Great scoop on ACC expansion

In ‘Power move by the ACC’ the Boston Globe constructs a must read that details a lot of interesting a insight into the developments of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s expansion in recent years.

The piece highlights Boston College’s opposition to including the University of Connecticut in the most recent round of expansion. I never thought I would be so happy about something that Boston College did related to our conference…but, allow me to offer a huge “THANK YOU” to Gene DeFilippo and the Eagles.

Enough was enough, and a master plan was devised to bring ACC basketball back to the top. The only real target was the Big East, for geographical and competitive reasons.

The first target was Syracuse, which had been on the original ACC expansion list eight years ago. The Orangemen, like BC, were disappointed when they didn’t make the final cut, passed over for Virginia Tech and Miami.

Under coach Jim Boeheim, Syracuse was clearly one of the elite basketball teams in the country and would boost the ACC’s stature in that sport.

The second target was Connecticut, which was part of the Northeast footprint the ACC wanted, and was coming off the daily double of a BCS bid in football and a championship in men’s basketball (the third for Jim Calhoun).

In addition, the women’s basketball program under Geno Auriemma had established itself as the most dominant in the sport over the past 15 years.

With growing instability in the Big East, both schools were bound to accept any offers.

While Syracuse presented no problem, UConn did – to BC, which was still fuming over what it perceived to be vitriolic comments made when BC was finally invited to join the ACC and started competing in 2005. UConn and Pittsburgh filed a lawsuit against BC, and Calhoun made comments about never playing BC again.

DeFilippo does not deny that BC opposed the inclusion of UConn.

“We didn’t want them in,’’ he said. “It was a matter of turf. We wanted to be the New England team.’’

There is a lot in the article. Enjoy!

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26 Responses to Great scoop on ACC expansion

  1. Vegaswolf 10/09/2011 at 3:56 PM #

    Why? UCONN would be a great addition. Good football program and their basketball success has been outstanding. Several national championships, a Hall of Fame coach (whether you like him or not) and a football team that’s been to a BCS bowl and has a number of 8+ win seasons.

    Their NCAA sanctions were minimal, relatively speaking, and have been dealt with. Why is UCONN a bad choice, outside of personal opinion?

  2. packalum44 10/09/2011 at 3:56 PM #

    Although the Big 10 has the better shot, I think we’re in play for Notre Dame. The ball is in the SEC’s court before the next round of dominoes fall.

    Assuming the dream scenario of landing Notre Dame, for the ACC’s 16th team, it would come between WV or U-Conn. I vote WV any day of the week. We need another f-ball school and with the right coach, WV has a BCS ceiling. They don’t lay an egg against Pittsburgh 4/5 years ago and they’re probably a BCS champion.

    U-Conn, on the other hand, has very little chance of winning the ACC like they did the Big East. They better pay homage to that trophy because it will likely be their last.

  3. packalum44 10/09/2011 at 3:57 PM #

    Also, as long as Huggy Bear is the head coach at WV, they are a top 10 b-ball program.

  4. Wulfpack 10/09/2011 at 5:20 PM #

    WVU just doesn’t have the academic profile. They are not a serious contender. I’d much rather have UConn than BC. That’s a no brainer in my mind.

  5. ncsuallday 10/09/2011 at 5:31 PM #

    seriously. let’s ditch BC and just take WVU and UConn. problem solved. Notre Dame is kind of a pipe dream. I wouldn’t be surprised if we pick up Navy or Georgetown either.

  6. wolfonthehill 10/09/2011 at 6:13 PM #

    Still hearing rumors (with details) about Notre Dame… and if so, Penn State on their heels… being a realistic possibility…

  7. mak4dpak 10/09/2011 at 7:35 PM #

    I may be wrong, but I seem to have heard that WV was turned down by the ACC.

  8. 61Packer 10/09/2011 at 7:43 PM #

    If Notre Dame ever joins a conference, which I think is unlikely, the only logical one would be the Big Ten. This is where most of their rivalries lie and they are a Midwest school, not an East Coast school.

    The odds of Notre Dame applying for membership in the ACC are about as great as the SEC extending an invitation for NCSU to become its 14th member. Ain’t gonna happen.

    Now that we have 14 teams, who will it help? Duke and UNC of course, because they’ll get the ESPN plum games vs Syracuse, while we’ll no doubt get the Orange for football. If UConn joins, we’ll see them every season in football but maybe once every 5 years in basketball. Schools like NC State, Wake Forest and Virginia are going to be screwed with additional expansion, because they’ll continue to be paired like they are in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge every season. Give all the good matchups to Duke, UNC and Maryland, and ditto for Michigan State, Ohio State and Wisconsin in the Big Ten.

    My big problem with BC is that we have to play them every GD year, while we play Duke only once every 5 years in football.

    A future NCSU football schedule could very well be Syracuse, Rutgers, Connecticut, Boston College, Wake Forest, Maryland, Florida State, Miami and UNC. And of those, only Wake, BC, Maryland and UNC would show up at home. Add South Alabama, Central Michigan and ECU, and see how well THAT sells to WPC members!

  9. triadwolf 10/09/2011 at 8:13 PM #

    While I think getting Notre Dame in the conference is not likely, I don’t agree that the ACC isn’t a viable option. They have at least two rivalries within the current conference with Miami and BC, then a third once you add Pittsburgh (I also think MD has a history with ND). While there have been some great games in the Big Ten with Notre Dame, I really only see Michigan Indiana & Perdue as a true rivals. Let’s face it everyone wants to beat Notre Dame when they play them and that adds a little extra to each game, but let’s not confuse that with rivalries. In addition most of Notre Dame’s fanbase is on the east coast as is most of their recruiting. Of coarse there is that little TV contract with NBC to work out.

    Penn State is interesting as there is significant history regarding Penn State (at least Paterno) wanting to make a move to the ACC. It came up in the 1970’s and if I recall correctly, Penn State actually approached the ACC about joining right before they joined the Big Ten (I don’t think it got far as basically the ACC was not interested in expanding at that time). PSU also considers themselves an east coast school with regard to fanbase and recruiting. However, the money the Big Ten provides Penn State would be hard to overcome. On the other hand if the ACC can get both ND and PSU, can you imagine how good the new ACC TV contract would be?

  10. pack76 10/09/2011 at 8:32 PM #

    I would really like to see Penn State in the ACC. Don’t think N.D. will join but the other team would probably be Louisville or W.Va. Don’t want UConn at all….

  11. mak4dpak 10/09/2011 at 8:57 PM #

    To maintain the meaning of ACC, only east coast. or atlantic coast teams should be an option. But if we take other teams out of the atlantic coast, we should consider a name change.

  12. wolfonthehill 10/09/2011 at 9:01 PM #

    61 – I hear you… but I also hear that there are serious discussions ongoing between Notre Dame and the ACC… we are not out of the running there by a longshot.

  13. 61Packer 10/09/2011 at 9:48 PM #

    If ND comes to the ACC, revenue sharing as we know it will be the beginning of the things that change. The only additions at this point that make sense to me are West Virginia and either UConn or Rutgers, preferably the Huskies.

    I can’t believe I said that………….UConn, YUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. Tau837 10/09/2011 at 10:29 PM #

    1. Forget West Virginia. They have already been rejected by the ACC, presumably because they do not measure up academically.

    2. I don’t see Notre Dame joining the ACC. It makes much more sense based on money, geography, and finances for them to join the Big Ten. And, frankly, I don’t care for the geography of the conference including Notre Dame. And it isn’t clear the finances could be worked out, since the ACC shares revenue equally.

    3. IMO UConn, and to a lesser degree possibly Syracuse, may be short lived in terms of upgrading ACC basketball. Both Calhoun and Boeheim will likely retire in the near future. IMO it is unlikely UConn will maintain its success, and it’s no sure thing for Syracuse, either.

    4. I don’t think Georgetown or Villanova are viable candidates. Their basketball programs are great, but they don’t measure up in football.

    Who does that leave? Rutgers and UConn. Despite BC’s issues with UConn, I don’t think one school can singlehandedly determine the expansion candidates.

  15. TeufelWolf 10/10/2011 at 2:30 AM #

    I agree with BC. No one wants UConn! This deal HAS to be about football because that is where the money is and that is America’s sport. Sorry basketball, you are just not as important. In that case, I hate ND so much that I would love the chance to play them more regularly. I would also love to play Penn State as, and see Joe Pa on the sidelines. If WVU is out, then there is no need to talk about them. Rutgers – blah. Louisville would be a much better choice IMO. How about South Florida? I know people don’t want to share the state but I would love to play ECU more – because I hate their guts. Whatever happens, it has got to be based on football and what could make this a better football conference. Basketball is second fiddle and to live in denial about that is to be a Carolina or Duke fan. The triangle area is the only area I’ve lived that still tries to claim that basketball is as important as football. The rest of the country has given up on that charade. It’s like being in Kentucky and thinking that everyone else must be into horse racing too – nah. Football is where it’s at. The ACC needs to be a better football conference, plain and simple.

  16. TeufelWolf 10/10/2011 at 2:32 AM #

    …and with that, UConn would not bring any credibility or entertainment value. NONE!

  17. wolfonthehill 10/10/2011 at 5:45 AM #

    We sorta need to get used to the idea that we’re going to be part of the “Northeast Sector” conference, whatever name it takes. There will then be the SEC, something for the midwest, and something for the west coast. The whole “geography” thing is a bit less relevant in regard to Notre Dame once you realize that…

  18. Wulfpack 10/10/2011 at 6:22 AM #

    There have been discussions between the ACC and Notre Dame, so I don’t think it is a stretch that the Irish are at least considering a move to the ACC. I agree the Big 10 is a more logical move for them, so we’ll see how it shakes out. I do think they are going to have to join a conference in football soon.

  19. BJD95 10/10/2011 at 9:17 AM #

    Unless Penn State wants in, the best two-fer I see is Notre Dame + Villanova. Gives us the Philly market (and thus the entire state of PA), another Catholic school rival for the NE faction, and they have enough raw potential to become a competitive football program (they are excellent for 1-AA) in time.

    You can bring in a lesser football program as long as its paired with ND.

    I just can’t stand the thought of bringing in the only program I hate more than ND football (UConn basketball) at the same time. Blech.

  20. DonkeyDonuts 10/10/2011 at 9:58 AM #

    Tau837 Says:

    2. I don’t see Notre Dame joining the ACC. It makes much more sense based on money, geography, and finances for them to join the Big Ten. And, frankly, I don’t care for the geography of the conference including Notre Dame. And it isn’t clear the finances could be worked out, since the ACC shares revenue equally.

    ————

    ND wants exposure in the NE for it’s fans/alumni and it wants the SE for recruiting. They have the Midwest already — they want to get face time in new territories.

    Money isn’t a problem for ND regardless — ACC, B1G, or Independent — they’ll never be cash short. Also, B1G does revenue sharing too so ND has the same problem on that front as with the ACC.

    And let’s not forget, when the BigEast flat lines, ND will need to find a home for it’s other sports — when you compare the ACC vs B1G on that front, the ACC is a much better fit for the Irish.

    IF ND joins a conference, it will be the ACC.

  21. Pack1997 10/10/2011 at 12:44 PM #

    It is also reported the ACC was told by ESPN to go after Pitt and Cuse. Apparently the Big East shot down a bid by ESPN for football coverage. Then ESPN suggested to the ACC who they should take. According to Deflippo it was 85% money driven and 15% football. BBall did not play a role at all. Considering both of those factors, I would have to think ESPN will suggest Rutgers and UConn if they cannot get ND. UConn because it is their homes offices neighborhood and Rutgers due to cash and influence in the NE.

    While I wish it was different and was based on competition, I think anyone who thinks it will be anyone other than those 3 are sadly mistaken.

  22. wolfbuff 10/10/2011 at 4:00 PM #

    This is good insight by DeFilippo. But since when did he and BC become such a player in the ACC? Is everyone else just afraid to speak up? I would think UConn could help the ACC accomplish both goals of increasing football revenue and enhancing our basketball portfolio. UConn would bring credibility. To think otherwise is kidding yourself. Besides BC, they’re the only game in town in the NE, and they have alumni all up and down the east coast. If ESPN is guiding the ACC’s decision making based on their ratings data and revenue projections, that’s one thing. I just don’t see how the Pittsburgh market adds more than the NY/CT market. But if this is about a vendetta because Calhoun made some vitriolic comments, that’s absurd. Who HASN’T Calhoun made vitriolic comments about? Get over it.

    Also, it’s interesting we don’t learn this type of insight from the commissioner. But that’s another story.

  23. Pack1997 10/10/2011 at 7:55 PM #

    I fail to see how UConn brings credibility to the ACC. They have only been division 1 for 5 or 6 years. The CT market by itself brings very little.

  24. TeufelWolf 10/11/2011 at 1:32 AM #

    I agree with Pack 1997, what credibility does UConn bring in the slightest? I think that actually take away credibility.

  25. gcpack 10/13/2011 at 12:48 AM #

    To helll with Uconn. Both of their bball coaches are asses and they offer nothing in the remaining sports.
    ND is a must and I would take Louisville before asking Rutgers or Wva.

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