DawgNBama Wrote:As for USM,UAB, and Tulane the answer is no. The SEC would gladly let the Big East and/or the Big 12 take those teams. As much as I like Southern Miss, (and I really do like the Golden Eagles), both of the SEC Mississippi teams would complain that Southern Miss cuts into their revenue and recruiting and therefore makes them (Ole Miss and Miss. State) not as viable to the league as they once were. Ditto for UAB. As for Tulane, the argument is this: Tulane used to be a member of the SEC. Tulane voluntarily chose to withdraw from the SEC. Why should Tulane be let back into the SEC when the SEC has already covered their market to start with, and Tulane having a history of leaving the SEC before. One thing I've learned about the SEC through a lot of research: the SEC does not take kindly to former members who chose to leave the conference. Georgia Tech, even if they wanted back in the SEC desperately, would not be given an invitation. It would the same with Sewannee (University of the South) and Tulane. If Vanderbilt ever dropped out of the conference, Vanderbilt can forget about ever being in the SEC again and they know it!!!
Now about Memphis: the SEC does cover the Memphis market. However, in Memphis' favor, the SEC is in need of good basketball teams and Memphis would be a good pickup in that area. The SEC would have to conduct a very long and involved study on Memphis and whether or not Memphis would have a positive or negative impact on the conference overall. Although I am very positive UT and Arkansas would be against Memphis' admission, I'm not so sure about the rest of the SEC. Very tough call. The reason I was looking at ECU favorably was because at least East Carolina would bring in a new market(s) to the SEC. However, I am not sure as to whether or not the potential revenue East Carolina would bring in would justify expansion of the league.

Fair answer.

I would add this concerning Memphis...UT's vote would strongly depend on the governor's disposition. They haven't really been creating goodwill for themselves lately...basically, the state government has them on a bit of a leash.