More Expansion Rumors, Reports And Reaction

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1.  Florida State president Eric Barron says he has not had any talks about Florida State leaving the ACC for the SEC.

2.  Virginia Tech athletic director Jim Weaver says that the Hokies “always wanted to be in the Atlantic Coast Conference” and that he thinks “that’s where we’re going to stay.”  The governor of Virginia forced the University of Virginia to welcome Tech into the ACC just a few years ago.  We’ve said that it’s doubtful the Hokies would jump again so soon.  (Interestingly, Tech’s AD cited travel in the SEC as a concern calling the ACC a “bus league.”  Not sure how often he buses to Miami or Boston College, but okey-dokey.)

3.  Tony Barnhart of CBSSports.com writes that he believes Mike Slive would still prefer to avoid expansion… but he’ll be ready to make a move if he thinks it would be in the SEC’s best interest.

4.  The Texas legislature has called a meeting for next week to discuss “matters pertaining to high education, including collegiate athletics.”  Translation: What’s up with Texas A&M?

5.  The SEC’s commissioner will be invited to attend the Texas legislature’s meeting.  Here’s guessing he won’t attend.  According to Dan Branch, R-Dallas, the legislature wants to know if an A&M move to the SEC would be good for the Aggies… and if such a move might hurt Texas, Baylor and Texas Tech.

6.  And that’s why one Texas A&M official said today that he believes Houston would be a viable candidate to replace the Aggies in the Big 12.  In other words, you guys take Houston and let us be on our way.

7.  Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe has told A&M officials that Texas is the school that holds the key to the league’s future, not A&M.  (That should help A&M’s case in the legislature… if it comes to that.) 

8.  NC State AD Debbie Yow put out a note this morning reading: “State is a founding member of the ACC.  Our goal continues to be to do our part to strengthen the ACC.”  Good to know.  Of course, that’s the equivalent of me putting out a press release to announce I’m not in the running for the head coaching job of the Orlando Magic.  Sorry, Wolfpack, you would bring nothing to the SEC and the SEC knows it.