Miami weighs ACC; Va. Tech set to jump(Both invited, no others yet, Notre Dame wooed)

USA Tpday ^ | 6/25/03 | Steve Wieberg

[Diddle E. Squat]

While Virginia Tech appears ready to jump, Miami (Fla.) is showing some uncertainty about joining the Hokies in leaving the Big East for an expanded Atlantic Coast Conference. The ACC confirmed Wednesday that it has extended membership invitations to the two schools, veering from the league's original plan to add Miami, Boston College and Syracuse.

[AntiGuv]

I figured the reason they were only looking at two candidates right now is because they wanted to work on Notre Dame (fat chance). The only question is who the ACC will turn to when the Irish decline (too bad we can't get the Gamecocks back..)

[Bikers4Bush]

Donna Shalala, ugh like that skank should be making any descisions other than what she feels like stuffing down her gullet.

[phasma proeliator]

Ping.

[Constitution Day]

ping.

[Semper Paratus]

BC got burned and it served them right.
When it got too hurt for the ACC, they threw BC under the bus.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Sounds like Syracuse was given even less consideration that Boston College. I wonder why, since Syracuse could reasonably be considered to bring in a good bit of the NYC TV market?

[Coop]

*$#%! Hokies!! I do hope they tell the ACC to pound sand, but it's not looking very good.

[billbears]

Oh, come on now CD, we have to ping Howlin. We all know how much she is hoping for Miami to join ;)

What's with Notre Dame?!? It's Atlantic Coast Conference!! That means states that are on the Atlantic Coast!! Sheesh is there no end to the money grubbers in this state? First NASCAR, now this?

[AppyPappy]

The NYC market doesn't watch Syracuse play basketball. They watch the Nets and the Knicks. Connecticut is probably on more in the NYC market. It was too far to travel for ACC fans who travel to see their teams play.

[CommerceComet]

What irony if Miami says no. The ACC will expand to 10 with the school that the existing ACC schools least wanted to include: VT. If it weren't for Mark Warner's meddling, VT would have been dropped from consideration a long time ago.

If Miami declines, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see Miami and FSU wind up in the SEC. I know that the SEC has no active expansion plans but how could they not at least consider expansion if Miami and FSU came as a pair? A fourteen-school SEC (probably divided into 2 7-team divisions) could make a strong case for two automatic BCS spots. No matter how the 2 divisions were configured, each would be consistently as strong as what was left of the Big East and ACC.

Remember that it was FSU that started this whole ACC expansion talk by threatening to bolt if Miami weren't included. If Miami declines, FSU will probably continue to look for greener pastures by following Horace Greeley's advice: Go West! Bringing Miami with them only makes them more attractive.

[CommerceComet]

The likelihood of Notre Dame becoming a member of the ACC is about the same as the likelihood of the University of British Columbia becoming a member of the ACC. This idea is the product of delusional dreaming and serious narcotics being mixed.

[billbears]

Hey I just read what the headline said. Personally I'd be for accepting VT and kicking FSU out of the conference 100 percent

[Diddle E. Squat]

Well at worst(assuming both schools accept the bid) it will only be an 11 team league for a year or two. As soon as the schools join and have voting rights, I imagine the by-laws will be rewritten so as to assure that the number of votes needed to get a 12th will be easily achieved. So Syracuse or BC may have simply been forced to wait a couple of years.

But in a way it would be kinda fun to see Miami backs out, takes FSU with them, and leaves the homewrecker conference to stew in its misery.

[Coop]

Bringing Miami with them only makes them more attractive.

Guess that depends upon your perspective.