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re: Realignment...B1G going after 2 more ACC schools?
Posted on 2/20/13 at 10:53 am to aggressor
Posted on 2/20/13 at 10:53 am to aggressor
quote:I'm starting to come around to this view. In a sense, we'd almost be making it easier for UVA and UNC to go to the Big Ten by taking care of their sister institutions and blocking the political heat that might otherwise be heaped upon UVA and UNC for breaking up the ACC and going to the Big Ten on their own. If the SEC were to let it be known that they were only interested in UNC and UVA (or perhaps UNC/Duke), and would not make a move otherwise, it would change the politics of a Big Ten move for UVA and UNC.
BTW, imo if UNC/UVA go to the Big 1G the best thing the SEC can do is stand pat. The SEC doesn't need to expand. They already have the best conference and soon to be best TV deal by a mile. Adding NC State and VTech carry a lot more risk than many here realize. There is no guarantee they can even get the SEC Network picked up in both of their states on every carrier, esp at the kind of premiums the SEC will want to charge. It's also very possible that neither school is competitive in football or any other sport outside of NC State being decent in basketball. Neither school is AAU so that is another knock. Adding just to add is foolish. Worst case those schools go Big 12 or wherever and the SEC can come calling later.
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Posted on 2/20/13 at 11:52 am to twk
It took me a while to get there but that is how I see it as well. This realignment stuff is tricky because it is so complicated with so many moving parts. The SEC has to remember that it is still in the strongest position. It has the best brand. It has the most money. It has the most programs that take football seriously. Adding just to get to 16 is stupid. You only add if it makes the conference stronger.
I also don't mean to bag on NC State and VT so much, I like both schools and both have a lot to offer. I just don't think either is a slam dunk fit for the SEC. They just look attractive because of some of the other options. VT is not FSU or Clemson in terms of football prowess by any stretch but of course FSU and Clemson are off the table because of location. It is also no sure thing that VT stays good after Beamer retires and he is 66 now. I just don't see it at all for NC State. I just don't see how teams that can't dominate in the ACC are going to have a prayer in the SEC. It's different than when A&M came and suddenly got a huge new recruiting advantage over Texas and OU. UVA and UNC aren't exactly powerhouse programs in football either so who are they going to "steal" from?
With UVA and UNC they aren't great football programs but their other strengths make up for it. They also have the resources to be relevant in football if they chose to be, they both have very deep pockets and a lot of donors with huge amounts of cash. If they made it a priority to be a strong football school they could do so. Both schools have a deathgrip on political power in their states as well.
One other thought on the UNC/Duke suggestion as well. The SEC may be the only conference that is so strong in football it can sacrifice some of that to add academic heavyweights and basketball. Add those 2 schools and the SEC is not only the strongest football conference but the strongest basketball conference as well. By themselves they would drop the average US News academic ranking of the SEC by 10 points and over time it will be more as the other schools benefit by being associated with them. It would make 6 of the 16 schools AAU members and be enough to likely push UGA, Bama, and maybe Auburn into the AAU. Realize that membership in the AAU would have a more lasting financial impact on a school than a NC in football and Presidents are the ones that vote.
I also don't mean to bag on NC State and VT so much, I like both schools and both have a lot to offer. I just don't think either is a slam dunk fit for the SEC. They just look attractive because of some of the other options. VT is not FSU or Clemson in terms of football prowess by any stretch but of course FSU and Clemson are off the table because of location. It is also no sure thing that VT stays good after Beamer retires and he is 66 now. I just don't see it at all for NC State. I just don't see how teams that can't dominate in the ACC are going to have a prayer in the SEC. It's different than when A&M came and suddenly got a huge new recruiting advantage over Texas and OU. UVA and UNC aren't exactly powerhouse programs in football either so who are they going to "steal" from?
With UVA and UNC they aren't great football programs but their other strengths make up for it. They also have the resources to be relevant in football if they chose to be, they both have very deep pockets and a lot of donors with huge amounts of cash. If they made it a priority to be a strong football school they could do so. Both schools have a deathgrip on political power in their states as well.
One other thought on the UNC/Duke suggestion as well. The SEC may be the only conference that is so strong in football it can sacrifice some of that to add academic heavyweights and basketball. Add those 2 schools and the SEC is not only the strongest football conference but the strongest basketball conference as well. By themselves they would drop the average US News academic ranking of the SEC by 10 points and over time it will be more as the other schools benefit by being associated with them. It would make 6 of the 16 schools AAU members and be enough to likely push UGA, Bama, and maybe Auburn into the AAU. Realize that membership in the AAU would have a more lasting financial impact on a school than a NC in football and Presidents are the ones that vote.
Posted on 2/20/13 at 11:53 am to twk
I'm certain Slive won't make the first move. Let Delaney kill the ACC and then move in. No reason to shake up the status quo because we're winning on and off the field. But if it does get shaken up, make your move.
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