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Slightly different expansion discussion
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:25 pm
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:25 pm
Assuming the following constraints, pick your top two candidates for SEC expansion to 16 teams.
1. The ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and PAC each maintain all of their current members. I know, not likely, but it opens up a different conversation.
2. The SEC does not bring in a new member from an existing SEC state.
3. The SEC expansion only includes adjacent states.
Given these constraints, the following (FBS) schools are possibilities:
University of Cincinnati
East Carolina University
University of Tulsa
Marshall University
Old Dominion University
Notre Dame University
University of New Mexico
New Mexico State University
Appalachian State University
University of Akron
Ball State University
Bowling Green State University
Kent State University
Miami University
Northern Illinois University
Ohio University
University of Toledo
Notre Dame makes the most sense from a competitive perspective, but it's difficult to think of a less SEC school than the Fighting Irish.
My top two would be Cincinnati (Ohio is the 7th most populous state) and East Carolina (North Carolina is the 10th most populous state).
Before you Southerners get too up in arms about an Ohio school (UC), it's worth noting that ECU's closest SEC peer is over 4 hours away in Columbia, SC. The next closest is Knoxville, which is about the same distance from ECU as Philadelphia.
By comparison, UC is less than 90 minutes (83 miles) from Lexington, KY, and just over 4 hours from Nashville.
1. The ACC, Big 10, Big 12, and PAC each maintain all of their current members. I know, not likely, but it opens up a different conversation.
2. The SEC does not bring in a new member from an existing SEC state.
3. The SEC expansion only includes adjacent states.
Given these constraints, the following (FBS) schools are possibilities:
University of Cincinnati
East Carolina University
University of Tulsa
Marshall University
Old Dominion University
Notre Dame University
University of New Mexico
New Mexico State University
Appalachian State University
University of Akron
Ball State University
Bowling Green State University
Kent State University
Miami University
Northern Illinois University
Ohio University
University of Toledo
Notre Dame makes the most sense from a competitive perspective, but it's difficult to think of a less SEC school than the Fighting Irish.
My top two would be Cincinnati (Ohio is the 7th most populous state) and East Carolina (North Carolina is the 10th most populous state).
Before you Southerners get too up in arms about an Ohio school (UC), it's worth noting that ECU's closest SEC peer is over 4 hours away in Columbia, SC. The next closest is Knoxville, which is about the same distance from ECU as Philadelphia.
By comparison, UC is less than 90 minutes (83 miles) from Lexington, KY, and just over 4 hours from Nashville.
19
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:26 pm to throwingoranges
Pass
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:27 pm to throwingoranges
None of the Above.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:29 pm to throwingoranges
People from Cincy are jersey wearing douches.
ODU and Miami OH are my choices. I know nothing of ODU, but Miami OH is an awesome party school. And then we can retro claim Roethlisberger and Szerbiak.p
ODU and Miami OH are my choices. I know nothing of ODU, but Miami OH is an awesome party school. And then we can retro claim Roethlisberger and Szerbiak.p
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:30 pm to ProjectP2294
quote:
Miami OH is an awesome party schoo
Have you spent any time there?
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:32 pm to throwingoranges
I like the twist, good thread.
The issue is that there isn't many SEC-ready programs. I agree with you Cinci is as ready for the Power 5 as any program not named BYU, so given that I agree with your choices of ECU and Cincy.
With that said, you have to think if the SEC expands for 15 and 16 without poaching from another Power 5 they are doing it to hit the number and NOT for a network (as those schools probably aren't powerful enough to get in-state rates for the SEC network). So I would say that the restriction of "none of the current states" is probably asking too much.
Take away that one rule and my pick is ECU and UCF. Central Florida is easily the school with the biggest potential of the non-Power 5s.
The issue is that there isn't many SEC-ready programs. I agree with you Cinci is as ready for the Power 5 as any program not named BYU, so given that I agree with your choices of ECU and Cincy.
With that said, you have to think if the SEC expands for 15 and 16 without poaching from another Power 5 they are doing it to hit the number and NOT for a network (as those schools probably aren't powerful enough to get in-state rates for the SEC network). So I would say that the restriction of "none of the current states" is probably asking too much.
Take away that one rule and my pick is ECU and UCF. Central Florida is easily the school with the biggest potential of the non-Power 5s.
This post was edited on 5/18/15 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:32 pm to throwingoranges
My picks would be
East Carolina University
University of Tulsa
East Carolina University
University of Tulsa
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:35 pm to throwingoranges
I would take Cincinnati to get the Ohio market and BYU to get the foothold in the west. They're really the only ones left worth taking. Maybe Boise State but they are really really far away.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:36 pm to throwingoranges
fricking word problems.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:38 pm to cardboardboxer
It was surprising how terrible the choices are. There's a reason why the power 5 are the power 5.
You either have to go for strong programs (probably poaching schools from the existing footprint and putting a very low ceiling on new dollars) or you go for TV sets with less-than-stellar programs.
I opted to explore the latter for this discussion.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:39 pm to throwingoranges
I know these types of discussions are going to go on for a few years until some big moves start again, but to start conference teams need to play more often. None of this once or twice in over a decade BS. Once that issue is "fixed" conferences can expand and part of that expansion is all conferences play 9 or 10 conference games with one non-conference game against a P5 school.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:41 pm to throwingoranges
quote:
Have you spent any time there?
I haven't. I had a cousin go there and some friends from up here in St Louis. It's a pretty popular spot for St Louis kids apparently.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:42 pm to nebraskafaninwi
I think that's one of the reasons for pushing to 16 teams rather than 14.
A pod system of 16 (like the AFC or NFC) makes it a lot easier to play everyone more frequently while maintaining balance.
A pod system of 16 (like the AFC or NFC) makes it a lot easier to play everyone more frequently while maintaining balance.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:43 pm to ProjectP2294
quote:
haven't. I had a cousin go there and some friends from up here in St Louis. It's a pretty popular spot for St Louis kids apparently.
I'm very familiar with Miami, and you're probably right about the culture (work hard, play hard). Just curious what the connection was.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:45 pm to nebraskafaninwi
I'm a sucker for any expansion talk, but holy crap, why are you wasting our time with this?
None of these are ever getting a sniff from the SEC.
None of these are ever getting a sniff from the SEC.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:47 pm to RocketBallz
We've talked about everything else. And I have a friend working on the Nippert Stadium expansion and it got me thinking about whether UC would be a decent fit or not.
Posted on 5/18/15 at 4:48 pm to throwingoranges
I respect what you're doing, but the only answer is "None of the above."
Posted on 5/19/15 at 11:58 pm to throwingoranges
quote:
throwingoranges
Notre Dame University
Notre Dame makes the most sense from a competitive perspective, but it's difficult to think of a less SEC school than the Fighting Irish.
Aren't they pretty much ACC? WHY would they join for all other sports?
Posted on 5/20/15 at 12:02 am to throwingoranges
I would prefer none from that last, but I would say getting into VA and NC would be the most likely. Leaving us with ECU and ODU(please dear god no).
Posted on 5/21/15 at 8:28 am to throwingoranges
quote:
Have you spent any time there?
They were fun in the 60's and 70's, as they have their own version of drinking and floating down the river. Thought that was a big deal in Missouri, or at least Killz made it seem so.
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