Faculty soccer convention growth took off final offseason to the purpose the place a number of conferences at the moment are unrecognizable.
One convention, the Pac-12, is on life help after dropping each faculty however Oregon State and Washington State, however the fallout is that the Massive Ten extends all the way in which west to Southern California and northwest to Oregon, whereas Cal and Stanford now play within the ACC — the Atlantic Coast Convention.
Quite a lot of it does not make sense and, frankly, was simply a part of an influence seize. That is an influence seize the SEC was concerned with as effectively — the convention received large by successful over Texas and Oklahoma — however lately talking at SEC Media Days, convention commissioner Greg Sankey undoubtedly placed on the breaks in regard to any extra growth.
Rising from 14 groups to 16 groups appears “good” for Sankey.
“16 is our immediately, and 16 is our tomorrow,” Sankey stated, per On3. “We’re centered on our 16, interval.”
Whereas faculty soccer management could be very like politicians — in that they are saying one factor whereas doing the opposite — it’s value noting that what Sankey says is sensible.
He feels the SEC is extraordinarily robust, and that is onerous to argue. He additionally feels that in a brand new faculty soccer period through which location and historical past as gone out the window, the SEC has held on to a few of what makes faculty soccer so pricey to so many.
“We all know who we’re within the Southeastern Convention. We’re the one convention at this degree the place the identify nonetheless means one thing,” Sankey stated. “We really restored historic rivalries. We have now dates which have which means, that we perceive.”
There might definitely be one other spherical of growth within the close to future. Florida State and Clemson appear itchy to go away the ACC and both faculty would appear like a pure match for SEC nation.
Sankey does not but need to touch upon that, although.
“I’m not going to guess on what occurs subsequent,” Sankey stated. “My job is to verify we meet the usual of excellence that we’ve got for ourselves every day. That pulls curiosity. It’s accomplished that with the 2 universities that we’ve got added this yr. They’re not the one telephone calls I’ve ever had, however I’m not concerned in recruitment.”
Sankey will not be actively recruiting, however you simply know he’ll take the telephone name if the Seminoles or Tigers are on the opposite line. Both approach, Sankey says he’ll stay fixated on the SEC.
“I’m satisfied by way of all this modification, our greatest is but to come back,” he stated.