Sorry for the length of this post:
I'm not sure anybody really knows, but that seems to make sense. I still cannot see any N Carolina school moving anywhere w/o the others. They are just too tight. UVA probably joins them as well. Clemson has always been the 'tater on the field for those five - the bumpkin cousin. I can see them jumping ship. The rest are late-comers and can do as they wish. I think those five would like to keep GA Tech, for various reasons. We have earned our stripes, but we're still an outsider when it comes right down to it.
In regard to GA Tech, I think we're a bit schizophrenic. We cannot seem to let go of that old personality of perennial national college football power that really hasn't been us since 1956. It's now little but an ancient alter-ego. We've largely been a middle of the road football program now for over 65 years. That's a longer than the period that Heisman, Alex, and Dodd roamed the sidelines (1904-1966, or 63 years). Why this is the case is a matter of debate, but that it is true is not debatable. We've shown that we can elevate to national relevance over a 25-year period under coaches Ross, O'Leary, and Johnson. Try as we might, though, we have not been able to sustain that stature. I would wager that whatever the "why" is above, has always dragged us back to the middle of the road.
This all leads to my question: Why do we, as GA Tech alumni/fans, insist on seeing ourselves returning as a perennial national college football power? That is the preferred SEC identifier - "the home of perennial national college football powers." Bear in mind that only about half the SEC really fits that description and the rest proudly pound their collective chests anyway. It's amusing. I don't want to be that program! I would prefer to look at it wholistically, based on the reality of who we are, not who we were - a stinking long time ago, and not in my ample lifetime - or who we (delusionally) think we still are.
So, who are we? GA Tech is an elite academic institution that engages successfully in high-level athletic competition. We have evolved from a perennial national college football power to a well-rounded college athletic program. Where is the best fit for that entity? Is it the SEC who now days would sell their soul for a football championship? I don't know that I would prefer to stay in some abridged ACC with a rejuvenated Tobacco Road Mafia. That might qualify for a special place on Dante's list, but I sure don't want to be reduced to chanting "SEC, SEC, SEC" with the rest of the mongrels who get mauled week in, week out. The SEC is not asking us, though.
So then, it seems to me that I would prefer either to join up with the B1G if they ask or wait and see who is left out (I think there will be numerous good to very good programs) and form a new conference. Maybe it's the core ACC five, plus GT, VPI, Miami, Pitt, Louisville, Syracuse, and BC. Or maybe we look westward, bring Miami, Pitt, VPI, and Louisville with us and join up with Baylor, TX Tech, TCU, Oklahoma St, Kansas, KSU, and WVU (an eastern division of GA Tech, VPI, Miami, Pitt, Louisville, and WVU, and a western division of Baylor, TX Tech, TCU, OSU, Kansas, and KSU). But I'm not at all sure, with the reformed B12 that would even be possible. Or maybe it's the B1G, which would be as sure a thing as there is in college athletics. Trying the other route involves a lot of risks. Either way, it's a lot of new neighbors to break in with.
So, bottom line, if the B1G asks, we would be crazy not to jump.
