The Sec, Missouri, & West Virginia

[woo.pig]

West Virginia was practically begging to be invited into the SEC but they went with Missouri. I feel like WV would've been a better fit. Passionate fanbase better football program, and basketball on par with Mizzou

[Hawgphat]

I consider it to be entirely possible that geographic location may have played a role in this determination.  If that concern was uppermost in the equation, I can understand that.  I can also understand that others may have entertained a different criteria.

[welchog]

Better to dismantle one conference than just annoy two.

[Inhogswetrust]

Not enough TV's in WV.

[Pudgepork]

Missouri offered more television watchers.  More money

[Bubba's Bruisers]

West Virginia was practically begging to be invited into the SEC but they went with Missouri. I feel like WV would've been a better fit. Passionate fanbase better football program, and basketball on par with Mizzou

It's more about eyeballs.  You think the SEC gave a darn whether or not A$M would be any good in the SEC?  Probably not so much.  The SEC wanted into the TX market.  That's a lot of eyeballs.

[NaturalStateReb]

Not enough TV's in WV.

Unfortunately this, although I agree with OP that WV would have been a better fit.

[oldhawg]

Missouri has won the SEC East twice since becoming a conference member.  Not sure West Virginia would have done that.  Overall more viewers in Missouri's program area than west Virginia.

[Sweet Feet]

Missouri has won the SEC East twice since becoming a conference member.  Not sure West Virginia would have done that.  Overall more viewers in Missouri's program area than west Virginia.

West Virginia would have been a great fit. They have a great football program. Missouri would have kept their rivalry with Kansas in the big 12 and compete. However like mentioned already, Mizzou was a better market

[Hoggish1]

Missouri Market huge compared to WV.

[AirWarren]

West Virginia was practically begging to be invited into the SEC but they went with Missouri. I feel like WV would've been a better fit. Passionate fanbase better football program, and basketball on par with Mizzou

I love to watch West Virgina football and their fans.

Lots of similarities in Arkansas and WV.

[RazorPiggie]

West Virginia was practically begging to be invited into the SEC but they went with Missouri. I feel like WV would've been a better fit. Passionate fanbase better football program, and basketball on par with Mizzou

Their basketball is currently way better than Missouri

[Hawghiggs]

 Its not really a comparison. Mizzou is an AAU member from a large populated state.

[ChicoHog]

West Virginia was practically begging to be invited into the SEC but they went with Missouri. I feel like WV would've been a better fit. Passionate fanbase better football program, and basketball on par with Mizzou

Absolutely right.  Unfortunately common sense and athletic fit are not as important to the bean counters.  Sure there are more people and TV sets in the Missouri market but half of them or more don't care about Mizzou sports while everyone in WV cares about the Mountaineers.  And they have large alumni base in the DC area where there are plenty of people.  If they didn't go to the Big 12 they might have had a chance at the ACC but hindsight is 20/20.  They just don't fit in the Big 12 geographically and I think it hurts them somewhat in recruiting. 

[Pancetta]

The largest Metro area in MO is Greater St Louis at approx 3 million vs Charleston WV metro at approx 300,000.  But you are right, culturally and geographically WV or VA Tech would have been better fits. 

[hogsanity]

WVU made no sense geographically or in viewers for the SEC

[ChicoHog]

WVU made no sense geographically or in viewers for the SEC

They fit geographically in east as much as Mizzou does.  And better fit athletically and their fan support. 

[Bacons Rebellion]

St. Louis and Kansas City vs. Charleston and Wheeling.

Yeah, Missouri wins that one. As everyone else has said, it's about butts on the couch, watching the tube.

[Inhogswetrust]

Unfortunately this, although I agree with OP that WV would have been a better fit.

Agree. Mizzou did and still does have a lot more upside and potential than WV though.

[hogcard1964]

Unfortunately this, although I agree with OP that WV would have been a better fit.

I'd like to see the next wave of realignment into the SEC involve West Virginia and Oklahoma.

[Hawghiggs]

I'd like to see the next wave of realignment into the SEC involve West Virginia and Oklahoma.

I'd rather see Iowa state than West Virginia.

[UAfanatic]

The eyeballs in Mo are more interested in St Louis and KC than college, in WV college is where all the eyeballs are

[Inhogswetrust]

The eyeballs in Mo are more interested in St Louis and KC than college, in WV college is where all the eyeballs are

Don't assume that ALL the eyeballs in MO care about St Louis or KC in any way. Even if they do like pro sports first they might watch college sports on Saturdays anyway. More TV sets mean more potential viewers. 

[longpig]

Missouri offered more television watchers.  More money

True,  but barely a War Memorial Stadium full are college football watchers.   

[Hogwild]

If they didn't go to the Big 12 they might have had a chance at the ACC but hindsight is 20/20.  They just don't fit in the Big 12 geographically and I think it hurts them somewhat in recruiting.

The ACC turned West Virginia down multiple times. Then last year OU president admitted the Big 12 made a mistake taking West Virginia over UL.

The rejection by the ACC is no surprise; the Mountaineers have been passed over three times for ACC membership. A source with knowledge of the situation has told CFT that "every person I've spoken with said the same thing: the ACC does not want WVU."

[longpig]

Agree. Mizzou did and still does have a lot more upside and potential than WV though.

Take a roadtrip to the blow me state, a Mizzou game on Saturday and a Chiefs game on Sunday.  Chiefs fans are rabid, Mizzou fans that bother to attend celebrate their team scoring because they get to see the big stupid drum again. 

[longpig]

They fit geographically in east as much as Mizzou does.  And better fit athletically and their fan support.

Culturally WV is a perfect fit, Mizzou is square peg round hole. 

[RazorWhacker]

Not enough TV's in WV.

Wow. I kinda feel bad for them now.

I've got a couple of old sets. I'm sure between me and my neighbors I could come up with half a dozen or so I could take up there.

[PonderinHog]

Wow. I kinda feel bad for them now.

I've got a couple of old sets. I'm sure between me and my neighbors I could come up with half a dozen or so I could take up there.

Got any false teeth layin' around?  I'm sure they could use those too.

[WorfHog]

Don't assume that ALL the eyeballs in MO care about St Louis or KC in any way. Even if they do like pro sports first they might watch college sports on Saturdays anyway. More TV sets mean more potential viewers.

Potential is the key word, lots of KU fans in KC and lots of UI fans in St. Louis. I doubt the number of true die hard MU fans is very high. As a fan base WVU beats the snot out of MU.

I'd wager that more Top 25 matchups would draw more viewers than local.

It's all fun and games until the cable/sat companies stop paying for ESPN when most of their subs don't even watch sports. Hope it's working out for ESPN. _{It's not and they're losing money like crazy.}

[ronmahony]

I think they need couches more than tv's, they have burned all of theirs.

[Inhogswetrust]

Take a roadtrip to the blow me state, a Mizzou game on Saturday and a Chiefs game on Sunday.  Chiefs fans are rabid, Mizzou fans that bother to attend celebrate their team scoring because they get to see the big stupid drum again. 

Dude I've been there a LOT. Worked in Columbia and have visited KC many times. This isn't about attendance and rabidness. It's about $$ for the number of TV sets available. YES KC fans are rabid but what are they doing on Saturday? Probably like a lot of others and watching college football...............on TV.

[Inhogswetrust]

Potential is the key word, lots of KU fans in KC and lots of UI fans in St. Louis. I doubt the number of true die hard MU fans is very high. As a fan base WVU beats the snot out of MU.

I'd wager that more Top 25 matchups would draw more viewers than local.

It's all fun and games until the cable/sat companies stop paying for ESPN when most of their subs don't even watch sports. Hope it's working out for ESPN. _{It's not and they're losing money like crazy.}

I agree that WV fans are more rabid for their team. However this is NOT about being rabid. It is about TV sets and thus media money generated. WHY do you think the Big 10 took Rutgers. It was ALL about TV's and media markets and $ for such. Besides that Mizzou has potential just like a lot of places to have top 25 teams from time to time. So does WV. So does Arkansas, etc. Just because WV seems to be ahead of Mizzou in rankings moreso lately doesn't mean that was or will always be the case. 

[Mike_e]

Its not really a comparison. Mizzou is an AAU member from a large populated state.

This, WV is not a well thought of school academically and we may be all about sports but the university presidents and trustees actually get the vote.

[Inhogswetrust]

Wow. I kinda feel bad for them now.

I've got a couple of old sets. I'm sure between me and my neighbors I could come up with half a dozen or so I could take up there.

I'm sure the TV repair guy in Beckley will be happy. I hear he has ordered a whole lot of inventory of cathode ray tubes.........................................

[ChicoHog]

I agree that WV fans are more rabid for their team. However this is NOT about being rabid. It is about TV sets and thus media money generated. WHY do you think the Big 10 took Rutgers. It was ALL about TV's and media markets and $ for such. Besides that Mizzou has potential just like a lot of places to have top 25 teams from time to time. So does WV. So does Arkansas, etc. Just because WV seems to be ahead of Mizzou in rankings moreso lately doesn't mean that was or will always be the case. 

I understand the reasoning.  I just don't agree with it.  It's a good thing we have our place solidified because we would be just like WVU, on the outside looking in even though our fan base is much more  interested in sports than Missouri.

[WorfHog]

I agree that WV fans are more rabid for their team. However this is NOT about being rabid. It is about TV sets and thus media money generated. WHY do you think the Big 10 took Rutgers. It was ALL about TV's and media markets and $ for such. Besides that Mizzou has potential just like a lot of places to have top 25 teams from time to time. So does WV. So does Arkansas, etc. Just because WV seems to be ahead of Mizzou in rankings moreso lately doesn't mean that was or will always be the case.

You're missing the point, in the very near future (i.e. al a carte cable/sat and online subs), ESPN will not be getting all the free money from non sports fans. Those folks cutting the cord at an alarming rate. ESPN is in financial freefall (which is why they cut all their high paid talent). Disney is thinking about spinning them off to stop their bleeding. Mizzou is not the draw the bean counters (as a bean counter I know how easy it is to overestimate) at ESPN think they are. WVU is more and has been historically more competitive in the money making sports. Great match ups mean more than potential TVs and will mean more going forward.

[NaturalStateReb]

I understand the reasoning.  I just don't agree with it.  It's a good thing we have our place solidified because we would be just like WVU, on the outside looking in even though our fan base is much more  interested in sports than Missouri.

Arkansas does have twice the population of West Virginia and much better geographic proximity. Still, Brooke's was wise to make the jump when he did. Better to be the first guy to sell in a neighborhood going bad than the last guy.

[NaturalStateReb]

You're missing the point, in the very near future (i.e. al a carte cable/sat and online subs), ESPN will not be getting all the free money from non sports fans. Those folks cutting the cord at an alarming rate. ESPN is in financial freefall (which is why they cut all their high paid talent). Disney is thinking about spinning them off to stop their bleeding. Mizzou is not the draw the bean counters (as a bean counter I know how easy it is to overestimate) at ESPN think they are. WVU is more and has been historically more competitive in the money making sports. Great match ups mean more than potential TVs and will mean more going forward.

I'm not sure about this, because Disney. Your kid might love Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but you might have to pay for ESPN to get it. They have 40+ networks to leverage.

[rtr]

Missouri has an offense that will give Arkansas all it can handle, again.

[Murr]

https://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/the-geography-of-college-football-fans-and-realignment-chaos/

Here are some statistics that were floating around during that realignment phase. 

An important statistic back then was new markets as adding schools that did that opened up a renegotiation clause in all three tiers of the SEC contracts.  Adding ST Louis and KC to the Texas markets made the conference the most money while launching a new network. 

Back then Mizzou had slightly more fans than WVU, 1.08M vs 0.95M, much larger markets to guarantee higher subscription rates, AAU academics vs WVU's state mission based goals/standards, and better facilities than those in Morgantown.  Both schools are geographically difficult to get to while yet being contiguous to then SEC map. Morgantown had airfield runway issues and no baseball program or field.

Now the next wave of additions (if any) will be more based on ratings and number of fans added. It will probably be looked at in number of people tuning in to watch the third Teir games on SECN against rent a win OOC opponents, ability to attract non-fans to watch a Tier 1 match up, and ability to convert its fan base to watch other conference football games like the CBS game of the week and Conference Championship Game.  Due to the current GOR's in place, I suspect only Big 12 schools would be likely to jump.  The SEC won't expand if it can't add one of Texas or Oklahoma.  The next school to round out expansion, if only one of those two schools did join, would be prioritized as 1. WVU, 2. Kansas, and 3. OSU just based off of fan base sizes.  There are plenty of factors that can alter this ranking, but for simplicity i chose this one.

[ShadowHawg]

You're missing the point, in the very near future (i.e. al a carte cable/sat and online subs), ESPN will not be getting all the free money from non sports fans. Those folks cutting the cord at an alarming rate. ESPN is in financial freefall (which is why they cut all their high paid talent). Disney is thinking about spinning them off to stop their bleeding. Mizzou is not the draw the bean counters (as a bean counter I know how easy it is to overestimate) at ESPN think they are. WVU is more and has been historically more competitive in the money making sports. Great match ups mean more than potential TVs and will mean more going forward.

No offense but life has taught me never to listen to bean counters with regard to what motivates people.

[Inhogswetrust]

You're missing the point, in the very near future (i.e. al a carte cable/sat and online subs), ESPN will not be getting all the free money from non sports fans. Those folks cutting the cord at an alarming rate. ESPN is in financial freefall (which is why they cut all their high paid talent). Disney is thinking about spinning them off to stop their bleeding. Mizzou is not the draw the bean counters (as a bean counter I know how easy it is to overestimate) at ESPN think they are. WVU is more and has been historically more competitive in the money making sports. Great match ups mean more than potential TVs and will mean more going forward.

No you're missing the point. Nobody can tell the future. Sure cord cutting is happening. I've done so myself. But we still watch somehow. At the TIME of expansion cord cutting wasn't the main consideration. You haven't been around long if you think WV has always been better in the money makers sports. Might be true today but might not always have been. Besides one or two coaching changes can have an effect on a programs success rate and sometimes for a long time. Expansion is about exposure and thus $ and one of the main components of that is population.