JRsec
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RE: Can the ACC survive itself?
(06-14-2016 03:34 PM)XLance Wrote: (06-14-2016 12:48 PM)TerryD Wrote: (06-13-2016 08:54 PM)AllTideUp Wrote: (06-13-2016 04:53 PM)vandiver49 Wrote: (06-12-2016 02:01 PM)IR4CU Wrote: I posted this on the ACC board but thought I would post it here as well as I am definitely interested in thoughts from folks from the SEC on this subject.
Notwithstanding any external forces such as the SEC, Big 10, or ESPN, I wonder if the ACC will be able to win the long term battle against it's most deadly enemy - itself. Based on the vitriol from the fans concerning the potential nine game football conference schedule, I have my doubts. On this topic alone, it is clear that the fans are torn, the administrations are torn, and the athletic departments are torn - heck even fans of the same school appear to be torn. No matter how this issue is resolved, some schools are going to be very upset. I think this stems from the fact that as a group, we do not have any overall common ground in terms of history, culture, or athletics. Think about this ... if each ACC institution could have one and only one men's sports program, which sport would each school pick? Clemson, FSU, Miami, and VT would most definitely pick football. GT, Louisville, and NC State would be torn between football and basketball - I think GT would ultimately pick football and NCSU and UL would ultimately pick basketball. Duke, UNC, Syracuse, Wake, and UVA would definitely pick basketball (although Syracuse might pick Lacrosse). I am unsure where Pitt would fall - I am guessing football but it might be basketball?? Boston College would most likely pick hockey. So, is it any wonder that this league goes through so much turmoil on every decision: it really does come down to basketball vs football where we are pretty evenly divided and as far as I have seen so far, none of the schools are truly willing to make significant compromises. Then, if you look at geography and history, we have old Big East vs old ACC and North vs South. It's a wonder this conference hasn't already imploded (or exploded!). Now compare this to the SEC - they have one school (Kentucky) that would select basketball, one school (Vanderbilt) who may select either or possibly baseball - the remaining 12 schools are 100% on board for football. I am not saying that this makes the SEC "better" than the ACC but they are most definitely of the same mind and work together for the same goals as a conference - from a football and ultimately from a revenue standpoint, this has served them very well. Will the ACC ever get to this level of like mindedness? Unfortunately, I seriously doubt it will and therein lies the true enemy of our conference and the one that ultimately may lead to it's demise at some point in the future.
Can the ACC stick together; sure but it has to get a unified vision beyond simply remaining a P5 conference. The 9 game conference schedule makes sense if you take a 10,000 ft view. More inventory allows for a potential increase in disbursements which keeps the ACC in sight of the SEC. In theory that sounds great, but that reality means Clemson has to give up its ability to schedule UGA, AU or UTK in the future for more games against Wake, Pitt or BC. Same for the other football first schools. IMO the BE adds need the more assistance with scheduling, as such I would split ND agreement 4/1 north and south. The Irish can get games anywhere (they are playing Navy in Jax, FL this year) thus don't need the ACC to attain southern exposure.
Notre Dame doesn't exactly need games in the South, but they still want them. They won't give them up because I think it's one of the reasons they are in the ACC to begin with.
I have thought for a while that the ACC's day were numbered just as the Big 12's are, but now I think it depends on whether or not they get a network. Most of these schools really want to stick together so if the network deal gets done and it's profitable then I think the league will be together for a long time.
Absolutely correct, one of the reasons ND wanted to join the ACC was access to games in the Southeast.
Southern coaches use the "Its too far away, you will never get to see your son play in person." negative recruiting pitch against ND.
Here is a slightly old map showing the location of ND games. It is a bit dated but gives you an idea about ND's scheduling strategies.
ND wants to play in the Southeast, Southwest and California.
This is probably why we will not see a true north/south divisional alignment when West Virginia comes on board and the Irish finally join on a full time basis.
XLance it might be wiser to add W.V.U., Cincy, UConn, and N.D. and break into three divisions of 6.
Boston College, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, West Virignia
Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Lousiville, N.C. State, Wake Forest
Duke, Miami, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Virginia
Take your three division champions and a wild card and play it off.
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