Maryland ups the game

[-jk]

Maryland is trying to put the thumbscrews on the ACC (http://www.testudotimes.com/2014/1/14/5307746/maryland-acc-lawsuit-counterclaim).

Yeesh.

-jk

[hudlow]

Buyer's remorse....?

[moonpie23]

do the attorneys make money on this sort of thing? or is all that pro-bono?:rolleyes:

[Matches]

Sounds like a very thin ploy to try to get the ACC to settle its ongoing claim against UMd.

UMd will have a significant problem proving that it has standing to sue the ACC (or Wake and Pitt - whatever) for trying - not succeeding, mind you, but *trying* - allegedly - to poach schools from the Big 10.

I understand the strategic value of asserting a counterclaim, but this one seems REALLY thin.

[Duvall]

Here's Maryland's Amended Answer and Counterclaims. (http://media10.washingtonpost.com/generic/media/document_cloud/document/pdf/acclawsuit.pdf)

[throatybeard]

That escalated quickly.

[Blue in the Face]

Just wait until Maryland adds the mlbpa to the suit.

[OldPhiKap]

That escalated quickly.

Yeah, that really got out of hand.


Don't kill anyone with your trident -- er, sporkz.

[MCFinARL]

do the attorneys make money on this sort of thing? or is all that pro-bono?:rolleyes:

Pro bono--haha. :D

Attorneys could, of course, "make money on this sort of thing," but it seems the Maryland Attorney General is heavily involved--so a lot of the work may be being done in-house, by staff attorneys, rather than by more expensive outside counsel. If attorney incentives are playing a role it may be the opposite of the one you imagine--that Maryland can pursue its claims without incurring significant extra costs for attorney time, while, it hopes, the ACC has to spring for costly outside counsel.

[Class of '94]

funny how things change.....As an ACC-lifer, I wanted someway, somehow for MD to reconsider and stay with the ACC. However, after receiving more information on how MD handled their decision to leave the ACC (shaking hands and pledging their allegiance to the ACC while secretly and simultaneously brokering a deal with the Big Ten to join that conference) and now this, I wish MD could leave the conference today. Unfortunately, this is another example of MD not taking or acknowledging responsibility for their own actions and poor decisions; rather they just blame it on the supposedly NC-centric ACC.

Interestingly, if MD was to win this countersuit, it would imagine it would pay off (or come close to it) all of their athletic department debt; and for me that sends a message of MD blaming the ACC for not providing MD with enough tv money and revenues from their bad decision to build a new football stadium; and they want the ACC to take care of the bill. Of course, this isn't entirely true; but it continues to paint MD imo as a University that has not accountability and very over-inflated view of its self-worth and importance in the landscape of college athletics.

[Henderson]

What a graceful, gentlemanly people they are in Maryland.

[wilson]

So, let me get this straight...Maryland is countersuing based on the claim that the ACC and/or some of its member institutions have been attempting to woo B1G schools.
What, then, is Maryland's move to the B1G, if not the result of the B1G wooing an ACC school? Am I missing something?
3798

[MChambers]

So, let me get this straight...Maryland is countersuing based on the claim that the ACC and/or some of its member institutions have been attempting to woo B1G schools.
What, then, is Maryland's move to the B1G, if not the result of the B1G wooing an ACC school? Am I missing something?
3798
So Maryland's view is "do as I say, not as I do?"

[alteran]

So, let me get this straight...Maryland is countersuing based on the claim that the ACC and/or some of its member institutions have been attempting to woo B1G schools.
What, then, is Maryland's move to the B1G, if not the result of the B1G wooing an ACC school? Am I missing something?
3798

Clearly, you're missing something.

Successfully conspiring to undermine an entire conference (the ACC), while lying to fellow conference schools that everything was great while in fact you were actually threatening the finances of those schools? Well, that's clearly not an offense worth more than a teeny-weeny fraction of the 52 million your conference agreement says you owe when you leave.

Unsuccessfully conspiring to possibly weaken a solid conference (the Bigapalooza) while actually not lying to anyone, not causing any problems for any of those schools at all, and not violating any agreements or tripping any agreed upon penalties? 157 million.

I'm beginning to think the current ACC school with the biggest sense of entitlement does not reside in Chapel Hill.

While the audacity and stupidity of this lawsuit make me want to do otherwise, I think the ACC would be wise to settle the whole thing with Maryland. It would be worth 52 million never to see them again, frankly. And from what I understand, these conference exit fees are always negotiated down to something like half anyway.

Getting rid of Maryland? Awesome. Making them pay us 26 million to leave? Priceless.

[dpslaw]

The treble damages claim is simply another iteration of the harebrained antitrust claim that the Maryland court previously dismissed (without prejudice, unfortunately).

As a practical matter, one problem with making such specious claims is that the court may let its skepticism bleed over into its evaluation of Maryland's less baseless claims.

[throatybeard]

And from what I understand, these conference exit fees are always negotiated down to something like half anyway.

Kanye West taught us as much.

EDIT: I've received confused inquiries about this post. Please consult the second stanza of Mr West's "Gold Digger," about what happens to yo mon-nay when you break up.

[Atlanta Duke]

The counterclaim is characteristically spiteful - in addition to slamming the ACC, Maryland does a drive by slam of West Virginia in paragraph 103 by stating WVA joining the Big 12 is an "outlier" that probably is not viable for the long term due to travel issues. The Harvard of College Park then proceeds in paragraph 109 to go after the SEC and says the Terps would not deign to join the SEC given the low graduation rates of SEC schools as well as the SEC having no natural rivals for Maryland (as presumably opposed to the Iowa and Nebraska natural rivalries in the Big 10)

Maryland apparently has transferred its natural rivalry fixation to Penn State, which will be news to Penn State

[throatybeard]

The counterclaim is characteristically spiteful - in addition to slamming the ACC, Maryland does a drive by slam of West Virginia in paragraph 103 by stating WVA joining the Big 12 is an "outlier" that probably is not viable for the long term due to travel issues. The Harvard of College Park then proceeds in paragraph 109 to go after the SEC and says the Terps would not deign to join the SEC given the low graduation rates of SEC schools as well as the SEC having no natural rivals for Maryland (as presumably opposed to the Iowa and Nebraska natural rivalries in the Big 10)

Maryland apparently has transferred its natural rivalry fixation to Penn State, which will be news to Penn State

And what a "rivalry." They played each other regularly until about the time Penn State joined the Big Televen. Penn State leads the series 35-1-1. This is not a typo. The Maryland win was in 1961, and the tie was in 1989. They sometimes played in Baltimore. The series finale, for the time being I guess, was a 70-7 Penn State win.

http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/acc/maryland/opponents_records.php?teamid=2514

This raises a question I hadn't thought of. Maryland and West Virginia have played each other frequently since WWII, and every year since 1980. Does that series survive the latest round of realignment?

West Virginia leads 26-22.

[Here is a Turtle]

And what a "rivalry." They played each other regularly until about the time Penn State joined the Big Televen. Penn State leads the series 35-1-1. This is not a typo. The Maryland win was in 1961, and the tie was in 1989. They sometimes played in Baltimore. The series finale, for the time being I guess, was a 70-7 Penn State win.

http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/acc/maryland/opponents_records.php?teamid=2514

This raises a question I hadn't thought of. Maryland and West Virginia have played each other frequently since WWII, and every year since 1980. Does that series survive the latest round of realignment?

West Virginia leads 26-22.

Maryland viewing Penn St. as a rival now is news to me. The record speaks for itself. If Maryland has a football rival, it's West Virginia. Its usually pretty heated. The two schools play each other until 2017. Syracuse and Temple takes the spot for a couple years and the rivalry will probably resume in 2020.

As for the lawsuit, it seems like another method for them to settle. I'll probably sit down and read the whole thing tonight. If you're going to burn a bridge, might as well use a flamethrower instead of a match.

[Nugget]

The counterclaim is characteristically spiteful - in addition to slamming the ACC, Maryland does a drive by slam of West Virginia in paragraph 103 by stating WVA joining the Big 12 is an "outlier" that probably is not viable for the long term due to travel issues. The Harvard of College Park then proceeds in paragraph 109 to go after the SEC and says the Terps would not deign to join the SEC given the low graduation rates of SEC schools as well as the SEC having no natural rivals for Maryland (as presumably opposed to the Iowa and Nebraska natural rivalries in the Big 10)

Maryland apparently has transferred its natural rivalry fixation to Penn State, which will be news to Penn State

Those were amusing, as was the premise that the liquidated damages provision is so onerous and so restrictive of competition that no one could possibly jump conferences in the face of it (except that Maryland just did so).

The antitrust counterclaims are silly.

But, not having followed this as closely as others may have, it strikes me that Maryland may have some defenses to the ACC's claim for the penalty -- specifically, the contention that the liquidated damages clause was adopted without compliance with the ACC Constitution's requirements for amendments, if factually true, would seem to be a concern; and the argument that the amount of the "liquidated damages" is so excessive as to not bear a reasonable relation to the ACC's actual damages that it is an unenforceable penalty may also carry some weight.

[hudlow]

I bet they're enjoying whatever small distraction this provides over in Blue Heaven...

hud

[Olympic Fan]

But, not having followed this as closely as others may have, it strikes me that Maryland may have some defenses to the ACC's claim for the penalty -- specifically, the contention that the liquidated damages clause was adopted without compliance with the ACC Constitution's requirements for amendments, if factually true, would seem to be a concern; and the argument that the amount of the "liquidated damages" is so excessive as to not bear a reasonable relation to the ACC's actual damages that it is an unenforceable penalty may also carry some weight.

I have followed it closely and I have friends in the ACC office. They may or may not be right, but they insist that the ACC followed the letter of the league constitution when it voted to increase the exit fee. The vote came at a regular meeting and passed by a 10-2 margin (Maryland and FSU voting against). The ACC Constitution clause requires a three-fourths vote to make amendments to the rules ...and the 10-2 vote clearly passed that standard.

I will be very surprised if Maryland wins on this point.

[Nugget]

I have followed it closely and I have friends in the ACC office. They may or may not be right, but they insist that the ACC followed the letter of the league constitution when it voted to increase the exit fee. The vote came at a regular meeting and passed by a 10-2 margin (Maryland and FSU voting against). The ACC Constitution clause requires a three-fourths vote to make amendments to the rules ...and the 10-2 vote clearly passed that standard.

I will be very surprised if Maryland wins on this point.

What about the 4 weeks' advance notice provision? That was the part that made me a bit nervous from the ACC's perspective.

[throatybeard]

How does Maryland's exit affect the cross-division partnerships in scheduling? Presently, they're paired with Virginia, which makes sense, especially since Virginia and Virginia Tech are in the same division.

Does Virginia just get shotgun married to Louisville, or do they shuffle things around?

[Duvall]

How does Maryland's exit affect the cross-division partnerships in scheduling? Presently, they're paired with Virginia, which makes sense, especially since Virginia and Virginia Tech are in the same division.

Does Virginia just get shotgun married to Louisville, or do they shuffle things around?

The plan is to slot Louisville into Maryland's slot for scheduling in football and basketball, which would make them cross-division rivals with Virginia. Of course now there are rumblings about the ACC throwing everything out after next year, including cross-division rivals and divisions, so who knows what will happen after that.

[throatybeard]

The plan is to slot Louisville into Maryland's slot for scheduling in football and basketball, which would make them cross-division rivals with Virginia. Of course now there are rumblings about the ACC throwing everything out after next year, including cross-division rivals and divisions, so who knows what will happen after that.

I see. So, fourteen teams in the standings, and the top two go to the ACCCG?

And what of Our Lady of Northern Indiana? She's like a hot girl who shows up to your party, but then spends all her time there smoking on the back porch with her old friends Southern Cal and Michigan State.

[ForkFondler]

How does Maryland's exit affect the cross-division partnerships in scheduling? Presently, they're paired with Virginia, which makes sense, especially since Virginia and Virginia Tech are in the same division.

Does Virginia just get shotgun married to Louisville, or do they shuffle things around?

This seems like a good thread to hijack. When the ACC zippered the 12 team conference, somehow the zipper got stuck in Virginia. Seems like this would be a good time to rectify that indiscretion:

Virginia-VT
Pitt-Louisville
Syr-BC

The league should also figure out someway the shuffle (pods, random, whatever) the divisions on an annual basis, but that's another story.

[weezie]

Ah, terpyland....the unwashed, tacky, loud-mouthed soon-to-be-former family member at the far end of the table.
We knew ye far too well and can't wait for the screen door to hit you in the backside.
Please be a stranger!

[BD80]

... And what of Our Lady of Northern Indiana? She's like a hot girl who shows up to your party, but then spends all her time there smoking on the back porch with her old friends Southern Cal and Michigan State.

She's not as hot as she used to be, and certainly not as hot as she thinks she is.

I could torture the metaphor further with respect to the party and enjoying the participants inside the house (particularly the dumb one who could only get a degree by taking fraudulent classes), but I shan't.

[Duvall]

I see. So, fourteen teams in the standings, and the top two go to the ACCCG?

Nobody knows. I think the league office wants to change the format, but it's hard to see what new arrangement would get support from 3/4 of the members.

The current football arrangement is pretty good for Duke, with annual games against UNC, Wake and Virginia, regular trips to Atlanta, Miami and Pittsburgh, cool cities in recruit-rich areas, and Virginia Tech, with the second-best atmosphere in the league. And FSU off the schedule most years.

[throatybeard]

Nobody knows. I think the league office wants to change the format, but it's hard to see what new arrangement would get support from 3/4 of the members.

The current football arrangement is pretty good for Duke, with annual games against UNC, Wake and Virginia, regular trips to Atlanta, Miami and Pittsburgh, cool cities in recruit-rich areas, and Virginia Tech, with the second-best atmosphere in the league. And FSU off the schedule most years.

I do enjoy the Swof division. Even if we don't get to play State much, it beats the Ford division.

There's another problem. We've gotten used to the North Carolina schools being split two and two, even if we don't like it. But try to make a North division and a South division out of this:

North: Boston College, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, not Maryland, okay so Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville say (6)

South: Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson (4)

If we ignore Dame, you see the emerging problem. Three Big Four schools go south and one is exiled. I'd like to think that would be Wake Forest, but it could just as easily be us. It's not going to be State or Carolina. They'll keep them together.

At this point, I'm willing to take UConn or Cincy, stick that one in the North, stick Dame in the North no matter what unholy half-in half-out mess they negotiate, and have a Big Four reunion in the South. I'm not holding my breath though.

[OldPhiKap]

Ah, terpyland....the unwashed, tacky, loud-mouthed soon-to-be-former family member at the far end of the table.
We knew ye far too well and can't wait for the screen door to hit you in the backside.
Please be a stranger!

Someone shoot Sporkz Weezie's way for me, put it on my tab. "Must spread love"

Funny, true, and to the point.

Awwwwwwwwww, see 'ya Alaska.

[ForkFondler]

I do enjoy the Swof division. Even if we don't get to play State much, it beats the Ford division.

There's another problem. We've gotten used to the North Carolina schools being split two and two, even if we don't like it. But try to make a North division and a South division out of this:

North: Boston College, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, not Maryland, okay so Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville say (6)

South: Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Clemson (4)

If we ignore Dame, you see the emerging problem. Three Big Four schools go south and one is exiled. I'd like to think that would be Wake Forest, but it could just as easily be us. It's not going to be State or Carolina. They'll keep them together.

At this point, I'm willing to take UConn or Cincy, stick that one in the North, stick Dame in the North no matter what unholy half-in half-out mess they negotiate, and have a Big Four reunion in the South. I'm not holding my breath though.

With sixteen teams, it's easy -- four pods, four divisional permutations. But, if I do say so myself, here is what works brilliantly with the current 14 teams:

2+3+2; four permutations (e.g.):

South Atlantic: FSU, Clemson
South Coastal: Miami, GT
MidAtlantic: NCSU, Wake, VT
MidCoastal: Duke, NC, UVa
North Atlantic: BC, Louisville
North Coastal: Pitt, Syr

If you use the eighth (non-divisional) game for cross matchups then Voila!!:

All four southern teams play each year
NC/Va teams play 4 of 5 each year.
All four northern teams play each year


Making divisional record the primary determinant of the divisional champion would make it fair too.

[cf-62]

Those were amusing, as was the premise that the liquidated damages provision is so onerous and so restrictive of competition that no one could possibly jump conferences in the face of it (except that Maryland just did so).

The antitrust counterclaims are silly.

But, not having followed this as closely as others may have, it strikes me that Maryland may have some defenses to the ACC's claim for the penalty -- specifically, the contention that the liquidated damages clause was adopted without compliance with the ACC Constitution's requirements for amendments, if factually true, would seem to be a concern; and the argument that the amount of the "liquidated damages" is so excessive as to not bear a reasonable relation to the ACC's actual damages that it is an unenforceable penalty may also carry some weight.

Except that Maryland does not owe the ACC a "penalty" of $52M. They owe the ACC an exit fee, approved unanimously by the ACC presidents, including Maryland's president, months before Maryland's back-room deal to move conferences. That is not a punitive fee. It is a contractual obligation.

[sagegrouse]

Except that Maryland does not owe the ACC a "penalty" of $52M. They owe the ACC an exit fee, approved unanimously by the ACC presidents, including Maryland's president, months before Maryland's back-room deal to move conferences. That is not a punitive fee. It is a contractual obligation.

Uhhhh...... The vote was 10-2, with FSU joining the Maryland Sofaburners in opposing.

[devildeac]

Someone shoot Sporkz Weezie's way for me, put it on my tab. "Must spread love"

Funny, true, and to the point.

Awwwwwwwwww, see 'ya Alaska.

I tried sporks for you and the weezer but SOS.

And, to stay on topic, please wear some posterior padding terps so the door don't hurt your derriere as you depart.

[Class of '94]

The counterclaim is characteristically spiteful - in addition to slamming the ACC, Maryland does a drive by slam of West Virginia in paragraph 103 by stating WVA joining the Big 12 is an "outlier" that probably is not viable for the long term due to travel issues. The Harvard of College Park then proceeds in paragraph 109 to go after the SEC and says the Terps would not deign to join the SEC given the low graduation rates of SEC schools as well as the SEC having no natural rivals for Maryland (as presumably opposed to the Iowa and Nebraska natural rivalries in the Big 10)

Maryland apparently has transferred its natural rivalry fixation to Penn State, which will be news to Penn State

Not only Penn State; but i would wager they now consider Ohio St, Rutgers, Mich and Mich St as natural rivals now. Again, I think it would be news to those schools but that's just how MD rolls nowadays.

[Class of '94]

What about the 4 weeks' advance notice provision? That was the part that made me a bit nervous from the ACC's perspective.

This is an interesting point. Does anyone with more familiarity and insight know if the ACC met the advance notice provision? Maybe this is what MD is hedging their bet on. As the league has noted, I don't believe MD wants to pay any substantial exit fee imo. Personally, I think they want to pay something well south of 26 million (around 10-12 million or less). No insider insight but from all the comments by MD officials and the fact the MD is cash strapped, I think they are looking for a charter member discount on the exit fee.

[Matches]

Except that Maryland does not owe the ACC a "penalty" of $52M. They owe the ACC an exit fee, approved unanimously by the ACC presidents, including Maryland's president, months before Maryland's back-room deal to move conferences. That is not a punitive fee. It is a contractual obligation.

There is a valid argument to be made that it is not enforceable, though. Possible it may be construed as an unfair restraint on trade. There was an undercurrent of skepticism, even when the exit fee initially was agreed to, as to whether it would be enforceable if push really came to shove.

That's neither here nor there, though, w/r/t the absurd counterclaim. UMd may have a legitimate argument as to the original claim brought by the ACC, but the counterclaim is just stupid. It's got Rule 12(b)(6) written all over it IMO.

[Reilly]

... I think they are looking for a charter member discount on the exit fee.

I believe we should give them a charter member discount on the exit fee, provided they settle up on their unpaid fines for arson, being stupid-in-public, uncouthness, assault (physical), assault (verbal), hate crimes, conspiracy to commit a fake rivalry, slander, libel, failure to understand basic math, failure to follow generally accepted accounting practices, and all-around-butt-ugliness. $718 million should do it.

[dball]

I believe we should give them a charter member discount on the exit fee, provided they settle up on their unpaid fines for arson, being stupid-in-public, uncouthness, assault (physical), assault (verbal), hate crimes, conspiracy to commit a fake rivalry, slander, libel, failure to understand basic math, failure to follow generally accepted accounting practices, and all-around-butt-ugliness. $718 million should do it.

OOPS. Appears there was another couch, tack another thou on the total.

[BD80]

What was the exit fee prior to the most recent amendment?

Md is really opening itself up to some humorously wide-ranging discovery based upon its allegation that the ACC "knew" about Md's funding for athletics and the damages caused because Md ability to compete has been compromised. Md's athletic budget is a farce due to, inter alia, the stadium financing. It will also be interesting to see what financial negotiations were had to incentivize Md to jump to the Big Whatever. If the B1G agreed to or even offered to pay Md's exit fee or any part thereof, that undermines much of Md's argument that the amended exit fee is unreasonable, or unenforceable, or damaging.

[SupaDave]

There is a valid argument to be made that it is not enforceable, though. Possible it may be construed as an unfair restraint on trade. There was an undercurrent of skepticism, even when the exit fee initially was agreed to, as to whether it would be enforceable if push really came to shove.

That's neither here nor there, though, w/r/t the absurd counterclaim. UMd may have a legitimate argument as to the original claim brought by the ACC, but the counterclaim is just stupid. It's got Rule 12(b)(6) written all over it IMO.

12.b.6 and the State of Maryland will still find more ways to waste money that could be used much more wisely...

And that exit fee - while not a penalty, is designed to HURT and was intended to be a deterrent to conference exit in a time when the Big East was imploding and restructuring, the SEC was adding teams, the Big whatever was going through transition, and I believe the Mountain West and Big Sky conferences did some overhauling. Conference evacuation was everywhere.

They all agreed to it and while excessive it may indeed be enforceable. There are two likely scenarios: one is that the ACC simply gets to wash its hands of Maryland, not be able to collect on the fee, and pay Maryland the revenue owed to them OR the ACC gets to wash its hands of Maryland, the fee is ruled enforceable but excessive and the ACC gets to keep Maryland's revenue.

[-bdbd]

If you read the Testudo Times article, take a quick gander at the Fan responses underneath. It is really funny. For one thing, as a group, they genuinely have NO IDEA how MD could be perceived as the "bad guy" in all of this. Just wow!

I really hope the ACC doesn't settle, as that seems what MD is going for with this action.

[CameronBornAndBred]

Maryland viewing Penn St. as a rival now is news to me. The record speaks for itself. If Maryland has a football rival, it's West Virginia. Its usually pretty heated. The two schools play each other until 2017. Syracuse and Temple takes the spot for a couple years and the rivalry will probably resume in 2020.

As for the lawsuit, it seems like another method for them to settle. I'll probably sit down and read the whole thing tonight. If you're going to burn a bridge, might as well use a flamethrower instead of a match.
Wondering what conclusions you came up with from reading it. I was thinking the same, a scheme to promote a settlement. It seems like an extreme way to do it though. I would think an offer from Maryland would have preceded the actual lawsuit. Makes me wonder if there was one, and they were rebuffed.

[Here is a Turtle]

If you read the Testudo Times article, take a quick gander at the Fan responses underneath. It is really funny. For one thing, as a group, they genuinely have NO IDEA how MD could be perceived as the "bad guy" in all of this. Just wow!

I really hope the ACC doesn't settle, as that seems what MD is going for with this action.

From our point of view, we are looking at the ACC, a conference that has poached several teams in order to survive, create an excessive exit fee. Maryland is trying to look out for its best interest. ANY school staring at $52 million is going to evaluate their options, including lawsuits. Just because you strongly disagree with the move or hate the school does not automatically make it the bad guy. There is plenty of blame to go around here.

And CameronBornAndBred, I looked it over, and I still think it's just a way to get them to settle. I did laugh at them bringing in the SEC. Those are some fierce allegations though. The University did not add ESPN or WF and Pitt yet so there is still room for them to go harder if they wanted. I think now that both sides theoretically have something to lose, they will settle. I think that the ACC will probably keep the revenue and Maryland will maybe pay a little more on top of it and be done. I can't see the $52 million being the actual payment. When Nebraska left for the B1G, they only paid $9.5 million for reference.

[Class of '94]

From our point of view, we are looking at the ACC, a conference that has poached several teams in order to survive, create an excessive exit fee. Maryland is trying to look out for its best interest. ANY school staring at $52 million is going to evaluate their options, including lawsuits. Just because you strongly disagree with the move or hate the school does not automatically make it the bad guy. There is plenty of blame to go around here.

And CameronBornAndBred, I looked it over, and I still think it's just a way to get them to settle. I did laugh at them bringing in the SEC. Those are some fierce allegations though. The University did not add ESPN or WF and Pitt yet so there is still room for them to go harder if they wanted. I think now that both sides theoretically have something to lose, they will settle. I think that the ACC will probably keep the revenue and Maryland will maybe pay a little more on top of it and be done. I can't see the $52 million being the actual payment. When Nebraska left for the B1G, they only paid $9.5 million for reference.

I understand what you're saying; and i appreciate your thoughts on this matter. As I mentioned in previous posts, i've found you to be a reasonable and fair supporter of MD. That said, I wanted to get your thoughts (any other posters) on the following:

While I agree the ACC has poached several teams, you can say the same thing about the Big Ten poaching Nebraska, Rutgers and MD; and unsucessfully trying to poach Texas and ND. Moreover, the leaders at MD at the times the league expanded from 9-12 and 12-15 voted and supported these moves. Duke and UNC were the two main schools consistently voted against expanding (whether it be the the expansion from 8 to 9 or from 9-12). So when you say the "ACC" poached several schools, you are in fact saying MD along with support of other ACC members poached several schools away from other leagues; or at least say that the ACC with the full support of MD and other schools poached these teams from other leagues. With all due respect, I think it's easy and convenient to distance oneself or university from previous actions by saying "they" (which is this case is the ACC) did these things when one is walking out the door, eventhough you (MD) were a part of the "they" and fully contributed to and supported all of the actions that were made at that time.

As far as the exit fee and the countersuit, I think the situation between the ACC and MD has become very personal. I think MD and any other school has the right to make decisions that are best for them (even it means leaving one conference for another). I think the problem that I and many other posters have (as well as the ACC) is "how" MD chose to leave. Despite whatever supposed confidentiality agreement MD was under, it was disrespectful imo to its fellow league members for MD (especially considering they were a charter member of the league) to openly pledge support to the ACC while simultaneously and secretly negotiating with the BIG Ten to join them. And while I agree that both sides share blame in this current situation, I think the split could have been smoother if MD had been more honest and upfront with their intentions.