Guest Blackston Report post Posted June 19, 2003 Well, there has been quite a bit of movement in the proposed ACC expansion. The first thing that has become obvious is that the ACC was not going to expand as they originally wanted to. According to the rules of the ACC, there has to be a 7/9 vote in favor of expansion in order to officially invite a school to join the conference. As we have all assumed, Duke and North Carolina voted no to the expansion, leaving the other six teams to decide about expanding (which they overwhelmingly want to do, for the mostpart). The problem arises from this lawsuit that the remaining Big East schools have drafted up, aimed at Miami, BC and the entire ACC. Virginia's legislature have rallied behind this lawsuit, basically putting enormous pressure on Virginia not to proceed with any expansion plan that does not include Virginia Tech. This put the administration at UVA in a bind that pretty much forced them to vote against expansion. The latest move by the ACC was a brilliant one, in my eyes. The ACC have taken steps to invite not only Miami, Boston College and Syracuse, but to also invite Virginia Tech and Connecticut at the same time. The reason this would work is that Virginia would be permitted to vote for this expansion plan because Va. Tech is invited to join too. This 14 team proposed conference would be a juggernaut in both football and basketball. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted June 19, 2003 Goodbye to the Big East. I've heard that the Big East would be willing to let Miami go, but fight to keep Syracuse and BC, and add Louisville to replace Miami, but with the new deal I really can't see the Big East existing if it goes through. Question: If this all goes down, when would the new formats begin? This year, or a few years from now? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 19, 2003 Big east would just raid Conf. USA and Atlantic 10... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Agent_Bond34 0 Report post Posted June 19, 2003 Big east would just raid Conf. USA and Atlantic 10... That pretty much sums it all up. If they lose the adforementioned schools, they can always go raid some other conferences to keep the Big East going. As someone else asked, when would these new formats begin? I can't see it happening this year, since this year's schedules are pretty much set, unless they decide to change them, in any way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest nl5xsk1 Report post Posted June 19, 2003 Goodbye to the Big East. I've heard that the Big East would be willing to let Miami go, but fight to keep Syracuse and BC, and add Louisville to replace Miami, but with the new deal I really can't see the Big East existing if it goes through. Question: If this all goes down, when would the new formats begin? This year, or a few years from now? Why would they ever let their football cash-cow (Miami) leave but keep BC and 'Cuse? It'd make more sense to lose either of the other schools and keep the football powerhouse. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Blackston Report post Posted June 19, 2003 If this all goes down, when would the new formats begin? This year, or a few years from now? As Agentbond said, the new ACC wouldn't be able to begin play until after the 2003 season, if the expansion goes through successfully. The old expansion plan had Miami, BC and Syracuse sticking around in the Big East until 2004, but I don't see this scenario unfolding, due to recent developments. Since schedules are set in stone, the Big East football conference will have at least one more year. This will provide some interesting matchups, like Pittsburgh-Miami. I am absolutely convinced that the Pittsburgh faithful will be rabid as hell for that contest. IF UConn goes along with Virginia Tech and the other three schools, then we have got a fourteen team ACC. Pitt, West Virginia and Rutgers will be figuratively left in the cold. This puts some power into the Big Ten's hands. With the ACC possibly sitting at 14 teams, they would not be looking to expand any time soon. The Big Ten and the Pac 10 are the last two conferences that have room to expand, and the Big Ten is the only conference that geographically fits with the remaining teams. The Big Ten could make a power play and announce that they are actively looking for their 12th team. If they make sure that Notre Dame realizes that this is the last call for Big Ten admission, I wouldn't be surprised to see ND make the plunge into the Big Ten (especially since their traditional partner in the Big East has just been destroyed). If Notre Dame refuses the Big Ten again, then the addition of Pitt would be a fine asset to the conference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Czech Republic Report post Posted June 20, 2003 The Big Ten doesn't need twelve teams. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 20, 2003 I am only concerned where UC ends up and I hear they could join Big East... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted June 20, 2003 I am only concerned where UC ends up and I hear they could join Big East... No the Big East is looking at Marquette and Xavier for basketball and Louisville for both basketball and football. It would end the Xavier/Cincinnati rivalry (at least in conference) if it went through. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 20, 2003 X and UC are in different conferences neways...makes no difference if X changes... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Blackston Report post Posted June 20, 2003 I am only concerned where UC ends up and I hear they could join Big East... If these expansion plans go through, I don't think that the Big East is going to be a very good place for the Bearcats to go to. I'm thinking that the Big East non-football schools (Notre Dame, 'Nova, Georgetown, St John's, etc.) may make a move basically making the Big East a basketball only conference. Cincinnati's position in C-USA is pretty good right now, as C-USA provides support for UC's basketball and football teams (and Olympic sports). Joining the Big East would effectively leave their up and coming football team in the dust, a concession I don't think that UC would ever make. Still, there are a lot of if's and but's... and nothing is set in stone yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MD2020 Report post Posted June 20, 2003 I am only concerned where UC ends up and I hear they could join Big East... to. I'm thinking that the Big East non-football schools (Notre Dame, 'Nova, Georgetown, St John's, etc.) may make a move basically making the Big East a basketball only conference. Hell, these schools should join up, steal La Salle, St. Joe's, and St. Bonnie from the A-10, and along with BC just form the Catholic Conference. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted June 25, 2003 Late-breaking news... Listening to Fox Sports, they are reporting that the ACC has voted to invite Miami and Virginia Tech into the ACC, beginning in the school year 2004-05. Syracuse and Boston College are going to stay in the Big East. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted June 25, 2003 So isn't that an 11 team conference now? How does that help things out? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest CanadianChris Report post Posted June 25, 2003 It doesn't help things AT ALL. They still don't have twelve teams, which means no conference championship game in football (and no big money that goes along with it), and they're adding one mediocre (Miami) and one HORRIBLE (Va Tech) basketball team. Not to mention the longtime basketball coaches will be up in arms over the fact that they can't have a true round-robin schedule anymore. Adding Va Tech and not Syracuse makes no sense whatsoever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vern Gagne Report post Posted June 25, 2003 Those are likely the 2 schools the entire league would vote to join. Big East football is really gonna take a dive after this. The two best teams jump ship. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted June 26, 2003 It will be interesting to see if the Big East can stay in the BCS. That's a huge money hit the conference is about to take unless a couple of schools can step up to the big time - Pitt is getting there but nowhere near the level of a VT or Miami. Even adding Louisville wouldn't help much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Blackston Report post Posted June 26, 2003 If Miami and Virginia Tech go, I don't think that the Big East is going to be able to sustain their BCS bid, barring the addition of either Notre Dame or Penn State. The latest that I hear is that Va. Tech has already accepted their ACC bid, while Miami is still mulling their options. The ACC is probably sitting on eggshells hoping that Miami decides to join up with this clusterfuck. Virginia Tech is not wanted by the ACC at all, and if Va. Tech is the only team that the ACC expands to, shit will hit the fan. I can't believe that UNC and Duke fucked everything up this badly. If I were a fan of an ACC team, I would be absolutely livid with the Tarheels and Blue Devils... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Agent_Bond34 0 Report post Posted June 27, 2003 IfThe latest that I hear is that Va. Tech has already accepted their ACC bid, while Miami is still mulling their options. I heard this too, moments ago watching ESPNews. I heard that Virginia Tech has accepted the invitation regardless of Miami's decision. Isn't Miami supposed to make their final decision on Monday? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest phoenixrising Report post Posted June 28, 2003 I'm sure that the Governor of Virginia is very happy that both Virginia and Virginia Tech schools are in the same conference. On the Miami front, apparently all the other Big East schools threatened to pull out of their football games with Miami for the upcoming seasons if Miami jumped to the ACC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
