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It has dawned on me that NC and VA are the only southern states without SEC teams, even Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas have an SEC team! Is there some historical reason why this is the case, or is it that these two states have always been big ACC powerhouses? I know South Carolina was once part of the ACC, but they joined the SEC forty years or so ago.
It has dawned on me that NC and VA are the only southern states without SEC teams, even Kentucky, Missouri, and Texas have an SEC team! Is there some historical reason why this is the case, or is it that these two states have always been big ACC powerhouses? I know South Carolina was once part of the ACC, but they joined the SEC forty years or so ago.
They didn't want to get beat all the time.
It's the same reason that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, as charter members of the original Southwest Conference, pulled out and went to a different conference. Those Okies were at least smart enough to get into a conference where winning had a much higher probability. Given the Sooners' tradition of success, I think it's safe to say the right decision was made to jump conferences.
Before all the realignment BS, we also had the most exciting and best division in all of college football during the BCS era, the The Big 12 South. Sad to see 'er go. The teams in the Big 12 South were not only evenly matched, but culturally there was/is a lot of commonality between the fanbases.
It's the same reason that Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, as charter members of the original Southwest Conference, pulled out and went to a different conference. Those Okies were at least smart enough to get into a conference where winning had a much higher probability. Given the Sooners' tradition of success, I think it's safe to say the right decision was made to jump conferences.
Before all the realignment BS, we also had the most exciting and best division in all of college football during the BCS era, the The Big 12 South. Sad to see 'er go. The teams in the Big 12 South were not only evenly matched, but culturally there was/is a lot of commonality between the fanbases.
None of this has anything to do with North Carolina or Virginia.
The big NC schools were in the Southern Conference, and set out to form their own conference since the SoCon banned post season play. Thus, the ACC was born. Virginia was independent and the ACC invited them. VA Tech was never admitted to the ACC because they didn't want them. Not until VA Tech become a Big East power and the ACC poached them.
None of this has anything to do with North Carolina or Virginia.
The big NC schools were in the Southern Conference, and set out to form their own conference since the SoCon banned post season play. Thus, the ACC was born. Virginia was independent and the ACC invited them. VA Tech was never admitted to the ACC because they didn't want them. Not until VA Tech become a Big East power and the ACC poached them.
Your explanation makes a lot more sense!
I was just having some fun slippin' some Oklahoma trivia in there.
Don't look for that to change. Maybe Va Tech but I've read they are joined at the hip with UVA so they are staying in the ACC and there isn't a school worthy of an SEC invite outside of UVA and VA Tech in Virginia. As for North Carolina, who could the SEC get? UNC, Duke, and NC State aren't leaving each other and the SEC does not want Wake Forest. UNC would be the big prize but why would UNC leave? I think if UVA and Va Tech somehow could separate, the SEC would come running for Va Tech because it gives them inroads to the Washington DC metro.
The only reason why the SEC would want to nab the Virginia or NC schools is to bolster its academic reputation, but after adding Texas A&M (a very good get) and Mizzou (not A&M good, but respectable) I think they're content to stand pat for a while. They already have a footprint in arguably the most football-crazy state in the country (Texas) and already dominate two other huge ones in Florida and Georgia (in the next 20 years, I fully expect GA to surpass Florida, California and Texas for the honor for having the best high school football talent in the country).
Another reason why they're good where they're at is because the Big Ten is looking at those same schools, especially UNC (commish Delany is a UNC grad) and the VA schools. Even though the SEC has more football clout, they know they likely have little chance of outbidding the B1G because UVA and UNC will likely align with the more academic-oriented conference, and the B1G is a better basketball conference than they are at football, at least lately.
The only reason why the SEC would want to nab the Virginia or NC schools is to bolster its academic reputation, but after adding Texas A&M (a very good get) and Mizzou (not A&M good, but respectable) I think they're content to stand pat for a while. They already have a footprint in arguably the most football-crazy state in the country (Texas) and already dominate two other huge ones in Florida and Georgia (in the next 20 years, I fully expect GA to surpass Florida, California and Texas for the honor for having the best high school football talent in the country).
Another reason why they're good where they're at is because the Big Ten is looking at those same schools, especially UNC (commish Delany is a UNC grad) and the VA schools. Even though the SEC has more football clout, they know they likely have little chance of outbidding the B1G because UVA and UNC will likely align with the more academic-oriented conference, and the B1G is a better basketball conference than they are at football, at least lately.
The Big 10 looking at southern schools? That's hard to imagine from a Mid-Western/Northeastern conference. I guess I'm coming at this from a geographical standpoint, but if you look at a map of all the SEC schools, the absence of NC and VA is pretty noticeable. Then again, Missouri (a Mid-Western state) is in the SEC and Notre Dame (A Mid-Western school MILES away from the Atlantic Coast) is playing basketball in the ACC so I don't know, a bit bizarre in my opinion. I doubt any NC or VA schools will make the switch over because those two states are BIG TIME ACC country, but I was just curious.
The Big 10 looking at southern schools? That's hard to imagine from a Mid-Western/Northeastern conference. I guess I'm coming at this from a geographical standpoint, but if you look at a map of all the SEC schools, the absence of NC and VA is pretty noticeable. Then again, Missouri (a Mid-Western state) is in the SEC and Notre Dame (A Mid-Western school MILES away from the Atlantic Coast) is playing basketball in the ACC so I don't know, a bit bizarre in my opinion. I doubt any NC or VA schools will make the switch over because those two states are BIG TIME ACC country, but I was just curious.
Not that long ago, the thought of Maryland and Rutgers in the B1G sounded crazy. It long ago stopped being about geography.
Not that long ago, the thought of Maryland and Rutgers in the B1G sounded crazy. It long ago stopped being about geography.
stopped being about geography…….and started being about insanity
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Sad to see 'er go. The teams in the Big 12 South were not only evenly matched, but culturally there was/is a lot of commonality between the fanbases.
