An expanded SEC? Coaches kick around the idea

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Georgia's Mark Richt and LSU's Les Miles don't seem enamored with the notion of an expanded SEC. Alabama's Nick Saban thinks the league would have no problem finding four new members if it opts to become a 16-school super-conference. And South Carolina's Steve Spurrier just wants Notre Dame to join the Big Ten and "go play."

Expansion and realignment of major conferences is a hot-button issue nationally in college athletics these days, and SEC football coaches kicked around the idea during a wide-ranging conference call with media members Thursday.

"It's going to be an interesting thing to watch," Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said, "and see how it progresses."

Earlier this week, SEC commissioner Mike Slive said the 12-member league isn't pursuing expansion but is looking internally at the issue in case there is a "significant shift in the conference paradigm." In other words, the SEC will be prepared to expand if necessary to protect its interests in the face of large-scale expansion by other conferences.

The 11-member Big Ten got this ball rolling when it announced late last year that it is considering expanding. From there, speculation took off about the endless possibilities of a reshaped college-sports landscape.

In general, SEC football coaches were measured about the idea Thursday. Some expressed reluctance. Some expressed curiosity. Some just deferred to Slive.

"I don't know that the SEC needs expansion," Miles said. "What team are you going to bring in that will bring with it a financial package and a strength of following that will add to the conference? And, really, you'd be looking for at least two teams. So I think that's going to be a difficult order for the SEC. ... Hopefully it won't happen quickly in this league."

Miles said expansion makes more sense for leagues that are looking to reach 12 teams and add a championship game. Richt agreed.

"If [SEC expansion] happened anytime soon, I'd be surprised," Richt said. "I can see other leagues getting to the format we have, which I think is a great format with six teams [in each division] and a championship game. That would make more sense to me than trying to get these super-conferences because you don't get to play everybody when you do that. It's almost like two different leagues when you do that."

Saban likes the SEC's current setup, too, but thinks growth could be good.

"I don't know the extent that people are talking about expansion," Saban said, "but if they're going to go to 16, there would be a lot of teams interested [in joining the SEC]. I know Mike Slive, a great commissioner, will [make] a good decision about what works best for the SEC."

Said Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen: "If the direction of college football is going to move in a certain way, I'm sure the SEC and the commissioner's office are going to work to maintain being the premier conference in the nation."

Spurrier said he hasn't heard much talk about adding teams to the SEC, but "I've heard maybe Arkansas back to the Big 12 or something like that." Spurrier then offered his suggestion for where expansion should begin:

"Notre Dame should be in the Big Ten," he said. "They should have to play the same schedule everybody else up there plays. I think it'd be good for them and good for college football, but I don't think Notre Dame wants to do that. They like being independent. But I think they should get in that Big Ten and go play."