First off, I recognize the GORs.
But I wanted to at least attempt to make a case. Not saying the SEC should definitely so this, but trying to make a plausible case for it and get discussion going.

Thesis: The SEC should expand with Duke and UVA.

Rationale:
1) in terms of new markets, Virginia and NC are quite possibly the best reasonable options. An 18 team league could still grab FSU and OK and send Mizzou West.

2) The Big wants at least UVA and so this would be a win competitively.

3) athletically, the two schools bring great basketball. Duke is also an improving football team and UVA is still normally a borderline bowl team with a stadium the size of Kentucky's and Mississippi states and bigger than Vanderbilt's. In addition, UVA vs Vandy in baseball would be awesome in Olympic sports.

4) academically, UVA is elite. While NC State would be a nice grab and UNC would be cool, with its scandal Duke is the preeminent academic school in NC.

5) while Virginia Tech is a better cultural fit, UVA and Duke can easily adapt to SEC culture much as Missouri is trying to now after trying for the Big 10.

Again, I recognize the GOR and that these schools may desire Big 10 over us. But the more I think about it, the more I want these in the league. As a TN fan, id love for Virginia Tech to be our conference, but UVA/Duke would certainly be the greater "get."

I may be preaching to the choir, but I feel like I have seen more about NC State and VTech. While Tech is solid and should be improving b-ball, I wonder of NC State might be perceived as settling after the bigwigs of UNC and Duke go elsewhere. I really wouldn't be upset with Tech but just thing UVA is a home run.

Now if we have to do package deals (UVA and tech/Duke and UNC) that changes the equation because it doesn't leave room for OK/FSU or whoever else we might target. I would probably be more OK with UVa/Tech right now than Duke/unc, for biased reasons of liking tech as a rival for TN.

The smartest move we could make in expansion is bringing in a NC/VA school combo that can both deliver most of their states.

That's the equivalent of adding another Florida to the footprint and locks up the south

(05-09-2016 09:20 AM)10thMountain Wrote:  The smartest move we could make in expansion is bringing in a NC/VA school combo that can both deliver most of their states.

That's the equivalent of adding another Florida to the footprint and locks up the south

Agreed. Even that scenario is to think about. The NC schools run the ACC. There is no reason compelling enough to give that power up to be just another member of the SEC.
As for the OP, I don't see how Duke would ever consider a move to the SEC. It certainly would not do it without UNC.

Where do we all sign?

If Virginia leaves, it will be for the B1G...

To clarify, I'm focusing on who the SEC should target, not on which schools would join us. So UVA/Duke preferring Big 10 wasn't in my mind. I expected alot of "Duke doesn't fit the SEC culture," type comments.

Any combo of UVA, VT, UNC or Duke is fine. NC State as a last resort.

(05-09-2016 03:56 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  Any combo of UVA, VT, UNC or Duke is fine. NC State as a last resort.

Would we take all four of UVA/Tech/UNC/Duke?

West could easily be:
South: Alabama/Auburn/Miss St/Ole Miss/Vandy
West: LSU/ Arkansas/Missouri/Texas A&M/OK

But how would you split up the east?
North: TN/KY/Tech/UVA
East: Florida/FSU/Georgia/South Carolina
forces UNC/Duke to split

(05-09-2016 12:16 PM)mikeinsec127 Wrote:  

(05-09-2016 09:20 AM)10thMountain Wrote:  The smartest move we could make in expansion is bringing in a NC/VA school combo that can both deliver most of their states.

That's the equivalent of adding another Florida to the footprint and locks up the south

Agreed. Even that scenario is to think about. The NC schools run the ACC. There is no reason compelling enough to give that power up to be just another member of the SEC.
As for the OP, I don't see how Duke would ever consider a move to the SEC. It certainly would not do it without UNC.

It will never happen. But, if it did a compromise of one of these combos would likely be involved. UNC / Va Tech to the SEC, Duke/ UVa to the Big 10. Duke and Virginia have a strong beltway and New York presence. If the market footprint model comes under assault by the next round of negotiations (and it will), doubling down in North Carolina is not something the SEC or Big 10 would want to do. If Duke and UNC won't budge but need to move then what likely will happen is the Big 10 will take both Virginia schools and we'll take Duke and U.N.C.

Other than that somebody will have to take UVA, Duke, U.N.C., and likely N.D. If that package was available I imagine both conferences would pull out the stops to land them. Duke is a small price to pay for that.

Now that the dreaming is over it's not going to happen. ESPN is not giving up the Eastern Seaboard to the Big 10 and they sure as hell aren't paying more for the same property by putting it in the SEC.

SEC should look at best available brands as well as new markets. I am going to assume contiguous states as well as Clemson and Florida State are a "no" and Texas doesn't want to leave the Big 12.

Oklahoma national brand and great football. Contiguous state.
North Carolina national brand and great basketball. Contiguous state.
Kansas strong brand and great basketball. Contiguous state.
Duke strong brand and great basketball.

Some would say football is a little too strong in the SEC. Why not make basketball great as well. These addidtions would also improve the overall academics for the SEC.

(05-09-2016 09:28 PM)1Dukie Wrote:  SEC should look at best available brands as well as new markets. I am going to assume contiguous states as well as Clemson and Florida State are a "no" and Texas doesn't want to leave the Big 12.

Oklahoma national brand and great football. Contiguous state.
North Carolina national brand and great basketball. Contiguous state.
Kansas strong brand and great basketball. Contiguous state.
Duke strong brand and great basketball.

Some would say football is a little too strong in the SEC. Why not make basketball great as well. These addidtions would also improve the overall academics for the SEC.

Do you believe the ACC to be in peril? I don't. Big 10 fans a jumping up and down and making whopping assumptions based on their first half of their TV deal. Assumptions that may prove to be very erroneous. ESPN is far from broke. I would think they are trying to figure out the best way to land Kansas, Oklahoma, incorporate Texas, and to make room for whatever it takes to land them.

I think we are set up to expand West. I don't expect any ACC schools to really be headed our way unless you meet with an unforeseen calamity. If that happens ESPN will shelter every property they want to keep in the SEC. Until then they will use the SEC now to get the Big 12 properties they want, the same way they used the ACC to get the Big East properties they wanted.

(05-09-2016 09:28 PM)1Dukie Wrote:  SEC should look at best available brands as well as new markets. I am going to assume contiguous states as well as Clemson and Florida State are a "no" and Texas doesn't want to leave the Big 12.

Oklahoma national brand and great football. Contiguous state.
North Carolina national brand and great basketball. Contiguous state.
Kansas strong brand and great basketball. Contiguous state.
Duke strong brand and great basketball.

Some would say football is a little too strong in the SEC. Why not make basketball great as well. These addidtions would also improve the overall academics for the SEC.

Welcome to the board Dukie.

I notice this is only your second post. I've had a good time since joining. The P5 fans are pretty cool, but be careful about wading into the G5 discussions on the main realignment board. Those folks can be awfully sensitive.

Hopefully this means more P5 posters...

(05-10-2016 09:12 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Hopefully this means more P5 posters...

I think when more of them realize that their allegiances and beliefs will receive a fair hearing and discussion, and civil discourse, they will eventually arrive in greater numbers. It will take a little time and perhaps a good headline or two to accomplish.

(05-10-2016 10:13 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-10-2016 09:12 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Hopefully this means more P5 posters...

I think when more of them realize that their allegiances and beliefs will receive a fair hearing and discussion, and civil discourse, they will eventually arrive in greater numbers. It will take a little time and perhaps a good headline or two to accomplish.

But we can still throw a little mud, right?

(05-10-2016 10:21 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(05-10-2016 10:13 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(05-10-2016 09:12 AM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Hopefully this means more P5 posters...

I think when more of them realize that their allegiances and beliefs will receive a fair hearing and discussion, and civil discourse, they will eventually arrive in greater numbers. It will take a little time and perhaps a good headline or two to accomplish.

But we can still throw a little mud, right?

It's just like with business associations. You get to know them first, and the humor and gentle ribbing is taken in stride. If you don't get to know them first the context is lost and they will be offended and leave. Folks had to get to know you in the Spin Room before they knew when you were joking and when you weren't. It will be the same here.

(05-10-2016 10:13 AM)JRsec Wrote:  I think when more of them realize that their allegiances and beliefs will receive a fair hearing and discussion, and civil discourse, they will eventually arrive in greater numbers. It will take a little time and perhaps a good headline or two to accomplish.

If you get some good threads going, they'll come....

(05-10-2016 12:20 PM)Otacon Wrote:  

(05-10-2016 10:13 AM)JRsec Wrote:  I think when more of them realize that their allegiances and beliefs will receive a fair hearing and discussion, and civil discourse, they will eventually arrive in greater numbers. It will take a little time and perhaps a good headline or two to accomplish.

If you get some good threads going, they'll come....

BTW I don't buy that WVU will be left out as Buccaineer is now claiming. I think that is why Gee has sided with Boren. Boren, and if not his BoR, is angling for an avenue to either secure the conference or leave. Gee is savvy enough not to go along with this based on just one desired outcome (expansion). He is on board to be a part of either outcome.

I hope we don't get left out, but either way, it won't matter we'll still support WVU. I really love facing all these good, ranked teams. We don't win them all, but its a lot of fun seeing them play. I feel like its rejuvenated our fan base.

(05-09-2016 06:55 PM)Soobahk40050 Wrote:  

(05-09-2016 03:56 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  Any combo of UVA, VT, UNC or Duke is fine. NC State as a last resort.

Would we take all four of UVA/Tech/UNC/Duke?

West could easily be:
South: Alabama/Auburn/Miss St/Ole Miss/Vandy
West: LSU/ Arkansas/Missouri/Texas A&M/OK

But how would you split up the east?
North: TN/KY/Tech/UVA
East: Florida/FSU/Georgia/South Carolina
forces UNC/Duke to split

As long as the money works out, yes. Two blue blood basketball brands, three AAU's and VT football. Two states and the District of Columbia. Works for me.