Big East Talks Expansion; All SEC Eyes On Missouri

October 3rd, 2011 11:13 AM║ Posted By: John Pennington ║ Permalink ║ Schools: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Tags: ACC, Big East, ECU, SEC

Expansion is once again making headlines on this Monday morning and here’s a bit of what’s out there in the ether today:

1. The Big East’s 14 remaining presidents (football schools, basketball schools and member-to-be TCU) have given Commissioner John Marinatto the go-ahead to “aggressively pursue discussions” with interested schools.

ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that a source told him the possible expansion targets discussed during a Sunday meeting of league presidents were: Navy, Army, Air Force, Temple, Central Florida and SMU.

Not mentioned by Katz: East Carolina.

We have nothing against ECU and would be happy to cover them should they get an SEC invitation. But that’s just not going to happen. ECU has already applied for membership in the Big East yet they don’t appear to be on top of the league’s wish list… even though the Big East appears to be willing to add just about any school other school in the nation in order to stay alive.

We’ve seen and posted the “Undaunted” video on our site. Judging by the number of people who’ve watched it and fully gulped down its message, you’d think it was produced by Leni Riefensthal. But while AD Terry Holland definitely puts ECU’s best foot forward, his school doesn’t have very much chance at all of landing an SEC bid.

Expansion is partly about “status.” Adding a school that the on-life-support Big East isn’t rushing to grab wouldn’t exactly be the equivalent of Mike Slive parking another BMW in the SEC’s garage.

2. Katz also reports that UConn still wants to move to the ACC, but Huskies officials believe that league is slowing on the expansion front. ACC commish John Swofford has said that he’s not opposed to the idea of a 16-team league, but it’s believed he’d like to nab Notre Dame at #15 before inviting UConn for the conference’s 16th slot.

3. Looks as though the rumor about West Virginia having 48 hours to join the Big 12 or else was pure bunk. That’s why — despite having it emailed to us 40 times last week — we never posted the rumor that initially began on a Cincinnati Bearcats blog.

Missouri’s board of curators is scheduled to meet tomorrow. No wise school president would take his team into the Big 12 without assurances that that league is totally stable. That will require a firm “we’re in” from Mizzou.

Knowing that, if the Big 12 is out offering invitations right now, it’s highly doubtful that it’s in any position to be making ultimatums of any kind to any school.

4. Speaking of Mizzou, it’s expected that the school will make an announcement tomorrow either stating that MU is a proud member of the Big 12… or that the board has empowered chancellor Brady Deaton to explore realignment options. In fact, one Big 12 official told The Kansas City Star yesterday that he expects Mizzou to announce that Deaton has been given the power to look around.

That’s a toughie, of course, because Deaton — in a ridiculous conflict of interest — is currently serving as the chairman of the Big 12′s board of directors.

Granting Deaton the power to look around would be a stall tactic for Mizzou. It would allow Missouri to wait and see if the Big 12 can work out its revenue-sharing plan and the hubbub surrounding the Longhorn Network before making a final choice.

Big 12 presidents met yesterday to discuss league stability.

Bottom line: Missouri might make some type of announcement tomorrow, but there’s no guarantee that announcement will bring this round of SEC expansion to a quick conclusion.

« Report: UF’s Brantley To Miss LSU Game

UGA’s Sack-Leader Will Miss 2 Games Due To DUI »

52 comments

Newest | Oldest

DonK

The most logical choice for the SEC is East Carolina. North Carolina is the 9th largest state in terms of population. The SEC currently has no presence there and ECU would almost instantly become THE FOOTBALL program in NC with SEC affiliation. ECU consistantly brings more bowlgame viewership than most of th ACC schools in the state now. With ECU the SEC would shatter the dominance the ACC has tried to maintain over the NC market. Any of the following games ECU/FLA, ECU/GA, ECU/SC, ECU/TENN, ECU/ALA, ECU/AUB viewership would blow away any ACC game of the week including UNC/NCSU. The acc schools in NC would be forever relegated to 2nd teer status as the SEC would help bring the best recruits to ECU.

Eric S.

I see a lot of talk about ECU, and many have seen Undaunted, yet still act like ECU brings nothing to the table. This is sports we're talking about, correct?? Undaunted debunks a lot of the TV market myths and stereotypes that are thrown around regarding ECU that are commonly used by our ACC neighbors in the state in an attempt to marginalize us and to promote their "superiority", but blows up in their face when they lose to us on the athletic field or in academic competition. If I had one issue with the Undaunted video, it would be the fact that it did not mention the Norfolk/Richmond, VA markets as a large contingent of ECU alumni come from those markets and the local media in those areas regularly cover ECU as it is the closest FBS school to Norfolk, VA at 107 miles.

Eric S.

And if we're talking about sports, the only true knock ECU has historically is men's basketball, which also reached the post season in 2011. ECU football has won 2 of the last 3 CUSA championships and woman's basketball has competed for the tournament championship and made it to the NCAA tournament in recent years. The baseball team is a perennial particpant in NCAA regionals and the occasional super-regional. In Spring 2011, ECU was 1 of 14 schools in the country to have all spring sports make the NCAA post season and was the only non-AQ school to accomplish this feat.
http://www.ecupirates.com/genrel/060211aaa.html

If this were all about sports, then ECU would be the only candidate hands down. All these other schools that are in the conversation can barely average 40k fans or less in stadiums that exist in "large markets". Seems like none of those "large markets" care about the schools that exist in them.

Michael S

Put SMU in the SEC. It's just like Vanderbilt except: SMU wins, SMU is in a better TV market, SMU is in a better recruiting area, SMU is far richer, SMU is as good academically (better business and engineering schools), SMU has better non-football sports; so let SMU in and if necessary kick Vandy out.

SEC Honk

East Division:
Alabama
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee

West Division:
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Mizzou
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt

Christopher Bare

And LSU is your West Division champion every year for the next 100 years. That ain't going to happen. Alabama will never be put in the East.

andshar

SEC representatives have admitted they are looking for a 14th member. Mizzou seems to be at the top of their wish list and I expect them to accept. If they don't, Maryland makes the most sense as the next choice. They fit the SEC mold and have good viewership. If the SEC were only interested in quality football, they would take FSU but Florida doesn't want FSU in the SEC. This is all about money people, not about the quality of football a college plays, the fans that attend games or logical geography. TV pays the money and cares about viewship-period. I believe FSU could end up in the Big "12". They're stuck in a primarily basketball and academic conference. They crave the SEC but probably won't get in. The only alternative primarily football conference for them is the Big 12. If FSU leaves the ACC, others could follow them to the Big 12 such as Clemson, Miami and/or GT. If that happens, the ACC will quickly accept more Big East football schools such as Louisville, Cinncinati, WVU, Rutgers. The Big East will be left as a non-football conference. I think we're still in the early stages of the realignment carousel.

Christopher Bare

Why in God's name would any ACC team want to go to the Big XII, a league that comes close to collapsing every summer and has to deal with The Longhorn Problem?

andshar

You have to follow the money. If the Big 12 can expand and get some widely watched colleges like FSU, they can keep their big TV deal. The ACC is a marginal football conference and will not get the TV money that the SEC, Big 10, PAC 12 and current Big 12 get. FSU wants to be in the SEC for the money (and of course a better geographic fit than the Big 12). If it was just about football, they'd be satisfied where they are which reports suggest they are not. It is reported that FSU and Maryland blocked a much larger increase to the ACC exit fee. The fee is now about 20 million which FSU and Maryland can afford if the right suitor comes knocking. The Big 12 is the only reasonable alternative to the SEC that can show FSU the money.

Jack Edwards

By the way, when did Missouri or West Virginia become a Southern State?

NorthCarolinaACC

The great state of North Carolina lost more men than any southern state during the War Between the States-----Look it up!! The only true southern states are the ones that left the union-------North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas!!! NOT---Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland or Delaware!! They stayed in the union!! West Virginia broke away from beautiful Virginia to create its own state!!!

Red Thompson

Please, West Virginia is a southern state in the many ways. Let me count them off: Legal set up, county structure being the main source of government, rural state: kind of like Arkansas, large consolidated high schools in 33 of the 55 counties. Also, West Virginia shares a love a southern food, hunting, outdoor sports and country music along with a host of other traditions. Go to Clarksburg or below and tell me WV is not a southern state. Plus there are over 100,000 people in the state that receive Washington DC television, the fastest growing part of the state, and 200,000 on the Pittsburgh channels. Once again, SEC Bring on the Mountaineers

Don Corwin

http://2ndmocavcsa.tripod.com/id14.htm

Jeff Elsworth

The state of Missouri sent more men to the Confederate Army than the great state of Tennessee did. Excluding Texas what state had more famous rebel outlaws than Missouri? Does Alabama have Frank and Jesse James? The Outlaw Jose Wales (Bill Wilson, look it up) The answer is no. St. Louis is more like Nashville than Chicago. Kansas City is like a western city (Denver). The rest of Missouri is rural. Full of country folk who love greasy food and sweet tea.

Jack Edwards

Well, why not East Carolina to the SEC then? East Carolina would bring the North Carolina market if it is included to the SEC and it definitely matches the culture of the SEC. I feel quite sorry for ECU having to try to fit in with the likes of Saint John's and Villanova so it's football team doesn't have to play in front of 2,500 fans at Rice. Many people would be shocked to discover that in the early 90s right when Virginia Tech was jumping from the independent ranks and into the Big East, ECU actually had the better football program. ECU held a 4-3 series lead at that point and had won two years in a row over the Hokies and was coming off of top ten finish when VT got the invite to the Big East.

If ECU had gotten the big break that the Hokies did back then it would be hard to argue that ECU wouldn’t be in a comparable position to where the Hokies are now. Like Greenville, Blacksburg isn’t exactly a booming metropolis. Like Virginia Tech, ECU is a football first institution with a passionate fan base. Do you not think if East Carolina couldn't have gotten Mike Vick if ECU had the SEC badge on it's chest? ECU is the second largest state school in what is projected to be the sixth largest state in less than 20 years. Ask Dave Hart, the A.D. at Tennessee, and I would bet he would tell you that if ECU was included in the SEC that it would awake a sleeping football giant in North Carolina. ECU equals VT if it is included in the SEC, and without a doubt, VT would be the most logical choice if the SEC expanded to 14 teams.

JarrenBlake

The issue with ECU is the perception that it would bring upon the SEC. That they could not do any better than ECU and that no one else wanted in. Granted I do think ECU has some sleeper potential, but most would feel that they should go to the Big East or such till they prove themselves more so on the football field while bettering their academic profile. There are positives to the school, I get it. Great Market, High population state, They fill a 50 k stadium which they are expanding, have been competitive within their conference and have upset a few of the AQ schools on the field. I get all that. But the SEC will not allow its perception to take a hit by inviting ECU. They will go against their no pirating rule before that happens.

Jack Edwards

I agree with you that ECU's academic profile should be the SEC's greatest concern. How good was South Carolina's football reputation when it was admitted to the SEC though? ECU still hold a series lead over USC since they were admitted and they have played more than few times since then too (no disrespect to the great program USC is now). Do you not think that there were top Big East Executives at the game to see the great football environment in Greenville last weekend? I would wager you a great deal that there were. Perhaps people in New York might look down on the SEC if ECU was included in the SEC but it is still the best fit next to Virginia Tech for the conference. Have you ever met anyone from Missouri that told you that they were from the South, by the way?

Jack Bird

The first problem in all this is finding a school that WANTS to be in the SEC. If MIzzou says no, what is the next step for the SEC? Do they wait for someone to call? What if that never happens? You've got West Virginia who obviously wants in. Yet if they go to the Big 12, they wont leave that conference. So we can come up with list of the best "fit" or we can do a list of schools that want in the SEC. And pick from that list. That's just reality.

truth seeker

The Big East doesn't offer ECU because it doesn't bring the league anything that it needs. LOL to posters who make comments as though if the BE doesn't add ECU its the end of the league. ECU would do absolutely nothing for the Big East.

Does it offer a significant market or interest for television? No. Small market in Greenville. ECU's games against good BCS teams aren't even on national tv very often the last several years. Not a widely recognized program or one that is going to draw alot of viewers.

Is it a "power". No. ECU isn't even a winning program over the past decade. Last year and this year so far they aren't a winning program. How exactly then would ECU football save the Big East when they aren't even winning many games?

They don't fit geographically, academically, have no rivals in the league, Big East schools don't recruit North Carolina--what exactly would ECU bring to the Big East or ANY BCS league for that matter. ECU must be added or Big East football is dead. Yeah right.

HoustonVol

Truth Seeker, What other schools could the Big East add that can fill a 50k seat stadium? Temple, Marshall, Memphis, UCF, UMASS, SMU, UH. There are not a lot of choices out there and none of them are a geographic fit. There are no schools that the Big East can add that will allow them to keep their AQ status in the next evaluation period. That is why you are going to see L'ville, and WVU jump to the B12 if given a chance. WVU is hoping that Mizzou turns down the SEC, because outside of a team leaving the ACC (which is not likely to happen due to academics), the next best choices are WVU, L'ville and then ECU, unless you are willing to add Rutgers or UConn.

UofA72

That brings up a good question. When is the next evaluation period?

If it's soon, the pressure may be on to grab available decent schools while things are shaking. At least for some of the conferences that seem to be getting weaker. A real dog fight may be looming.

Rex Greer

Not sure I understand the Big East's snub of ECU. That school has a rabid football following. 50,000 plus at home games and they travel well. Maryland, UConn, Rutgers, UVA, TCU, Navy, don't draw that many fans. More importantly, Big East and SEC do not have as signficant a TV presence in the state of North Carolina as they could have. ECU would fix that. Temple? Really? Didn't the Big East jettisonTemple a few years back due to lack of fan support? 5,000 people showing up to games? Air Force in the Big East? Along with TCU, a travel nightmare. Interesting to see if this all changes with WVU, UConn and TCU leave......this year or next.

James Hill

Florida State might leave the ACC. Mizzou might leave the Big 12. That's about all anyone can say right now.

Jamie Thornton

Interesting. I wonder. If you're the SEC, do you go all out and get FSU, MIssouri, and WVU? Knowing you could probably get all 3 schools and be set for the rest of history? Just a thought.

Mama Nudos

It's Florida State, guys. Forget the buyout. Missouri has a one too, plus legal hassles.

ACC reacted to what was going to happen. Connecticut knows what's going to happen next.

Duh.

love,
Mama Nudos

James Hill

Hi Mr SEC. Enjoy reading your stories. You have a good handle on the realignment issues. Nothing like back stabbing and Shakespearian tragedy to liven up the day! My background. I have a son at USC, so am now a fairly rabid Trojan and PAC 12 fan. I also used to go to Terrapin games with my parents when Lefty was the coach, so am also a Terrapin fan. Thought highly of Gary Williams. Mark Turgeon may do well there. I have a hard time imagining the Terps moving to the SEC. They were a founding member of the ACC, are a great academic school, and fit in very well to the basketball tradition of the ACC. However, I could easily picture them going to the Big 10, and would support that idea. They would fit in well with the great academic traditions of the Big 10, and the basketball program would integrate well there. Getting out from under the shadow of Duke and UNC would be a plus for the basketball program. It's tough playing second fiddle - ask the Aggies! Maryland would be a big economic plus to any conference. They have a lot of very enthusiastic fans, especially of basketball, and are in a very large TV market. Interested in your thoughts.

johnmrsec

James Hill...

I agree that Maryland would be a good "get" for any league. Media markets are a plus for commissioners, academics are a plus for presidents. But I don't see Maryland leaving the ACC for the SEC. The ACC is a better fit -- basketball-first, better academics.

In talking to people around the SEC, I have not heard much talk about the Terrapins and that leads me to believe they're not viewed as a real possibility.

Thanks for reading,
John

James Hill

Keep up the good work commenting on the SEC. The Trojans need a LSU or Alabama defense! Matt Barkley was on fire on Saturday, and with Woods and Lee as receivers all look like future NFL stars, but the defense is sadly very porous. Any comment on the PAC 12?

johnmrsec

James Hill...

With the scholarship reductions coming for USC, be patient.

John

IMO

How about Boise State joining the AQ Big East with a Football membership only. It only means 4 BE teams traveling to Boise per year.

Ben

I would like to see Boise State joing the Big East.

AllTideUp

I thought Brady Deaton was removed as chairman on the Big 12 committee? Or was that just the expansion committee?

johnmrsec

AllTideUp...

Deaton came out and said reports that he was stepping down as chairman of the board of directors were false. He's still the chairman.

Thanks for reading,
John

bob rogers

bye bye...it's been fun :)

Ben

Can anyone confirm or deny the new rumor that WVU will be joining the ranks of the SEC. I have been able to find it on a few websites but nothing creditable.

Bubba Gump

john,

If you were Mike Slive and you could take only 1 school to add to the SEC, and your only choices were Maryland and Missouri, who would you pick? Why?

I ask as the FSU president said it was 3 schools that limited the exit fee to 20 Million and 2 were actually identified (Florida State and Maryland).

We keep discussing Missouri and Florida State, but keep forgetting Maryland is still out there.

johnmrsec

Bubba Gump...

We're going to wait to see how our expansion series plays out before making that call. Maryland offers more eyeballs than Missouri in terms of nearby television markets, but Missouri would likely be the better cultural fit. Maryland would not be considered a football school while Missouri could be.

On the other hand, Maryland won a national title in basketball in the past decade. They would certainly help the league's hoops reputation. In addition, grabbing a school to the East would make for an easier divisional split and would not require any existing SEC members to switch divisions.

We'll finish up our series, tally up the numbers and then get back to you.

Many thanks for reading the site,
John

Bubba Gump

Maryland won a MNC in football in 1953 beating Missouri, Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina, Miami (FL), South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama. 1-0 vs B12, 3-0 vs ACC, and 4-0 vs the SEC. They were crowned by both the AP and UPI in the polls.

Maryland should have a MNC for 1951 when they went undefeated while beating Georgia, North Carolina, LSU, Missouri, Navy, NC State, and West Virginia before beating #1 Tennessee in the Sugar Bowl 28 - 13. Tennessee was given the MNC because the final poll was done before the Sugar Bowl. 1-0 vs B12, 1-0 vs IND, 1-0 vs BE, 2-0 vs ACC, 3-0 vs SEC.

Bear Bryant started his coaching career there, and under Jack Tatum the Terps went 73 - 15 - 4. They rank 3rd in the ACC for football championships (9) behind only Clemson (13) and Florida State (12). They went to the Orange Bowl in 2002 (BCS bowl appearance in the past decade), and bowl appearances in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 (70% in a decade). Granted Maryland had some leans years between Bobby Ross and Ralph Friedgen, but that looks more like a football history than Missouri has.

The Tigers have no MNC's and only 1 Big 8 conference title, so while I respect the job Pinkel has done, I am not sure I would say Missouri has the better football history. I can wonder tho with Pinkel's roots in B1G country (born in Akron, played at Kent State, and coached Toledo) if he would move on to a B1G school if the price was right. Nebraska is already in the B1G, and Kansas to the SEC seems a long shot at best, so if Missouri goes to the SEC I would doubt Pinkel stays at Missouri where he is going to battle Kentucky (current Tiger roster shows only TWO kids from Arkansas, and NONE from Tennessee or Kentucky) for the "scraps" of SEC recruiting. The Tigers recruit Texas and Illinois after Missouri, so a move to the SEC will cost recruits in IL and TX.

Kevin

I don't see how having two national championships and being known as QB U through the 70's and 80's is not football tradition?
MD has great football and basketball tradition. The issue is, RIGHT now. Missouri is in better shape than MD in football.

That being said no way does MD go to the SEC, it is a football first conference and MD is a basketball first school and no way are we going to trade that instead of playing Duke and UNC twice a year in BBall.

Not to mention the academic hit MD would take going to SEC.

Take Missouri.

JarrenBlake

Another point to note is how that lady feels about you. Both Mizzou and Maryland have something in common, they are both eyeballing possible B1G invites down the road. Thats the most likely reason MD fought to keep the exit fees low. However unlike Mizzou its conference is not coming apart, meaning that there is no threat that will force it to ponder fleeing for stability. So MD can take its time and wait for a B1G invite that may, or may not, ever arrive. If not then they will be fine staying in the ACC.

Mizzou would do the same with the Big12, except the conference is on shaky ground and they are pondering the need for stability now against waiting for a B1G invite that may never come leaving them stranded.

So its almost impossible to compare the two as they are different situations and have different stances towards an SEC invite.

johnmrsec

Bubba Gump...

Love the reference to Tulip Mania. I agree with you. I think the SEC -- at this point -- is very much okay with sitting at 13 for a year. But I doubt any of the schools want to stay at 13 for more than a year. So if Missouri -- a good business choice -- wants in, they'll let 'em in. If they don't, I don't think there will be a rush.

The trouble is the SEC has to know how to play chicken. If they're cool and everyone else panics they could watch some potential matches land elsewhere. That's the only danger in being too prudent.

John

AllTideUp

I don't think Mizzou's recruiting will suffer at all in the SEC. It will more than likely improve. They will still have a Texas connection in A&M and will probably be on national TV far more often which will get you in front of more recruits at large. A poll was taken of the Mizzou recruits in Texas recently and they were unanimous in their approval for an SEC move.

In addition, they will be playing all of their games in SEC states which are much more rich in talent than the Midwestern states. I don't know if Mizzou has a big recruiting base in Illinois or not, but I don't see why they would lose those guys. They aren't in the same conference with a school form Illinois as it is and it's not like they would be picking up and moving out of the state. They will be as close to those Illinois players as they ever were. In fact, it may help them with those players as well. If one is willing to go to Mizzou at all would you rather go to a Mizzou team in the SEC or the watered down Big 12?

Bubba Gump

John,

To keep with your potential wife model, both MU and MD may have the "fat bomb" go off after you walk down the aisle ;) I am just tired of the "we must do it today" and the "sunshine pumpers" forcing a quick decision on a long term situation. Too many of the current "weddings" have a shotgun feeling to them. If I was Slive, I would issue a moratorium for at least 6 months to work with less clutter when the decision gets made.

In short, I would much rather the SEC hold at 13 and wait for the right partner, than jump right now at #14 because it is todays flavor. Like Delany or hate him, his last 2 adds were Penn State and Nebraska. Both were top brands, and both are in the Top 10 or so every year in the NCAA in live attendance numbers. I think TAMU is a great get for the SEC, but following it up with MU or MD seems like failure when UT, OU, FSU, VT, ND, and UNC would be better in that #14 slot. When folks start telling telling me MD (culture), MU (culture), WVU (academics + population) are the best the SEC can do for #14 I just start thinking of Dutch tulips ;)

The one upside of an eastern add is the ability to not move any teams east or west from where they are now. I know you mention availability, but better to wait for a great school than fill the slot with an average one.

johnmrsec

Bubba Gump...

The point of this exercise is to show what the factors are in expansion -- as I've been told by numerous sources -- while also showing that there is no exact formula. Sure, we'll play around and get some results from our study, but those will only point us in a direction. We'll draw a number of conclusions from them. All those other factors we're looking at play a role.

Let's say you could marry one of two women. One is more attractive than the other. Do you marry her?

Or do you also factor in the fact that the other woman has millions of dollars to her name, a fantastic sense of humor, a love of sports, etc, etc?

Media will play a big role, but it's not the only factor. If market size were the only issue, the SEC should try to grab Rutgers and own a piece -- however small -- of the country's #1 market.

We all want this to be simple: "It's just about money." "It's just about football." "Academics don't have anything to do with it." Etc, etc.

But I've not talked to a single person in television, in the media rights business or at the school or conference level who's said simply, "It's all about X." Instead, I've heard from people who all come back with multiple issues... the most commonly mentioned we've worked into our series.

Finally, everything also depends on availability. Missouri has some folks who are interested in the SEC at the board of curators level. I've been told Florida State has some interested people in its administration, too. I've never heard a peep about Maryland pursuing an SEC bid.

Hope that clears up my take.

Thanks again,
John

Bubba Gump

John,

Because I am trying to get a feel for how you (personally) value eyeballs in the equation?

Neither has great football history
Neither has great football attendance - 55K - 65K for either school is not great
Both are AAU schools
Both are single state schools
Both compete with pro teams

We are getting bombarded by many Missouri fans who suddenly are acting like OMG SEC BFF !!!! But they really do not have the feel of an SEC fan (to be fair I doubt MD fits the SEC fan profile either). Loftin said it was a "100 year decision" and TAMU and SEC teams are like peas in a pod. With Missouri or Maryland you are really only asking about who offers the best media values. TAMU was a person running to the SEC, but Missouri and Maryland seem like people running away from their current lot in life. I may be old fashioned, but I want schools that historically want to be part of the SEC. If the Terps were not tired of UNC, or the Tigers were not tired of UT, would they even be in the mix?

In asking the question I am bypassing the "culture" and "academic" window dressing and going straight to the real question of how much of the equation, in your opinion, will media be? In a battle of equals (as the Tigers and Terps appear to be) does media become the vast majority of the equation? For many schools all eight of your points may bear equal weighting, but between these schools #1 = TV + #4 = Recruiting may be 80% of the equation and #2 + #3 + #5 + #6 + #7 + #8 may only be 20% of the equation because they seem close enough not to matter.

If you pick the Terps you want the east coast for expansion
If you pick the Tigers you want the midwest for expansion

Just curious which one you think is more valuable to the SEC long term if these were your only 2 choices?

johnmrsec

Bubba Gump...

So why did you ask for my opinion?

John

MIZ_SEC

People don't watch games because of what happened fifty years ago. Pinkel has built Mizzou into a top 25 program, while Maryland just fired their coach.

HoustonVol

Mizzou to the East. It allows all of the core rivalries in the SEC to remain unchanged. Moving Auburn to the east will force Alabama to play two set cross divisional games a year in football. As a UT fan, I would love to play Auburn again every year, but not at the expense of either UT/Bama or Bama/Burn. I also don't want to go back to two set cross divisional games a year again. That would mean that the rotational game would only show up once a decade. Put Mizzou in the east, give them the set corss divisional game with Ark. This would allow them to play their three closest schools each year, and the four schools in the three border states each year.

Topwaterpig

If Mizzou comes, I think SEC is unlikely to go to 2 set inter-divisional games because that means the teams in the West would only see the other 5 East teams every 10 years, and vice versa. Guess they could go to a North/South division format and keep East teams except FL in the North, plus Ark and Mizzou and put West teams in the South plus FL and Aggies. Then Ark would end up in the same position, not having both "rivalry" games for the Boot against LSU and for the Southwest Classic against A&M. Plus North/South makes for looong cross country trips just to play in your division. They could also scoot both Bama and Auburn East and pull KY or Vandy West. But that may screw up "competitive balance." I think in the big scheme of things, they'd add Mizzou and Aggies to West, shift Auburn East and one set interdivisional game with the other 6 teams on a double rotation. For all of that, it would screw up one rivalry ... the Bama/TN game would no longer be every year. But everything else would be preserved -- competitive balance, geographic integrity, rivalries, etc.

Ray

If the BE expands and does not include ECU then football is not their goal and in time all their remaining football schools will leave as soon as an alternative avails itself.

Trackbacks

amazon book discount says:

October 16, 2011 at 2:35 pm

amazon book sale…

[...]Alabama | MrSEC.com[...]…

Log in to Reply
North Face Sale says:

November 16, 2011 at 10:15 pm

North Face Sale…

[...]Alabama | MrSEC.com[...]…

Log in to Reply
hvac service says:

April 14, 2012 at 8:23 pm

hvac service…

[...]Alabama | MrSEC[...]…

Log in to Reply
Web & graphic design says:

April 26, 2012 at 10:03 am

Web & graphic design…

[...]Alabama | MrSEC[...]…

Log in to Reply

This entry was posted on Monday, October 3rd, 2011 at 11:13 am and is filed under Alabama, Homepage . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.