- Joined
- Sep 22, 2011
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Sounds like someone was reading Bleacher Report for their news.
It's funny that the ACC folks that want to perpetuate the impenetrable strength of the GoR ignore that Penn State itself is signed to a GoR with the Big Ten. They'll have you believe the Big Ten acted out of desperation because Notre Dame hitched its olympic sports to the ACC wagon. Seriously anyone thinking the Big Ten became desperate because of that is clueless.
Maryland and Rutgers were always targets for the next round of expansion; always. If anyone is interested, I can show you a link to the Syracuse board in summer 2011 where I was pointing this out.
At most, at very most, the Big Ten moved up their timetable by a year because of the Notre Dame move to the ACC. But it absolutely did not change their plan whatsoever. In fact, the Big Ten even noted after ND joined the ACC that move wasn't unexpected. Think logically here... why would the Big Ten be desperate about something that was Notre Dame's only move short of joining the Big Ten? ND joining the ACC was expected by the Big Ten all along, short of agreeing to become a full member.
Your sources are good, Kyle, and you are a good poster on multiple boards. However, I think that you seriously overestimate the "grand strategy" of Jim Delany.
Just because the Big Ten would like to work out this great, strategic plan doesn't mean that everyone else is interested in what it is selling or is willing to make the move.
The Big Ten first wanted Texas and ND in 2010. That was part of the grand strategy too. The only thing was the response was "No sale".
Virginia and North Carolina may not be interested (culture, ego, fanbase, etc..) in making the move. Then, there is the whole GOR and exit fee litigation to endure as a potential deterrent.
I don't think that anyone in the ACC wants to move. I also think that the GOR/Exit Fee means no real P5 realignment (Big 12/ACC) movement for ten years. We will just disagree on how irresistible the Big Ten pitch may prove to be.