Vulnerable, huh? The ACC crowns itself king of college hoops
"Roy, I really don't know how to tell you this -- but we've got company." (AP photo)
The ACC faced a choice: Eat or be eaten. The league opted not just to grab something at the drive-thru but to dine in style. Only days ago we wondered if this conference could survive in a world powered by King Football. Today we hail John Swofford and his associates as the new monarchs of college basketball.
Bradley’s Rule: Better to be the king of something than the earl of everything.
The ACC’s grand football experiment hadn’t worked. Adding Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College didn’t hoist the ACC above/alongside the SEC. Truth to tell, the 12-team ACC was no better than fourth-best at football among the six BCS leagues. Worse, the ACC’s time-honored stock in trade had eroded to the extent that Duke and North Carolina has risen further above the basketball pack — North Carolina State reference partially intended — than ever.
The Big East now played better basketball, and several conferences played better football. What was to keep schools tied to Tobacco Road when other leagues came calling?
Be advised that the SEC has great interest in adding schools that can be deemed “flagships” in states that don’t already feature an SEC outpost. That would include three ACC members of more than a half-century’s standing — North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. The SEC would have been happy to take two of those three and add Missouri to Texas A&M and become a 16-team league.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive is often described as the smartest man in college athletics, but here the ACC’s Swofford stole a march. He increased the exit fee for a school looking to leave his league to $20 million, and with the poaching of two Big Easterners he has lifted his league back to the top of the second-biggest college sport. Pitt and Syracuse have been known to play good football — Pitt had Tony Dorsett and Hugh Green and Dan Marino; Syracuse had Jim Brown and Ernie Davis and Donovan McNabb — but they don’t really change the ACC’s grid profile. They do, however, offer two more basketball tent-poles to array alongside Carolina and Duke.
With this move, the ACC cannot be viewed as prey. It’s a predator. If that sounds unseemly, so be it. To suggest that any conference should sit politely while every other league is grabbing hand over fist is to deny reality. The SEC and Big Ten and Big East would surely have made runs at ACC schools. What was Swofford supposed to do, play his violin while his league went up in smoke?
The ACC cast a cold eye on its assets and liabilities and saw a way to get bigger without necessarily getting better at football. That’s not bad form. That’s good business. And it’s clear in hindsight that we on the periphery undervalued another ACC selling point: It actually has good schools. Five ACC institutions — Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia — are members of the prestigious Association of American Universities, and Pitt makes six. (The SEC, by way of contrast, has three, and that’s counting Texas A&M.)
If you’re a college president looking to conference-hop, the thought of allying yourself with a league that isn’t just a repository of football factories can make for a softer landing. Indeed, UConn is believed to be exploring the possibility of an ACC leap. Last month we wondered who’d stay in Swofford’s league. Today we ask: Who else wants to join?
As an old college basketball hand, I’m encouraged to be reminded that football isn’t the driving force in every single matter pertaining to collegiate sports. (As a pragmatist, I’m also more than a bit surprised.) And if I’m Swofford, I wouldn’t stop here: I’d go hard at UConn and Louisville or even Kansas and brand this conference in hoops as the SEC has in football — as the standard so golden everyone else is trading in bronze.
Oh, and I have a message for Dan Radakovich, the Tech AD. The next time your phone rings, it will be Brian Gregory. He hasn’t yet coached a basketball game for you, and already he wants a raise.
By Mark Bradley
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353 comments Add your comment
IL Jacket
September 19th, 2011
4:39 pm
Yeah..right, you were the one with the point that football revenues were the be all and end all. I was simply making a counter, and more important, point. Is the Ivy League really just an athletic conference?
Delbert D.
September 19th, 2011
4:39 pm
IL Jacket – I don’t have any knowledge of actual research annual dollars for particular schools, just the big picture. UCF had a lot of NASA contracts, so I’ve heard due to their proximity. I’d imagine that UF and Florida State did as well. Research grants are the lifeblood for tenured professors. Also for grad students who want a free ride.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
ACC rules
September 19th, 2011
4:37 pm
“Clearly, the schools with higher academic standards will choose the ACC, while the football factories with no academic standards will gravitate to the SEC.”
Clearly. And that is why the SEC will always be superior to the ACC in the sport of football. Don’t worry though, your one & done basketball recruits will keep your academic standards up.
ACC rules
September 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
“I think AAU is a clearly better indication of an “elite” academic institution.”
Yes, it is. Georgia Tech is a longtime member, and UGA will be invited to join in… well, never.
Delbert D.
September 19th, 2011
4:42 pm
I forgot to add that Notre Dame wants to preserve their long-standing rivalries with Michigan, USC and Army and Navy.
Buzzzzzzzzz
September 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
Just for the UGA homers who are desperately looking for a face-saving out in the argument about academic requirements: Industrial Management at Tech is far more difficult than any degree program that any UGA student – athlete or otherwise – is enrolled in. I’m talking about heavy technical subjects like calculus, physics, chemistry, not the remedial studies fluff that UGA goons take (and usually fail – case study is Caleb King).
The football factory in Athens is a pathetic embarrassment to all Georgians.
And a note to the AJC: Ask Mark Richt about that 73.5% special admit rate (i.e., dumbasses who can barely read and who will spend four years in remedial studies) and the average SAT scores for his recruits. That should be a most interesting answer.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
@IL Jacket
Until you can grasp the fact that athletic conferences have no bearing on academics or AAU membership, then you will not understand what is happening with conference realignment.
Which AAU school will lose their AAU membership by joining a better football conference? Why will this happen? Why would the AAU even care about a research institutes’s athletics program?
IL Jacket
September 19th, 2011
4:46 pm
Delbert, you are right-that is one of the quaint things about ND. I think it helps remind them of the glory years of the 40s. Grantland Rice and the Four Horsemen and all that. USC obviously is a recruiting trip to the West Coast.
GT Alum
September 19th, 2011
4:47 pm
Yeah..Right -
Did you read the article you posted? It said FSU wanted to be prepared for any possibility, and the direct quote was “If you are going to four conferences of 16 teams we certainly want to be ready,” Haggard said. “If the ACC is included in that we want to be sure we are included and have a say so in regard to the teams that are coming into our conference.” Leave it to you to read that article as FSU is preparing to jump to the SEC.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
4:48 pm
ACC rules
September 19th, 2011
4:41 pm
“I think AAU is a clearly better indication of an “elite” academic institution.”
Yes, it is. Georgia Tech is a longtime member, and UGA will be invited to join in… well, never.
Right. GIT has been a “longtime member” since 2010. What a maroon!!!
IL Jacket
September 19th, 2011
4:49 pm
Yeah..right, well query me this. Why will Texas not join the SEC, since it has nothing to do with academics?
yeller bug
September 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
I think the ACC splits TV and bowl revenue equally where Texas and ND think they deserve more. I doubt they’ll come to the ACC. PSU would be a great add and I think UCONN is wanting in so that would make a good conference—-Tarheel state and south for the southern division and VA northward for the northern division. Let the SEC go after the Texas schools. I don’t think any ACC schools wants to cough up $20M to leave.
Delbert D.
September 19th, 2011
4:51 pm
ACC Rules – Georgia Tech is not a long-time member; I corrected my typo on that. The were invited in 2008. 1968 was the year I was supposed to have graduated from college, but didn’t. Went to war instead.
The University of Georgia has a good academic reputation. I don’t know what the specific strengths are. My uncle graduated with a degree in Ag Engineering, and I imagine that is still a significant field. They turn out a lot of pharmacists (my brother-in-law), MBAs (my brother) and lawyers. I will venture a guess that they are strong in biomed, as some of the athletes have been in that.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
4:53 pm
@GT Alum
So then… You’re saying that Texas is joining the ACC? You might want to consider the fact that I could know much more about this story than what is included in that one article.
What has the ACC done to improve their football? FSU won’t stay in a basketball conference. I doubt that Clemson or Va Tech will want to do that either. Time will tell. If the Big 12 survives, then the ACC isn’t even a part of the equation.
GeoffDawg
September 19th, 2011
4:56 pm
Well, if Bobby Dodd says so, who am I argue otherwise? It’s not an agenda, simply a curiosity since there are clearly many very good, highly ranked schools out there playing sports which are not AAU members. It appears to be strongly tied to funds dedicated to research. That’s great and all and I do think AAU membership is a prestigious thing but if my alma mater doesn’t dedicate enough resources to pure research to satisfy membership requirements, then big whoop. It doesn’t diminish the validity of my course work and degree.
Also, LOL @ stating that US News & World Report is not an authoritative source while at the same time quoting from Wikipedia.
@ Buzzzzzzzzz, dude, you’re coming on way to strong with your obvious bias when I’ve been attempting to have a even handed discussion about the topic. You do realize that you’re a screaming inferiority complex, don’t you? Like the short guy that drives a Hummer.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
4:57 pm
@IL Jacket
Because the SEC insists upon equally sharing revenue. Texas wants a special deal. Only the ACC is willing to consider that possibility.
Also, Texas doesn’t want to expose itself to the level of football competition that exists in the SEC. They want to be King of the Hill in any conference that they join. That’s why they might just wind up playing as independents if they can’t hold the Big 12 together.
techfan
September 19th, 2011
4:58 pm
Yeah..Right, why would the presidents of Clemson, Va Tech, and FSU vote to raise the minimum buyout for leaving the conference if they planned on leaving? That doesn’t make any sense. Nobody is leaving the ACC.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:01 pm
@techfan
They are in a very small minority. Why would they vote against something that is going to pass anyway? $20 million is no big deal compared to the revenue that would be generated by their participation in a real football conference.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:02 pm
You don’t know much about politics, do you techfan?
IL Jacket
September 19th, 2011
5:03 pm
Yeah..right, one last time. You didn’t see Swofford’s statement reported in the Times today. He said, “Equal revenue-sharing is sacred… That’s been a very important, fundamental part of this league since the 1980s. I do not see that changing.”
But enough of this banter.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
Better Question:
Why would they vote to raise the buyout if they had no fear of anyone leaving the conference?
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:04 pm
@IL Jacket
Yep. I saw it. Texas isn’t coming. FSU isn’t staying.
Delbert D.
September 19th, 2011
5:06 pm
There are some very strong opinions on this blog that are not supported by facts. What is the reason for that? Some strong emotion, perhaps envy, or hate? Most of the bloggers are involve in civil discourse, fortunately.
Texas had a 4-pronged approach:
1) determining the future of the Big 12
2) pursuing membership in the PAC-12
3) discussion with the SEC, and
4) discussion with the ACC
#1 is still in play. They had meeting in LA when their contingent traveled there for the UCLA game over the weekend. Further discussion are to be held this week, based on news reports.
#2 is looking doubtful, as their representative’s trip to Norman to discuss saving the Big 12 did not go well. Oklahoma made it clear that their intention was to leave the Big 12; again, based on news reports.
#3 I have no idea about. The SEC has a TV contract, and Texas has their own TV contract.
#4 The ACC has made an initial move that does not include Texas, and the ACC has 10 or more very interested parties, based on news reports.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:06 pm
Texas was never coming to the ACC to begin with. You guys were just pawns in the negotiations with Oklahoma.
Then again… Engineers obviously don’t understand politics — or football.
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:07 pm
Yeah..Right – I understand your logic but it just doesn’t compute. FSU, Clemson and VT don’t want to be part of the SEC! They aren’t going to the SEC. The ACC can compete with anyone in the SEC! Get over it! Clemson a middle of the road ACC team should have beaten the SEC’s best team last year and took care of business this year. Go get Mizzou and WVU…the ACC doesn’t want them so you can have em’. GO JACKETS!!
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:08 pm
Hide and watch.
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:09 pm
YEAH-RIGHT engineers understand the best offense in the country!!! Get back to your Cosmopolitan reading you fool!
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:10 pm
Get back to your bunk bed dreaming!
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:10 pm
@GT311
Dawg fans love you guys. You’re the only thing standing between them having the most delusional fan-base in all of college football.
uga 5-7
September 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
YEAH-RIGHT=Burger-Flipping UGA Troll
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
Dawg fans love us because it gives them a sense of pride when they beat us…especially when they can’t win any other games!! Haha
techfan
September 19th, 2011
5:13 pm
You don’t know much about politics, do you techfan?
What did they have to lose by voting no if they plan on leaving?
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:14 pm
techfan,
Take my advice. Don’t get yourself involved in a high-stakes poker game.
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:15 pm
GT vs UGA is UGA’s National Championship game every year! haha
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:16 pm
Yeah…Wrong (as usual) you sure know Politics! hahaha
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:17 pm
@GT311
Sad… but true.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:18 pm
Seriously,
No school is going to show their hand until they’re ready to make a move. Nothing serious will happen until Oklahoma and Texas resolve their issues.
techfan
September 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
Take my advice. Don’t get yourself involved in a high-stakes poker game.
So basically when you play high stakes poker you throw extra money in the pot when you intend on folding? Seems like a sound strategy.
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:19 pm
Yeah…Wrong…I hear that you get some free UGA playing cards (the 2011 National Championship playing cards of course) when you buy a UGA ballcap (they have plenty of mesh power ranger’s ones left) for $2.99 with a toy at burger mart! hahaha
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:21 pm
@techfan
“Seems like a sound strategy.”
See, I told you not to do it. Trust me on this one!
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:21 pm
Just confirmed on ESPN…Texas to the ACC!!! Yeah…Wrong you know politics!
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:22 pm
@GT311
UGA is the National Champion every year — between February and August.
Delbert D.
September 19th, 2011
5:23 pm
So much for the civil discourse. I may check back later.
GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:23 pm
Delbert….I thought it was a good bluff since we were talking poker!
Over rated, over hyped GA
September 19th, 2011
5:25 pm
Isn’t GA going to join the Southern Conference? Hell, they can’t win in the SEC.
ormewood
September 19th, 2011
5:25 pm
By the way, Clemson has essentially been mediocre in football for the last 30 years. They were 6-7 last season, despite always having highly-regarded recruiting classes. They’re sort of Georgia Light in that regard. They are having a hard enough time competing in the ACC on a yearly basis.
techfan
September 19th, 2011
5:27 pm
Yeah..Right, the Presidents of the ACC unanimously voted to raise the buyout minimum and unanimously voted to approve expanding, yet you think they are planning on leaving. You actually have no idea what these schools will be making in any conference once the TV contracts are renegotiated. Sorry but you sound like an SEC fan who thinks everyone wants to join your conference when really they don’t. Get over it.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:27 pm
@GT311
September 19th, 2011
5:21 pm
I’d bother to Google that, if I thought that there was a snowball’s chance in Hades that it’s true.
TexGT
September 19th, 2011
5:28 pm
Yeah…Right –
You are correct on some measures. I agree ACC still sucks for football – adding SU, Pitt, and if they follow up with Rutgers and UCONN, only worsens the ACC’s football profile. But you were incorrect on Texas just using the ACC – Texas legitimately wanted the ACC for 3 reasons: (1) time zone difference – no one in Texas, including the administrators, want to be watching games that start at 9:30 CST, (2) Longhorn Network – Because ESPN has contracts with ACC and LHN, they expected the ACC and ESPN to work out a deal, (3) academics – why they would never go to SEC. The ACC, and Swofford, failed horribly on point 2, and he should be fired for that reason. Letting Texas go in inexcusable, particularly when swapping Texas for crappy Big East schools. There is no legit argument for taking any of these Big East schools over Texas. And I agree with you on FSU/VaTech/Clemson – if I was them, I would leave for SEC in a heartbeat, because ACC showed its hand it doesnt care about football, only one-and-done bball. I wish GT would leave for the SEC, but the odds of that happening is just about nil.
Yeah..Right
September 19th, 2011
5:29 pm
@techfan
Hide and watch my friend.
Hide and watch.