(When google image searching for "conference realignment" this photo was suggested. I agree..)With the news this week that the Pac-10 has made the first move in offering Big 12 teams such as Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Colorado a chance to joining the Pac-10, Kentucky and SEC fans are left thinking what will become of the SEC if those six teams join? It also sets up a big time showdown between the SEC and Pac-10 to get those prized schools from the Big 12.
Originally it was thought that the Big Ten would fire the first shots over the bow leaving the SEC to take those power teams such as Oklahoma and Texas from the Big 12. However, with the Pac-10 taking the first shot and assuming that those Big 12 teams follow suit and join the Pac-10, where does the SEC look for teams for its own personal power conference?
I would have to think that the SEC would drain the ACC when it looks for teams to join the Power SEC, as I call it :). Georgia Tech (an original SEC member), FSU, Miami Clemson and Va Tech would be in play.
Personally, I would rather have the SEC take from the Big 12. Texas, Oklahoma, OK State and Texas Tech would benefit the SEC in both football and basketball. I have always been from the school of thought that the ACC is an overrated football conference. So I don't see how adding those teams helps the SEC too much.
From a basketball standpoint the the ACC gain doesn't help the SEC much either, as none of those programs added are powerhouses. It just seems to me that the Big 12 teams would be far more benficial to not only the Big 12 teams coming in but to the SEC as well. The SEC needs to extend an invite to those Big 12 team as well and get in on the land grab before its too late.
With schools being taken from the ACC and Big 12 we haven't even scratched the surface on what would happen to the rest of the college landscape, as the dominos that would fall in the Big Ten, Big East and other conferences could push it to the realm to where conferences could be nearly unrecognizable. Murray State in the Conference USA??? I digress.. lol. Just my thoughts on conference realignment on a Monday morning.
I like the techs to join the SEC, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech would be nice additions. Georgia Tech has some of basketball tradition, so that would be nice.
ReplyDeleteWhat about Louisville and West Virginia from the Big East? Memphis from Conference USA?
They would all be in play too. What will be interesting in this big conference power grab will be to see if a conference just takes from one conference, or if the SEC could take some from the ACC and maybe The Ville and WVU from the Big East. A fluid situation indeed.
ReplyDeleteHere's the lowdown. IF the SEC comes looking for more teams, and we all know they will, on the short list, and their FIRST choice is... FSU. Even though those here would argue it doesn't help the SEC to grab a rebuilding and soon to be re-emergent FSU, you're dead wrong. FSU has natural geographical rivalries with other teams already in the SEC, most notably Georgia.
ReplyDeleteThe first schools that the SEC will look to are FSU, and as noted by J. Lee, GT. Clemson could also come into play.
Teams like WVU and Louisville would be headed to the ACC to fill the holes left by the departure of FSU and/or GT/Clemson.
Write it down.
Our FIRST choice is FSU?? I think FSU is the consolation prize if we lose out on Texas and Oklahoma. Texas and Oklahoma serves the SEC in both football and basketball.
ReplyDeleteWhile FSU's football program is one of the mor elite, their hoops program doesn't quite match what Texas and OK can bring. I just think for basketball and football the Big 12 schools are a better fit, not only from an athletics stand point, but from a financial stand point as well.
I think FSU is a legitimate possibility, but I don't see them being option number one over Texas and Oklahoma like Toon pointed out.
ReplyDeleteI think we are long shots to get those two schools anyway and from a geographical stand point, teams that are actually in the south east make more sense to me.
Not sure what will happen, but I don't see the SEC getting Texas. Hope, I am wrong...would love to have them. They are No. 1 on everyone's wish list.