Which is why they would want the Pac whatever. It would give them the opportunity to be King of the Block. Given the set up of the current Pac 10 should UT, OU, OSU, USC, and the rest there would really only be 4-5 major competitive teams. If I were UT I would see that as an edge, especially if it gets divided up in a way that you only have to play 2 or so of them per yr on a regular basis.
The lone SEC school in TX would be much more relevant overnight and increasingly relevant with time. Houston would net a roster of SEC talent and would be much more dangerous than S Carolina. Adding Houston wouldn't be great for LSU, but it would be real good for the SEC. TCU would also be a good get. Houston and Dallas in the SEC would be big. Not as big as Austin, but still big. The SEC owns Georgia, don't think we need GaTech when we play our championship games in Atlanta. I do like GaTech better than Clemson. A southwest division would happen - AZ, AZ St, CO, TX, aTm, OU, OSU, Utah? Pretty strong and would change the whole concept of what the PAC10 is. I agree about Clemson, but adding FSU would rake in another large segment of FL. Miami would gain you less of FL but is a national school that would add the Miami market - don't like the geographic and philosophical stretch myself, but I think both would be strong additions (definitely think FSU is a bigger fish for the SEC). S Florida is a team of interest to me. Gets you Tampa, is on the gulf coast, lots of potential. As I see it, TX and aTm would be the biggest gets (gives you the state of TX, severely hinders growth potential for PAC10). If the PAC10 gets those two, getting OU and OSU would be a pretty decent western replacement, but doubling up in the state of Oklahoma pales in comparison to the state of TX. Alternatively, we could look at one or both of Houston and TCU. Great markets and both schools have lots of potential. Houston - 3rd largest college in TX (37,000 students); stadium holds 32,000 (plans to 50,000 have been considered); endowment $545M; US News & World Report - Tier 4; Houston 4th largest city in US (2.2M) and 6th largest metro area (5.9M) TCU - 8800 students; stadium holds 48,000; endowment - $1,381M; US News & World Report - Tier 1; Dallas 8th largest city in US (1.3M) and 4th largest metro area (6.5M) Texas - 50,000 students; endowment $2,773M; stadium holds 100,000; US News & World Report - Tier 1; Austin 15th largest city in US (.76M) and 35th largest metro area (1.7M) Texas A&M - 48,000 students; endowment $381M; stadium holds 83,000; US News & World Report - Tier 1; College Station 86k population, metro 0.203M Oklahoma - 30,000 students; endowment $807M; stadium holds 82,000; US News & World Report - Tier 1; Norman 107k population and metro area of 1.3M Oklahoma St - 21,000 students; endowment $314M; stadium holds 60,000; US News & World Report - Tier 3; Stillwater 39k population and metro area of 1.3M Aside from these western schools, potential schools of interest are Louisville (do we need another school from Kentucky), Virginia Tech (would they split from Virginia?), UNC (basketball school may not be interested in SEC and would they split from NC St?), Clemson (do we really need another school from S Carolina), Georgia Tech (we get Atlanta, but don't we already have it - also strong academics), Florida State (will Florida allow it?), Miami (weird fit in my mind), and S Florida (school with potential). Don't have time to look into the data on the rest of these schools right now. Am I missing any schools? I like the idea of not spreading the SEC too far geographically, and with every addition the thought has to pop into your head - is the SEC better for this addition?
My dream goes something like this PAC10 picks up Colorado Big10 picks up Nebraska SEC can squash all hopes of everyone else ever catching them by doing one of a couple things 1- add Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Okalhoma St. (Keep LSU, Ark, and Miss schools in west) everyone else goes to the east what does this do - Bama / Tenn rivalry wont control the entire conf., Texas / Ark and Texas A&M / Ark restablish rivalries... LSU / A&M restablished. Plus we add 4 major schools to the SEC and really take over 2- Add texas and AM to the SEC West add Florida St. / Miami to the east (which probably wont happen)... second choice would be Georgia Tech (Charter Member of the SEC) and either Virginia Tech or Clemson... more inclided to go with clemson... this leaves a bunch of rivalies in tack no matter what... what will probably happen though is the SEC will not act fast enough wanting to see what happens... and then we will be left to pick up the scraps... i hate that plan I for one don't want the SEC to pick up bad schools but I would be willing to add the Texas, TAMU, TT, Baylor package also... but i think in doing so you could see the big 10 go after OK and OK st... if not the pac 10
We don't have to "catch up" with other conferences. They are trying to catch up with the dominant SEC. And teams like USC, Michigan, and Ohio State are not going to enjoy having more real competition at the championship trough. The SEC already has 6 perennial contenders. The other conferences will barely catch up. and they will be splitting their money 16 ways instead of 12.
this is a big reason to add only two teams and be very selective about it, adding only teams that can keep revenues from dropping off for each school, or to increase. there is no sense adding two or more teams that are just gonna suck away revenue from other sec schools. staying like we are and not splitting the money any further is not the worst option.
This is all about money. The Big Ten started this shyt to push the viability of the Big Ten network, because they know they cant survive with the existing teams. So you get a Nebraska and potentially a ND to create larger TV markets. If these folks are smart and I know they are, they should be pushing for super conferences and a playoff system and getting rid of the BCS by 2012 after the realignments are done. Everybody wins even mid majors because the revenue is increased so much.
thats my point, it doesnt have to be that way, you create super conferences for the purpose of a playoff system and keeping the bowl games intact, because the teams in those conferences that dont make the playoffs can still meet in bowl games, but the playoffs adds at least 12 more games to the entire season. then the money will be raining like Pac Man Jones.
