If Vandy left the SEC who would replace them?

[RazorNineOneOne]

I gotta agree with VandyHog on this.  I like having Vandy in the SEC, especially now that they have started moving towards being relevant on the football field.  They are already very competitive in other sports and kick most of the schools' asses off the field.  I look forward to the day that loosing to Vandy will no longer be equated to losing to The Citadel.  I'm especially happy when they beat Tennessee.

If anything, we should trade out South Carolina for Georgia Tech maybe.

[DeltaBoy]

As for as winning in Football, Vandy should go in with Rice, SMU, TCU and Tulane to form the egghead conference. That conference would sweep the academic all -American list every year.

[George S. Pigton]

East Tn is right.  Not that I would want to lose Vandy or Miss Stake but the reason to add to the conference
is to add revenue.  Thus the reason people in the Big 12 talk about moving Baylor or Iowa St. out.  They could
bring in Arkansas and pick up 3 million TV's.  GA Tech, Louisville, Clemson, Miami, or Florida St. bring no new TV's
to the SEC deals.  Your best best might be VA Tech or West Virginia and WV is not really SEC country and not
many TV's in WV to boot.

TX and or TX AM might be a stretch but would bring a lot of TV's.

[Ugly Uncle]

I think WV or VT would both be good choices.  I like those.

Tulsa?  Not so much.

I was just talking about raising the level of competition, as if he needed to be raised, in football.

[PositronHog]

Guys, I think after reading the Texas boards about the SEC-ESPN football contract Texas would love to come to the SEC and don't think for a minute the powers 2 be in the SEC wouldn't love to get into the Texas sports market.

[booogaga]

texas

[Smokehouse]

i think vandy is doing just fine

heck, they could win the ACC this year.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

I don't see anyone joining the SEC for about 10 years or so.  We just hit the jackpot.  No school is going to leave voluntarily and would fight to the death if we tried to kick them out. 

The only way we could kick a school out  at this point is if they were cheating so flagrantly and for such a long time that it brought the death penalty down on them or something pretty close.

It benefits noone in the SEC at this time to add any schools either.  We would have to add two schools, but why divvy up our huge pie to two additional schools when the current schools would have nothing to gain and would only lose money.  We would almost have to charge them a "Franchise Fee" and no school would want to pay it.

Now at or near the end of the current contracts if the SEC is down or needing to spice things up, you go after a big fish like a Texas that would add some big TV Markets.

[ErieHog]

Guys, I think after reading the Texas boards about the SEC-ESPN football contract Texas would love to come to the SEC and don't think for a minute the powers 2 be in the SEC wouldn't love to get into the Texas sports market.

Texas' fans might, but not the Texas admin; when they partnered with OU and Nebraska as the foundational powers of the  Big XII, they negotiated a sweetheart position; the way the league is structured, from revenues to TV contracts to the location of League Offices overwhelmingly is pro-Texas (see Mangino's comments when his team got screwed at UT a couple years ago).   
They won't be able to get a similar arrangement in the SEC.

[Mike_P]

Vandy pulls their weight in basketball and has been to as many football conference championship games as S. Carolina and Ole Miss.

However, if we were going to add a school I'd vote for WVU.

[Dutch Creek Hog]

First, no one is getting kicked out.

SECond, it would need to be a tv market we don't already have locked down.

I say Texas A&M or one of the North Carolina schools.

Of course, TAMU and NC would both be a step down from Vandy in football, but both have decent basketball programs.

[ErieHog]

Vandy pulls their weight in basketball and has been to as many football conference championship games as S. Carolina and Ole Miss.

However, if we were going to add a school I'd vote for WVU.

Out of interest, why?

Even Virginia would be a much better geographic and historical fit.

[Corkscrew Johnson]

I'd hate to see Vandy leave the SEC.  The conference needs Vandy.
If they did though, I think the best fit would be Louisville.
I really want Texas and Oklahoma in the conference too, but want and logic don't exactly mesh in these two cases.

With the SEC's huge television contracting rights, you would never believe this, but the SEC needs Vandy more than Vandy needs the SEC.   Their endowment is simply enormous, they are a top 10-15 school in the nation, they would survive just fine.  The academic legitimacy they bring to the conference, albeit a near futile attempt to construe the league as more than an athletic meatmarket, is prized much more than the revenue generated by a Mississippi State or South Carolina.

That being said, I would like Texas.

[Mike_P]

Out of interest, why?

Even Virginia would be a much better geographic and historical fit.

Very good programs in the revenue sports and their fans travel very well. Virginia isn't leaving the ACC but WVU has gotten left out in the conference expansions.

[PositronHog]

Texas' fans might, but not the Texas admin; when they partnered with OU and Nebraska as the foundational powers of the  Big XII, they negotiated a sweetheart position; the way the league is structured, from revenues to TV contracts to the location of League Offices overwhelmingly is pro-Texas (see Mangino's comments when his team got screwed at UT a couple years ago).  
They won't be able to get a similar arrangement in the SEC.

Texas with its size would instantly become one of the SEC flagship programs and geating the sweetheart share of the Big 12 would be nowhere near the money they would receive in the SEC, plus just think of the national TV games they would get. Texas-Alabama, Texas LSU, Texas-Auburn, Texas-Florida, CBS would piss on themselves to carry those games, I think it would be just 2 good of a deal for them 2 pass up...... may be wrong, but?

[ErieHog]

Texas with its size would instantly become one of the SEC flagship programs and geating the sweetheart share of the Big 12 would be nowhere near the money they would receive in the SEC, plus just think of the national TV games they would get. Texas-Alabama, Texas LSU, Texas-Auburn, Texas-Florida, CBS would piss on themselves to carry those games, I think it would be just 2 good of a deal for them 2 pass up...... may be wrong, but?

Several points;  it won't displace Alabama/Georgia/TN/Auburn as one of the Core 4 who dominate league offices and the internal structure of the SEC.  It'd be a 5th column, as it were, but never on the kind of footing it now enjoys in the Big XII.   The Old Guard of the SEC will band together when they feel it is necessary, to exclude even good ideas from the periphery of the league [see neutrality of the various conference tournament sights proposals from AR/Vandy/SC/KY].

The Big XII was pretty competitive, revenue wise, despite a terrible regional TV contract, prior to the latest SEC deal; the Big XII is also the 'next on the block' for the major conferences when it comes to TV negotiation, so the disparity that the new contract offers will mostly be temporary, using the historic revenues of each league as a comparison point.

[Mike_P]

Texas with its size would instantly become one of the SEC flagship programs and geating the sweetheart share of the Big 12 would be nowhere near the money they would receive in the SEC, plus just think of the national TV games they would get. Texas-Alabama, Texas LSU, Texas-Auburn, Texas-Florida, CBS would piss on themselves to carry those games, I think it would be just 2 good of a deal for them 2 pass up...... may be wrong, but?

texas doesn't have the nads to be in the SEC. They have "built in" advantages in the b-12 that they wouldn't have in the SEC.

[PositronHog]

texas doesn't have the nads to be in the SEC. They have "built in" advantages in the b-12 that they wouldn't have in the SEC.

I hate Texas as much as anybody, but with there size, the size of the state of Texas, and they are like the 2nd or 3rd richest college in the U.S., they would have a built in advantage no matter what conference.

[ErieHog]

I hate Texas as much as anybody, but with there size, the size of the state of Texas, and they are like the 2nd or 3rd richest college in the U.S., they would have a built in advantage no matter what conference.

No, they really wouldn't.  Leverage matters a great deal-- and Texas is a huge fish in a small pond, that virtually gets its way in every Big XII dispute that arises.   In the SEC, they'd still be a huge fish-- but one of many, in a bigger sea.

[Mike_P]

No, they really wouldn't.  Leverage matters a great deal-- and Texas is a huge fish in a small pond, that virtually gets its way in every Big XII dispute that arises.   In the SEC, they'd still be a huge fish-- but one of many, in a bigger sea.

Very well said plus don't think for a second they don't what would happen with opening up the state of texas in recruiting to the SEC.

[geddie]

Eventually I see the major conferences moving to 14 teams.  If/when this ever happens, I think Kentucky should go to the current Big 10 leaving SEC with 3 spots. 

IMO, the 3 that fit in "naturally" the most are: Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Memphis. 

East/West divisions would probably have to be replaced with North/South for a "more fair" alignment.

[kimjongsqUeAl]

I like VU in the SEC.  It's looks good on the schedule because that's a game you shouldn't really worry about.  Unless you are South Carolina of course.

[UAfanatic]

Arkansas State

[Mike_P]

Eventually I see the major conferences moving to 14 teams.  If/when this ever happens, I think Kentucky should go to the current Big 10 leaving SEC with 3 spots. 

IMO, the 3 that fit in "naturally" the most are: Clemson, Georgia Tech, and Memphis. 

East/West divisions would probably have to be replaced with North/South for a "more fair" alignment.

Something to remember is the TV $$ with expansion and new markets. None of those three would bring a "new" market as conferences negotiate new TV contracts.

This is why they would love to get in Texas. If the Univ of Houston could get their football/basketball going again they would be considered simply to get into the TV market. Not to say that's would I want but it could happen.

[hog.goblin]

Keep Vandy.  Great basketball, great baseball, great academics, and football is getting better.  No need to make a change.

If Vandy up and decided to leave (which they shouldn't), then Clemson would be the best program to steal, followed by Louisville.

[DEVIL DOG HOG]

I don't think any major conference will leave their conference for the SEC.  If any conference were to lose teams I  would look to the Big East. As has been mentioned West Virginia or Louisville.  Nothing short of total relignment of Top Major conferences will ever happen

[malibu327]

no tulsa cant do this. for the past 10 years arkansas couldnt beat georgia or florida either. just saying.

Do you really think Tulsa could go into Columbia and beat South Carolina?  Into Knoxville and beat Tennessee?  Into Gainesville and take Florida into double overtime?  Into Athens and beat Georgia? Into Fayetteville and beat Arkansas?

Do you really think they could play an SEC level basketball schedule and win?

Do you really think they could win the SEC baseball tournament or regular season title?

Seriously?

[DeltaBoy]

Keep  Vandy and add some to go 14 teams

[jethro]

Vandy is one of my favorite schools period.  They seem to do things the right way.  Academics are great, competitive in most sports.  Maybe not dominating or scary in football, but you better realize they can get you if you are not ready to play, especially early in the season before injuries or fatigue start to wear them down.

Level headed approach to athletics.  It is important, but not the most imortant thing in a college career.

[bphi11ips]

No, I'm not.  I think Arkansas over the long haul has had a much stronger football program. How can you not love the atmosphere of a Razorback game?  Vandy is not there, but they are moving.  The black out in Nashville tonight was impressive and our season ticket sales are at record levels.  We have our largest class of 3 start commitments in history this year and have our first 4 star commitment in years on the field this year.  The football program is turning around.  Vandy will probably never have the football fan base of an Arkansas or Alabama simply because it is a small school in a big city that also has pro sports. But I do think it can field winning football teams and start going to bowl games and have little doubt that Bobby Johnson will get us there.

I have all the love in the world for Arkansas and was just using Nutt's two games against Vandy to make a point.  Over the last three years, Vandy has not been that far from moving across the 6 win line.  If Nickson stays healthy and our defense plays to form, our schedule is favorable and we should get there this year.

Vanderbilt futures should be hot about now.  I believe there is a growing trend towards steady improvement in football programs at elite academic institutions in BCS conferences.  The reasons are societal.  The African-American middle class may be the fastest growing segment of American society.  Let's face it, the sport is dominated by black athletes, as it should be.  The reason the SEC has dominated college football since the '60's is because it removed barriers to African-American athletes, who populate southern states in greater ratios than in northern states (Big 10), the reason for which we are all well aware.  The SWC, Arkansas included, was slow to embrace African-American athletes, and it suffered for its obstinance, especially in the '70's.

My 9-year old son competed in the AAU track program this year, and, I'm proud to say, made it all the way to the Junior Olympics in Detroit.  There were very few white athletes in the competition (we are white; I grew up in Little Rock).  The only thing more impressive than the young black athletes' performances in track and field was their sportsmanship and demeanor off the field.  These were young men and women accompanied by wonderful parents and families, who, I believe, based on my personal unscientific experience and observations, came primarily from middle class, well educated families.

My point is this.  We have come a long way in this country when it comes to racial equality and opportunity.  We have a long way to go, and creating and preserving equality and justice for all Americans will perpetually be a struggle.  But the fact that we recognize this as a united people is why we are the greatest nation on Earth.  It is what separates us from the Iraqs of the world.

Back to Vanderbilt and why I believe its football program has a bright athletic future.  As the African-American middle class continues to grow and prosper, black athletes from these families will be attracted more and more to academic opportunities like that provided by Vanderbilt.  In other words, there will be a greater number of 4 and 5 star black athletes who value a Vaderbilt education as much as they value an opportunity for a shot at the NFL.  I don't mean to slight black athletes from lower-income families or from an inner city environment.  However, these athletes often lack the academic record to qualify for institutions like Vanderbilt, and they place greater emphasis on the exposure and traditional success of major programs such as Florida.  I could digress here and explain why I think society and families have failed these young men, but the reasons are obvious.  The reality is that black athletes from middle and upper middle class families can afford to take a wider long-term view of their futures.  They don't need a million dollar NFL contract to support their families.  They can better appreciate the long-term value of a Vanderbilt education, which over a lifetime is probably worth more than all but the most lucrative NFL contracts.  And they know they can use a Vanderbilt degree even with a hopelessly torn ACL.

Duke has thrived for many years in basketball by selling its program to not only the best black athletes in the United States, but also to the brightest of those athletes.  The numbers of great African American football players who will qualify for and appreciate the opportunity to have a free ride at a school like Vanderbilt is increasing rapidly.  That is a wonderful thing.  It also means we can look for increasing prominence, comparatively, in football from schools like Vanderbilt, Duke, Wake Forest, Northwestern, etc.

I thought about this as I watched Vanderbilt beat South Carolina last night.  I live in Nashville and have watched Vanderbilt improve steadily over the years.  Their win last night was not a fluke.  Vanderbilt has a good football team populated with outstanding SEC caliber athletes.  Bobby Johnson has lost 22 SEC games by 7 points or less.  He's also beaten Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas, and South Carolina (twice) in the last few years. Vanderbilt's players are beginning to believe they can not only play with anyone, but that they can win in the fourth quarter.  I believe they will be a team to watch for the next few years.

Vandy is going nowhere and is an asset to the SEC.

[Wild Bill Hog]

Schools named after a city--not in the SEC
Schools who's names tell you what part of the state they are from--not in the SEC

Spot on.

Vandy is going nowhere.  They are a charter member of the SEC and are very competitive in most all sports.  They belong in the SEC.  With the new ESPiN/ABC contract, there is no way any school will leave the SEC.  As for TX and TAMU, you won't get one without the other.  Might as well speculate on AR to the Big XII - it's as real a possibility as Vandy leaving the SEC.

[Divot]

Keep Vandy.  Great basketball, great baseball, great academics, and football is getting better.

They also have great Southern 'talent' to fit in with the other SEC schools.  Go to a Vandy home game. You'll enjoy the 'scenery'. They're still Southern girls watching football who are smarter and richer than the rest.  What's not to like?

Vandy is welcome to stay.

[Corkscrew Johnson]

Arkansas State

that's the funniest thing I have ever read on hogville +1

[RazorWire™]

Arkansas State

Beat me to it. LOL

[UAbandalum]

Little known to anyone is the fact that the University of Tulsa has probably produced more multi-millionaires in the energy business than any other school in the country. Tulsa, the city, at one time was the known as the Oil Capital of the World. Much of that business has moved to Houston, but many of the graduates who are deeply rooted in that business, came from Tulsa. You cannot believe the money that they have access to. It has been a well kept secret and the only reason I know, is beacuse I grew up around it. They have not done a good job or reaching out to their affluent alumnus in the past, but in recent years, they have really made huge inroads and have put on a full court press for giving and endowments. Tulsa football in the 1960's was as good as any in the nation and their record against top teams proved that out. It fell on hard times during the 70's and fo most part during the 80's, but during the 90's, a resurgence began and as they built synergy towards their goals, you are now seeing the fruit of that for which they aimed. It has taken them longer because they are a smaller school and they did not have the committment to athletic excellence as they have now. They regularly beat OSU and for 2-3 quarters last year, they gave OU all they wanted. I thnk you will feel differently about Tulsa after you see them on the field at RRS on Nov. 1st.

Tulsa joining is the DUMBEST thing I've ever heard.  You're not a Gus Malzahn desciple AT ALL . . . . . . . .

[WarEagle]

Vandy is part of the SEC.  They are different, but the roots run deep.  First, we don't need another football powerhouse.  The conference is tough enough as it is.  Vandy usually provides a little respite (not to downplay their very nice win last night).  Vandy also gives us some academic prestige.  It is really a nice thing for both the school and the league.  We get to enjoy a little easier game than usual and piggyback on their academic reputation.  They get a cut in the mountains of cash the SEC makes.  No reason at all to change that.

But yeah, if we were going to pick up a new school, I'd say the usual suspects that have been mentioned would be the best candidates.  Clemson would be my choice.  I think their culture is very similar to ours, and they already have a great rival in SC (Clemson and Auburn used to be rivals back in the day).  Southern Miss would be next.  Again, the culture fits well.  Georgia Tech after that (used to have a very intense rivalry with Auburn), but as many have pointed out, they were in the SEC and left to go to the ACC.

[Corkscrew Johnson]

Arkansas State

UALR.  seriously with the Big Damn Bridge and the new Clinton Library and Derek Fisher its pretty much a no-brainer

[trippigs]

Vandy deserves to stay. Founding member after all. To suggest otherwise is an insult to them and tradition.

[PeytonManningSUCKS]

Vanderbilt contributes alot to the SEC.  Ya'll are being silly. 

[Wild Bill Hog]

Georgia Tech after that (used to have a very intense rivalry with Auburn), but as many have pointed out, they were in the SEC and left to go to the ACC.

Actually they left the SEC to go independent and remained so for a number of years.  They eventually determined they needed to return to a conference and were in the Metro (I think) with Mfs State, Va Tech, Tulane, Louisville, So. Miss, St. Louis, maybe Cincy, etc.).  I'm not sure if the Metro was ever a FB conference.  They went to the ACC from there, I believe.  Whatever the path was, they left the SEC to go independent.

[HogAlum99]

Schools named after a city--not in the SEC
Schools who's names tell you what part of the state they are from--not in the SEC

Ever heard of Auburn!!

[jgphillips3]

No need to dump Vandy, let just expand and go to a 16 team superconference.  Pick up two teams on the East side like Miami, Clemson, Ga Tech, FSU or Louisville.  Pick up two teams in the West like Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Nebraska.  If we're dreaming, lets dream big!  There would be no other conference that could compete.  Hell, they could basically just let us be the BCS.  Ain't gonna happen, but it is fun to ponder.

[socalhogcaller]

Vandy was a founding member of the SEC.  We are 2 and 0 right now and leading the SEC East.  Our basketball team made the Sweet 16 within the last 3 years and our baseball team won the SEC regular season and tourney 2 years ago. 

A question like this on the same night that we beat a Top 25 team and moved to 2 and 0 is as ridiculous as Arkansas almost losing to Western Illinois.

I agree with you VandyHog.  I can think of nearly as many reasons that we shouldn't be in the SEC as Vandy.  To bring this issue up on one of their biggest wins in decades is kinda odd.

[Pissed Pig]

No need to dump Vandy, let just expand and go to a 16 team superconference.  Pick up two teams on the East side like Miami, Clemson, Ga Tech, FSU or Louisville.  Pick up two teams in the West like Texas, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, Nebraska.  If we're dreaming, lets dream big!  There would be no other conference that could compete.  Hell, they could basically just let us be the BCS.  Ain't gonna happen, but it is fun to ponder.

I agree Vandy ain't going anywhere, and you'd be better off just adding Tejas, and aTm for the west, and in the east GaTech, and Clemson, UCF or somebody from Fla.  I mean financially as a conference bigger is better for the SEC, more dollars all the way around.

[ErieHog]

If there was better balance across the athletic department, USF would be an intriguing pick;  it adds the Tampa media market, is a football program on the rise with a solid local talent base, and already competes at a BCS-level.

[Wild Bill Hog]

If there was better balance across the athletic department, USF would be an intriguing pick;  it adds the Tampa media market, is a football program on the rise with a solid local talent base, and already competes at a BCS-level.

Isn't that where Stan "The Man" Heath coaches now?

[ErieHog]

Isn't that where Stan "The Man" Heath coaches now?

It does, but that simply guarantees the basketball program will never emerge.

[Wild Bill Hog]

It does, but that simply guarantees the basketball program will never emerge.

100% in agreement with you on that.

[Nashville Fan]

I like Vandy and root for them as my favorite east team. I hope they beat every team from the west that they play except AR. The cold reality is, Vandy is getting killed when it comes to revenue generation. Heck we have a tough time competing with FL, TN, LSU, and we are something like the 15th richest program in the NCAA. The gap just keeps widing between the haves and the have nots. AR is trying to close the game; but I am not sure that they can. TN and FL get about 30% more revenue per year than us. I just don't see Vandy being able to close the gap in football longterm. It comes down to fan base. TN could have a million people giving $100. Vandy could have 40,000 giving 1,000. It's hard to make up that much ground.

[NaturalStateReb]

It'd be great to snap off one of the North Carolina schools or West Virginia.

I guarantee that the Mountaineers would say yes in a hearbeat.