I moved from NOVA to Charlotte in ‘08 and now it is over-run with people from OH, MI, MN, IA, PA, MD, DC, NY. To a detriment. Go to a Panthers game against the Vikings or Steelers or Green Bay or Bills or Browns…. More opposing fans Granted we suck right now, but the Vikings, Pats, Jets, Bills, Packers, Giants, Lions, Bears (AFC/NFC North) literally take over Bank of America Stadium regardless of record. It’s because Charlotte is a transplant city. So I just recently moved from Charlotte NC to Charleston SC (tiny compared to CLT). Charleston SC is “Low Country” SC vs “Upstate” SC (Charlotte/Columbia). Native SC Charlestonians have a real Love/Hate for “Northerners” and for whatever reason specifically target “Ohioans”. They hate them with a passion, and I’m talking just the past 2-3 years (COVID and the impact on traffic, it’s real I promise. I was a Washington DC traffic doubter, but it’s actually a thing down here to a much lesser extent. 7 miles in 18 mins vs 90 mins in 60 miles. But in CHS they love their property values going up (“No More Apartments in MY great neighborhood!!!! Keep the Northerners and the apartments (transitioners like me) out!!!”) In Charleston, SC…I currently see as much OSU/PSU/Mich/Minn/Wisc/Mich St, even Iowa gear, not kidding…daily at the gym as I do Clemson/USC-E and that is not an exaggeration. Asked my gym dude where he was from and he said Iowa. I said Go Hawkeyes! He said “wow, how did you know that!” I was like “does everyone not know that!” and he didn’t know how to respond. We have TV in these parts. Kirk Feremtz is a DUDE just like Frank Beamer. Blacksburg is not a cow field anymore. Ames, Iowa is. Most of the B1G is in a major way, raking in the $$$$$$. Still plenty of VT and UVA and UNC but not as much as B1G as a whole. And def no FSU or Miami or any other SEC or ACC school. Yeah, Detroit and Flint and State College and Columbus suck. Blacksburg does not, despite popular belief. People are migrating en masse to the Carolinas (I did/have/no reason to change). This board thinks Blacksburg is in the middle of nowhere but look at a freaking map. It’s on I-81 and accessible from I-95 and I-77, the busiest interstates in the richest state in the country. Charlotte and Charleston are amazing. Work from home, live at the best beaches, come here, take over opponents stadiums for cheap (Panthers, Hornets). It’s so cheap down here compared to do DC and the Northeast. Blacksburg is a 2.5 hour drive from Charlotte and a 5+ from Charleston SC and 4 hours from Washington DC and less to Richmond and 5+ to 757/Virginia Beach…to witness the greatest entrance in all of sports (Lane). “Cow town”, whatever…that was 20+ years ago when we were also “The Most Wired City in the World” before the internet that we know. And a Smart Road before anyone (I’m in IT) knew what the Internet was. Perspective. Only “problem” with B1G folks in the South is you won’t get cheap tickets (Duke, Wake) or takeover the stadium…and you will likely LOSE…yet still have the time of your life (Blacksburg). B1G for the win. It just works better. Let UVA join Vandy and Ole Miss in the equally great SEC. They will bring the academics way up and keep football/basketball great in the richest area in America. UVA/UNC to SEC and VT/NCSt to B1G makes the most sense. UNC with UVA…and VT with NC St for the same exact reasons. They will still play OOC. Ohioans and Michiganders moving to Raleigh/RTP is gigantic right now. Demographics will decide it all, make it happen. Nobody else in the ACC (including Miami and Clemson) are nearly as valuable as the states of VA and NC in demographics and culture and academics and fit. It’s not the same as it was last time (VT-UVA stick together for the ACC), but it was best when we did the previous time (UVA in ACC, VT in Big East). Same now, it’s time we blow the minds and wallets of the two biggest dogs. 2 states, 2 different conferences. Big money for the win. You’re welcome ESPN and FOX…write this down. VT BABY!!! ** Edited by Hardcore_Hokie at 6/13/2024, 5:24:10 AM