(08-22-2011 07:38 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  Apparently Arkansas is pushing for Missouri, and it shouldn't take much for them to get an endorsement for Missouri. All Arkansas has to do is go to all of the schools with candidates in their markets (Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, etc.) and tell them to vote for Missouri. Missouri has a huge market, one that allows them to tap into a Big Ten market without rocking the boat.

I agree that Mizzou should get clearance from the SEC. They border 3 SEC states and like you said, they provide a new market. There are some people that think the SEC wants an eastern school because they don't want to help break up the B12 and send Texlahoma to the Pac. I don't think this is part of the SEC's rationale because they know that UT and OU are never coming. If they want an eastern school as number 14 I think it would have to do with alignment of the divisions. If they only go to 14 and both schools come from the west somebody has to switch to the eastern division.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict they invite Villanova.

(08-22-2011 08:14 PM)brista21 Wrote:  I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict they invite Villanova.

What self-respecting conference would even consider such a thing?

(08-22-2011 08:14 PM)brista21 Wrote:  I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict they invite Villanova.

ECU

They will be inviting the flagship school of the 51st state...none other than ECU! It gives the SEC a stake in the NC and Tidewater VA market which opens the door to more recruiting and the Raleigh/Greenville/Norfolk TV mkts. SEC doesnt need big cities to sell its product. The SEC sells itself. All they need is presence and ECU gives them the football centric type school that fits their mold.

Is the ACC going to invite Puerto Rico University, dude?

NIU to the SEC as #14.

(08-22-2011 02:05 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(08-22-2011 01:59 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Really SEC adding West Virginia would cause the least amount of shuffling among the conferences. Big East would then add UCF and ECU, and CUSA would probably just stay put at 10.

No idea if all that will happen or not, but if it does, the BE-football line-up would be 60% ex-Conference-USA:

Cincinnati
East Carolina
Louisville
TCU
UCF
USF
Pitt
Rutgers
Connecticut
Syracuse

I have to wonder if the other 4 non-C-USA veterans would really be willing to remain in that configuration.

What other choice do they have?

For #14 the SEC needs to add a state that has a large SEC alumni presence / fan-base. My reasoning is that the SEC will want a network similar to the BTN. No offense to the WVU fans or anybody in WV but the Mtneers just don't make sense to me from a purely financial standpoint WV does not make any sense. It will be VT, NCSU (ugh) or ECU (whoo hoo!!).

(08-24-2011 12:33 PM)Nola Gator Wrote:  

(08-22-2011 02:05 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  I have to wonder if the other 4 non-C-USA veterans would really be willing to remain in that configuration.

What other choice do they have?

Perhaps none. But if the SEC is at 14, then I think you'd see the ACC and Big-whatever considering it, too.

Put dollars to it. ESPN pays more if there is a playoff game - it takes 12 to make a playoff. BE needs to add a few to get to the magic number. That said, they work at a curious pace due to a stranglehold of non football schools; plus a freeloading ND who drops off all their non revenue sports to the BE. Yes, the BE needs to expand to have playoffs hence more money. Secondly they have to spin off the catholic league into a separate entity.

That's the way I see it.

(08-24-2011 12:33 PM)Nola Gator Wrote:  

(08-22-2011 02:05 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(08-22-2011 01:59 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Really SEC adding West Virginia would cause the least amount of shuffling among the conferences. Big East would then add UCF and ECU, and CUSA would probably just stay put at 10.

No idea if all that will happen or not, but if it does, the BE-football line-up would be 60% ex-Conference-USA:

Cincinnati
East Carolina
Louisville
TCU
UCF
USF
Pitt
Rutgers
Connecticut
Syracuse

I have to wonder if the other 4 non-C-USA veterans would really be willing to remain in that configuration.

What other choice do they have?

At minimum I would see Louisville getting some calls from the B12 if not cincy as well.

(08-24-2011 12:41 PM)NoQuarter08 Wrote:  For #14 the SEC needs to add a state that has a large SEC alumni presence / fan-base. My reasoning is that the SEC will want a network similar to the BTN. No offense to the WVU fans or anybody in WV but the Mtneers just don't make sense to me from a purely financial standpoint WV does not make any sense. It will be VT, NCSU (ugh) or ECU (whoo hoo!!).

I guess you didn't realize that some of ESPN's highest rated broadcasts feature WVU. If only people in WV were watching, that wouldn't be the case...

(08-24-2011 01:05 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(08-24-2011 12:41 PM)NoQuarter08 Wrote:  For #14 the SEC needs to add a state that has a large SEC alumni presence / fan-base. My reasoning is that the SEC will want a network similar to the BTN. No offense to the WVU fans or anybody in WV but the Mtneers just don't make sense to me from a purely financial standpoint WV does not make any sense. It will be VT, NCSU (ugh) or ECU (whoo hoo!!).

I guess you didn't realize that some of ESPN's highest rated broadcasts feature WVU. If only people in WV were watching, that wouldn't be the case...

Do you have any data to represent this?

(08-24-2011 01:05 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(08-24-2011 12:41 PM)NoQuarter08 Wrote:  For #14 the SEC needs to add a state that has a large SEC alumni presence / fan-base. My reasoning is that the SEC will want a network similar to the BTN. No offense to the WVU fans or anybody in WV but the Mtneers just don't make sense to me from a purely financial standpoint WV does not make any sense. It will be VT, NCSU (ugh) or ECU (whoo hoo!!).

I guess you didn't realize that some of ESPN's highest rated broadcasts feature WVU. If only people in WV were watching, that wouldn't be the case...

It's not about ratings, remember??? At least that's what every BE fan has been telling us the past 18 months. I'm talking purely a financial aspect. NC and VA both have much larger populations & job opportunities. I know for a fact that NC and VA are both home to a ton of UTen and USC alumni. More interest and more TV sets to promote an SEC network.

I can't find the link at the moment, Card. But if you'll look at some older threads, especially in the BEast General forum, it's in there. The BEast's own mattsarz is the resident TV expert...

However, just looking at bowl games, WVU's TV bowl ratings are fairly highly most years when we're in a bowl. Look it up...