Many around here claim that the ACC never faced an existential threat from the B1G or SEC, even in the wake of Maryland's departure. We've been told over and over that the ACC core, especially the linchpin UNC, never seriously contemplated its demise.

But apparently, that was wishful revionism by ACC boosters. As some of us noted, the threat was obvious and real:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/10/3...-when.html

(10-12-2013 11:48 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Many around here claim that the ACC never faced an existential threat from the B1G or SEC, even in the wake of Maryland's departure. We've been told over and over that the ACC core, especially the linchpin UNC, never seriously contemplated its demise.

But apparently, that was wishful revionism by ACC boosters. As some of us noted, the threat was obvious and real:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/10/3...-when.html

Please. Panic among boosters does not prove that there was any real threat. Reading Cunningham's e-mails on the other thread here on this topic shows him to be calm even if concerned. The league office moved quickly and expeditiously to resolve the situation.

Bottom line is that Cunningham wasn't a decision maker in all of this. The Board of Trustees in consultation with the president are the ones who make this decision. These e-mails reveal nothing about what the decision makers were thinking.

(10-12-2013 11:48 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  Many around here claim that the ACC never faced an existential threat from the B1G or SEC, even in the wake of Maryland's departure. We've been told over and over that the ACC core, especially the linchpin UNC, never seriously contemplated its demise.

But apparently, that was wishful revionism by ACC boosters. As some of us noted, the threat was obvious and real:

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/10/10/3...-when.html

I'm not saying there was no threat. Certainly, a charter member's departure sent shock waves through the conference. But I read every paragraph of that story, and the main thing I got from it was the concern from people not in a position to know a whole lot.

Granted, it was a relatively long article, and I could've skimmed across something that I should've read more closely, but other than honest and up-front discussions of the money Maryland was set to make, I didn't see anything that told me that the threat, however obvious, was real.

Just because the UNC administration and the ACC offices were in cahoots to keep things positive doesn't mean that everything was so negative as to be interpreted that the conference was not going to survive.

The fact that rumors were swirling around doesn't mean that those rumors had any basis in fact. We all heard that UNC & UVA were on their way to the B1G and that FSU & Clemson were on their way to the B12. But those rumors were never substantiated, and it wasn't long before they were put to rest.

I believe the real revisionism in this case is not on the part of fans of ACC teams, but on the part of those who can find in this article an iota of proof that Maryland's departure came all that close to destroying the conference.

(10-12-2013 12:21 PM)Cardinals Wrote:  I believe the real revisionism in this case is not on the part of fans of ACC teams, but on the part of those who can find in this article an iota of proof that Maryland's departure came all that close to destroying the conference.

I recall hearing a lot of talk about how UNC did not consider Maryland's departure to be an issue of concern and that there was never any thought about leaving the ACC. IMO, this article makes it clear that the upper echelon at UNC, and its fan base, was very concerned, and that efforts had to be made to keep FSU and Clemson in the fold and secure the conference's stability, efforts that consummated in the GoR.

From all accounts, Maryland's negotiations with the B1G were done quietly and secretly, thus when the public announcement was made that UM was leaving the ACC, it came as a shock to everyone including Swofford and the ACC. When Swofford tried to reach the UM president by phone to find out what was going on, the pres. wouldn't even extend the courtesy of taking Swofford's call. Naturally, under those circumstances, there was momentary shock and concern within the ACC.

The resulting internet firestorm of speculation about the impending doom of the ACC (already fueled by the false accusations of a Florida St. BOT member) of course created anxiety for some Carolina FANS who, in turn, contacted the University. What's so odd about that? The fact that the ACC schools shortly thereafter signed a GOR shows that Swofford and the ACC presidents (and not the fans) were in complete control all along.

In their public statements, ACC presidents were ALWAYS supportive of the conference throughout the ordeal, and I, for one, never had any doubts about the survival of the ACC. The conference is stronger now than ever, and so those who continue to wait for the ACC's demise are in for a VERY long wait!

(10-13-2013 08:01 AM)PhiladelphiaVT Wrote:  When Swofford tried to reach the UM president by phone to find out what was going on, the pres. wouldn't even extend the courtesy of taking Swofford's call.

Smart move actually when a non-disclosure has been signed.