(05-10-2013 01:16 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  

(05-10-2013 12:46 PM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(05-10-2013 12:39 PM)vandiver49 Wrote:  JR, while I'd like WVU in the SEC, if all the GOR hold (and they will b/c no conference will want to face the legal challenge) then I think #15 becomes the equivalent of what #12 was for the B1G, a way to get (or in the SEC's case, increase) an internal playoff. As such, the 15th school doesn't need to be a home run. It's this scenario that I could see ECU getting into the SEC due to the lack of available options and potential revenue windfall from two semi-final games.

As for how to break them up: I envision more of a West, Central, East split and try to give each division access to a major recruiting state.

W: A&M, Ark, Mizzou, LSU, Ole Miss
C: Bama, Auburn, UGA, MS State, UT
E: UF, SCAR, Vandy, UK, #15

I think UF, and UGA are interchangeable but otherwise I think these divisions have the balance you are looking for without the potential dominance of any one school.

BBB: you are correct that you would need caveats but I think it could be far simpler than what you described since I think at worst we are talking about a 6-7 or 7-7 final records. I think that if you could stipulate that the division winner must have a winning record to host SEC Semi game. Otherwise, the position flip and the wild card team gets to host Semi.

You can run, but you can't hide from ECU to SEC.

I just find it to be an intriguing proposition. Don't get me wrong, I really would prefer WVU (actually, I really want VT but that's not going to happen) and I just think two 7 teams divisions is too cumbersome. Is ECU what Slive wants? Of course not, but this move falls into 'the 10% of something beats 100% of nothing' decision matrix.


The SEC in the state of NC is the equivalent of of the golden ticket for the Pirates. Recruits would flock to the school from across the state and also from the Tidewater VA area. Match-ups between SCAR and UT in Charlotte would drive up demand for Pirate football across the Piedmont. While not the academic windfall of a UNC, it would be the kind of middle finger move the SEC is known for. No different than when Roy Kramer first proposed the SEC championship game.

Unfortunately, I think UNC and NCSU both realize the potential of such a gift and as such would probably prevent ECU from accepting the invite via the Univ System governance that all NC state schools fall under. If ECU were denied, who would the SEC turn to Cincinnati or just wait for the B12 GOR to expire?

First of all, the city of Wilmington would secede from North Carolina if the state government prevented ECU to the SEC because it would be utter ridiculousness. Second, it was discussed recently on the realignment board, but ECU needs to jump about 75 academic spots, double their revenue and become an athletic equivalent to UNC and NCSU, and rename their university to get rid of the "directional" and live up to that name (become a North Carolina version of an "A&M" or "Tech") for the SEC to even reply. Not trying to belittle ECU, because they are striving to be their best, but there is a long way to go. Believe me, most SEC fans want North Carolina back in the fold, just not at the expense of downgrading what we have going.