I agree with Red, that if we must go to 16 teams, you must add two contenders and two Kentuckerbilts. If eATMe is the choice for a contender in the West (I don't believe they will be a contender) I would like to see Va Tech as the contender in the East. Rather than have Houston as a Kentuckerbilt (I spent two years of of my life there...horrible college atmosphere) I would suggest Baylor. That would certainly help academics and could be the Vandy of the West. The Kentuckerbilt of the East for me would be Virginia. Va Tech and Virginia could maintain their "rivalry."
Won't be either Houston or Baylor. Baylor doesn't belong at all, and Houston is too close to aTm. Also, what market does the SEC gain with Baylor or Houston? Already have the Houston market with aTm, and sorry, but the Waco market just ain't worth it. It will be about the market/$$$. Blee dat.
Exactly why clemson nor fsu fit. No market to gain with either of them. I'm still trying to figure out where in the blue hell mizzou came from? WTF? Talk about out of left field. They did release a statement saying they have talked to no one about joining any conference other than the one they are currently in. Not sure how much water that will hold though.
What possible business do Texas legislators have meddling in A&M's conference dealings? Are they really going to play politics with state appropriations if UT gets their widdle feelings hurt?
That's true on Clemson, but FSU, on reputation alone, would be a perfect addition to the SEC. They should've come to the SEC, instead of South Carolina, all those years ago.
I agree that F$U and Clempsum don't make sense. I also don't think either will be involved in this expansion. Missouri brings KC and St Louis. I'd look to the east for NC State and one of the S. FL teams not named 'the U'. GT brings no additional market, since UGA already brings that market. Clemson brings no market either. I've stated this before, but it's just my opinion that UGA, UF, and USCe won't stand for GT, F$U, and Clempsun. Another thing about Clempsun. They need to realize the REAL Death Valley is already here in the SEC. Someone mentioned (as a joke I'm sure) that we should go for Mizzou and Memphis, so all D1 Tigers could be in the SEC.
True but reputation doesn't equate to market dollars. The SEC already has market coverage with the gaytors. I'd take it a step farther and wager that UF wants nothing to do with fsu being in the SEC. I'd say they block the vote.
The Texas Legislature is concerned about the effect of A&M's move on other state schools. It's the same legislature, however, that had no concern about the "effect on other schools" when the Texas Longhorn Network was signed. Had Texas gone independent when Colorado and Nebraska bolted, one could guess the legislature wouldn't have worried about "other state institutions" then, either. There's only one show in the Lone Star State... an arrogant one at that.
The "effect on other schools" statement is so vague as to be meaningless. The legislature is tasked with appropriating tax money toward fulfilling the educational mission of a university; athletics is irrelevant in that regard. This is just veiled political threats. And that same quoted representative said about the Longhorn Network deal:
