Just so we all know the ACC is expanding for the right reasons:

Proximity: It's only 1,400 miles from Miami to Syracuse now that the old Big East rivals have reunited. Good luck with those volleyball teams flying back in the middle of the night from midweek matches.

Solidarity: The new 14 ACC band of brothers are so secure in their future that they've set the exit fee at a mere $20 million.

Academics: Don't even go there.

The ACC expanded and once again insulted everyone's intelligence. If I hear "good fit" one more time, I'm going to hurl. A good fit is a pair of Cole Haans. Conference realignment has turned out be a shiv in somebody's back.

******

A few weeks ago, ACC commissioner John Swofford, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and Big East commissioner John Marinatto made some sort of pinky swear and promised not to raid each other going forward. They were going to work to stabilize their own conferences without wrecking the other.

"They would protect each other," a Big East source said. "They were all going to work together."

************

Swofford is a supposedly honorable person and well-respected, but at least in prison, you kind of know danger lurks around every corner. In this ruthless college land grab, the guy you shake hands with today could be burning your home to the ground tomorrow.

Swofford actually spoke these words to CBSSports.com in August: "We need to restore confidence and integrity into the collegiate model and that can only be done if and when we as leaders work together in a constructive manner."

No one worked together on this one except Pittsburgh and Syracuse, which slipped out of the Big East like the Baltimore Colts on the way to Indianapolis -- in a furtive and gutless manner.

That integrity certainly was on display this summer when Pittsburgh chancellor Mark Nordenberg was involved in negotiations with ESPN on a reported $1.3 billion deal that might have saved the Big East. Nordenberg's says some outlets had erroneously reported that he was chair of the Big East presidents. Regardless ...

"Marinatto reports directly to Nordenberg," that Big East source said. "What's John going to do? He couldn't take a piss without talking to Nordenberg."

Nordenberg's school was one of five in the Big East that sued the ACC in 2003 when it tried to take Miami, Boston College and Syracuse. You want to talk hypocrisy?

"This is a case that involves broken commitments, secret dealings, breaches of fiduciary responsibility, the misappropriation of conference opportunities and predatory attempts to eliminate competition," Nordenberg said eight years ago.

The same could be said about his conduct today.

***********

"I can say in all my years of college athletics administration I've never seen this level of uncertainty and potential fluidity among schools and conferences," Swofford added. "Schools are looking for stability."

Except the ACC is contributing greatly to that uncertainty because of what -- Baylor might sue Texas A&M and or the SEC? Texas has backed itself into a corner with the Longhorn Network? Oklahoma is thinking about going to the Pac-12?

The ACC has now created a battle royal between the Big East and Big 12 for their mutual continued existence. It's clear one is going to have to poach the other to join the superconference sprint race.

Yes, those same two conferences that were partners with the ACC in self-preservation a few weeks ago.

Now they're in a steel-cage death match for survival. The only certain loser is class.



http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...m-a-minute

good read

It is dog eat dog.

Good read...really shows how classless Swofford, Nordenburg, Cantor, and the like are. I hope the BE sues the **** out of all of those involved, it sounds like they will be able to make a serious case.

More good stuff from ESPN'S Dana Oneil

The bulk of the blame, though, goes to the people who are making the decisions. No one likes to talk about integrity more than university presidents, right? Yet no one fails to walk the walk quite as well, either.

In defense of her university's move, Syracuse chancellor Nancy Cantor explained that leaving the Big East was in the university's best interest "as conference realignment gives some instability to the landscape." What she -- and everyone else who has taken their bag of toys and run -- failed to acknowledge is that by leaving, Syracuse and Pittsburgh are the ones creating the instability.

Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg, meanwhile, said, "We did make it clear within the Big East, we were willing to improve the conference in any way we were asked. At the same time, we made it very clear that if other opportunities did arise, we would feel obligated to seriously assess them and look at the long-term future of the University of Pittsburgh."

Not only is that a 400-level class of doublespeak, it is steeped in irony eight years old. In 2003, Boston College bolted the Big East for the ACC. Pittsburgh and four other schools sued BC with none other than Nordenberg explaining the decision.

"This is a case that involves broken commitments, secret dealings, breaches of fiduciary responsibility, the misappropriations of conference opportunities and predatory attempts to eliminate competition," he said at the time.

That's all true.

Unless, of course, breaking commitments, secret dealings, breaches of fiduciary responsibility, misappropriating conference opportunities and predatory attempts to eliminate competition are to your own betterment.


http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...basketball

Ironic part is this bag o' dung might have landed his university as the defendant in a stronger case then the one he pushed in 2003.

Lord help him if he derailed the ESPN deal.

Cantor is dillisional if she really thinks Syracuse brings "the big apple" to the ACC. NYC doesnt care about syracuse its 4 hours away, it might as well be in Canada. NYC barely notices rutgers and they're within an hour of ny.
i realize syracuse markets itself as new york states team. but simply stating it doesnt mean its true

ESPN negatively portraying Syracuse and Pittsburgh's actions is comical, ESPN is the reason the BE is dead...I hope a reporter calls them out on their blatant influence over this entire situation. The national media needs to draw attention to these despicable actions...