Update: Maryland’s departure leaves ACC with 13
UPDATED, 12:56 p.m. with John Swofford statement: Maryland has left the ACC to join the Big Ten. Rutgers is expected to follow suit, leaving the Big East.
Maryland will reportedly begin Big Ten play in 2014-15. Until the ACC can find a replacement, it leaves the conference with an uneven 13 teams. Maryland was a charter member of the ACC at the league’s formation in 1953. It is just the second school to leave the ACC since its founding in 1953, following South Carolina in 1971.
“Our best wishes are extended to all of the people associated with the University of Maryland,” ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement. “Since our inception, they have been an outstanding member of our conference and we are sorry to see them exit. For the past 60 years the Atlantic Coast Conference has exhibited leadership in academics and athletics. This is our foundation and we look forward to building on it as we move forward.”
The athletic department has faced considerable financial stress, cutting seven teams over the summer. The Big Ten’s television revenues were undoubtedly a factor. The Big Ten distributed $284 million to its 12 teams for the 2012 fiscal year, a per-school average of $23.7 million.
ACC teams will receive $12.3 million in the current fiscal year, although the league will re-do its ESPN deal as a result of Notre Dame’s contract to play five ACC games annually. (It’s likely Maryland’s departure will also figure into negotiations.)
Consider this: According to reports from ESPN and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in May and June, Big Ten newcomer Nebraska did not receive a full share, drawing about $14 million while the other 11 schools took $24.6 million.
While the addition of Maryland and Rutgers will likely cause the Big Ten’s television deals to be re-done, were the math to hold, Maryland would receive more in a partial share as a Big Ten member than it would as a full ACC member.
There is the matter of the $50 million exit fee, instituted in September, to leave the ACC. It is interesting to note that Maryland president Wallace Loh voted against the fee increase, from $20 million, on “legal and philosophical grounds.” Florida State was the only other school to vote against it.
Loh told the Post that he disagreed with “punishing people if they simply exit a relationship.” The article also stated that Loh repeatedly praised the school’s relationship with the ACC and that it would continue to be a part of the league for years to come.
The obvious possibility to fill the 14th spot would be Notre Dame, which entered a deal with the ACC to join the conference for every sport but football and play five games annually against ACC football teams. The rise of the Fighting Irish on the football field likely lessens that possibility. Given the team’s declining stature in recent seasons, the school’s bargaining power with both the BCS and NBC had likely shrunk. However, with Notre Dame (at least for this season) a national title contender, its viability to remain an independent with a seat at the BCS table and to command a better television contract (presumably from NBC) than it could as a full ACC member has probably improved.
From a competition standpoint, how the ACC handles 13 teams, particularly in football, is going to be a bit of a challenge. The Big Ten was not separated into divisions when it was an 11-team league and did not face the predicament of one division with seven teams and the other with six, which would be the ACC’s lot starting in 2014 if it cannot find a 14th member.
Ken Sugiura, Georgia Tech blog
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171 comments Add your comment
Mike S.
November 19th, 2012
10:19 pm
Well obviously all these pissed off Maryland fans werent buying tickets in the first place. If they were that mad, then start writing checks because Maryland is hurting bad financially. They are having issues even half filling their stadium. This move is going to bring them in more money via the Big 10 alone, and probably sell more tickets when the Big 10 schools come to town. Its a good bet Maryland improves as a football product too. As for what the Big 10 gets? TV markets for contract talks. Having a direct presence in the DC market will bring them more money. Its not good enough to say you have fans in an area without a direct presence when talking TV contracts. Otherwise, they could probably claim just about anywhere to some degree with all the bandwagon OSU, PSU, Michigan, and Nebraska fans across the country.
Reality
November 19th, 2012
10:20 pm
If Notre Dame will not join the ACC in football, then I would prefer West Virginia or Louisville. UConn football isn’t that great and their basketball is questionable considering their coaching situation.
I believe that the “super” conferences will end up with 16 teams. Why shouldn’t the ACC go ahead to that number and have 8 teams in each division?
Also, why doesn’t the ACC start the “ACC Network” just as the Big 10 has done. It would mean more money for all ACC members way above any contract with ESPN.
Reality
November 19th, 2012
10:23 pm
Not that it cannot happen in this crazy conference mix, but I don’t know why anyone says that FSU would go to the Big 12! Or, even Clemson to the Big 12!
Geographically, it just makes no sense at all. FSU and Clemson fans would be really POed if they cannot play their regular rivals in the southeast and have to travel all of the way to the midwest many weeks in the season. And, I won’t blame them!
Reality
November 19th, 2012
10:33 pm
The ACC now has 13 full members. I think we need to go to 18.
With Notre Dame…. we add West Virginia, Louisville, UConn, and East Carolina.
Without Notre Dame…. we add West Virginia, Louisville, UConn, East Carolina, and Temple.
To be one of the four “super conferences” this would be a great mix of locking up certain regaions of the Country and also have a huge chunk of it up the “Atlantic Coast”. We would have most all of the State of Florida (Miami, FSU), and parts of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Conn, Penn, and Mass.
What a great TV market that would be!
GTBob
November 19th, 2012
11:27 pm
Its a good bet Maryland improves as a football product too.
I don’t know about that. Personally, I think they are probably going to be below Northwestern.
Dawg48
November 19th, 2012
11:31 pm
GT to the B1G????
http://mobile.nj.com/advnj/pm_29222/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=eTJiw5sn
d1reality
November 19th, 2012
11:39 pm
“”"”GT to the B1G????”"”"
Sure, gotta spare $50 million to exit
Math is Hard!
November 20th, 2012
9:14 am
Add UConn and Georgia State. Best basketball conference in America overnight.
blazer
November 20th, 2012
10:13 am
Too bad it’s all about money and all this stupid conference swapping!!
Terphoops34
November 20th, 2012
10:23 am
I am a Terps fan sinc early 70’s. First those of you suggesting Vandy to the ACC does not improve your football status and that is what the ACC is lacking. Here is how I see it playing out: The BIG 10 goes after another ACC team such as Carolina or even VA Tech. SEC steals one of the Carolina schools, Clemson or State and then gets FSU. At that point the ACC is done and the BIG 10 knocks on Notre Dames door one last time. If they say no then the go after Kansas of UVA. That leaves the other football shcools to go to BIG 12. Duke and Wake head off to the Big East or something like the Patriot league. Being a long time ACC fan I could care less what happens to Pittsburgh and Syracuse, although Syracuse could end up in Big 10 along with Rutgers as they bring a better market than Rutgers.
Carlton
November 20th, 2012
10:35 am
Here’s the latest update: The ACC is planning to discuss expansion with Cinn, UCONN, and Temple. This makes sense biggest it will expand it’s footprint into the B1G market with Cinn., and will ensure that the Philadelphia/New Jersey market is in play. UCONN adds the New York market which makes sense for ACC basketball. Conn. is also the home of ESPN, which allows the ACC to renegotiate it’s TV contract with them. This also will allow for the spread/relocation of the ACC tourney, and potentially the ACC championship game. Don’t like losing Maryland, but this might not be too bad.
Heel4Life
November 20th, 2012
11:11 am
This UNC alum and super Tar Heel fan is in no way in favor of threatening the real integrity of the university. Sports has already put a blemish on UNC, and our responsible alum want to erase that blemish, not darken it. I don’t think Swofford, an alum, a classy, smart, and genteel Morehead Scholar, belongs to that group of responsible protectors of UNC’s heritage, will allow UNC to sell it’s soul for football revenue.
WnE
November 20th, 2012
12:21 pm
re:
Heel4Life
November 20th, 2012
11:11 am
This UNC alum and super Tar Heel fan is in no way in favor of threatening the real integrity of the university. Sports has already put a blemish on UNC, and our responsible alum want to erase that blemish, not darken it. I don’t think Swofford, an alum, a classy, smart, and genteel Morehead Scholar, belongs to that group of responsible protectors of UNC’s heritage, will allow UNC to sell it’s soul for football revenue.
_____________
Too late for that pal!
UNC already sold it’s soul for SAs that cannot read or write or were too lazy to do it for themselves while playing sports for UNC and not just in the revenue sports either, this blame can be spread around.
What many ACC apologists don’t realize is that CFB generates about 80% (EIGHTY PERCENT) of the TV dollars that fund college sports while B-ball only generates 20% of the TV dollars that are generated.
The ACC and that effin’ weasel Swofford is operating based on a losing model; building the ACC on Basketball & “like Academic Schools” will on destroy ACC FB programs and lose the Athl. Depts. of the ACC members schools a lot of money along the way.
The SUCCESSFUL model is build your conference “FB first” and then let the increased TV revenues make it easy for the other sports to become successful.
The SEC has done this and has passed the ACC in baseball and is very close to the ACC in B-ball, while being LIGHT YEARS ahead of the ACC in FB.
GT and the ACC like to wax poetic about how they are “smarter” than everyone else, while everyone else actually implements smarter policies & smarter strategies and out performs GT & the ACC.
The “tobacco road mafia” has ruined the ACC’s chances of having better FB conference wide.
bill
November 20th, 2012
12:44 pm
Terphoops 34…nice fiction. The Big10 will only go after AAU schools. UNC, UVA, Duke and Tech are the only ones left in the current ACC that fill that criteria. Pitt also is an AAU member.
Kansas and UNC would be a tremendous duo for the Big10, since both are AAU schools. Getting UNC to leave the ACC would be rough , but stranger things have happened( see TxA&M to SEC saying adios to Texas).
From a GT perspective, going to BIG10 would be difficult unless they had a Southern travel partner. I’m sure Tech is very concerned about FSU and Clemson bolting to the Big12. If Miami had its proverbial sh*t together, a Tech-Miami move tom the Big10 wouldn’t be as far fetched as one would think. But can’t see Tech convincing UNC to go to the BIG10 with them.
I would definitely say UVa would be in the mix for the BIG 10. But That State rule makes it difficult for UVa to move. Otherwise, I would think you would have already heard of UVa going to the BiG 10 instead of Maryland. If that rule can be changed somehow, UVa would become the prime target for the Big10.
No matter how anyone slices it, the ACC and Big 12 are in play for the 3 other conferences to poach plumb schools.GT is in a difficult spot. There are so many reports about GT talking with the BIG10 that I don’t think it’s fiction. What happens depends on Tech being concerned about landing on their feet before the music stops with this new round of realignment.
The Pac12 doesn’t HAVE to move right now, but they may approach Texas, OK , Ok St and either TX Tech/Baylor again very soon. This would push Kansas to approaching the Big10….this would actually help the ACC. But if the BIG12 decides Wednesday that they better make a move soon to stay alive, bet you FSU and Clemson will be called. Maybe even GT and Miami if they feel FSU and Clemson are going to bolt. GT would HAVE to make a move at that point. But the 2 options would be BIG12 and possible Big10……this is why GT is in a difficult situation right now. Do they sit pat and hope for the best? Or do they react out of fear of being left in a depleted ACC BEFORE it happens.
BET YOU Big12 CALLS FSU&Clemson within next few days. What happens after that puts everyone in the jackpot from the ACC AND BIG 12.
Rod
November 20th, 2012
1:23 pm
bill – Nebraska is not an AAU member and is in the B1G, and I don’t think that really matters to the B1G anymore….besides, Va Tech, Miami and NC State are all expected to be admitted to the AAU soon anyway. They have larger research budgets than many current AAU members.
B. Thenet
November 20th, 2012
3:01 pm
Nebraska was in the AAU when it was admitted, it recently lost its accreditation but is working on fixing some things in its graduate programs to be readmitted. The AAU thing is important to the B1G
Mike S.
November 20th, 2012
3:53 pm
bill – the Big 12 has Texas sized issues…no pun intended. A big obstacle is revenue sharing. Its not equal in the Big 12. Texas and OU get the lion’s share. That likely needs to be addressed if they are going to truly attract anyone else like FSU or Clemson or even keep members like Kansas. If the Big 10 comes calling for Kansas, how can they refuse? Its a massive payday vs the scraps that Texas throws them. The ACC may not be as cooked as we think because of this. The Big 12 has to grow up and decide whether Texas is worth holding the whole conference hostage. In light of the fact they can grab these ACC schools, I would say they arent worth it. They either get in line or go independant. In the mean time, the Big 12 can pick up ACC schools like FSU, Clemson, Miami, Va Tech and GA Tech. They have other options as well like BYU and Louisville. They might even attract ND if the ACC begins to crumble
Mike S.
November 20th, 2012
3:58 pm
As for GA Tech, the Big 12 is the best option, especially if FSU and Clemson go. Big 10 is way out of place for ACC schools, and is really just a paycheck. Its just not that intersting. If Tech follows Clemson and FSU to the Big 12, you have a lot more there thats attractive. You have current ACC rivals plus WVU, TCU, OU, OSU, K St., Texas. Even if they dump Texas for revenue sharing, and grab a BYU in their place, thats a better fit than Big 10 country. I think the ACC is going to survive this relatively intact with the basketball oriented schools + ND. The Big 10 might grab Syracuse, Pitt, or BC, but that’s it. No one else is really a fit up there.
Skeptic
November 20th, 2012
5:14 pm
All of this extra $$$ moving schools earn from playing teams with absolutely nothing in common with their region. Where does it come from? YOU.
How many of you are willing to just keep paying more for your TV package because of all the new conference channels? Used to, just having ESPN and the broadcast networks were good enough, but now you won’t see your team at all unless you buy the conference channel because your team is playing WAY out of the region.
Stop the madness. My TV is getting closer every day to being a target on the range.
bill
November 20th, 2012
7:47 pm
MikeS–I did mention about Kansas in an earlier post. Think if the BIG wants to go west to find a “partner” for Nebraska, it’s Kansas. Though they would take Texas in a heartbeat if Texas wanted to go.
My concern is whether all of this talk on the web has some truth to it. You still haven’t heard anything, which may be a good thing, about Tech talking to the BIG. Perhaps a denial would dampen rumors, but it would sound like Clemson when they said “Hey, we’re staying in the ACC, but we are always going to listen to what is out there if someone calls”. That pretty much shows Clemson wants something better, but they don’t have it right now. The Big12 would be their only other option, and that is predicated on FSU leaving for what they would think would be greener pastures( no Midwest farming pun meant).
IF the rumors are true that Tech is talking to the Big 10 ( even Coach K said today that he is concerned about what will happen to the ACC—espn report), you would have to think UNC will be talking to the BIG also. They will still play Duke, but the allure of $$$$ and having Tech as a Southern partner may make Carolina thinjk long and hard about leaving. They would ahve to….UVa would be a better choice for the BIG , but that VT state law would create road blocks. Think the BIG wanted UVa over Md, but backed off.
No matter, Kansas and UNC are probably on the BIG radar right now.But the possibilty of Atlanta in the Big10 has to make those altruistic Presidents see boats of cash in their dreams.Again, if Miami would get their act together, Tech/Miami would definitely entice the Big 10.Believe me, the Big 10 will call on 2 more sooner or later. The ACC has to act to survive. If the SEC didn’t sign the Big12 to that Champions Bowl game, the ACC wouldn’t be in play with or w/o the Irish.
Swofford will have to do something to appease FSU…that is the reality if he wants to keep the ACC intact. Still think that is a tremendous hurdle . Don’t know how he can, especially if Tech or UNC OR UVa is serious about the BIG.
.
bill
November 20th, 2012
7:49 pm
SKEPTIC…it’s not coming from us. Read the friggin web and the sources that are being quoted.