Yes, I agree with everything posted recently by 10th, JR, and Medic. I think ECU fans believe the SEC fans/schools look down on them, but that is not the case at all. It truly is all about fit and the larger aspects of being part of a conference. ECU fans always poo-poo this idea, but why can they not embrace the role of big dog in a southern conference that would be a tremendous regional draw? If the following schools formed a conference and committed to stay together for generations, it would give time to build the rivalries and relationships that have made the SEC so great. The SEC did not become what it is overnight; it took years and years of generational interest. I am going to call this the Southern Conference just for ease. Follow me here:

Missouri - Missouri State
Arkansas - Arkansas State
Louisiana - Louisiana Tech
Mississippi - Southern Miss
Alabama - UAB
Tennessee - MTSU (Memphis has a real shot at Big 12 membership after the existing GoR expires if they can just get their act together in football and be one notch better in academics.)
Kentucky - WKU
Georgia - Georgia State or Georgia Southern. I'm not sold on Ga. State long term yet.
Florida - Central Florida (South Florida similar to Memphis)
South Carolina - Not sure Coastal Carolina can fit yet. Work on this, SC.
North Carolina - ECU (App. State if ECU succeeds in moving up, but their location does not make much sense for Big 12.)
Virginia - ODU

That is 11 teams. You could easily go to 12 by adding Marshall or a team from Texas, although I see the Texas schools plus Tulsa/Tulane wanting to stick together. Having two teams in Florida would not hurt, either, so FIU makes sense, as well.

All of these schools have the following in common:

1) Low ranked national universities or regional universities.
2) Had sustained athletic success recently at some level.
3) Either have or have the capacity to benefit from huge enrollments and following.

The highest academic ranking in that group right now is UAB at #151. What if all of these schools made a first generation commitment (first 25 years) to become national universities ranked in the top 200? Conferences could and should be used to advance the important causes for each school.