http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college...fford-acc/

Quote:It's fitting that Swofford would shut down this period of realignment. After all, he started it in 2003 when he took Miami and Virginia Tech -- and, a few months later, Boston College -- from the Big East. At the time, the leagues were peers. Each was a BCS automatic qualifying conference. While the Big Ten and SEC had grown richer, the ACC and Big East remained near the top of the food chain thanks to their storied basketball programs. But the business of college sports was changing quickly. The BCS had codified the power structure, and it seemed most of the new money was coming from football. "I think that people for the most part didn't understand how big and important football was," former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese told the New York Times in March. "It really drove the cart."

At least one person understood: a former North Carolina defensive back named John Swofford. "At that given point in time, as much as anything, it was looking ahead and understanding that football was going to be driving the future more than it had," Swofford said. "We felt like we needed to be stronger and better positioned both from a football and a marketplace standpoint."

Now, Swofford has other business to which he must attend. With his league stable, he can begin working with ESPN on an ACC network. He predicts taking the network from the idea stage to air will take about as long as it did for the SEC -- which will put its network on the air about three years after it began making plans. "We don't want to let any grass grow," Swofford said. "I don't think ESPN does either."

Meanwhile, the mood has shifted completely in the meeting rooms as athletic directors, coaches and faculty athletic representatives discuss the future with hope rather than with trepidation. Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman personified that demeanor this week. Last year, on the heels of Haggard's comments, Spetman ran away from reporters -- muttering "no comment" before anyone asked a question. On Monday, Spetman mingled with a clutch of reporters and smiled as he discussed the lighter atmosphere. "It's kind of like the stock market when the world is going all over. Nobody wants to invest," Spetman said. "But when you know there is stability in the economy, people start investing. The same thing has happened with the ACC brand now. We have some stability."

The ACC has that stability because it has a commissioner who, without much fanfare, pulled off a series of moves over a 10-year-period that kept the league at the upper end of the spectrum when wrong decisions could have sent it sliding backward. That may seem extraordinary, but it's all part of the gig for college sports' resident ninja magician.

Favorite Swoff quote: "I generally take my cue from our presidents. I believe our presidents until I have reason not to."

(05-15-2013 03:35 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Favorite Swoff quote: "I generally take my cue from our presidents. I believe our presidents until I have reason not to."

Gee, I wonder which one he may have been referring to?

Cheers,
Neil

(05-15-2013 06:28 PM)omniorange Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 03:35 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Favorite Swoff quote: "I generally take my cue from our presidents. I believe our presidents until I have reason not to."

Gee, I wonder which one he may have been referring to?

Cheers,
Neil

I have loh idea who he might have been referring to.

(05-15-2013 06:56 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 06:28 PM)omniorange Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 03:35 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  Favorite Swoff quote: "I generally take my cue from our presidents. I believe our presidents until I have reason not to."

Gee, I wonder which one he may have been referring to?

Cheers,
Neil

I have loh idea who he might have been referring to.

Now, that's funny!

Funny the B12 and B1G fans aren't commenting.

When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

I think the ACC has more value than many give it credit for.

(05-15-2013 09:31 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

Gotta disagree with you Bit...it is pretty much establish that if the schools wanted to leave that had the opportunity...if/when the ACC Network comes about it is done..I just doubt the Presidents @ the ACC Schools are worried about the outcome of a Football game.

(05-15-2013 10:15 PM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 09:31 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

Gotta disagree with you Bit...it is pretty much establish that if the schools wanted to leave that had the opportunity...if/when the ACC Network comes about it is done..I just doubt the Presidents @ the ACC Schools are worried about the outcome of a Football game.

Agreed...I laughed at the morons who thought winning BCS games is/was the end all. Notre Dame has won diddly for years yet they are still relevant. It is all about Brands. Sure ultimately the ACC needs to win some big games but the brands go deeper than a 10 year underperforming streak.

(05-15-2013 09:31 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

Winning on the field has almost nothing to do with stability. The B1G is routinely mocked for it's performance in big games and there's not a more stable conference out there. The Big East had a better record in BCS games than the ACC in recent years and that didn't have anything to do with stability. Stability is only achieved through money and a desire of the schools to be together.

(05-16-2013 08:39 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 09:31 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

Winning on the field has almost nothing to do with stability. The B1G is routinely mocked for it's performance in big games and there's not a more stable conference out there. The Big East had a better record in BCS games than the ACC in recent years and that didn't have anything to do with stability. Stability is only achieved through money and a desire of the schools to be together.

On target...good post...Brands bring money...plus the ACC schools seem pretty strong at the core to stay together. It will be intersting how the new teams add to this dynamic. --->more Yankees in the conference.

(05-16-2013 08:30 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 10:15 PM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 09:31 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

Gotta disagree with you Bit...it is pretty much establish that if the schools wanted to leave that had the opportunity...if/when the ACC Network comes about it is done..I just doubt the Presidents @ the ACC Schools are worried about the outcome of a Football game.

Agreed...I laughed at the morons who thought winning BCS games is/was the end all. Notre Dame has won diddly for years yet they are still relevant. It is all about Brands. Sure ultimately the ACC needs to win some big games but the brands go deeper than a 10 year underperforming streak.

Maryland was the outlier not the reality apparently in the ACC...good for Louisville since it got us out of the BIG EAST/AAC. Going forward and with the upcoming ACC Network, Basketball and with the upcoming Bowl lineup...ESPN Brett McMurphy said it best on local radio this morning...only the SEC & B1G going forward are ahead of the ACC.

(05-16-2013 08:45 AM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:30 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 10:15 PM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 09:31 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

Gotta disagree with you Bit...it is pretty much establish that if the schools wanted to leave that had the opportunity...if/when the ACC Network comes about it is done..I just doubt the Presidents @ the ACC Schools are worried about the outcome of a Football game.

Agreed...I laughed at the morons who thought winning BCS games is/was the end all. Notre Dame has won diddly for years yet they are still relevant. It is all about Brands. Sure ultimately the ACC needs to win some big games but the brands go deeper than a 10 year underperforming streak.

Maryland was the outlier not the reality apparently in the ACC...good for Louisville since it got us out of the BIG EAST/AAC. Going forward and with the upcoming ACC Network, Basketball and with the upcoming Bowl lineup...ESPN Brett McMurphy said it best on local radio this morning...only the SEC & B1G going forward are ahead of the ACC.

I wasn't sure this was the case last year...as I expected someone would go to 16 or the B12 would expand...but apparently this was Louisville late last year being towed into the USS Ninja

(05-16-2013 08:54 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:45 AM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:30 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 10:15 PM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 09:31 PM)bitcruncher Wrote:  When Swofford brings in a few playoff wins he'll have stability. But the ACC's BCS record leaves a lot to be desired, and unless they can improve on that in the future, stability has not been achieved...

Gotta disagree with you Bit...it is pretty much establish that if the schools wanted to leave that had the opportunity...if/when the ACC Network comes about it is done..I just doubt the Presidents @ the ACC Schools are worried about the outcome of a Football game.

Agreed...I laughed at the morons who thought winning BCS games is/was the end all. Notre Dame has won diddly for years yet they are still relevant. It is all about Brands. Sure ultimately the ACC needs to win some big games but the brands go deeper than a 10 year underperforming streak.

Maryland was the outlier not the reality apparently in the ACC...good for Louisville since it got us out of the BIG EAST/AAC. Going forward and with the upcoming ACC Network, Basketball and with the upcoming Bowl lineup...ESPN Brett McMurphy said it best on local radio this morning...only the SEC & B1G going forward are ahead of the ACC.

I wasn't sure this was the case last year...as I expected someone would go to 16 or the B12 would expand...but apparently this was Louisville late last year being towed into the USS Ninja

Rather be with "The Ninja Runned League" then in Fly Over Country League...especially the fact that from a Louisville Fan point of view we would have really missed the budding Louisville-Syracuse Rivalry.

(05-16-2013 09:03 AM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:54 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:45 AM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:30 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-15-2013 10:15 PM)Maize Wrote:  Gotta disagree with you Bit...it is pretty much establish that if the schools wanted to leave that had the opportunity...if/when the ACC Network comes about it is done..I just doubt the Presidents @ the ACC Schools are worried about the outcome of a Football game.

Agreed...I laughed at the morons who thought winning BCS games is/was the end all. Notre Dame has won diddly for years yet they are still relevant. It is all about Brands. Sure ultimately the ACC needs to win some big games but the brands go deeper than a 10 year underperforming streak.

Maryland was the outlier not the reality apparently in the ACC...good for Louisville since it got us out of the BIG EAST/AAC. Going forward and with the upcoming ACC Network, Basketball and with the upcoming Bowl lineup...ESPN Brett McMurphy said it best on local radio this morning...only the SEC & B1G going forward are ahead of the ACC.

I wasn't sure this was the case last year...as I expected someone would go to 16 or the B12 would expand...but apparently this was Louisville late last year being towed into the USS Ninja

Rather be with "The Ninja Runned League" then in Fly Over Country League...especially the fact that from a Louisville Fan point of view we would have really missed the budding Louisville-Syracuse Rivalry.

The funny thing is...while Louisville doesn't have a really close neighbor most of the ACC schools are within a 5-8 hrs drive. Totally doable for some fans in Jefferson County to see the Cards on the road occasionally.

I can get to Louisville from Raleigh in 8 hours -- that, despite the madness that is, toll roads in West Virginia.

Having been to Louisville recently on two occasions, I look forward to taking in games at both Papa John's and the YUM Center, so from that perspective, I'm excited to have Louisville in the ACC

(05-16-2013 09:18 AM)ecuacc4ever Wrote:  I can get to Louisville from Raleigh in 8 hours -- that, despite the madness that is, toll roads in West Virginia.

Having been to Louisville recently on two occasions, I look forward to taking in games at both Papa John's and the YUM Center, so from that perspective, I'm excited to have Louisville in the ACC

You plan on taking in any ECU games anytime soon? You know that school you graduated from, claim to sometimes be a fan of, but want to drop to FCS.

(05-16-2013 09:09 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 09:03 AM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:54 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:45 AM)Maize Wrote:  

(05-16-2013 08:30 AM)TexanMark Wrote:  Agreed...I laughed at the morons who thought winning BCS games is/was the end all. Notre Dame has won diddly for years yet they are still relevant. It is all about Brands. Sure ultimately the ACC needs to win some big games but the brands go deeper than a 10 year underperforming streak.

Maryland was the outlier not the reality apparently in the ACC...good for Louisville since it got us out of the BIG EAST/AAC. Going forward and with the upcoming ACC Network, Basketball and with the upcoming Bowl lineup...ESPN Brett McMurphy said it best on local radio this morning...only the SEC & B1G going forward are ahead of the ACC.

I wasn't sure this was the case last year...as I expected someone would go to 16 or the B12 would expand...but apparently this was Louisville late last year being towed into the USS Ninja

Rather be with "The Ninja Runned League" then in Fly Over Country League...especially the fact that from a Louisville Fan point of view we would have really missed the budding Louisville-Syracuse Rivalry.

The funny thing is...while Louisville doesn't have a really close neighbor most of the ACC schools are within a 5-8 hrs drive. Totally doable for some fans in Jefferson County to see the Cards on the road occasionally.

Exactly...outside of really Miami, Syracuse & BC all are easy drives. Plus I have relatives in North Carolina makes it even sweeter...

I still think the ACC is doomed, DOOMED I tell ye. I just have to fathom up a few new reasons why.