16 Team ACC?
This is new UConn athletic director Warde Manuel talking to the Hartford Courant.
UConn, with multiple championships in men's and women's basketball, and its football, soccer and baseball programs on the rise, is the biggest brand name left and might look more at home in a conference such as the ACC as opposed to the new Big East. Sources told The Courant recently that the ACC has a 16-team model in place with its first choices being Notre Dame and UConn, but with Notre Dame maintaining its independent position there is no rush to go to 16. If the ACC can't convince Notre Dame, Rutgers could get the call with UConn, but sources say there is no rush there, either.
"Who knows what's going to happen with conference realignment, but the bottom line is UConn is such a great institution that my belief is we will find a home should something happen," Manuel said. "But right now — and again I haven't talked to [commissioner] John [Marinatto] at the Big East — it seems like they're making some moves to stabilize everything and we'll go from there."
via http://www.courant.com/sports/uconn-huskies/hc-big-east-expansion-0214-2...
FWIW, if ECU could deliver Notre Dame, I think the ACC would take the both of them.
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Comments
I'll take UCONN, Rutgers? #
I'll take UCONN, Rutgers? not so much
and how in god's name would ECU deliver ND?
It was a catch!!!
They wouldn't #
I think he just means that if we get ND, then he doesn't care who comes with them.
i'd prefer NOT #
to take either one of them .. i'd rather take temple .. or better yet penn state .. uconn would be ok but rutgers is just a piece
How about we add some #
How about we add some football schools? We need to quit digging the hole deeper when it comes to lack of respect from recruits because of being in the ACC. Plus i still don't feel confident that we won't lose a team or 2 to the SEC.
VTMidge-Andrew Shields
If we lose a team to the SEC... #
I hope it's us.
who? #
what fb schools are left that aren't taken by the sec or b10 (too much money to leave those conferences) that fit the acc academic footprint qualifications?
eric
twitter.com/beercontrol
"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky
Monetary Comparisons #
I'd love to see the comparisons of what Penn State earns in the B1G vs. what they would earn in the ACC with ND as the other addition. Adding those two would increase the TV deal immensely. Also, there is the academic money from research and grants, and I don't know how the ACC and B1G compare in that respect.
I want the lions... #
I really would prefer not adding Uconn or Rutgers.... sure recently they''ve had moderate success in a lackluster big east, but down the stretch they really wont be relevant. I think Ideally Penn State and ND would be awesome additions. "If" PSU were to leave the B1G, I know for a fact many boosters and alumni (my parents included) would love to re-kindle some of their old rivalries (Maryland, Pitt). Additionally it would cut down on travel costs (for both the school, and the enormous fanbase in the mid-atlantic) given PSU is the eastern most school in their league. Notre Dame however would be less likely to join with all the cashh they bring in from their Tv deal... but i think if PSU were to hop on board ND would be pressured to follow suit.
psu #
is not leaving.
aau affiliations and way more cash.
never, gonna happen.
eric
twitter.com/beercontrol
"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky
I know it wont happen, but a #
I know it wont happen, but a kid can only dream
yeah i'd agree #
whether penn state becomes VERY relevant in CFB again is yet to be seen, but i think that nd and penn state would be VERY good for the acc .. and at the very least, good for them too...especially penn state.
The last two additions #
were basketball centric. It is what the conference was built on, but the quality of basketball has severely weakened since the 1st expansion. I don't believe the addition of football schools VT, Miami, and BC's is at fault, as the main reason for the loss of basketball quality is the decline of WF, GT, NC State, and Maryland programs. Although basketball doesn't make money like football, I think the ACC's goal is to add top-tier basketball programs with solid football programs. ND and UConn fit that mold. Maybe U. of Kentucky or Vandy, if they could pry a team from "God's Conference." Louisville and Cincinnati are possible as well. I really doubt they add sub-tier basketball programs like PSU and Rutgers, but we'll see.
again #
the acc will be lucky to be 4th in tv contracts with a huge drop from 1-3 to the acc and big12. none of those schools would even consider taking less money to go to the acc.
uk can own basketball in their football conference, why would they leave, if all things were equal?
the acc is pinched in who they can take.
eric
twitter.com/beercontrol
"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky
SEC schools #
are extremely unlikely. UK already plays UNC and Duke every year, so why join the ACC? My point was to list teams that fit the mold of what the ACC would be looking for, although UK's academics aren't "ACC quality." I think UConn is the only school that truly fits with what the ACC wants and what the school wants. The 16th team, when it happens, is going to be a surprise or a reach. I'm just hoping it's a surprise and not Louisville or Cincy.
UK only plays UNC yearly, not Duke #
Otherwise, I agree with everything else. IMO, the only 3 schools out there (and using "out there" broadly) that fit what the ACC wants are UConn, Rutgers, and ND. Every other team either isn't moving or isn't getting into the ACC. Geographically and football-wise WVU fit but there was no way the ACC would give them an invite b/c of their academics.
sadly #
this be it.
eric
twitter.com/beercontrol
"My advice to you... is to start drinking heavily."-John Blutarsky
PSU Unlikely #
Was told from a reliable PSU source that no teams would leave the B1G due to all the money they get from the B1G network.
Hokies fan since 1998