Conference Realignment

[orientalnc]

“We have a landing spot if things blow up,” former trustee Chuck Duckett wrote to chairman John Preyer in an email obtained by the Athletic. “Let FSU and Clemson pay the attorneys and see what happens. We all learn via their expense.”

One thing to remember. In NC the BoT has no governing authority over UNC athletics. It is a political body with an advisory role with limited authority. The UNC Board of Governors is the key body.

 

[orientalnc]

0

Per the sec rules can’t a founding member always return?

That may have been the founding policy, but a few years have passed. I would be surprised if GT could have returned and gobbled additional money but declined.

 

[LT 1967]

I’m thinking (hoping) GT knows the same thing. Pretty well known that GT and UNC had the opportunity. I like to think they still do. No reason to rattle sabres and spend money unless you have to. I think GT falls into that quiet confidence category.

Agree. In the best of all worlds, Georgia Tech gets an Invitation from the SEC and the B1G!! Am I fantasizing again? As an old guy who remembers (fairly well) the days of Dodd and the 1960s when GT was still considered a national power in football, it seems pretty logical to me.

But sixty years and some poor decisions have hurt GT. Maybe our new emphasis on sports and organizational alignment can get us back in the game!

 

[LT 1967]

Per the sec rules can’t a founding member always return?

Hoss, please don't find such a rule. If I believed GT had such an opportunity and did not take it, you would have to get out the straight jacket for me.

 

[CEB]

Hoss, please don't find such a rule. If I believed GT had such an opportunity and did not take it, you would have to get out the straight jacket for me.

No doubt!
But surely we would’ve found such a rule and used it to our advantage in the 70s when we really needed it and the Missy schools and Dooley stonewalled us…

 

[LT 1967]

No doubt!
But surely we would’ve found such a rule and used it to our advantage in the 70s when we really needed it and the Missy schools and Dooley stonewalled us…

Plus, Georgia Tech has been by passed over for six other schools during the three SEC expansions (South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma).

Over the years, there is one piece of information that I have found that indicates that Georgia Tech may have had an opportunity to rejoin the SEC in 1990. A few years ago, I found this 2014 article by Bernie Reeves (RIP-2018) whose article concerned the academic scandal at UNC. Mr. Reeves was a UNC Alumnus and a well-respected Journalist as far as I can determine. Whether the purported threat made by Georgia Tech had any substance, we will likely never know. But this is an interesting read. The article was written in 2014 with Reeves referring back to the 1990 period when FSU was admitted to the ACC. I have linked the article and copied an excerpt below which has the reference to Georgia Tech.

"Thinking back, I know when the problems arose regarding athletics wagging the academic tail at UNC. I sat beside Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford during a luncheon at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC in 1990, the day of the announcement Florida State University was joining the conference in 1991. Little did I know I was a witness to history to come when I asked Swofford why a conference composed of top-level institutions of higher learning was accepting a former all-female teacher’s college with scant scholastic prestige. The answer? Georgia Tech had informed the conference it was pulling out to join the Southeast Conference unless the ACC landed a Florida TV market school."

https://www.nationalreview.com/phi-beta-cons/southern-part-hell-bernie-reeves/

 

[L41k18]

Plus, Georgia Tech has been by passed over for six other schools during the three SEC expansions (South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma).

Over the years, there is one piece of information that I have found that indicates that Georgia Tech may have had an opportunity to rejoin the SEC in 1990. A few years ago, I found this 2014 article by Bernie Reeves (RIP-2018) whose article concerned the academic scandal at UNC. Mr. Reeves was a UNC Alumnus and a well-respected Journalist as far as I can determine. Whether the purported threat made by Georgia Tech had any substance, we will likely never know. But this is an interesting read. The article was written in 2014 with Reeves referring back to the 1990 period when FSU was admitted to the ACC. I have linked the article and copied an excerpt below which has the reference to Georgia Tech.

"Thinking back, I know when the problems arose regarding athletics wagging the academic tail at UNC. I sat beside Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford during a luncheon at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC in 1990, the day of the announcement Florida State University was joining the conference in 1991. Little did I know I was a witness to history to come when I asked Swofford why a conference composed of top-level institutions of higher learning was accepting a former all-female teacher’s college with scant scholastic prestige. The answer? Georgia Tech had informed the conference it was pulling out to join the Southeast Conference unless the ACC landed a Florida TV market school."

https://www.nationalreview.com/phi-beta-cons/southern-part-hell-bernie-reeves/

Interesting.
Then right after that the SEC added SCarolina & Arkansas.
Hmmm.

 

[stinger78]

Typical UNC superiority attitude. I think we will just join the SEC.

Yeah, but the SECheat has wanted them for a long time. I have in on high confidence from a good source that the SECheat was very impressed with the scam they got busted for about 10 years ago.

 

[AUFC]

Some interesting discussions this morning on the fate of the ACC if you want to get a pulse for Georgia Tech's realignment outlook around the college football fandom landscape. I'd say the predominant opinions are that we stay in the ACC or end up going to the Big 12 with programs like Pitt, NCSU, Louisville. Only a couple (biased?) Georgia Tech flairs think we head to the B1G, most people don't see the value add.

 

[CEB]

Plus, Georgia Tech has been by passed over for six other schools during the three SEC expansions (South Carolina, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma).

Over the years, there is one piece of information that I have found that indicates that Georgia Tech may have had an opportunity to rejoin the SEC in 1990. A few years ago, I found this 2014 article by Bernie Reeves (RIP-2018) whose article concerned the academic scandal at UNC. Mr. Reeves was a UNC Alumnus and a well-respected Journalist as far as I can determine. Whether the purported threat made by Georgia Tech had any substance, we will likely never know. But this is an interesting read. The article was written in 2014 with Reeves referring back to the 1990 period when FSU was admitted to the ACC. I have linked the article and copied an excerpt below which has the reference to Georgia Tech.

"Thinking back, I know when the problems arose regarding athletics wagging the academic tail at UNC. I sat beside Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford during a luncheon at the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at UNC in 1990, the day of the announcement Florida State University was joining the conference in 1991. Little did I know I was a witness to history to come when I asked Swofford why a conference composed of top-level institutions of higher learning was accepting a former all-female teacher’s college with scant scholastic prestige. The answer? Georgia Tech had informed the conference it was pulling out to join the Southeast Conference unless the ACC landed a Florida TV market school."

https://www.nationalreview.com/phi-beta-cons/southern-part-hell-bernie-reeves/

This is a great find! There are so many things that point to GT being a much bigger player than most of the college football fan world realizes… A lot of things can change in 3 to 4 decades, but hopefully this is not one of them!

 

[orientalnc]

Some interesting discussions this morning on the fate of the ACC if you want to get a pulse for Georgia Tech's realignment outlook around the college football fandom landscape. I'd say the predominant opinions are that we stay in the ACC or end up going to the Big 12 with programs like Pitt, NCSU, Louisville. Only a couple (biased?) Georgia Tech flairs think we head to the B1G, most people don't see the value add.

If I am reading that correctly it's just a bunch of fans dreaming about their team being in the fold when/if the ACC collapses. Maybe I missed someone with inside scoop, but I doubt it. Opinions about realignment are like an essential body orifice that never sees the sunshine. Everybody has one.

 

[stinger78]

This is a great find! There are so many things that point to GT being a much bigger player than most of the college football fan world realizes… A lot of things can change in 3 to 4 decades, but hopefully this is not one of them!

Bear in mind that in 1990-91 we were led by Boss Ross coming off an MNC season. Suffice to say that our shine was a bit brighter then? Also, in the 2010-ish flirtation with the B1G we were coming of CPJ’s first two year record of 20-7 with Peach and Orange Bowls. After a rebuilding year in 2010, we rebounded with a fairly solid 8-5 season in 2011.

Bottom line, things were different then - actual accomplishments vs. potential. Not sure we’re considered “all that” today.

 

[AUFC]

If I am reading that correctly it's just a bunch of fans dreaming about their team being in the fold when/if the ACC collapses. Maybe I missed someone with inside scoop, but I doubt it. Opinions about realignment are like an essential body orifice that never sees the sunshine. Everybody has one.

Yes, sorry - did not mean to imply there was anything official in here. Just folks giving completely unbacked opinions on what they think will happen, but the points system gives a way to get a feel for the pulse among college football fans. Nothing more than that.

 

[Techster]

Some interesting discussions this morning on the fate of the ACC if you want to get a pulse for Georgia Tech's realignment outlook around the college football fandom landscape. I'd say the predominant opinions are that we stay in the ACC or end up going to the Big 12 with programs like Pitt, NCSU, Louisville. Only a couple (biased?) Georgia Tech flairs think we head to the B1G, most people don't see the value add.

I'm not reading what you're reading.

Seems like the majority are predicting GT to B1G...and that makes sense. Not sure how adding the 6th largest media market, and soon to be 5th largest, isn't additive. B1G presidents have coveted GT for decades, and that's been widely reported over the years. Also, the B1G has eyes on a national conference (something I predicted before it got popular...which many posters on that thread also see). Ex-B1G commissioner pretty much spelled that out when he said he wanted a B1G team in every city there was an NFL team. You can't have a national conference if you don't have the largest single media market in the South. Culturally, GT is a perfect fit for the B1G.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if fans on messageboards don't think GT is "value add" for the B1G, it only matters what the B1G thinks. All evidence and history shows the B1G wants GT to be a part of their conference.

 

[CEB]

Bear in mind that in 1990-91 we were led by Boss Ross coming off an MNC season. Suffice to say that our shine was a bit brighter then? Also, in the 2010-ish flirtation with the B1G we were coming of CPJ’s first two year record of 20-7 with Peach and Orange Bowls. After a rebuilding year in 2010, we rebounded with a fairly solid 8-5 season in 2011.

Bottom line, things were different then - actual accomplishments vs. potential. Not sure we’re considered “all that” today.

Let’s revisit this topic next January, shall we?

 

[RonJohn]

If I am reading that correctly it's just a bunch of fans dreaming about their team being in the fold when/if the ACC collapses. Maybe I missed someone with inside scoop, but I doubt it. Opinions about realignment are like an essential body orifice that never sees the sunshine. Everybody has one.

There is not a person alive who actually knows what will happen. Imagine in the very early 2000s discussing Blockbuster. There would have been plenty of people who thought Netflix would put them out of business. However, the great majority of those people would have believed that the in-the-mail DVD service is what would put them out of business. Until 2003-4 very few people would have believed that watching movies over the internet was even viable. Who would have believed ten years ago that the Saudis would create a rival golf organization and split the PGA? In no way making a prediction that this would happen, but what if the Saudis decide to get into college football and offer teams $250million per year to play in their league separate from the NCAA and P4? It is probably just as likely that the future format will not resemble any thing that is being projected as it is that any single projection is correct.

 

[orientalnc]

There is not a person alive who actually knows what will happen. Imagine in the very early 2000s discussing Blockbuster. There would have been plenty of people who thought Netflix would put them out of business. However, the great majority of those people would have believed that the in-the-mail DVD service is what would put them out of business. Until 2003-4 very few people would have believed that watching movies over the internet was even viable. Who would have believed ten years ago that the Saudis would create a rival golf organization and split the PGA? In no way making a prediction that this would happen, but what if the Saudis decide to get into college football and offer teams $250million per year to play in their league separate from the NCAA and P4? It is probably just as likely that the future format will not resemble any thing that is being projected as it is that any single projection is correct.

I was working on the team that built the national cell network in Nicaragua in 1997. Over drinks our team members were discussing the future of the Internet because the customer service software was Internet based. One of our very best analysts said he did not think the Internet advertising model would work. Duh...

 

[forensicbuzz]

Some interesting discussions this morning on the fate of the ACC if you want to get a pulse for Georgia Tech's realignment outlook around the college football fandom landscape. I'd say the predominant opinions are that we stay in the ACC or end up going to the Big 12 with programs like Pitt, NCSU, Louisville. Only a couple (biased?) Georgia Tech flairs think we head to the B1G, most people don't see the value add.

Because they're stupid.

 

[CLHarperJackt]

Bottom line, things were different then - actual accomplishments vs. potential. Not sure we’re considered “all that” today.

Was Maryland or UCLA football considered "all that"? Meanwhile, the Big 10 reluctantly took in Oregon, who's football is at a zenith because they wanted the U of Washington and U of Washington wanted a travel partner. It just boggles the mind that so many people believe that the presidents of these prestigious universities are so short sighted as to make multi-decade maneuvers and affiliation ties based whether or not a school is currently fielding a winning football team. Both Johns Hopkins and University of Chicago are members of the Big10, and neither even play division I football! A Big 10 membership invite is about much more than a school currently fielding a good football team!

 

[orientalnc]

Was Maryland or UCLA football considered "all that"? Meanwhile, the Big 10 reluctantly took in Oregon, who's football is at a zenith because they wanted the U of Washington and U of Washington wanted a travel partner. It just boggles the mind that so many people believe that the presidents of these prestigious universities are so short sighted as to make multi-decade maneuvers and affiliation ties based whether or not a school is currently fielding a winning football team. Both Johns Hopkins and University of Chicago are members of the Big10, and neither even play division I football! A Big 10 membership invite is about much more than a school currently fielding a good football team!

IIRC, the U of Chicago withdrew from the Big Ten back in 1940s. Johns Hopkins is a member for men's and women's lacrosse.