There are a lot of rumors flying around right now. Texas to the Pac-10? Or the SEC? Or the Big Ten? Texas A&M is going here or there. The Big Ten may stop at 12 teams ... or balloon up to 16. The SEC will raid the ACC ... who will then raid the Big East again.
With all the crap flying, I have one questions I need answered:
WHY WOULD THE SEC RAID THE ACC?
As the dominos fall, it could lead to the SEC raiding some ACC schools. The typical schools mentioned are Clemson, Ga Tech, Florida State, Miami and Va Tech. None of those schools do anything to expand the footprint of the SEC. Clemson doubles up with South Carolina. Same goes for Ga Tech and Georgia. Florida State and Miami will steal Florida's thunder. Va Tech would be new ground, but will it really mean anything?
Va Tech is in the middle of nowhere and doesn't have the Washington DC area footing that Maryland or Virginia have (not to mention that I'm bent that the Virginia legislature demanded that the ACC take Va Tech in the last round of expansion. It makes me sick to think that they'd then bail on the ACC). The SEC could steal West Virginia away from the Big East and get the same effect.
The only additions that would make sense is a far-out proposal to bring North Carolina and Duke into the fold. That would lock in the North Carolina market that the ACC all but has a monopoly on (adding the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham markets) and strengthen the SEC on the hoops side. If they somehow bolt, then Maryland could be had as well. That would bring in the DC market. This, though, seems like a fantasy grab for the SEC. They should try ... but don't get their hopes up.
To me, it makes more sense for the SEC to expand west. I don't know why they aren't trying to appeal to Texas. Texas A&M already wants in and is just waiting for the SEC to ask. Maybe the two Oklahoma schools would follow and the SEC would have their 16-team megaconference. Think about that power.
To me, the SEC doesn't need to expand. They have a long-term TV contract that is quite lucrative right now. Adding teams doesn't necessarily mean adding money to everyone. It just may not be worth it.
That would be good news for the ACC. Any raid would most likely rip the football powers from the ACC. Football is king at FSU, Miami, Ga Tech, Clemson and Va Tech and football is king in the SEC. If a combination of schools depart for the SEC, the ACC would then have to go back to the Big East to look for replacements (Syracuse? UConn? Cincinnati? Louisville?). While the ACC still would have a decent football conference, it would be obvious that basketball is where their name would hold the most clout. Imagine a conference with Duke, North Carolina, UConn, Syracuse and Maryland.
The ACC wants everything to blow past them. They are very content with the 12-team membership they currently have. Sure, if one of those schools leave then the ACC would have to add someone from the Big East (if they acted quick enough, they could nab Pitt. If not, I'd try for UConn). Other than that, the ACC just wants to receive the least amount of damage it can.
With all the crap flying, I have one questions I need answered:
WHY WOULD THE SEC RAID THE ACC?
As the dominos fall, it could lead to the SEC raiding some ACC schools. The typical schools mentioned are Clemson, Ga Tech, Florida State, Miami and Va Tech. None of those schools do anything to expand the footprint of the SEC. Clemson doubles up with South Carolina. Same goes for Ga Tech and Georgia. Florida State and Miami will steal Florida's thunder. Va Tech would be new ground, but will it really mean anything?
Va Tech is in the middle of nowhere and doesn't have the Washington DC area footing that Maryland or Virginia have (not to mention that I'm bent that the Virginia legislature demanded that the ACC take Va Tech in the last round of expansion. It makes me sick to think that they'd then bail on the ACC). The SEC could steal West Virginia away from the Big East and get the same effect.
The only additions that would make sense is a far-out proposal to bring North Carolina and Duke into the fold. That would lock in the North Carolina market that the ACC all but has a monopoly on (adding the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham markets) and strengthen the SEC on the hoops side. If they somehow bolt, then Maryland could be had as well. That would bring in the DC market. This, though, seems like a fantasy grab for the SEC. They should try ... but don't get their hopes up.
To me, it makes more sense for the SEC to expand west. I don't know why they aren't trying to appeal to Texas. Texas A&M already wants in and is just waiting for the SEC to ask. Maybe the two Oklahoma schools would follow and the SEC would have their 16-team megaconference. Think about that power.
To me, the SEC doesn't need to expand. They have a long-term TV contract that is quite lucrative right now. Adding teams doesn't necessarily mean adding money to everyone. It just may not be worth it.
That would be good news for the ACC. Any raid would most likely rip the football powers from the ACC. Football is king at FSU, Miami, Ga Tech, Clemson and Va Tech and football is king in the SEC. If a combination of schools depart for the SEC, the ACC would then have to go back to the Big East to look for replacements (Syracuse? UConn? Cincinnati? Louisville?). While the ACC still would have a decent football conference, it would be obvious that basketball is where their name would hold the most clout. Imagine a conference with Duke, North Carolina, UConn, Syracuse and Maryland.
The ACC wants everything to blow past them. They are very content with the 12-team membership they currently have. Sure, if one of those schools leave then the ACC would have to add someone from the Big East (if they acted quick enough, they could nab Pitt. If not, I'd try for UConn). Other than that, the ACC just wants to receive the least amount of damage it can.
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