Unreal... It doesn't seem like the dust is settling anytime soon
http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-foo...orgia-tech-acc
Article says UNC has been offered and lists UVA as likely to join. Original source is 247Sports.com which broke the MD story.
Unreal... It doesn't seem like the dust is settling anytime soon
Big Ten has reportedly offered UNC.
I've followed the rumor mill in the last few months since the Maryland move, but nothing ever made a major publication, so in my view, wasn't worth mentioning here. A lot of it was pretty humorous. It's interesting that the Sporting News decided to pick this up now, though, and I think it's because Jeff Ermann was out in front of the MD --> Big Ten thing last fall.
This is one of 3 things:
1. True.
2. Absolute horse-hockey -- and there is a ton of merit to that since the fashion forward approach to realignment is not asking someone to dance until you know they'll say yes.
3. This is a backchannel move by Big Ten to put pressure on schools that might be (relatively) more likely to leave (Ga Tech or Virginia) than UNC.
From a common sense perspective, I still think the first shoe to drop, if any, won't happen until after the MD/ACC suit plays out. MD made some really compelling arguments with respect to the exit fee and the ACC bylaws that are, on their face, a bit damning. But I don't have all of the facts, and that was a MD-leaning pleading, obviously. Will be interested to see how the ACC responds (and they may have already).
[MODS - PERHAPS LOCK OTHER THREAD]
UNC-CH's athletic/academic activities of late beg for a clean start and they can't dominate the ACC anymore... so I say don't let the door hit you in the Tar Arse...
Unless you are of the camp that thinks Duke can stay relevant in basketball and let its other sports move to something like the Southern Conference, or remain in a neutered, locked out, ACC (and I'm not sure that is a "wrong" position, per se, although not mine), what Carolina does or does not do is of the utmost importance to Duke's athletic department remaining in whatever circle has access to the football playoffs, and the money that goes with it.
I think and hope that, despite the rivalry between the sidelines, there is some loyalty between Duke and UNC when it comes to where the schools want to be when everything shakes out. Obviously, the first choice is a strong, stable ACC. I still believe that is the most likely outcome. But if the Big Ten swoops in again and snags two more teams, things will need to be re-evaluated.
I would not count on UNC considering how Duke will be impacted (it's nothing personal - it's strictly business). But any possibility that the NC state legislature might get involved if UNC departing to the Big 10, combined with a UVA departure, might blow up the ACC and leave NC State in the lurch? I recall the VA state legislature muscled UVA to push for VA Tech being admitted to the ACC during any earlier round of conference turmoil. With regard to UVA, if they leave I could see the Big 12 reaching out to VA Tech.
It's all about the television markets - losing DC and Atlanta would clobber the ACC
I've only read up on some of the suit, but I don't think that the ACC is trying to prevent the move unless it gets paid. Maryland is gone after this year. The Big East had the notice requirement in its bylaws that had to be dealt with, so that was a different animal. So while Maryland would want to get it done so it knows how much it's on the hook for, I don't think there is the same urgency as there was for West Virginia (or the Big XII).
I imagine the exit fee law suit will end up settling, but I also think that, based on the claims Maryland itself is making re: when the $50MM exit fee SHOULD have gone into effect (I believe MD says it wouldn't take effect for a year -- or something like that), there will be pressure on teams that might want to leave to $%^& or get off the pot before the exit fee actually gets more teeth.
And the Terps need a rival...
I think the only thing that would stop this if UNC was set on leaving would be the legislature saying UNC and NCSU were a package...whether they would do such a thing, who knows, but it's at least a possibility.
either way, there will be schools left for a conference...Uconn, cincinnatti and USF have all been grovelling and need a landing spot
April 1
While I am justifiably sentimental about the "Old ACC," I am fine with UNC AND Duke moving together to the Big Ten as the "second-best" solution.
And IMHO (where the H is always silent) Duke would be a heckuva catch for any conference -- highest undergraduate academic prestige of any in the Big Ten; strong research university on a par with Michigan; most popular (and most hated) single college sports program in the US of A (or, at least, tied with Notre Dame and Bama football); pretty darned good athletics revenue and facilities (top 3-4 in income in the ACC); improving football; excellent Olympic sports. The bookend to a UNC transfer.
sagegrouse
<devildeac> anyone playing drinking games by now?
7:49:36<Wander> drink every qb run?
7:49:38<loran16> umm, drink every time asack rushes?
7:49:38<wolfybeard> @devildeac: drink when Asack runs a keeper
7:49:39 PM<CB&B> any time zack runs, drink
Carolina Delenda Est
Naw! Never happen and State would not be welcome in the Big Ten. The comparable situation, UVa being forced to vote only for VPI in ACC expansion was just that -- a vote about expansion not a vote about moving conferences. Do you really think, in comparison, that the Virginia legislature would look up from its latest gerrymandering project and block a UVa move to the Big Ten because VPI was not included?
sagegrouse
'Isn't Gerrymander the name of a steak house near the Capitol in Richmond?'
This is an awful lot of furor over something that's purely internet hokum.
Not happening.
Why do you think Mary's argument is compelling? It failed to persuade the first trial court to deal with it. In fact, Mary's argument seems circular and hollow: "We joined the league in 1953, accepted its benefits for about 60 years and had the opportunity to vote on its exit rules, but now we think it was anticompetitive from the outset so we should be permitted to leave in breach of those rules and without complying with them."
It's not compelling to me; instead, it's a bit puerile.
I tend to agree, but I think it's linked this time, and opened for renewed discussion, because Sporting News thought enough of it to report it, probably based on Ermann's reports. Maryland based or not, Ermann has been down right conservative (relatively), and *not* a rumor monger like so many of the others out there.
Carolina can be unequivocal in its response, and with the Sporting News reporting it, like it or not, they are going to have to say something.