Per SportingNews, SEC pursuing Duke/UNC

[REM08]

Thoughts? Think its likely or realistic? I imagine most of you would have to like this option more than one including FSU. My preference would be UNC and then another school from another state.

This would make the SEC pretty strong in basketball - at the top at least.

[KyleM923]

HAHA..... pulling Duke and UNC away from the ACC would pretty much make that conference obsolete, in both Academics and Athletics!

[Jstewie15]

Wow could u amagine Uk,Uf,Unc and Duke during Basketball season. Calaparia would be 4th best coach in conference. Coach K,Billy Donovan,Roy Williams then Calaparia

[jjenkins5]

I would LOVE it! It would make for a much tougher b-ball conference, but talk about some great in-conference games - WOW. That UNC & Duke are both AAU schools is icing on the cake - a 16 team conference with the best combination of football, basketball and baseball teams and nearly half (6) are academically elite, now that's something to be proud to be a part of!

[REM08]

I would LOVE it! It would make for a much tougher b-ball conference, but talk about some great in-conference games - WOW. That UNC & Duke are both AAU schools is icing on the cake - a 16 team conference with the best combination of football, basketball and baseball teams and nearly half (6) are academically elite, now that's something to be proud to be a part of!

I went ahead and bolded phrases and words that shouldn't ever be combined again now that we've learned about how academics have been handled (for decades) at UNC.

The latest story that broke about this involved a whistle blower who used to be an athletic academic advisor at UNC. She said what they did "made her sick to her stomach" and that she was told to "shut up and graduate players..."

I'd be excited to add UNC to the SEC, but lets not pretend they're anything but an embarrassment when it comes to academics.

[PIMking]

I've been hoping and saying this for a long time. I think it would be great, we would go to one of the best in Basketball, best football, and 6 teams that are AAU schools. It helps basketball, and academics

[EvenParGator]

I'm afraid that they would have to come as a pair, if at all. In my own perfect world, I'd want UNC and UVA and close the book!

[GatorPlanet]

I don't like Duke and I don't like UNC. Screw 'em.

If we MUST expand, let's take Louisville and Hawaii.

[LeafUF]

If we are going to add two schools from the same state these are the two you take.

[fubar1]

I'm a believer in not mixing cultures when conferences expand. And adding UNC and Duke falls into that category.

Arkansas, South Carolina, Missouri and TAM were all "football" schools, at least from a historical perspective. They fit well and blended right in with the culture and traditions of the SEC.

I personally don't want any part of UNC and Duke. Give me VT if we're taking an ACC team. Beyond that....leave the rest to rot.

[EvenParGator]

I'm hoping for different states/TV markets...

[gator1986]

It would be great for basketball purposes since UNC and duke both suck at football... Pretty decent at baseball, but I say get Louisville and Pittsburgh, even though Pittsburgh is not a southern school it would be nice to be able to raid that state more in football and basketball for recruiting and the other surrounding states, even though they already do get heavily recruited by Florida, even more would come...

[amangator08]

ESPN just posted an article yesterday saying how UNC sent out a letter stating that they had been in the ACC 60 years and would be there at least another 60. Now, I understand that people in sports have made remarks like this in the past that later turned out tone untrue. But, I'd be really surprised to see this happen.

[REM08]

I'm afraid that they would have to come as a pair, if at all. In my own perfect world, I'd want UNC and UVA and close the book!

I'm with you on those states being the ones I'd target, but UVA over Va Tech?

[GatorPlanet]

Oklahoma and/or Texas.

[REM08]

Wow could u amagine Uk,Uf,Unc and Duke during Basketball season. Calaparia would be 4th best coach in conference. Coach K,Billy Donovan,Roy Williams then Calaparia

Calling Roy Williams a good coach is as absurd as thinking UNC is academically elite.

[LeafUF]

Calling Roy Williams a good coach is as absurd as thinking UNC is academically elite.

Just because they have dirt in the athletic program when it comes to student athletes does not make UNC any less elite academically overall. They are a top 50 national university. Judging a universities academics by its athletes is going to make every university in the country look worse.

[REM08]

Just because they have dirt in the athletic program when it comes to student athletes does not make UNC any less elite academically overall. They are a top 50 national university. Judging a universities academics by its athletes is going to make every university in the country look worse.



Amen to your last sentence there. However, the conference exists for athletics. We're not adding communication or psych majors, we're adding geographic territory/tv money and an athletic department. Thats my view at least.

[gatorfansrule]

I'd love it because I'd finally have the Gators traveling close to me to play games, but these schools are not a fit in the SEC. Give me NC State and Virginia Tech.

[LeafUF]

Amen to your last sentence there. However, the conference exists for athletics. We're not adding communication or psych majors, we're adding geographic territory/tv money and an athletic department. Thats my view at least.

The Presidents of these Universities will harp on the Academics of their Universities and of the others in their conference and when they do that they are not talking about the athletic programs academic standards. Its probably all lip service and in the end is way down the list of concerns in this conference realignment game but its still something they love to brag about.

UNC is actually a very good school. They are #5 amongst publics and #30 overall. That is 12 and 24 spots better than the current best academic school in the SEC.

Does improving the academic profile of a conference really matter in all this? My guess is not really. And if it mattered so much the ACC wouldnt have just voted to add Louisville.

[HALLGATOR]

Make for a hell of an SEC tourney.

[Nicho]

I don't like Duke and I don't like UNC. Screw 'em.

If we MUST expand, let's take Louisville and Hawaii.

You don't have to like the schools that join the conference. We're not exactly chummy with the ones already here.

[REM08]

You don't have to like the schools that join the conference. We're not exactly chummy with the ones already here.

I take it you wouldn't vote for adding Miami and FSU. Imagine that though. I have to say, as a fan of another team, that this would almost be fun to watch from a distance.

[GothamGator]

I personally don't see it happening at all; my guess is that this is a rumor without a basis.

I aslo hope the SEC doesn't expand any further. 16 teams is definitely too many. 14 teams might already be too many. I don't care who the applicants are at this point, the league is full.

[HayGator]

16 team conferences will be here sooner than later.

[REM08]

16 team conferences will be here sooner than later.

I think its inevitable and is the reason why I'd rather pick up the final two teams sooner than later. The SEC is desirable and shouldn't pick from the left overs.

I agree and disagree with Gotham. I see your point. I just don't see anyway the conference won't be adding two more teams. According to this article, the SEC has been chasing after Duke and UNC for "the last three years." http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/feed/2012-08/firstand10/story/college-football-realignment-maryland-acc-50-million-buyout-sec-big-ten-pac-12
If that’s true, Maryland is the Curt Flood of college football. And it could lead to the one remaining mega move still out there: Florida State and Clemson to the Big 12.

If that happens, the two crown jewels of the ACC become available. Duke and North Carolina, which an ACC source said have been chased by the SEC for “the last three years,” will choose between the Big Ten and the SEC.


If we really are going to add two more eventually, lets just get it over with so we have better selection and can mesh the schedules together sooner.

[InstiGATOR1]

Thoughts? Think its likely or realistic? I imagine most of you would have to like this option more than one including FSU. My preference would be UNC and then another school from another state.

This would make the SEC pretty strong in basketball - at the top at least.

I don't want Duke. Give me UNC and UVa. It was a mistake to let the Big 14 get UMD before the SEC.

[LeafUF]

I don't want Duke. Give me UNC and UVa. It was a mistake to let the Big 14 get UMD before the SEC.

I dont understand the appeal of UMD. The campus sucks, the alumni suck, the athletics suck. Its just far enough away from Baltimore and DC to be a pain in the butt to go to and they are broke.

I lived in the DMV area way too long and have come to dislike most things from that area. So this post is full of bias.

[GatorLurker]

Football is driving this and basketball is just a distraction. Duke makes no sense. UNC does, but do they need or want to play football in the SEC?

If Kansas only had football players like Gale Sayers again ...

[ApexNC]

I'd love it because I'd finally have the Gators traveling close to me to play games, but these schools are not a fit in the SEC. Give me NC State and Virginia Tech.

this

[PIMking]

good lord, greed is selling out our great traditions and putting making 1.4 million compared to 1.25 million in a 12 team conference. Now rivalries are toast and no one cares. I for one loved beating FSU last weekend and it's because it's a rival and we're suppose to play and hate eachother.

I love tradition and rivalries, this is what makes CFB so much better than the NFL

[corpgator]

I'd rather have Duke and UNC. We could use a few more easy outs on our schedule.

[mastoidbone]

No way UNC comes to SEC---in ACC they are the king and have ALL the power to make decisions. They OWN the ACC, along with other NC schools. Teams that would leave the ACC are teams that feel disenfranchised----like Clemson perhaps or NC state.

[traubgator]

the snobbery alone of the weejen wearing alumni will keep them out. UNC thinks they are above everyone else but they latest academic scandal proved they are not.

[fbgator27]

I still think it comes down to revenue more than anything. Are we not on the verge of a new SEC TV contract? Adding Duke/UNC puts us in the Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte markets. These are the 2 biggest markets in the southeast region we don't have already. That would put us adding Houston #10, St. Louis #21, Charlotte #25, and Raleigh-Durham #24 in the past few years. Before that we had #9, #14, #19 in the top 25. If it was all about sports and to a lesser degree academics like us fans say; I don't think these teams are even in the discussion.

[gandergator]

Why would we even consider it. The conference is big enough already.

[candymanfromgc]

Do not fool yourselves. Any additions will be FB based and will be to expand the tv markets. If they are good BB schools then great but it is not the major factor.

Add one of the NC schools-most likely NC State and Virginia or Virginia Tech and the SEC would be all set. NCST and Virginia go to the east and Mizzou goes back to the west where it should be.

NCST would then have a better and different product to compete against NC with as would Virginia or Virginia Tech.

The SEC would then add two states to the TV markets whils minamizing travel etc.

[REM08]

No way UNC comes to SEC---in ACC they are the king and have ALL the power to make decisions. They OWN the ACC, along with other NC schools. Teams that would leave the ACC are teams that feel disenfranchised----like Clemson perhaps or NC state.

I think that used to be the case but wonder now that it looks as if the ACC may be the next conference to disintegrate. Tony Kornheiser on PTI Monday said that Louisville left a dead conference (Big East) for a dying conference (ACC) and I tend to agree. When UNC is convinced their conference isn't the most stable foundation for them, they'll leave.

[RD_gator]

If the SEC has to expand, I would choose Georgia Tech ('the Rambling Wreck') & reluctantly, Florida St. That would consolidate the two biggest football states. Can you imagine the football rivalries in the SEC with those two?

Culturally, Duke & North Carolina would be out of place; although, the basketball rivalries with Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, etc. would be outstanding!

[traubgator]

there is no benefit to adding georgia tech. the dawgs own the state, ga tech is after thought.

carolina and virginia would make so much sense. i much prefer unc/VA over nc state/va tech. unc/va's over all athletic program is superior.

va tech has never won a single national title in a team sport.............

[gtr2x]

I dont understand the appeal of UMD. The campus sucks, the alumni suck, the athletics suck. Its just far enough away from Baltimore and DC to be a pain in the butt to go to and they are broke.

.

Totally agree and said so in the MD to the Big 10 thread awhile back.

It's pretty difficult to envision VA, UNC or Duke being compatible in the SEC given the alums that Ive known, but you never know. At least they all would upgrade the academic rep (FWIW), upgrade basketball rep and be an easy win in football.

And would be a big upgrade to women's soccer. :joecool:

[gtj31]

I want OU and UNC personally. Texas would go to the Big 10 and the PAC gets left with also-rans Okie St, Tech, Kansas, and Kansas State (maybe TCU instead of KSU).

[InstiGATOR1]

I dont understand the appeal of UMD. The campus sucks, the alumni suck, the athletics suck. Its just far enough away from Baltimore and DC to be a pain in the butt to go to and they are broke.

I lived in the DMV area way too long and have come to dislike most things from that area. So this post is full of bias.

The appeal of UMD is to get into the DC media market. Virginia is a bigger state so I guess getting UVa or VaTech is better. The states in play in the moves made the last couple of years are:

2 Texas 25,145,561
10 North Carolina 9,535,483
11 New Jersey 8,791,894
12 Virginia 8,001,024
18 Missouri 5,988,927
19 Maryland 5,773,552
22 Colorado 5,029,196
34 Utah 2,763,885

The SEC got into the 2nd and 18th largest states last year. The Big whatever got into the 11th and 19th states in their recent move. The PAC12 got the 22nd and 34th largest states.

Really we may be headed for a super conference of UF, UCLA, UCal, UTx, 'Cuse, U of IL, PSU, Ohio State, Michigan, UGa, UNC, Rutgers, U of Wash and maybe some others or second teams in big states like Florida and Texas.

[LeafUF]

The appeal of UMD is to get into the DC media market. Virginia is a bigger state so I guess getting UVa or VaTech is better.

Virginia and Virginia Tech would give you more of the DC market. The DC suburbs on the Virginia side are much more popular with recent college graduates than are the Maryland suburbs or most areas of the city itself. DC is also a town of transplants with very few native Virginians or Marylanders to be found.

If we want that market its better to focus on the schools in VA than the one in MD. Unless the feeling is that you also get Baltimore with that and DC+Baltimore is better than DC+Richmond.