The 2011 SEC Thread - Page 5

diabsoule · 07-21-2011, 06:37 PM

According to the Sporting News, word is coming out that Oklahoma and Texas A&M officials may look at moving to the SEC because of the Longhorn Network. This is hardly surprising as there was widespread speculation last year that Texas A&M was in heated discussions with the SEC on moving to that league should a favorable deal not be worked out with the Big XII.

At seemingly the eleventh hour, a deal was worked out that would split the largest chunk of the television payout amongst Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M but that deal has since been minimized by the vast amount of money Texas will receive by forming their own television network in association with ESPN.

The dissolution of the Big XII seems to be all but a foregone conclusion. The remaining members of the Big XII outside of Texas all look to be left in the Longhorn's rearview as that school accumulates a tremendous payout from their current television deal which is coupled with the payout they will still receive from the Big XII.

College football is all about the money and if a university provides itself with a clear advantage, especially over fellow conference members, then those universities left in the cold will search for greener pastures. Texas A&M and Oklahoma seem to be doing just that.

When the Big XII dissolves, it will create a feeding frenzy unlike anything college football has seen since the ACC expanded in 2003. The Pac-12 was looking at becoming a super conference last season by adding Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Utah, and Colorado. Now, however, it seems that the SEC stands to gain the most.

An Oklahoma and Texas A&M defection would signal the end of the Big XII. The conference already saw two of its cornerstone teams defect last season when Colorado left for the Pac-12 and Nebraska departing for the Big Ten. That would leave Texas as the lone alpha in a conference full of mediocrity (no offense Oklahoma State). In that event it would possibly be in Texas' best interest to become an independent much like BYU did this past season.

If the SEC were to add Oklahoma and Texas A&M, they would add two tradition soaked football programs into their ranks and get footholds in two additional states for recruiting. It is doubtful, though, that the SEC would stay pat at expanding to just 14 teams. The ideal number would likely be 16 to create an even number in each division or provide the opportunity to go four 4 team divisions like the NFL uses.

The two other programs the SEC could look at from the Big XII would be Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. The state legislature of Oklahoma would likely pressure any conference looking to add one university to take the other so Oklahoma comes equipped with Oklahoma State. With their football program on the rise it would be advantageous for the SEC to create a stranglehold on that state with the inclusion of both of its top tier universities.

Texas Tech is a provocative piece, albeit not as provocative as Missouri, for the SEC. Not only is the football team coached by SEC veteran Tommy Tuberville but it would also provide the SEC with a tremendous foothold in the state of Texas for recruiting. Much like with the Oklahoma state legislature, the Texas state legislature would like to keep as many prominent Texas universities together and if Texas were to go independent then the SEC may be forced to take Texas Tech to pair with Texas A&M. Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Miami have all been as targets for the SEC should they expand to 16 teams and it could very well be one of those teams that get the invite..

The SEC would then face the task of aligning divisions. They could create two 8 teams divisions or borrow an idea from the formerly bloated WAC when they had 16 teams in its ranks. That idea would be to create four 4 team divisions and rotate opponents each year while maintaining one traditional rivalry game from a division. For clarification, this is how it could break down.

The two 8 team divisions would look as such:

East:
Alabama
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

West
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Oklahoma*
Oklahoma State*
Texas A&M*
Texas Tech*

The other solution would be four 4 team divisions.

West
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas A&M
Texas Tech

South
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss

Central
Alabama
Auburn
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

East
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina

With these four divisions each team would play an opposing division on a rotating basis. One year the SEC West (Oklahoma, & Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech) would play the SEC South, the following year they would play the SEC Central, and then the SEC North. That would give every team a 7 game schedule in which there would be two additional conference games added just like is done currently.

Traditional rivalries would stay. Alabama would still play LSU every year (since Tennessee would be in their division), Florida would play Tennessee, Arkansas would play Texas A&M, Auburn would play Georgia, and so on and so forth. The other conference game would be rotated every year two years so that teams get a home-and-away series. Oklahoma State would play Mississippi State at home one year, then away the next, and then would play Ole Miss, repeat the process, and so on and so forth.

With Texas being an independent and four former Big XII schools leaving for the higher revenue sharing SEC, the remaining Big XII schools (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri) would have their choice of what to do next. Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri could all be targets to join the Big Ten. The Mountain West would want to pounce immediately on all five schools. The other possibility would be for those five schools to possibly form their own conference by inviting Houston, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulsa and some of the more competitive members of the Mountain West (Boise State, Air Force, and Nevada)

The last option would be a long shot but if those five schools were able to retain their BCS status (which would be doubtful to due their winning percentages and bowl appearances) then those members from Conference USA and the Mountain West would undoubtedly bolt immediately for automatic qualifying status.

The only hope for the Big XII to remain a whole conference would be to move on without Texas (if they were to become an independent) and invite teams like Boise State, BYU, TCU, or Houston (any of those three with the outside possibility of SMU) to get back up to 12 teams and a conference championship game.

Whatever happens after the demise of the Big XII will drastically change the landscape of college football even more than the most recent changes have. The potential split of the Big East will pale in comparison as to the free-for-all that will happen once the teams from the former Big XII are available for pillaging.

JoeJoeBrown · 07-21-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabsoule

According to the Sporting News, word is coming out that Oklahoma and Texas A&M officials may look at moving to the SEC because of the Longhorn Network. This is hardly surprising as there was widespread speculation last year that Texas A&M was in heated discussions with the SEC on moving to that league should a favorable deal not be worked out with the Big XII.

At seemingly the eleventh hour, a deal was worked out that would split the largest chunk of the television payout amongst Texas, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M but that deal has since been minimized by the vast amount of money Texas will receive by forming their own television network in association with ESPN.

The dissolution of the Big XII seems to be all but a foregone conclusion. The remaining members of the Big XII outside of Texas all look to be left in the Longhorn's rearview as that school accumulates a tremendous payout from their current television deal which is coupled with the payout they will still receive from the Big XII.

College football is all about the money and if a university provides itself with a clear advantage, especially over fellow conference members, then those universities left in the cold will search for greener pastures. Texas A&M and Oklahoma seem to be doing just that.

When the Big XII dissolves, it will create a feeding frenzy unlike anything college football has seen since the ACC expanded in 2003. The Pac-12 was looking at becoming a super conference last season by adding Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Utah, and Colorado. Now, however, it seems that the SEC stands to gain the most.

An Oklahoma and Texas A&M defection would signal the end of the Big XII. The conference already saw two of its cornerstone teams defect last season when Colorado left for the Pac-12 and Nebraska departing for the Big Ten. That would leave Texas as the lone alpha in a conference full of mediocrity (no offense Oklahoma State). In that event it would possibly be in Texas' best interest to become an independent much like BYU did this past season.

If the SEC were to add Oklahoma and Texas A&M, they would add two tradition soaked football programs into their ranks and get footholds in two additional states for recruiting. It is doubtful, though, that the SEC would stay pat at expanding to just 14 teams. The ideal number would likely be 16 to create an even number in each division or provide the opportunity to go four 4 team divisions like the NFL uses.

The two other programs the SEC could look at from the Big XII would be Oklahoma State and Missouri. The state legislature of Oklahoma would likely pressure any conference looking to add one university to take the other so Oklahoma comes equipped with Oklahoma State. With their football program on the rise it would be advantageous for the SEC to create a stranglehold on that state with the inclusion of both of its top tier universities.

Texas Tech is a provocative piece for the SEC. Not only is the football team coached by SEC veteran Tommy Tuberville but it would also provide the SEC with a tremendous foothold in the state of Texas for recruiting. Much like with the Oklahoma state legislature, the Texas state legislature would like to keep as many prominent Texas universities together and if Texas were to go independent then the SEC may be forced to take Texas Tech to pair with Texas A&M. Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Miami have all been as targets for the SEC should they expand to 16 teams and it could very well be one of those teams that get the invite..

The SEC would then face the task of aligning divisions. They could create two 8 teams divisions or borrow an idea from the formerly bloated WAC when they had 16 teams in its ranks. That idea would be to create four 4 team divisions and rotate opponents each year while maintaining one traditional rivalry game from a division. For clarification, this is how it could break down.

The two 8 team divisions would look as such:

East:
Alabama
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

West
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Oklahoma*
Oklahoma State*
Texas A&M*
Texas Tech*

The other solution would be four 4 team divisions.

West
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Texas A&M
Texas Tech

South
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss

Central
Alabama
Auburn
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

East
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina

With these four divisions each team would play an opposing division on a rotating basis. One year the SEC West (Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, & Okie State) would play the SEC South, the following year they would play the SEC Southeast, and then the SEC North. That would give every team a 7 game schedule in which there would be two additional conference games added just like is done currently.

Traditional rivalries would stay. Alabama would still play LSU every year (since Tennessee would be in their division), Florida would play Tennessee, Arkansas would play Texas A&M (which would do away with the horrific “Boot” rivalry between the Razorbacks and LSU), Auburn would play Georgia, and so on and so forth. The other conference game would be rotated every year two years so that teams get a home-and-away series. Oklahoma State would play Mississippi State at home one year, then away the next, and then would play Ole Miss, repeat the process, and so on and so forth.

With Texas being an independent and four former Big XII schools leaving for the higher revenue sharing SEC, the remaining Big XII schools (Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri) would have their choice of what to do next. Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri could all be targets to join the Big Ten. The Mountain West would want to pounce immediately on all five schools. The other possibility would be for those five schools to possibly form their own conference by inviting Houston, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulsa and some of the more competitive members of the Mountain West (Boise State, Air Force, and Nevada)

The last option would be a long shot but if those five schools were able to retain their BCS status (which would be doubtful to due their winning percentages and bowl appearances) then those members from Conference USA and the Mountain West would undoubtedly bolt immediately for automatic qualifying status.

Whatever happens after the demise of the Big XII will drastically change the landscape of college football even more than the most recent changes have. The potential split of the Big East will pale in comparison as to the free-for-all that will happen once the teams from the former Big XII are available for pillaging.

Dude, excellent writeup. Max points.

diabsoule · 07-22-2011, 03:38 PM

Twitter comments from Tim Brando (@TimBrando).

By 2014 OU and A&M will be in the SEC West. They will be laughed at Nationally for allowing UT to dictate their profit.

It's simple BIG12(or10)fans. Regardless of new Conf. Deal the financial disparity between UT and everyone else is too great.A&M/OU must go.

Okie St. Is also a strong candidate to exit. I was asked about A&M and OU. Agreed that the BIG 12 is in trouble. UT's situation exposed!

Let's be clear. The SEC does not need any of those teams. However if Economics matter then all 3 should want and be out by 14.

Next weeks Big12 Media Days will be entertaining. Dan Beebe's job not easy. A&M, Okie St,OU, and Mizzou toSEC

Those BIG12 teams wont admit it now, but conversations are Underway. The HS decision being put on hold temporarily says all you need to know

There is no way the Administrations of other Big 12 schools can justify the financial disparity between UT and the rest existing this way.

diabsoule · 08-03-2011, 09:15 PM

Just wrote about how embarrassing LSU's OOC schedule is in 2012. You can read it it by checking out my blog link in my sig

sbh15 · 08-05-2011, 11:50 PM

interesting note for gator fans, muschamp had named murphy the backup qb ahead of driskell and brisset

edit: also, diab, in lsu's defense, a lot of times schools like the ones you listed won't play a team like lsu because it's much more damaging to their program than towson's. the unc fanbase won't be quite as ok with a blowout as towson's fans will. the fcs school will happily take their chance to be the next app state and whatever payment they get and run.

proshoota25 · 08-06-2011, 12:09 AM

wow hell of a write up. if you kept those 16 teams, and separated them into the two divisions you proposed, the SEC East would absolutely be insane. No way does an undefeated team come out out that division with UF, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina in there.

i agree itll eventually happen, and i think its best for college football in general. as a fan, itll be so much harder to win the SEC than before, but itll be truly entertaining

diabsoule · 08-19-2011, 12:20 PM

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...on-bar-fight/1

LSU QB Jordan Jefferson involved in a bar fight

Rabscuttle · 08-21-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabsoule

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...on-bar-fight/1

LSU QB Jordan Jefferson involved in a bar fight

Which Jordan Jefferson showed up? Sounds like it may have been the one that comes to play because the cops are looking to interview some tabbies. http://espn.go.com/college-football/...-players-fight

critesy · 08-21-2011, 10:44 PM

auburns win total for the season was at 6 for o/u. i gladly put alot of money on that.

SolidGold · 08-22-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabscuttle

Which Jordan Jefferson showed up? Sounds like it may have been the one that comes to play because the cops are looking to interview some tabbies. http://espn.go.com/college-football/...-players-fight

How Jordan Jefferson is still the starting QB is beyond me...hopefully Mettenberger becomes the starter at some point this year.

49erNation85 · 08-22-2011, 06:50 PM

Dang that sucks for Driskel I'm sure he will move up to the number 2 spot as the season goes on.Go gators !

sbh15 · 08-22-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49erNation85

Dang that sucks for Driskel I'm sure he will move up to the number 2 spot as the season goes on.Go gators !

actually, muschamp moved driskel up to the primary backup now. he says brantley is still wayyyy ahead of everyone, though

sbh15 · 08-23-2011, 12:22 PM

CashmoneyDrew · 08-23-2011, 12:24 PM

Funny for sho, but it's supposed to be like that.

diabsoule · 08-23-2011, 12:28 PM

Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summit has been diagnosed with dementia
http://www.cbssports.com/general/sto...l-try-to-coach

fenikz · 08-23-2011, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CashmoneyDrew

Funny for sho, but it's supposed to be like that.

oppurtunity is no where or now here?

either way design fail

sbh15 · 08-23-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenikz

oppurtunity is no where or now here?

either way design fail

it's supposed to be now here, but the design fail makes it look like nowhere

fenikz · 08-23-2011, 05:05 PM

so is CMD saying it's supposed to say both?

design brilliance?

CashmoneyDrew · 08-23-2011, 05:29 PM

It was designed to look like that. I don't care for it, but whatever.

sbh15 · 08-23-2011, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CashmoneyDrew

It was designed to look like that. I don't care for it, but whatever.

well that's dumb. why would you want to go somewhere with no opportunity? :/

CashmoneyDrew · 08-23-2011, 07:54 PM

It's some kind of philosophical thing where when the door closes it looks like "nowhere" but when they open to the field is says "now here"...

Dooley is an interesting character.

diabsoule · 08-24-2011, 08:48 AM

Tennessee announces junior defensive back Janzen Jackson has been dismissed from the team.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/...football-team/

TitanHope · 08-24-2011, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diabsoule

Tennessee announces junior defensive back Janzen Jackson has been dismissed from the team.

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/...football-team/

thenewfeature06 · 08-24-2011, 03:39 PM

Any idea where he goes from here?

CashmoneyDrew · 08-24-2011, 04:01 PM

McNeese St. is the rumor.