Here are my thoughts as to why the divisions developed as they did. As far back as 2006 I was saying that the Coastal is likely someone's idea of an ND-friendly division. All it's missing is Pitt and BC as a cross-division rivalry game.

Obviously the current needs at the time of balancing power by using a zipper-like approach (FSU and Miami in different divisions as well as Clemson and GT, etc), and maintaining protected rivalries as much as possible were all more important than considering future expansion that may or may not come about, however...

If your ultimate goal is ND on board full then you at least try and make a perceived Irish friendly division (and yes TerryD, I know there is no such thing from an ND pov, but this is from an ACC pov) while at the same time make the strongest division set-up that will meet the current needs.

Coastal
Miami
GT
UNC
UVa
Duke
VT

Add Pitt above and get ND full with BC then becoming their cross-division rival

Atlantic
FSU
Maryland
Clemson
Boston College
NC State
Wake

Add SU above and get PSU full with Pitt then becoming their cross-division rival

SU-VT become cross division rivals by default

This, of course, is the good Dr.'s "dream" schedule. Get to play ND, PSU, VT, and Miami annually.

Take it or leave it. Again, obviously the current needs back then as stated above were the driving force and perhaps the rest is pure circumstance, but I don't believe much in coincidences myself.

Cheers,
Neil

(07-06-2015 09:03 PM)uofl05 Wrote:  

(07-06-2015 04:20 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  Ah, but there's the rub. Who exactly are our "top three" schools. Every proposal I've seen has us getting to play in NC State and Wake Forest more frequently and the programs that we actually care about less frequently. That is not a good trade off for us, which is why I oppose this plan.

If we get to play Virginia Tech, Miami, Notre Dame, etc. as our top three annual opponents then of course that would change things. However if our "top three teams" are Syracuse, Boston College, Louisville, etc., then no thank you.

I'
I have to chuckle at a Pitt fan bitching about playing us more. Good stuff.

Why would you chuckle? I think his point is merely an honest take on history (tradition) and fan appeal. The argument for Pitt getting yinz seems to be the parochial view of a group of southerners that know nothing about its traditions.

Syracuse I can see but the other two are an accommodation because no one else has any interest in them. Don't take it personally.

Never mind, 79. Some of these guys just. don't. get. it. For some, it's just because they don't want to get it. For others, it's because they've been following college football for about 13 whole months now. And for others it's because they simply aren't capable of getting it.

What I'm saying is that the schedule they are proposing for Pitt is worse than the one we left in the final version the Big East (the one that had USF in it). You tell me why on earth any Pitt fan with an ounce of common sense would be pleased with that? So we get to play Clemson every four years instead of every seven years? Whoop-dee-freaking-doo! Let's have a parade.

Status quo for me please. The alternative is a massive step backwards.

down with the Big XII!

(07-06-2015 09:03 PM)uofl05 Wrote:  

(07-06-2015 04:20 PM)Dr. Isaly von Yinzer Wrote:  Ah, but there's the rub. Who exactly are our "top three" schools. Every proposal I've seen has us getting to play in NC State and Wake Forest more frequently and the programs that we actually care about less frequently. That is not a good trade off for us, which is why I oppose this plan.

If we get to play Virginia Tech, Miami, Notre Dame, etc. as our top three annual opponents then of course that would change things. However if our "top three teams" are Syracuse, Boston College, Louisville, etc., then no thank you.

I have to chuckle at a Pitt fan bitching about playing us more. Good stuff.

Just for clarification, I well understand that Louisville has a better football program than Pitt right now. Bobby Petrino is a horrible human being and has proven as much pretty much every time he's had the opportunity to do so. However, he is also an excellent college football coach and he doesn't appear to have any limitations from his superiors. If they'll let Willie Williams into school after his 27 prior arrests, they'll let anyone transfer in who runs fast enough, benches enough weight and who can jump high enough. I have absolutely no doubt that he will have that program humming in no time.

Hell, I'm surprised that the kid that was just kicked off of Florida State's team for sucker punching that girl in the bar hasn't already announced his transfer to Louisville. I guess we'll have to wait for a few weeks for that to happen.

What I'm saying is that our fans don't give a schitt about you - at least not on the level of Miami and Virginia Tech. I'm sure the feeling is mutual. They know you're pretty good but our history is limited. Now Louisville basketball, that's a different story; but not Cardinals football. You are seen as a decent but not great program and certainly not one people would make a special effort to come out and see.

I am not speaking for myself. I am just being honest about how you are viewed by the casual fan here. You are WAY better than Miami right now but their brand is significantly stronger than yours by the fans here - and I suspect most other ACC markets as well.

For us, the bottom line is we have to sell tickets. We are not fortunate like some to be located in rural outposts or small cities with no pro sports with which to compete. We compete in a VERY crowded sports market with three pro sports teams. It's tough to sell minor league sports in major league towns. I'm sure the Miami, Georgia Tech and Boston College fans can relate. Now try selling minor league football in a market that features a major league franchise that has won more Super Bowls than any other franchise on the planet.

Does that sound like an easy task to anyone?

Even collegiately speaking, we are surrounded by some very passionate fan bases at Ohio State, Penn State and West Virginia. That means that we MUST work our arses off to attract fans. That's not going to happen for us if we get strangled by the schedule makers.

That's not bitching, that's reality.

Status quo all the way. It's not nearly perfect but it sure beats the schitt out of all the alternative plans I've read.