OT: It's Done. The ACC votes to accept Stanford, Cal and SMU. (Merged)

[HuskyNan]

What did UConn do to these Schools/Conferences to barely gain interest in conference realignment. UConn seems like a natural ACC fit to me.

Regarding the ACC - BC and UConn are natural rivals due to the fact the campuses are 75 miles apart, both New England schools but vastly different in size and culture (Catholic school vs public U, urban vs rural, etc). They’ve never liked one another, stil don’t, actually. It was sweeeeeet when Coach Mora’s football team embarrassed BC last year and beat them for the first time ever. UConn also lured away the coach of their premier sport, hockey. Heh heh heh.

And they’re just jerks. See the below. Yes, BC’s president is a priest, which somehow makes it worse

BC Admits It Doesn't Want UConn in ACC

We can add another voice to the ACC-Big East debate, particularly as it relates to UConn‘s plans to possibly leave the former for the latter. Boston College, former Big East member which jumped ship for the ACC in 2005, is opposed to the idea that the Huskies might do the same at some point in...

www.nbcconnecticut.com

ACC wanted UConn before Pittsburgh, move was blocked by..... wait for it..... Boston College!

In which I express my undying hatred toward the Eagles.

www.theuconnblog.com

 

[veryolddog]

Here's a theory: UConn will go to the Big 10. Why? Because the Big 10 will want to expand its viewership into the Eastern market especially in the area of men's and women's basketball. Football will come along because they will need another door mat until UConn develops a really competitive football program. And it will be good for the Big 10 to have more of this viewership from November to March every year. Now, you can crap on this theory.

 

[sun]

We don't know what the ACC discusses about UConn behind closed doors.
They're aware of UConn's overall financial situation & it seems that the cold war between BC & UConn has thawed as evidenced by their mutually scheduled football games.
BC & Syracuse alone can't block a UConn invitation since that requires 3 schools.

This ACC expansion only increases the number of potential rivals within the conference that will make UConn an even more attractive invitee in the future.

IMO there would be major financial details to negotiate before UConn can become an ACC member such as how long until UConn could reap full TV revenues & what the initial percentage would be.
UConn may not even want to leave the BE until after 2026 to avoid the $30 million exit fee especially if there won't be enough incoming ACC revenue to offset the payment.
But I'll bet that a deal will eventually get done due to the potential rival match ups & the fan interest that it will generate in multiple sports.
An invitation to UConn is coming but it's just a matter of time, & ACC negotiations with the TV network & their own internal financials as a result of their latest expansion.

The ACC has schools that claim to be unhappy enough to exit but are benefiting from the current expansion.
The ACC knows that it needs to insure its future by having replacement schools on board before that happens or UConn may not still be available & unattached to be invited.
I'll bet that the ACC is already considering its next moves with advanced planning & know that the other conferences may be considering inviting UConn too.
UConn could also be lobbying behind the scenes trying to make allies in the conference of its choice & interest.

 

[cancontent]

Sorry, you win - no backies!

Nah, all good. Just a couple great minds thinking alike.

 

[HuskyNan]

Here's a theory: UConn will go to the Big 10. Why? Because the Big 10 will want to expand its viewership into the Eastern market especially in the area of men's and women's basketball. Football will come along because they will need another door mat until UConn develops a really competitive football program. And it will be good for the Big 10 to have more of this viewership from November to March every year. Now, you can crap on this theory.

They have Rutgers in the B10. Also, UConn isn’t a member of the AAU, currently a membership requirement

https://www.aau.edu/who-we-are/our-members

 

[CL82]

Secretly still hoping for a UConn invite. Can you imagine a women’s basketball conference with UConn, Louisville, Stanford, and ND?!
View attachment 91154

It would be a great women's basketball conference. It isn't going to happen.

 

[CL82]

They have Rutgers in the B10. Also, UConn isn’t a member of the AAU, currently a membership requirement

https://www.aau.edu/who-we-are/our-members

True, but I suspect that the Big Ten has the votes to change that whenever they like.

(But, yeah, it's not happening.)

 

[CL82]

An invitation to UConn is coming but it's just a matter of time, & ACC negotiations with the TV network & their own internal financials as a result of their latest expansion

It's not.

 

[sun]

It's not.

Will Florida State, Clemson or other schools ever exit the ACC to join the SEC?
Will the ACC continue to expand in another round of realignment?
Will the ACC receive more TV money for accepting additional schools?
Will UConn football increase its competitiveness against power 4 opponents?
Stay tuned for more prognostications...Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

[HuskyNan]

Will Florida State or other schools exit the ACC eventually to join the SEC?
Will the ACC continue to expand in another round of realignment?
Stay tuned for more prognostications...

In other words, the ACC did not expand because Stanford, Cal and SMU offer competitive upgrades in the sports that matter (they don’t) or because they add equal revenue value to the existing television contract (they don’t) or because they make geographical and logistical sense for a conference that exists exclusively in the Eastern time zone (they don’t).

The ACC expanded because there was a pool of television money ESPN was contractually required to give it because of conference expansion, and most of that money will be hoarded by the existing members while the newbies subsidize their athletic departments in other ways. In SMU’s case, the desperation to get into a power conference was so strong, it reportedly agreed to forego a media-rights distribution for its first nine years as a member of the ACC.

Depends on their media contract, apparently

ACC adding Stanford, Cal, SMU feels like a new low in college sports

Even in a college sports industry that struggles to find the bottom, ACC expansion is a new low. A thriving conference does not run toward this.

www.usatoday.com

 

[sun]

In other words, the ACC did not expand because Stanford, Cal and SMU offer competitive upgrades in the sports that matter (they don’t) or because they add equal revenue value to the existing television contract (they don’t) or because they make geographical and logistical sense for a conference that exists exclusively in the Eastern time zone (they don’t).

The ACC expanded because there was a pool of television money ESPN was contractually required to give it because of conference expansion, and most of that money will be hoarded by the existing members while the newbies subsidize their athletic departments in other ways. In SMU’s case, the desperation to get into a power conference was so strong, it reportedly agreed to forego a media-rights distribution for its first nine years as a member of the ACC.

Depends on their media contract, apparently

ACC adding Stanford, Cal, SMU feels like a new low in college sports

Even in a college sports industry that struggles to find the bottom, ACC expansion is a new low. A thriving conference does not run toward this.

www.usatoday.com

The author is pretty critical but there's some good that comes out of it too.
If the ACC is receiving more TV money for expanding then that helps to fuel future expansion which should include UConn.
If the ACC does receive more TV money for mediocre teams then that increases UConn's chances of getting invited sooner rather than later to increase the payday of the ACC stalwarts before their TV contract expires.
Accepting UConn can help feed those ACC bandits.

Also it was Notre Dame that really wanted Stanford to be invited into the ACC which the ACC really covets ND as a potential future football member so they bend over backwards for them.
Someday ND may feel like they're getting low-balled by the networks, perhaps enough to actually become a full football member of the ACC.
Then if the other schools do eventually bolt to the SEC, the ACC may be able to bribe Notre Dame to join due their bandit tactics.
Then perhaps UConn can also link up with what remains of the old Big East football schools where it fits in multiple sports & rivalries.
With SMU in the ACC, perhaps UConn wouldn't be the doormat of the ACC in football, which could help to make UConn football program more palatable to the other schools.
We've already beaten BC, so UConn's arrow is pointing up.

 

[HuskyNan]

The author is pretty critical but there's some good that comes out of it too.
If the ACC is receiving more TV money for expanding then that helps to fuel future expansion which should include UConn.
If the ACC does receive more TV money for mediocre teams then that increases UConn's chances of getting invited sooner rather than later to increase the payday of the ACC stalwarts before their contract expires.
Accepting UConn can help feed those ACC bandits.

Also it was Notre Dame that really wanted Stanford to be invited into the ACC which the ACC really covets ND as a potential future football member since someday ND may feel like they're getting low-balled by the networks.
Enough so to actually become a full football member of the ACC.
Then if the others schools do eventually bolt to the SEC, the ACC may be able to bribe Notre Dame to join.
Then perhaps UConn can also link up with what remains of the old Big East football schools where it fits in more than one sport.

The ACC has expanded as far as it needed to to get the money under the current media contract. It won’t expand again, if necessary, until the next contract which may, or may not, stipulate a certain number of teams.

Did you see the part where the new teams basically paid their way into the ACC? Why would UConn do that?

 

[uconnfan68]

True, but I suspect that the Big Ten has the votes to change that whenever they like.

(But, yeah, it's not happening.)

And Nebraska was tossed out of AAU shortly after joining the B1G, so it seems to me, that they really don't care all that much.

 

[Steelerone]

Yup. I really try to ignore all the conference realignment topics because it usually takes multiple years to take place. For example, it "seems" like Texas' and OU's Big12 defections was announced 4 or 5 years ago.
But, I digress.
I am actually wondering what SMU brings to the ACC table. Do they have a Pony Express v2 in their future? Or another Dandy Don??? Don't understand the ACC's interest in SMU sports.

They bring in a huge television audience from the Dallas and surrounding areas. Also, they are foregoing their tv money. Their boosters have very deep pockets. My question is why a conference that prides itself on academics and ethics would bring in a school that has been heavily penalized twice and one of them being the so called "death penalty."

 

[stamfordhusky]

We don't know what the ACC discusses about UConn behind closed doors.
They're aware of UConn's overall financial situation & it seems that the cold war between BC & UConn has thawed as evidenced by their mutually scheduled football games.
BC & Syracuse alone can't block a UConn invitation since that requires 3 schools.

Actually, it requires four schools to block an invitation. If it only required three, Stanford and Cal would still be on the outside looking in.

 

[HuskyNan]

They bring in a huge television audience from the Dallas and surrounding areas. Also, they are foregoing their tv money. Their boosters have very deep pockets. My question is why a conference that prides itself on academics and ethics would bring in a school that has been heavily penalized twice and one of them being the so called "death penalty."

 

[ConnMotors]

Well I never figured that Stanford and Cal would be ACC teams in expansion. SMU is because of the Dallas Fort Worth market. This hurts UConn. Had posted before that I thought we would be a shoe on if certain schools bailed and left the conference. Even if it still happens why would UConn who has awesome Olympic sports programs want to travel to California to play games two or three times a week. Let’s stay in the Big East and stay an Independent in football for now.

 

[sun]

Actually, it requires four schools to block an invitation. If it only required three, Stanford and Cal would still be on the outside looking in.

Thanks, you're right. 12 out of 15 votes were needed to join.

 

[WisePig]

I think adding the teams is a pro-active move by the ACC with FSU and Clemson wanting to play in the SEC and the Big10 previously expressing interest in UNC and UVA. ACC is the next conference to be raided but the GOR is delaying the inevitable.

 

[Boreifs]

I wonder if SMU’s womens basketball team will ever win a game in the ACC. Imagine traveling 1000 miles every week to get pounded by 30-40 points.

 

[Forego]

Regarding the ACC - BC and UConn are natural rivals due to the fact the campuses are 75 miles apart, both New England schools but vastly different in size and culture (Catholic school vs public U, urban vs rural, etc). They’ve never liked one another, stil don’t, actually. It was sweeeeeet when Coach Mora’s football team embarrassed BC last year and beat them for the first time ever. UConn also lured away the coach of their premier sport, hockey. Heh heh heh.

And they’re just jerks. See the below. Yes, BC’s president is a priest, which somehow makes it worse

BC Admits It Doesn't Want UConn in ACC

We can add another voice to the ACC-Big East debate, particularly as it relates to UConn‘s plans to possibly leave the former for the latter. Boston College, former Big East member which jumped ship for the ACC in 2005, is opposed to the idea that the Huskies might do the same at some point in...

www.nbcconnecticut.com

ACC wanted UConn before Pittsburgh, move was blocked by..... wait for it..... Boston College!

In which I express my undying hatred toward the Eagles.

www.theuconnblog.com

On their turf? What a crock. Turf rights don’t seem to be a factor with North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, and Wake Forest.

 

[Forego]

On their turf? What a crock. Turf rights don’t seem to be a factor with North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, and Wake Forest.

Oh, almost forgot. Turf rights don’t seem to be a problem for the newest members, Stanford and Cal who are only 45 miles apart.

 

[cancontent]

They bring in a huge television audience from the Dallas and surrounding areas. Also, they are foregoing their tv money. Their boosters have very deep pockets. My question is why a conference that prides itself on academics and ethics would bring in a school that has been heavily penalized twice and one of them being the so called "death penalty."

Academics and ethics? Isn't the ACC the same conference that had to deal with the Rick Pitino recruiting scandal and the African Studies paper course scandal at UNC?

All conferences can claim to pride themselves on academics and ethics, but as fans, we all know this is far from the truth. The list of academic and ethics scandals are too numerous to mention, regardless of conference.

 

[JellyBean]

I wonder if SMU’s womens basketball team will ever win a game in the ACC. Imagine traveling 1000 miles every week to get pounded by 30-40 points.

I think SMU's WBB program can get a few wins in the ACC. There is always Wake, Pitt, Georgia Tech, and Virginia. After that, the wins get pretty iffy. Although, I like SMU's WBB season ticket prices, $50. Here in Minnesota, season tickets for women's basketball range from $150-$200. I am liking those $50 prices.