If we do expand I'd like to see something like this: West Auburn Alabama LSU Miss State Ole Miss Arkansas Texas Texas A&M East Florida Georgia Tennessee Vandy SC Kentucky Virginia Tech Miami I know I said in another thread that I didn't think Miami was a good fit because we already have the Florida market but after thinking about it Florida is a huge market and I think we could stand a boost in the south. The SEC foot print would then control TX, the mid east, and Miami/south FL. In addition it helps us academically, preserves divisional balance and makes sense geographically. As far as breaking up the traditional SWC schools go lets look at SWC rivalry. Here are the big ones: Texas - Texas A&M (preserved as yearly div game) Texas - OU Texas A&M - Arkansas (preserved as yearly div game) Texas - Arkansas (preserved as yearly div game) Texas A&M - Texas Tech That leaves only UT/OU and TT/A&M. A&M already has a yearly out of conf game with Ark so just switch that with Tech. Then just make the Red River Shootout as a annual OOC game and everyone's happy. Florida and Florida St. have been doing successfully for years.
I like this but I'd ditch MS State for Missouri. If you can't tell, I think MS State is pretty much worthless. Low enrollment compared to the rest of the SEC, doesn't bring much academically or athletically...
i stand corrected. this name is a much better fit I think getting West Virginia instead of Miami would be a better option. WVU has been pretty solid the last few years. Giving them SEC type revenue and publicity would only make them stronger IMO. this would give the East a similar addition to what Texas A&M would be for the west. Virginia Tech is a little short of what Texas is, but still a really strong add.
should really ditch, MSt OM and Ark. the arent real competitive, they have no markets, they arent good schools (especially the MS schools). the sec would still rape MS for recruiting. pick up GaTech, Mizzou and TxAm. you get markets, 2 good schools and no killer fb programs.
There's one huge reason that Texas doesn't want to join the SEC. They want to be the top dog. If they join the SEC, they have to face LSU and Bama every year and Tennessee, Florida, Georgia every few years. I'm not saying the SEC will crush them, not one bit, but the days of 10+ years of 10+ win seasons will be over. No one does that in the SEC. If they join the Pac 10 they will deal with Oklahoma, the rest of the cupcakes they already have, and then have to play USC every 3-4 years, they're still top dog and winning 10+ games every year for the forseeable future. Their road to the national championship is wayyyyyy easier in the Pac 10. Most of them won't admit it, but this is the truth.
As much as I would like to have aTm back on our schedule, I’m just not comfortable with them in the SEC. Apparently names don’t mean much anymore, but this is the Southeastern Conference. All the Texas schools are in the southwest. How about we pick up Missouri for the Western Division; VT, West Virginia and North Carolina for the Eastern Division. Then move Vandy to the Western Division. SEC West LSU Arkansas Missouri Ole Miss State Bama Auburn Vandy SEC East West Virginia VT North Carolina Kentucky Tennessee South Carolina Georgia Florida
Really, you feel that West Virginia and Missouri belong in the Southeastern Conference than the Texas schools? I just don't see it.
