(01-30-2017 06:23 AM)TerpsNPhoenix Wrote: (01-29-2017 08:15 PM)JRsec Wrote: Hey guys, I'm going to say something that most would not say at this point. The SEC, more than any other P conference except the Big 12, needs solid additions, and needs them to the West.
Right now we do not have, and haven't had, balance between the East and West. Rivalries are straining the competitiveness of the two divisions with regard to record, and the distances to complete an annual slate of games is growing.
Now I don't care if it's Texas and Oklahoma or just one of them and a second fiddle, but the SEC needs at least 1 national brand addition in the West and for Alabama and Auburn to move East. If we had an Oklahoma in the West A&M and L.S.U. would shine more in the national spotlight, their fans would have easier travel, and nobody would have to have a permanent crossover game.
We are fine on money. We are fine as we are. But we are unbalanced as we are and it's hurting the public perception of us. We need to make this move while we are on top and command top dollar for the additions. In that regard we need this next expansion more than any other conference except the Big 12.
Hey JR, why is expansion preferable to going divisionless? Yes, adding two in the west would help rebalance the power but seems like a big step instead of NCAA legislation to go divisionless. What's the thought process here? To be honest, I wish the Big Ten would but its not going to happen any time soon.
Going divisionless could work. But being assured of a core of 7 games that remain annuals, are within a reasonable commuting distance, and which would engender a sense of both regional rivalry and frequent enough play to become annual events a family might look forward to, would not only restore much of what has already been lost to realignment, but would also foster the return of the feel of the smaller conferences in that divisions would become a kind of smaller conference.
Let's take the Big 10 for instance. What is the one thing old time Big 10 guys frequently say about realignment? "I wish we were the original 10 and still playing our neighboring schools." With regards to the Eastern half you have indicated Maryland and Penn State's return to playing schools along the Eastern Seaboard. By keeping divisions both sentiments can be satisfied.
Xlance stated that he could see a Big 10 / ACC merger. I can in part, but not in full. But I could see one to the degree that many more fans could be satisfied and regionalism returned. For instance if the major schools of the old Big East and some Tobacco Road schools moved to the Big 10 and the truly Southern Southeastern schools came to the SEC we could have much better division of our two conferences. Let's say we go to 20 each. Here's what it could look like:
Big 10 West:
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Big 10 East:
Boston College, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia
Your emphasis in research is maintained as are traditional rivalries.
SEC East:
Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech
SEC West:
Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Florida State, Louisiana State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M
PAC East:
Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech
PAC West:
Arizona, Arizona State, California, Cal Los Angeles, Oregon, Oregon State, Southern Cal, Stanford, Washington, Washington State
Now we have 60 schools in three conferences in divisions which are much more regional (even for the spread out PAC East) and which would engender a much greater sense of regional play.
Wake Forest, West Virginia, Baylor, T.C.U., and Utah would be out. Or, you could add 7 more to them and make each division in the 3 conferences 12 teams strong by adding Cincinnati, Connecticut, San Diego State, one of the Nevada's, East Carolina, South Florida or Central Florida, or Rice or Tulane to the mix. But in this case I think 10 team divisions playing a round robin with 1 permanent cross over rival within the conference would be best.