ESPN said there were discussions with Texas A & M, OU, OSU and MO to move to the SEC. I've been watching ESPN since I heard that and haven't seen anything about it. I hope it happens.
move Vandy to the West, add two ACC schools... any of the NC schools adds an additional state into the market
any additional states would no longer be in the southeast
Va Tech, UVA, OU and TA&M are the 4 to add....that brings the whole DC market into the fold.
TX A&M, Missouri, West Virginia and Maryland would add 4 new states, and make pretty good sense geographically.
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[...] Slive: "I could get to 16 in 15 minutes." Today was SEC media day. There were some interesting comments, but this one probably stood out the most to me. Apparently Mike Slive believes there is an abundance of teams that would be willing to join the SEC at the drop of a hat. I know OU and A&M have been thrown out there as teams that would jump to the SEC, but I haven't heard specifics on other teams. Florida State, South Florida, or Miami maybe? Any of the North Carolina schools (if the SEC simply added the Tobacco Road 4, the conference would make huge strides on the basketball court and in the classroom)? Or is Slive just dropping an arrogant sound-bite that isn't based in a fair perception of reality? Alabama | MrSEC.com [...]
[...] 1. Slive: “I Could Get To 16 (Teams) In 15 Minutes.” [...]