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My take on ACC Expansion candidate: Louisville
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UofLSig
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Post: #1
 
Now, if I were the ACC and pulling in the largest per team $$$ in NCAA sports conferences, I might not expand, but the possibility of ACC Expansion has come up, and I will address my team for your information.

I'll give you my take on it.

Louisville's atheltics programs are so good as a whole right now, that a BCS conference (ACC or BigEast) would benefit greatly from adding us in.

I also know that Louisville's Athletic Dept. is whole-heartedly searching for a BCS conference home, and positioning ourselves for the move.

The variables are time and which conference.

ACC or BigEast would be the best fits of the BCS conferences. I wouldn't mind either, and the large Louisville fan base would be ecstatic with either one.

Here are some of the things we offer...

A football team that's been to 4 straight Bowls, and is starting the season ranked #16 this year. We have a 5 year old 42,000 seat stadium, and have led C-USA in attendance for two years, also winning two straight conference championships.

A basketball team with 2 NCAA Titles, 7 Final Fours, and 30 tournament appearances, that is ranked among the Top 10 programs of all-time. We also just hired a little known future Hall-of-Famer named Rick Pitino. Louisville has led C-USA in attendance at around 19,000 per game since C-USA's inception, and Louisville anually ranks in the Top 5 in basketball attendance nationally.

A baseball program that is turning the corner. Playing in historic Parkway Field (Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Jackie Robinson...) the Cards posted their best season ever this year, edging into the Top 25 at one point and making it into the College World Series regional which Georgia Tech hosted.

A volleyball program that was ranked in the Top 25 during this year, and is perenially a contender to win conference and/or go to the NCAA tournament.

A Field Hockey team that was ranked in the Top 10 this year, and will be hosting the 2004 NCAA National Championships for that sport at our brand-new dedicated Trager Field Hockey Stadium.

A women's basketball program that is a contender and would make an immediate impact on any conference we played in. Sophomore All-American PG Sara Nord leads the way, also in the Top 25 a couple of times this year.

A women's softball team that was also ranked in the Top 25 at some point this year. They play in a brand new softball stadium, and are showing tremendous improvements over the last couple years.

Louisville also has an attractive market. Louisville metro would likely be the furthest west either of the ACC or BigEast went, and has a 50th rank in market size nationally, at 1.2 million people.

Also, Louisville athletics draws very well on television, and would provide a gateway to the midwest for both conferences.

With John L. Smith's varied passing attacks and tough defense, Louisville was selected to be on ESPN 6 times last year and is scheduled for 6 more times this year for football.

With Rick Pitino's upbeat style, pressing and running and dunking, and also his enormous ego!!! TV loves us. Louisville basketball was on national or regional TV 14 times last year, and will be likely more this year with an improved team. Could add $$ to either the ACC or BigEast's already lucrative basketball contracts.

Louisville is also centrally located in the nation, and has a large and easily accessible airport. Travel to Louisville would not be a large expense for either conference, as Louisville is a major hub for UPS, Southwest and USAir.

Hope this helps.

I know I've been lobbying for Louisville admins to get into either of these two BCS conferences, and it would help if folks in these conferences would start lobbying theirs too.

As a side note- Louisville has home and home football series with Duke (2 home and homes= 4 games), North Carolina (1 home and home= 2 games), Florida State (1 home and home= 2 games), and Virginia (1 home and home= 2 games) tenatively scheduled before 2010.

Check out Louisville September 26th (a Thursday night ESPN game) as we take on Florida State with the GameDay crew there.

The goalposts may be coming down?!?!

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad-flaming.gif" />
06-09-2002 06:38 PM
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TIGERFREAK
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Post: #2
 
The goalpost might be coming down??? I honestly have never heard or thought about Louisville joining the ACC. One reason is the you guys are so far away from the Atlantic Coast teams. I agree that your athletic program is on a slight uprise, but I really don't know what to think. I always thought that Syracuse or Miami would be the top two candidates for joining the ACC. I'm interested to see what the rest of our fans say about this one.
06-09-2002 06:57 PM
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DamascusTerp2
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Post: #3
 
First and Foremost...there will be no goalposts coming down on September 26!!! That's just ludacris.

Secondly, Louisville will never be in the ACC...sorry. Maybe Miami one day, but I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
06-09-2002 07:10 PM
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georgia_tech_swagger
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Post: #4
 
Louisville is the ideal candidate for ACC expansion.

They have a basketball program worthy of competition with Pitino.

They have a respectable football program that regularly in the top 35 or so.

And most importantly, they are a potential moneymaker.

Miami is too much of a threat and probably be blocked by Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Florida State among others.

Tobacco Road would be pleased with Louisville due to the link with Kentucky and the fact that they are serious about basketball.
06-09-2002 07:19 PM
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UofLSig
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Post: #5
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by DamascusTerp2:
First and Foremost...there will be no goalposts coming down on September 26!!! That's just ludacris.

Secondly, Louisville will never be in the ACC...sorry. Maybe Miami one day, but I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">IMHO, Louisville, Miami, and Virginia Tech are the best candidates the ACC has for expansion.

The issue is, whether or not the ACC wants to expand. Like I said in the previous post, the ACC is currently pulling in mucho denaro per team, and may not want to mess that up.

Another stumbling point could possibly be academics. Louisville is making huge improvements, but it may not be enough to meet ACC standards yet.

If the ACC did expand however, the candidate needs to be good in football but great in basketball to gain approval of the Tobacco Road schools.

Louisville certainly has the basketball cred (Top 5-10 programs of all time), and football isn't too shabby either.

I'd understand if the ACC doesn't want to expand. Louisville would be a good candidate for the BigEast as well.

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Mad]" src="mad-flaming.gif" />

<small>[ June 09, 2002, 09:14 PM: Message edited by: UofLSig ]</small>
06-09-2002 08:11 PM
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TIGERFREAK
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Post: #6
 
Louisville? Im still thinking....
06-10-2002 05:21 PM
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Garnet & Gold
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Post: #7
 
PAPA JOHNS STADIUM has goal posts???? <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" />
06-10-2002 05:56 PM
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TIGERFREAK
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Post: #8
 
I say that MIAMI or SYRACUSE would be an excellent candidate for an ACC expansion. I'm really not big on the Louisville expansion. Yes, they do have a decent basketball program, but one sport doesn't make you an ACC team. Louisville football is on a slight uprise, but still would be in the very low part of our conference. (It's because you guys don't play great competition.) Also academics would be a major concern along with the location. I do agree that it would help the ACC in a recruiting aspect. What are the records on Louisville vs. ACC teams in football through the past 10 years? The record would make an interesting fact. (No clue for answer) I think that we should expand 1 or 2 more teams to compete with the larger conferences. This would help ACC creditbility greatly.
06-10-2002 06:37 PM
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CrappiesNew Orleans Bowl
Post: #9
 
Clemson is not against letting Miami in. Tobacco Road has been the axis stalling expansion for years now. Miami should be considered first. Simply put, with the Canes in the ACC we would have a high percentage chance of winning the big three sports every year. For example, last year the Terps won b-ball <img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" /> , the Canes won football and now Clemson and GT have a chance to bring home the baseball title.
06-10-2002 07:15 PM
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UofLSig
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Post: #10
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Garnet & Gold:
PAPA JOHNS STADIUM has goal posts???? <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I hope you are coming to the game on September 26th. There are very few stadiums in the nation that get as loud and rowdy as Louisville's PJCS.

The stadium is only 5 years old, no bleachers, every seat is a chair back, tailgating goes on all day, beer and liquor are served in the stadium and the stadium is designed to increase crowd noise.

The closed end of the "C" shape is called the Crunch Zone and the other end of the stadium is the 5 story brick facade of the athletics and football offices, allowing the sound to bounce off it and back into the playing field.

There is also a metal "ceiling" above the West side of the stadium that helps keep crowd noise in.

Illini captain Kurt Kittner called it the loudest stadium he's ever played in.

It certainly is not one of the largest (42,000 seats until we expand in 2004) but it is certainly loud.
06-10-2002 08:52 PM
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Yawhooos
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Post: #11
 
IF IT AIN'T BROKE WHY MESS WITH IT !!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />
06-10-2002 09:14 PM
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Terpy
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Post: #12
 
Marshall
06-10-2002 09:41 PM
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UofLSig
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Post: #13
 
"I'm really not big on the Louisville expansion. Yes, they do have a decent basketball program, but one sport doesn't make you an ACC team."

Decent basketball program? Are you familiar with Louisville? If having one of the Top 5 to 10 programs of all time is just considered "decent", I'd love to see the "great" programs.

Louisville draws 18 to 20 thousand fans per every home game, has every single game televised, was on National television 14 times last year.

We also have the highest paid coach in the Nation, Rick Pitino... 2 Championships, the Team of the Decade per Sports Illustrated in the 80's, 7 Final Fours, 30 tourney appearances, and 2 Hall of Fame coaches.

"Decent"? I sure would hope so.

Louisville is also far from being a one-sport University. 5 teams have been ranked in the Top 25 in their respective sports within just the last year.

"Louisville football is on a slight uprise, but still would be in the very low part of our conference. (It's because you guys don't play great competition.)"

We get to hear this logic consistently, and that is one of the primary reasons we'd love to get into the ACC or BigEast, to increase our level of competition.

Louisville would NOT be in the very low part of your conference. Let me explain...

The BCS rankings have been accused of relying too heavily on SOS. SOS is Louisville's weakest point. So, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and use these rankings.

LAST SEASON
10. Maryland
22. Florida State
27. Louisville
32. North Carolina
34. N. C. State
36. Georgia Tech
46. Clemson
55. Wake Forrest
62. Virginia
106. Duke

Louisville is #3.

2000 SEASON
2. Florida State
13. Georgia Tech
15. Clemson
25. Louisville
33. North Carolina St.
47. Virginia
48. North Carolina
58. Maryland
96. Wake Forest
101. Duke

Louisville is #4.

1999 SEASON
1. Florida State
16. Georgia Tech
28. Clemson
34. Virginia
41. Wake Forrest
42. Louisville
49. N.C. State
58. Maryland
70. North Carolina
74. Duke

Louisville is #6 on this list.

OK, so even using a system that uses SOS (your main complaint against Louisville) too heavily according to most sources, Louisville would still easily be competitive in the ACC.

Louisville has also been to 4 straight Bowls, 6 since 1990, is coming into the season ranked around #18, and has more pro-bowlers in the NFL than any ACC team.

"I do agree that it would help the ACC in a recruiting aspect. What are the records on Louisville vs. ACC teams in football through the past 10 years? The record would make an interesting fact."

Loss to FSU in 1991.
Win over N.C. State in 1994.
Loss to North Carolina in 1995.
Win over Maryland in 1995.
Loss to North Carolina in 1996.
Loss to FSU in 2000.

Louisville was 2-4 against the ACC in the 90's. 2 losses against FSU, and 2 against North Carolina.

Louisville plays both FSU and Duke this year, at worst splitting that record 1-1.

POINT
The biggest factor in Louisville's candidacy would be whether or not the ACC wants to expand, then academics.

Louisville could easily meet competitive standards in the ACC, BigEast or where-ever.

<small>[ June 10, 2002, 10:50 PM: Message edited by: UofLSig ]</small>
06-10-2002 09:48 PM
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UofLSig
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Post: #14
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by tom79:
ACC will never admit Louisville. Right now Va Tech has been considered but as one knowledgable person put it, "who wants to go to Blacksburg?" We will opt for someone that offers media market and more recruiting so that is why Miami has been discussed. It will be a long time before we get there...
besides, hate to burst your bubble but the "50th largest TV market" as an inpetus for media, wow, what a stretch, Asheville/Greenville/Spartanburg is the 35th largest market so ya don't ofer much there... </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Louisville is a far-cry from Blacksburg. We also have a better all-around sports program.

I included the 50th market ranking not to brag, but to show that Louisville is far from being a small market like some have claimed in the past.

With the 1.2 million Louisville Metro, the ACC would also gain entry into the Midwest, pulling in a team with high-name recognition, a media-darling with Rick Pitino and our fun-and-gun football, and massive traveling crowds.

I've seen dozens of posts on ACC boards talking about they wish they had more people travel to games. That is another thing Louisville can provide.

We took 30 and 28,000 fans to the Liberty Bowl in each of the last 2 years respectively. Our fans travel extensively, and would add to each ACC schools ticket gate count, as well as having the #4 team annually in home basketball attendance to go along with #3 North Carolina.
06-10-2002 09:59 PM
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ClemTiger
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Post: #15
 
First of all you make some good points, i don't see any obvious drawbacks for adding Louisville (except maybe that it's not on the Atlantic Coast).

Second, at no point will Miami or VT ever join the ACC. Quit talking about it. The Big East is a Big conference and why would these teams leave when Miami just won a NC and VT was in one just a few years back. Both teams are sitting pretty.

Third, if the ACC is to add a team it should be Central Florida. This would be an easy team to convince to join. They play in Orlando, a decent size market <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> , have had a decent football team as of late and are right smack dab in the middle of one of the largest if not the largest college recruiting areas in the nation. Sorta hard to convince these great florida atheletes to join your team when you have NO shot at a NC (at least in football). That would all change if they joined the ACC. Plus i believe size wise they are around 50,000 students. They need to be in a major conference.

Louisville, you make a good point but if the ACC is to expand it should be UCF. Then Louisville.
06-10-2002 10:27 PM
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UofLSig
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Post: #16
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by ClemTiger:
First of all you make some good points, i don't see any obvious drawbacks for adding Louisville (except maybe that it's not on the Atlantic Coast).

Second, at no point will Miami or VT ever join the ACC. Quit talking about it. The Big East is a Big conference and why would these teams leave when Miami just won a NC and VT was in one just a few years back. Both teams are sitting pretty.

Third, if the ACC is to add a team it should be Central Florida. This would be an easy team to convince to join. They play in Orlando, a decent size market <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> , have had a decent football team as of late and are right smack dab in the middle of one of the largest if not the largest college recruiting areas in the nation. Sorta hard to convince these great florida atheletes to join your team when you have NO shot at a NC (at least in football). That would all change if they joined the ACC. Plus i believe size wise they are around 50,000 students. They need to be in a major conference.

Louisville, you make a good point but if the ACC is to expand it should be UCF. Then Louisville.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I agree with you, Clem, that UCF is a tantalizing prospect in terms of potential, but I think they'll have a hard time getting the Tobacco Road vote considering their basketball team is terrible.

ACC would have to be willing to take a serious hit to the SOS ratings in basketball with the addition of UCF, at least for the first 5-10 years.
06-10-2002 10:30 PM
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ClemTiger
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Post: #17
 
Just noticed something else. There is NO WAY that you guys had a tougher football schedule last year. Not even close to a top ten schedule. First of all you finished the season with 10 wins and 2 losses. if you really had a top ten strength of schedule you would have been in a BCS bowl. Who did you play. Illinios, Colorado St., Cincinatti, East Carolina, TCU, and BYU. All of which had good years but aren't worthy of a #3 SOS. We also played a few good teams that had good years. GT, NCState, UNC. all had better years (w/ the possible exception of BYU) than the teams i just mentioned. Add in FSU, Maryland, and South Carolina and there is no way Louisville played a tougher schedule. Whoever did that SOS ranking would have to be an acoholic manic depressive schizophrenic. Sorry, i respect Louisville but there is no way Louisville had the third toughest schedule in the nation.
06-10-2002 10:50 PM
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Garnet & Gold
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Post: #18
 
"An alcoholic manic depressive schizophrenic", now I have heard it all!! Sounds like something that happend to the Gators when Spurrier left <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[laugh]" title="" src="graemlins/laughing.gif" /> As for UofLSIG, any way you look at it, 42,000 people in a stadium is not that big of deal for the NOLES. Try Clemson in Death Valley or the Gators in the Swamp (SWAMP= <img border="0" alt="[Puke]" title="" src="graemlins/puke.gif" /> )To you it may be loud, but the NOLES have around twice that number for home games alone, and playing Clemson and the Gators every year will definetly prepare you for anything in terms of noise level

<small>[ June 11, 2002, 06:26 AM: Message edited by: Garnet & Gold ]</small>
06-11-2002 05:25 AM
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UofLSig
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Post: #19
 
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by ClemTiger:
Just noticed something else. There is NO WAY that you guys had a tougher football schedule last year. Not even close to a top ten schedule. First of all you finished the season with 10 wins and 2 losses. if you really had a top ten strength of schedule you would have been in a BCS bowl. Who did you play. Illinios, Colorado St., Cincinatti, East Carolina, TCU, and BYU. All of which had good years but aren't worthy of a #3 SOS. We also played a few good teams that had good years. GT, NCState, UNC. all had better years (w/ the possible exception of BYU) than the teams i just mentioned. Add in FSU, Maryland, and South Carolina and there is no way Louisville played a tougher schedule. Whoever did that SOS ranking would have to be an acoholic manic depressive schizophrenic. Sorry, i respect Louisville but there is no way Louisville had the third toughest schedule in the nation.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Where in ANY post did I say Louisville had a Top 3, Top anything schedule?

Did you read my posts or just skim them?

The rankings I listed are BCS, you know, the ones that determine the national championship every year?

Might try going back through and reading the posts again, you may get it the second time.
06-11-2002 01:32 PM
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ClemTiger
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Post: #20
 
I did just skim over the rankings part and saw where Louisville was #3 but failed to realize that was just in the ACC, with Louisville being #25 overall. I'm still confused as to what ranking system you're using though. The BCS rankings only rank the top 15 teams. Teams after that are not included in the BCS rankings, so your rankings can't be from the BCS. Please tell me which rankings you are using and post a link if possible.
06-11-2002 02:46 PM
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