RCP

I respect ECU and your intent of trying to make it to the SEC. I strongly doubt the SEC though will ever go to 14 teams. For one, that's way too big a conference. I think for ECU to ever make it to the SEC, schools would have to leave. The Big XII has tried to court Arkansas for years, saying they'd drop Baylor to grab us. No way we'd take that offer though, because the SEC is much more financially beneficial. The Big 10 could court Kentucky, but it's doubtful. Vandy's going nowhere because of their academics.

However, for ECU to make a legitimate case, if I was Terry Holland, I'd do the following.

1) Expand your football stadium - 49,000 seats won't do in the SEC. Build it to 60,000. Then you've gotta fill it.
2) New basketball area - You've got to make it around 10,000 seats, new state-of-the-art equipment, and ECU has to make a consistent run of trips to the Big Dance.
3) Baseball success - build on the success of your baseball program. If ECU makes consistent trips to Omaha, or wins a couple of CWS, that will open some eyes here.
4) Change the name - No offense, but it will be hard to get here with a directional name.

Personally, I have no problems with ECU. John Thompson is a native of Arkansas, used to be a DC here, and is a great motivator and good person. I think you guys could really make some noise with the right people and right touches to your program. I'm just one who always says though that if you're gonna scream to be with the big boys... win and win and win to prove yourself.