Given that the ACC and UNC are now stable this is a moot point in terms of broader implications for realignment, but I found this blurb from the Charlotte Observer article talking about the threat the ACC faced in the days after Maryland's departure interesting. I've heard many times that UNC considers itself a much more sophisticated and progressive institution than the SEC schools and therefore its supporters would rather join the B1G than SEC. But this exchange, though not a scientific sample, indicates otherwise:

"The emails – many coming after UNC fans on the message boards at InsideCarolina.com organized a push to fill Cunningham’s inbox – shared roughly the same sentiment: Lead the Tar Heels out of the crumbling ACC, to a better place. The overwhelming majority of fans preferred moving to the SEC. Among the more than 150 pages of emails that Cunningham received in the 10 days after Maryland’s announcement, only one email favored joining the Big Ten."



Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/10/3...rylink=cpy

(10-13-2013 06:48 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Given that the ACC and UNC are now stable this is a moot point in terms of broader implications for realignment, but I found this blurb from the Charlotte Observer article talking about the threat the ACC faced in the days after Maryland's departure interesting. I've heard many times that UNC considers itself a much more sophisticated and progressive institution than the SEC schools and therefore its supporters would rather join the B1G than SEC. But this exchange, though not a scientific sample, indicates otherwise:

"The emails – many coming after UNC fans on the message boards at InsideCarolina.com organized a push to fill Cunningham’s inbox – shared roughly the same sentiment: Lead the Tar Heels out of the crumbling ACC, to a better place. The overwhelming majority of fans preferred moving to the SEC. Among the more than 150 pages of emails that Cunningham received in the 10 days after Maryland’s announcement, only one email favored joining the Big Ten."



Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/10/3...rylink=cpy

These emails were from fans not academia types.
Don't you think a fanbase would want their team to play at the highest level?
No offense to the B10 but currently the SEC is a better foootball conference as the results of the last decade show.
Now if you're talking basketball.........

(10-13-2013 06:48 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Given that the ACC and UNC are now stable this is a moot point in terms of broader implications for realignment, but I found this blurb from the Charlotte Observer article talking about the threat the ACC faced in the days after Maryland's departure interesting. I've heard many times that UNC considers itself a much more sophisticated and progressive institution than the SEC schools and therefore its supporters would rather join the B1G than SEC. But this exchange, though not a scientific sample, indicates otherwise:

"The emails – many coming after UNC fans on the message boards at InsideCarolina.com organized a push to fill Cunningham’s inbox – shared roughly the same sentiment: Lead the Tar Heels out of the crumbling ACC, to a better place. The overwhelming majority of fans preferred moving to the SEC. Among the more than 150 pages of emails that Cunningham received in the 10 days after Maryland’s announcement, only one email favored joining the Big Ten."



Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/10/3...rylink=cpy

I think the emphasis was on the word "crumbling". The panic those UNC fans were expressing doesn't really tell us whether they prefer the SEC over a stable ACC. I doubt that UNC fans in places like Virginia & places north as well as South Florida would prefer the SEC, which would only make it harder for them to see games.

Why is it difficult to believe that those UNC fans wanted no part of the Big Ten?

Those UNC fans believed that the ACC was falling apart, and if we had to leave we would prefer SEC over B1G. The majority of fans, players, alumni, faculty, administrators preferred the ACC.

I prefer the ACC first and forever but if it fell I would rather be in the SEC.
It would still feels more regional Tenn, SC, Ga, FL, etc
not like Mich, Wis, Iowa etc
Money aside, UNC has that already.

I'm not a UNC fan but I'm guessing most fans would prefer the SEC. I think the academics would prefer the B1G.

(10-13-2013 08:30 AM)TerryD Wrote:  Why is it difficult to believe that those UNC fans wanted no part of the Big Ten?

Because it's not what they want to hear. People want to hear whatever will support their favorite expansion scenario...

I thought you'd have figured that out by now, Terry...

If asked most UNC fans would rather be in the conference that has the best basketball which is hands down the ACC. Secondly we would rather be in the conference that has Duke, UVA, Clemson and probably State as well. Just because of longtime traditions we hold closer than does Maryland.

If anything happened to the ACC I would prefer the SEC, but I'd like Duke to come along

(10-13-2013 10:34 AM)westmc9th Wrote:  If asked most UNC fans would rather be in the conference that has the best basketball which is hands down the ACC. Secondly we would rather be in the conference that has Duke, UVA, Clemson and probably State as well. Just because of longtime traditions we hold closer than does Maryland.

If anything happened to the ACC I would prefer the SEC, but I'd like Duke to come along

Commit to coming to the SEC if Duke is also invited and we'll see what we can do.

(10-13-2013 10:01 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(10-13-2013 08:30 AM)TerryD Wrote:  Why is it difficult to believe that those UNC fans wanted no part of the Big Ten?

Because it's not what they want to hear. People want to hear whatever will support their favorite expansion scenario...

I thought you'd have figured that out by now, Terry...

Lol. Who said that I had not?

(10-13-2013 10:34 AM)westmc9th Wrote:  If asked most UNC fans would rather be in the conference that has the best basketball which is hands down the ACC. Secondly we would rather be in the conference that has Duke, UVA, Clemson and probably State as well. Just because of longtime traditions we hold closer than does Maryland.

If anything happened to the ACC I would prefer the SEC, but I'd like Duke to come along

And that's why UNC isn't coming to the SEC. The SEC doesn't want Duke. I think, given UNC's insistence on Duke, that NCST is more likely than UNC at this point.

(10-13-2013 12:12 PM)TerryD Wrote:  

(10-13-2013 10:01 AM)bitcruncher Wrote:  

(10-13-2013 08:30 AM)TerryD Wrote:  Why is it difficult to believe that those UNC fans wanted no part of the Big Ten?

Because it's not what they want to hear. People want to hear whatever will support their favorite expansion scenario...

I thought you'd have figured that out by now, Terry...

Lol. Who said that I had not?

Just checking...

The question is an interesting one.......if you prefer football the obvious choice is the SEC. However, basketball is much better in the B1G. The decision comes down to where you want to play most of your games. I prefer the south so the SEC would get the vote.

(10-13-2013 08:30 AM)TerryD Wrote:  Why is it difficult to believe that those UNC fans wanted no part of the Big Ten?

Not difficult for me to believe, hut i have been told over and over about the alleged UNC affinity for the B1G.

I live in Indiana. IU and it's fans want no part of The Big Ten but they know they have no other options. IU fans know when coming technology kills the BTN the bloated athletic departments of the conference will suffer. It's no surprise UNC fans feel the same way. The Big Ten is dead conference walking.
CJ

I would welcome Duke to get UNC to join.

Two more great academic schools and SEC basketball gets a huge boost

(though admittedly thats coming from someones whose school will never be a factor in SEC mens basketball more than once every 20 years so its not like more competition there would hurt us)

(10-13-2013 12:27 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(10-13-2013 10:34 AM)westmc9th Wrote:  If asked most UNC fans would rather be in the conference that has the best basketball which is hands down the ACC. Secondly we would rather be in the conference that has Duke, UVA, Clemson and probably State as well. Just because of longtime traditions we hold closer than does Maryland.

If anything happened to the ACC I would prefer the SEC, but I'd like Duke to come along

And that's why UNC isn't coming to the SEC. The SEC doesn't want Duke. I think, given UNC's insistence on Duke, that NCST is more likely than UNC at this point.

I bet the SEC would love to add Duke and UNC as a package.

(10-13-2013 01:51 PM)CardinalJim Wrote:  I live in Indiana. IU and it's fans want no part of The Big Ten but they know they have no other options. IU fans know when coming technology kills the BTN the bloated athletic departments of the conference will suffer. It's no surprise UNC fans feel the same way. The Big Ten is dead conference walking.
CJ

This so true for the Rust Belt Conference. First bankruptcy is Detroit and next is the Big!

(10-13-2013 01:56 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(10-13-2013 12:27 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(10-13-2013 10:34 AM)westmc9th Wrote:  If asked most UNC fans would rather be in the conference that has the best basketball which is hands down the ACC. Secondly we would rather be in the conference that has Duke, UVA, Clemson and probably State as well. Just because of longtime traditions we hold closer than does Maryland.

If anything happened to the ACC I would prefer the SEC, but I'd like Duke to come along

And that's why UNC isn't coming to the SEC. The SEC doesn't want Duke. I think, given UNC's insistence on Duke, that NCST is more likely than UNC at this point.

I bet the SEC would love to add Duke and UNC as a package.

Agreed. Getting Duke and UNC hoops would be a huge addition for the SEC Network, given how many basketball games end up on the conference networks. SECN would get an average of about one game/week from each team during the hoops regular season (with the balance of the games on the ESPN channels and maybe a small number of games sublicensed to broadcast TV).