(05-01-2013 04:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  I think this question illustrates one reason the Pac, SEC, and B1G are solid conferences.

If I was making this choice for Cal, I'd choose the other 9 Pac-10 schools (though I don't mind UU and CU being included, either). And I suspect that a lot of Big Ten fans would choose the pre-Penn State Big Ten, and a lot of SEC fans would choose the pre-Arkansas/So. Carolina SEC.

Agreed. Our conferences give the West, Midwest, and South a front porch to our regional pride and identities. Speaking for the SEC, South Carolina has turned out to be a perfect fit in every way, and I can't imagine them being anywhere else. TAMU has also turned out to be a perfect fit. It's amazing how football can knit together the South. Visiting each other's states, having something in common to talk about, and generally pulling together for regional pride is part of why North Carolina and Virginia have slowly become more mid-Atlantic culturally rather than Southern. We all blame the ACC for breaking up the Old South, of course :) That is why we want UNC and UVA in the SEC. It is not for their research, money, or TV eyeballs; we just want a deep connection again with those states, and flagship partnerships are a tremendous place to start. I think that is why football is so important around here; it is all the peripheral benefits of being knit together.

(05-01-2013 10:26 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  For Tulane:

Close Matches
1. Southern Methodist
2. University of Miami

OK Matches
3. Vanderbilt University
4. Wake Forest University
5. US Naval Academy
6. Baylor University
7. Rice University

Last Two
8. Tulsa University
9. Temple University

That would make the most sense.

You know there would have to be a party cruise ship taking fans to and from the Tulane vs. Miami games, right? Add Rice to that mix, and you've got a nice little trio that would be the most fun rivalries in the country, mainly because of the boat!

(05-02-2013 09:25 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 04:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  I think this question illustrates one reason the Pac, SEC, and B1G are solid conferences.

If I was making this choice for Cal, I'd choose the other 9 Pac-10 schools (though I don't mind UU and CU being included, either). And I suspect that a lot of Big Ten fans would choose the pre-Penn State Big Ten, and a lot of SEC fans would choose the pre-Arkansas/So. Carolina SEC.

Agreed. Our conferences give the West, Midwest, and South a front porch to our regional pride and identities. Speaking for the SEC, South Carolina has turned out to be a perfect fit in every way, and I can't imagine them being anywhere else. TAMU has also turned out to be a perfect fit. It's amazing how football can knit together the South. Visiting each other's states, having something in common to talk about, and generally pulling together for regional pride is part of why North Carolina and Virginia have slowly become more mid-Atlantic culturally rather than Southern. We all blame the ACC for breaking up the Old South, of course :) That is why we want UNC and UVA in the SEC. It is not for their research, money, or TV eyeballs; we just want a deep connection again with those states, and flagship partnerships are a tremendous place to start. I think that is why football is so important around here; it is all the peripheral benefits of being knit together.

By the way, I still think it would be in the long term interests of Miss. State, Auburn, and Vandy to be part of the southern ACC for every reason except bottom line TV dollars. They have a TON in common with the southern ACC schools, and the addition of Louisville basically makes such a conference the state/private conference of the South. A shift of UVA and UNC to the SEC would create a situation where the two conferences could partner and keep all the in state rivalries intact while creating regular seasons where similar schools compete.

If I had to choose 9 for South Carolina:

Georgia
Clemson
Florida
Alabama
Auburn
Ole Miss
Vandy
Tennessee
Kentucky

For Georgia Tech:

1) Georgia
2) Clemson
3) Florida State
4) Auburn
5) Notre Dame
6) Virgina Tech
7) North Carolina
8) Alabama
9) Vanderbilt

(05-02-2013 10:26 AM)gpburdell Wrote:  For Georgia Tech:

1) Georgia
2) Clemson
3) Florida State
4) Auburn
5) Notre Dame
6) Virgina Tech
7) North Carolina
8) Alabama
9) Vanderbilt

As mentioned earlier, it is a shame that Auburn, Ga. Tech, Clemson, and FSU are not in the same conference (Miss. State and NC State to a lesser extent). I agree that Vandy/Ga. Tech could be a good rivalry. The Nashville/Atlanta connection has historical legs, and it is a huge crossover crowd in terms of residents that are from both cities.

Since this has gone on for 7 pages, I'll go ahead and chime in for WVU...

1. Pittsburgh
2. Syracuse
3. Penn State
4. Rutgers
5. Maryland
6. Virginia Tech/Virginia
7. Ohio State
8. Kentucky
9. Tennessee
10. Louisville/Cincinnati

I kept it regional. Although I like the arrangement WVU currently has in the B12, since we can't play our long time rivals any longer. The added exposure is very nice too...

(05-02-2013 11:53 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  Since this has gone on for 7 pages, I'll go ahead and chime in for WVU...

1. Pittsburgh
2. Syracuse
3. Penn State
4. Rutgers
5. Maryland
6. Virginia Tech/Virginia
7. Ohio State
8. Kentucky
9. Tennessee
10. Louisville/Cincinnati

I kept it regional. Although I like the arrangement WVU currently has in the B12, since we can't play our long time rivals any longer. The added exposure is very nice too...

I'm surprised WVU/VTech didn't take off as a major rivalry.

Also, BXII, what?

Minor point: Most AAC alumni/fans/students did NOT put anything remotely close to an AAC lineup as their "ideal conference within reality". This is in complete opposition to the feelings of most SEC and B1G alumni/fans.

(05-02-2013 12:14 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  I'm surprised WVU/VTech didn't take off as a major rivalry.

It was starting to become one when VT split for the ACC. But there was only a little over a decade of history between the 2 schools...

(05-02-2013 01:25 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 12:14 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  I'm surprised WVU/VTech didn't take off as a major rivalry.

It was starting to become one when VT split for the ACC. But there was only a little over a decade of history between the 2 schools...

Why didn't you guys play each other much pre-Big East?

For James Madison:

1. William and Mary
2. Delaware
3. Appalachian State
3. Virginia Tech
4. Virginia
5. Maryland
6. Navy
7. Temple
8. Rutgers
9. Connecticut

(05-02-2013 01:34 PM)JMU Duke Dog Wrote:  For James Madison:

1. William and Mary
2. Delaware
3. Appalachian State
3. Virginia Tech
4. Virginia
5. Maryland
6. Navy
7. Temple
8. Rutgers
9. Connecticut

This is an interesting straddle between FCS and FBS. Is that something you'd want to maintain even if/when JMU makes the jump?

(05-02-2013 01:33 PM)apex_pirate Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 01:25 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 12:14 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  I'm surprised WVU/VTech didn't take off as a major rivalry.

It was starting to become one when VT split for the ACC. But there was only a little over a decade of history between the 2 schools...

Why didn't you guys play each other much pre-Big East?

Not really. Even though the 2 schools played in the old Southern Conference, there wasn't much history between the 2 schools until they started playing every season. That began in 1973, and it wasn't until both started playing in The BEast that you could really call it a rivalry. That's when the Hokies started to win more than they lost. Prior to that, it was the other way around...

(05-02-2013 09:25 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 04:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  I think this question illustrates one reason the Pac, SEC, and B1G are solid conferences.

If I was making this choice for Cal, I'd choose the other 9 Pac-10 schools (though I don't mind UU and CU being included, either). And I suspect that a lot of Big Ten fans would choose the pre-Penn State Big Ten, and a lot of SEC fans would choose the pre-Arkansas/So. Carolina SEC.

Agreed. Our conferences give the West, Midwest, and South a front porch to our regional pride and identities. Speaking for the SEC, South Carolina has turned out to be a perfect fit in every way, and I can't imagine them being anywhere else. TAMU has also turned out to be a perfect fit. It's amazing how football can knit together the South. Visiting each other's states, having something in common to talk about, and generally pulling together for regional pride is part of why North Carolina and Virginia have slowly become more mid-Atlantic culturally rather than Southern. We all blame the ACC for breaking up the Old South, of course :) That is why we want UNC and UVA in the SEC. It is not for their research, money, or TV eyeballs; we just want a deep connection again with those states, and flagship partnerships are a tremendous place to start. I think that is why football is so important around here; it is all the peripheral benefits of being knit together.

North Carolina and Virginia are too far gone for this to happen. For instance South Carolina is so much more southern than North Carolina its not even funny.

(05-02-2013 04:27 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  North Carolina and Virginia are too far gone for this to happen. For instance South Carolina is so much more southern than North Carolina its not even funny.

That boundary between North and South Carolina is pretty much the boundary between the states where they are actually building the South East High Speed Rail corridor, and the states where they say "take another study and call me after the next election".

(05-01-2013 12:46 PM)ohio1317 Wrote:  For Ohio State:

Michigan
Illinois
Michigan State
Northwestern
Purdue
Indiana
Wisconsin
Iowa
Minnesota

+1

I'm glad Iowa will be in the West division when the new schools are added.

(05-02-2013 04:27 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 09:25 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 04:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  I think this question illustrates one reason the Pac, SEC, and B1G are solid conferences.

If I was making this choice for Cal, I'd choose the other 9 Pac-10 schools (though I don't mind UU and CU being included, either). And I suspect that a lot of Big Ten fans would choose the pre-Penn State Big Ten, and a lot of SEC fans would choose the pre-Arkansas/So. Carolina SEC.

Agreed. Our conferences give the West, Midwest, and South a front porch to our regional pride and identities. Speaking for the SEC, South Carolina has turned out to be a perfect fit in every way, and I can't imagine them being anywhere else. TAMU has also turned out to be a perfect fit. It's amazing how football can knit together the South. Visiting each other's states, having something in common to talk about, and generally pulling together for regional pride is part of why North Carolina and Virginia have slowly become more mid-Atlantic culturally rather than Southern. We all blame the ACC for breaking up the Old South, of course :) That is why we want UNC and UVA in the SEC. It is not for their research, money, or TV eyeballs; we just want a deep connection again with those states, and flagship partnerships are a tremendous place to start. I think that is why football is so important around here; it is all the peripheral benefits of being knit together.

North Carolina and Virginia are too far gone for this to happen. For instance South Carolina is so much more southern than North Carolina its not even funny.

Yeah you're dead on with this. I know a handful of people from NC who go to UNC and its hard to even talk to them about sports. Such a huge cultural difference.

(05-01-2013 08:47 PM)XLance Wrote:  For Carolina:

1)UVa
2)Wake Forest
3)Dook
4)Ga. Tech
5)NCSU
6)Clemson
7)South Carolina
8)Maryland
9)Virginia Tech

Yep, probably what I'd go with too. I looked up some of our old match-ups and we actually used to play Georgia and Tennessee a lot before I was born.

(05-02-2013 10:22 PM)Gamecock Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 04:27 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 09:25 AM)bigblueblindness Wrote:  

(05-01-2013 04:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  I think this question illustrates one reason the Pac, SEC, and B1G are solid conferences.

If I was making this choice for Cal, I'd choose the other 9 Pac-10 schools (though I don't mind UU and CU being included, either). And I suspect that a lot of Big Ten fans would choose the pre-Penn State Big Ten, and a lot of SEC fans would choose the pre-Arkansas/So. Carolina SEC.

Agreed. Our conferences give the West, Midwest, and South a front porch to our regional pride and identities. Speaking for the SEC, South Carolina has turned out to be a perfect fit in every way, and I can't imagine them being anywhere else. TAMU has also turned out to be a perfect fit. It's amazing how football can knit together the South. Visiting each other's states, having something in common to talk about, and generally pulling together for regional pride is part of why North Carolina and Virginia have slowly become more mid-Atlantic culturally rather than Southern. We all blame the ACC for breaking up the Old South, of course :) That is why we want UNC and UVA in the SEC. It is not for their research, money, or TV eyeballs; we just want a deep connection again with those states, and flagship partnerships are a tremendous place to start. I think that is why football is so important around here; it is all the peripheral benefits of being knit together.

North Carolina and Virginia are too far gone for this to happen. For instance South Carolina is so much more southern than North Carolina its not even funny.

Yeah you're dead on with this. I know a handful of people from NC who go to UNC and its hard to even talk to them about sports. Such a huge cultural difference.

Unless you are talking about NASCAR....