ACC held hostage, day 847

[Nacho]

Do FSU and GT have their bags packed? Has anyone from SMU called Miami about joining them and the ACC departers. You could probably line up 5-6 schools from around the Gulf to form a conference with those 3.

<A HREF="http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6116054.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/6116054.htm</A>

[Buddha]

Wouldn't that be fun? Seeing FSU, GaTech, Miami every year? Coach Bennett is going to be a great coach for us, I'm sure, but let's start on a more level playing field.

[EastStang]

Add in Clemson, USM, SMU, Rice Tulsa, and TCU. I'd bet those guys would think they died and went to heaven. Four east coast teams with access to Texas recruiting market. You might add in Tulsa for basketball strength. Even if they bolted and went the other direction and left SMU out, do you think that Duke, UVa. Maryland, WF, UNC and NC State might call SMU and Rice and beg us to join them.

[Nacho]

This is exactly why expansion of the ACC will occur. It would kill the ACC if it didn't. If Duke and NC can't see this then they aren't nearly as smart as they would have us believe. ACC expansion is going to happen but right now it's like watching your toenails grow.

[This message has been edited by Nacho (edited 06-18-2003).]

[Southland]

Reality is the Pac 10, Big 10, Big XII and SEC are so far ahead of the ACC and Big East on the field that neither will get a big contract come 2005. You can sight individual excellence in both conferences, but top to bottom, they aren't in the same league, and are not going to draw the numbers the other conferences will.

This is the same reason the Big 8/SWC situation errupted in the early 90s. Television wasn't interested in paying two premium rights fees when an expansion could deliver all the top teams at one cost.

It was all about staying competitive in the Television Rights Wars then, and it is now as well.

[93Mustang]

In reality, rumors about FSU, Ga. Tech., and others leaving the ACC if expansion doesn't work out are completely unfounded according to the Greensboro paper. You can read the article for yourself at the following address. <A HREF="http://www.news-record.com/sports/acc/withdrawal18.htm." TARGET=_blank>www.news-record.com/sports/acc/withdrawal18.htm.</A>

To summarize the article, the cost of leaving the ACC is so high, that no school willl ever be able to leave.

[Charleston Pony]

Don't bet on it. Don't think the SEC would jettison Vandy in exchange for Fla St? Don't think Fla St would make more $$ as a member of the SEC?

I've said it before and I will say it again. The ACC started this and it's all about survival as one of the "big dogs". If they don't get this done, their future as a player in the world of college football could fall apart. It's a war for east coast supremacy and you could see the east coast football schools all come together and say they are tired of the bball schools getting in their way.