Why wasn't it the magnificent 8 with Georgia Tech? Why were they not a part
of these meetings? I mean you have MIami who has not been so great and that is in a Pro Football town in it, but not Georgia Tech. HOO86 and others, why weren't they included? It just seems odd to me.
50 Replies
3y
Lots of research from being the highest-ranked engineering school in the south, and it's in a growing state and a major marketplace. But, alas, TV football eyeball count rules everything nowadays.
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
And nobody in the ACC really fits in the SEC. Every school has at least 1 big drawback. That’s why there hasn’t been a rush to invite any ACC schools to join their parties.
(In response to this post by LeadingEdge)
3y
The average B10 school has 35,000 undergrads. The biggest undergraduate school in the ACC is FSU, at 32,000. While school size itself doesn't determine viewership, it's a substantial component.
(In response to this post by marcbvtgm)
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I85Hokie
3y
Back when they were in the SEC and Atlanta had zero pro sports teams, making the Yellow Jackets the only game in town.
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
And Loserville to make 11. I know that’s not a popular opinion but it makes a pretty solid 11 team conference with compelling rivalries with solid markets.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Truthahn
3y
I think Louisville gets good crowds. They were a solid add, IMO. Pitt looks good to me, too, certainly if you bring in WVU eventually, too. I want WVU because they would be great as a rival to VT. And GT is a no brainer to add to the MAG7 group. They are right in the middle, in a huge state, in a huge media center.
If the MAG7 ever becomes the beginnings of a conference, I wonder if the focus would then shift to bringing in OSU and Texas teams, though, rather than other ACC teams. Texas replaces the lost ACC markets really well.
(In response to this post by ZekeVT)
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Mercury
3y
GT is having huge financial constraints with their program. While they have location, really no big time investment in athletics and really I dont know if they care. Pure academics. (and not being UGA and the child wild west) . They trouphy is the number of amazing engineers graduating there.
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
Sports. They seem to be more like a BC than anybody else lately.
(In response to this post by wwhokie1)
3y
They haven’t been really good at anything for awhile. And their recent hires at both football and basketball have no and limited HC experience respectively. It’s the bare minimum and likely tied to funding limitations.
This is just me. I get the sense that GT would be just fine no matter where they end up. Even if it is a gutted ACC or the B12. They don’t have the same passion to keep up with the P2.
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
They provide to value to the SEC.
(In response to this post by Stech)
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Mercury
3y
UGA can have the athletes that drive drunk, poor academics of their athetic program, and basically athletics first mentality
GA Tech is one of the top 5 engineering schools in the NATION. Students have different goals, than watching football on a Saturday afternoon. (they are in a lab somewhere during research). They will graduate and really make more money than many UGA graduates .
So its alot like BC, and even Duke, . Academics is first, and priority. further, alumni really not interested in contributing to GT athletics but give huge dollars to the university.
GT wants to stay in power 5, but are not prepared to invest at the level of the SEC Big 10, or frankly most of the ACC.
(In response to this post by VT ChemE 1986)
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I85Hokie
3y
It is not as easy to “hide” the student-athletes as it is in larger, less academically rigorous schools.
(In response to this post by Mercury)
3y
Big12 would suck with travel. It’s crazy that right now UCF has a better TV deal than F$U.
Acc is dying a slow death
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
reach this WRONG conclusion? I suggest you do a bit of reading away from the various boards to see what VT's eventual spot will likely be. Pretty good articles and blogs with much more current info. on this subject. Repeat after me: "In Mehul I trust"
(In response to this post by 3TechFanz)
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Mercury
3y
Its ACC first, and if collapsed Big 10 or SEC or independent , NEVER with the Big 12. Just not our culture period.
(In response to this post by 3TechFanz)
3y
VT has a real shot at landing in the SEC. frankly, it's a no brainer from where I'm sitting. Keep in mind that if the ACC implodes as many are saying - the Old Big East schools will end up in the 12 (my opinion).
As a fan of VT, you may think you won something if you are invited to the SEC, and it could be really good football, but The goal here, especially with the expanded playoffs, is to compete for, and win a National Championship. You have a much better chance of that in the ACC, lower media deal or not.
(In response to this post by Mercury)
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ombandit
3y
with or without UNC & NCSU
(In response to this post by 3TechFanz)
3y
(In response to this post by ombandit)
3y
(In response to this post by ombandit)
3y
reliable sources, that's for sure!!
(In response to this post by 3TechFanz)
3y
Those two will be available at any time to grab. The BIG knows they want to join so it can slow play then to get better terms when they are ready.
VT and UVA are completely different. We are closer to the rest of the BIG. We are in a more populated state. We have a ton of BIG alumni in the state because of the fed gov and all the jobs supporting it. And we are both doing quite well in supporting both rev and non rev sports while also keeping up academic standards.
It may be hard to accept for some, but VT and UVA are both desirable properties and will be targets for expansion.
(In response to this post by 3TechFanz)
3y
1. B10 doesn't want to be seen as a conference killer (even though they are), especially the conference they partnered with for so long. They are hoping the B12 raids the AZ/CO/UT schools and officially decimates the P12, so they can 'innocently' swipe up OR/WA.
2. B10 is still holding out hope for Notre Dame, which while unlikely, all the calculus hinges on.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
I’m sure that the B12 is interested in UVA/VT
** Edited by CrystalCoveHokie at 5/18/2023, 1:10:02 PM
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
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obguthr
3y
If they could get UNC, UVA, Duke, and VT to jump, Basketball would be sick and they'd own the 2 states.
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
I would think that OR/Wash are more valuable to B1G
(In response to this post by tarheelblue)
3y
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
It makes far more sense for B1G to expand west than east or south…..
Just from a practical standpoint, I would think that USC/UCLA have a handshake deal that next 2-4 teams come from west. If I had to bet I’d say Wash/Or/Stan/Cal to B1G before UVA/VT.
(In response to this post by tarheelblue)
3y
Having
(In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
3y
(In response to this post by MrFantastic!)
They already have MD, Ruts, plus Ohio State, Mich and MSU are in the ETZ.
Indiana might be as well, but too lazy to look it up.
(In response to this post by MrFantastic!)
I would think that’s an afterthought
(In response to this post by MrFantastic!)
3y
being able to cherry pick Virginia whenever they want. They'd still outrecruit VT/UVa, but why give up a lock of an advantage by being in a superior football conference.
(In response to this post by MrFantastic!)
I thought the same thing.
Wouldn't the SEC want to keep the B1G out of the heart of SEC country? The city that hosts their colossal football championship.
(In response to this post by Stech)
3y
would fit that the most of any ACC school. It makes me wonder if the magnificent 7 were thinking about the SEC and not the B1G, like some have implied. As you said in another post, GT is not a topic of conversation in Georgia. I could see the SEC liking to have Oklahoma State as number 24 to get Bedlam games and other natural rivalries in other sports. Oklahoma State has an incredible golf program, and the SEC loves golf.
(In response to this post by Old Line Hokie)
3y
take all internet reports with a grain of salt.
(In response to this post by Stech)
That would be bad optics. GT isn’t even an afterthought in GA
because they aren’t thought of at all. It’s all UGA all the time in this state.
(In response to this post by manassashoo)
3y
And I would not consider him to be reputable. Notre Dame, Georgia Tech or even Duke would make much more sense to be #8.
(In response to this post by manassashoo)
3y
(In response to this post by Millpoint)
3y
to me, but who really knows?
(In response to this post by Millpoint)