The idea sounds good and I am sure that West Virginia University fans would be ecstatic. However, it just does not seem that plausible right now. I just don't see Vanderbilt being kicked out. This idea has been debated several times on this board.

I will say that given the new make up of Conference USA with Tulane, Rice, and Tulsa, Vanderbilt would fit right in.

In this week's The Sporting News Matt Hayes speculates that the SEC is becoming frustrated with Vanderbilt's athletic posturing. Hayes writes that West Virginia is becoming a more likley replacement for Vandy.

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OK, but I wish someone could explain to me: accademically without Vandy, what would be the difference between the SEC and the NFL?

I was looking for something funny here, but the more you think about it... The SEC draws about the same attendance and TV ratings, the coaching is pretty equal, and obviously a lot of NFL players come from the SEC. So, no funnin', the answer may indeed be "just the names."

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WVU to SEC? Possible, but it will take some time and odd circumstances. For Vandy to play dead is one thing, for it to risk losing the money needed to fund it's athletics is another, and a drop from the SEC would likely cost them (I beleive) $5 million per year or more. If they really wanted to out of the SEC, would'nt they have asked to be ACC #12 and at least maintain some semblence of their current fiscal fortunes? Plus, as many die-hard SEC fans have pointed out, the conference won't be kicking anyone out, least of all it's most respected member and a gauranteed "W" on the fb schedule.

As for WVU, such a move would be for them some form of "homecoming" like VT's move to the ACC, but several factors lie in the way (Beyond the fact the SEC isn't expanding):

1. The conditions for leaving the BE just grew tougher;
2. They have a chance to increase their BCS bowl opportunities in the BE, and be king of the hill for a while;
3. They be privvy to some hefty basketball money;
4. Should a split ever occur, the BE-fb faction will add more schools and likely have a championship game.

Thus, a move may yet be in the cards, but will be more neutral (not entirely, but moreso) than it was before, IMO.

Vanderbilt is going nowhere. Vanderbilt is the only academic cover the SEC has - they could not afford the PR hit of kicking out the only great academic college in the league.

Vanderbuilt is not the only athletic cover of the SEC. According to U.S. News World Report, Florida is a tier 1 university. The Big 12 has none of those.
There are only three reasons why the SEC should change membership. They are (in this order):
1. To show that its academics are better than Big East's and the Big 12's and it rivals that of the other 3 main conferences.
2. To prove that it is the superior southern football conference over the ACC.
3. To show that it will always be one of the top three conferences in basketball every year.

... I wish someone could explain to me: accademically without Vandy, what would be the difference between the SEC and the NFL?
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the sec pays better.

That is funny but not true. ;D The SEC is better academically than the Big 12 and Big East and non-BCS conferences.

You're right GatorGuy, it is funny. Look at graduation rates. SEC right at the top-ha, ha, ha.

In academic reputation, Florida is NEVER mentioned as a top school. USA Today measures a lot of different factors. UGA and UF are improving, but the other 9 are very normal schools. I believe UGA, UF and Vandy are the only SEC members of the AAU (I think I've got the right initials). The Big 12 has 7 or 8, ACC 6 or 7, Big 10 everyone. Academically, the SEC is a very distant #5 of the Big 5.

You have to wonder if the academic differences between conferences will be a sticking point in any future plans to strengthen the BCS system and add more unity to the 1-A majors. Unity might be hard to achieve. With USC looking good for the BCS championship game, it could make it the third year in a row without a Big Ten-Pac Ten Rose Bowl match-up. This may add credence to these conferences being the hold-off's to join the BCS in the first place; perhaps it was a mistake. Notice that neither of these academic powerhouse conferences has felt any need to rush to get those three additional schools that would take both their memberships to 12. How much do either of them have in common with the SEC and XXII? Perhaps not that much.

Vanderbilt re-organized its athletic administration and from reports plans to remain the SEC and none are trying to remove them.

The SEC's other schools are flagship state universities and land grant universities of a contiguous region. In academia, citing US News is a bit trivial. The most selective schools are small and private. Maybe Davidson and Swathmore need to be added if that is the criteria ::).

The largest US institution in terms of property (land)holdings is an SEC school. Figure it out; US News will not tell you, and it is not Georgia or Florida.

My guess at the largest institution is South Carolina. ???
Vandy just won against Kentucky. Vandy is not too bad, they just had a really tough schedule. They return around 20 starters next year so they may win 3 SEC games- against South Carolina, Kentucky, and MSU and possibly even get to a bowl game.

Mississipi State - land, forests,etc.

Southeastern Conference (SEC)
Reclaim BCS Membership
Keep Conference Championship Game

East West
West Virginia Mountaineer Louisiana State Tigers
Georgia Bulldogs Alabama Crimson Tide
Florida Gators Arkansas Razorbacks
Kentucky Wildcats Auburn Tigers
South Carolina Gamethingys Mississippi Rebels
Tennessee Volunteers Mississippi State Bulldogs

Mid-American Conference (MAC)
May not attain BCS Membership
Keep Conference Championship Game

East West
Miami (OH) RedHawks Bowling Green Falcons
Toledo Rockets Northern Illinois Huskies
Akron Zips Western Michigan Broncos
Kent State Golden Flashes Ball State Cardinals
Ohio Bobcats Eastern Michigan Eagles
Buffalo Bulls Central Michigan Chippewas
Vanderbilt Commodores Temple Owls

Vanderbilt IS NOT leaving the SEC, their restructuring of their athletic department was made to make it stronger, and they informed the SEC of that. Vanderbilt IS the academic cover for the SEC, no one looks at Florida as that they look at Vanderbilt, and the NCAA would definitely raise eyebrows if the SEC kicked out the only school that hasn't had any NCAA troubles just to try and get more cash. Vanderbilt is still strong athletically, especially in basketball where they just recently went to the Sweet 16. The SEC just lamented how they have a hard time getting two teams to the BCS because of how strong the conference is, so why would they add ANOTHER powerful football program!?

They did remove Tulane 35 years ago, so I'd imagine they'll do another brilliant manuever in destroying conference tradition. Vandy just seems like an SEC team to me, regardless of their performace. Besides, didn't they just do well the women's NCAA bball tourney? Football is big, but it ain't everything.