• How do the finances work out?
• Who to offer as member schools?
• You’re the SEC. You want the individuals that you offer to accept without a doubt. So will they accept?
• Does this expansion talk make the existing SEC schools more money?
The almighty dollar drives everything in the world of College Football. I saw today that the SEC will divide up over $200 million from TV money. That is $17 million each. $17 million for Florida, UGA, and Alabama, but as well as Vandy, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Ole Miss.
How does that money get divided up if additional members are added? Do you think CBS or WWL is going to renegotiate one year into the contract? If CBS is kicking in more money, they may want another game per week. Maybe if they get say in who is in? But in these tough economic times, do you think they will kick in an extra $67 million just to get 16 members to $17 mill each? Maybe if big TV markets are added for advertising.
My opinion is that the SEC is ONLY going to expand IF there is at LEAST the same amount of money on the table for each member’s school. I know that Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss St, Arkansas, and Kentucky don’t want to give up any portion of their $17 million. What am I saying?!?! None of the current members want their $17 million touched.
So for the sake of this conversation, let’s ASSUME that the Presidents’ of the SEC schools meeting with ESPN yesterday included potential expansion and increasing the TV contract.
With that huge leap, let’s look at what schools would be potential targets.
We have seen many different suggestions, opinions, and theories in this “new” idea of a Mega-SEC. These have been thrown out in some cases and have had some serious thoughts in others. However, let’s breakdown the real options and how they may affect the existing SEC landscape and eventually our Georgia Bulldogs.
The consensus is that the SEC would jump to 16 schools to keep up the arms race with the Big Ten and NOW the PAC 10. Therefore, for this discussion format we will explore the possibility of expanding the Eastern and Western Divisions of the SEC by 2 members each. There should be some minimum requirements for consideration.
They should be:
Geography: must be contiguous to the SEC map. Travel considerations for non-football sports.
We are not the ACC and Boston College.
Stadium size: Got to fit in with its new conference members (the SEC)
Season ticket process: if a seat equity plan or contribution is required for season tickets that could indicate the demand for tickets and commitment to making $$$
TV market: got to have viewership impact because of the TV contracts
Rivalries impact: how conference realignment could impact the fan base
College football relevance and quality of traditions: Scale of 1-5. Totally subjective on my part, but history, goofy traditions, and national stage is important
Commitment level of fans: Again, totally subjective on my part, but we all know that our fan base has the perception by our college football family
Don’t think that those aren’t at the top of the list for requirements, and those individuals who suggested Troy, LA Tech, Memphis, Tulane, and Southern Miss, this is where I will say. Really? Really?
Let us take a look at 14 realistic candidates and then we will try to implement a scoring system for these parameters.
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Uncle Front Runner
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