What did South Carolina bring to the table in 1992?

About the same as arkansas(In my eyes we had a little more branding) but it was more for the Champ game than anything else I'd figure.

Its not the same situation.

We already have a CCG. In 1992, there wasn't one.

So was it more that they were an independent and it made the process of acquiring them easier?

It was more of a "we need 12 and the Texas schools and FSU all said no", IMO.

Yeah, I think the main thing is that the SEC wanted the championship game (which really has been a freaking awesome addition).

Arkansas and SC were schools that expanded our geographic footprint, fit in pretty well culturally, had okay academics (didn't help, but didn't embarass us either) and had decent athletic programs (with Arkansas being the better of the two).

Now that we are at 12, I think we need to be more selective. I mean, TBH at this point we probably wouldn't accept the Miss schools (or maybe Kentucky) if they were not part of the SEC, but they are in and I would never favor kicking them out b/c they are part of the tradition and culture of the SEC. However if someone approximately on par with them came calling in 2011, I'd tell that school to get lost.

Yes, it was a different situation in the late 80's early 90's. The conferenes had only recent won the right to negoiate their own TV deals form the NCAA. ND got their NBC deal, Penn State went to the Big 10. So Car was an Indy and had a large, rabid fan base, they routinely sold out an 80K seat stadium, even when they were bad. It fit geographically and culturally with the SEC. They were aight under Joe Morrison, they were 10-2 in 84 amd had the 1980 Heisman winner. Not an elite level program, but hardly Vanderbilt bad and while not a huge state, not a remote wasteland either. The important thing was to get to 12 and start the CCG.

IIRC A&M was the first choice, but Arkansas was also a good fit and had had a good deal of success in FB and basketball at the time.

Not quite sure why the head banging.

I'm not saying anyone did/doesn't belong. I wasn't paying attention to the last round of SEC expansion due to age and I am interested in it now. What's the big deal?

Looked up Independent teams of that era and which ones geographically made sense:

FSU - Said no
Miami (Joined Big East in '91) - UF block?
USC - Admitted to SEC
Tulane - HAHA
VT (Joined Big East in '91) - Similar record to USC in the 80's.
WVU (Joined Big East in '91)

Pretty interesting in that if Beamer Ball had started a few years earlier, we may already be sitting with VT in the SEC and hoping to add USC now, instead of vice versa.

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hardly. adding Texas would give the Pac 12 a presence in the 2 largest states.

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if OU and OSU bolt to the Pac-12, the Big 12 folds...therefore, I stand by my assessment that UT would need the Pac-12 more than the Pac-12 needs UT. key word is "needs"...

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Not quite sure why the head banging.

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because this topic has been brought up numerous times.

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Miami (Joined Big East in '91) - UF block?

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Arky and USCe had biiger fanbases to draw from, even then. Miami was the superpower on the field but brought little revenue wise. TV revenue is a bigger deal now, back then attendence, tickets sales mattered a little more.

a little fact... prior to SCar joining the SEC, the conferences last National Champion was Georgia in 1980 (and SC should have beat them that year)... since the Gamecocks have been in the SEC, the SEC has won 9 National Championships.... and all 9 NCs had to beat SC during the season to win their NC. I think we may be the only SEC school to make that claim. So for superstition sake, it's good to have SCar in the SEC.