Conference Realignment: Pittsburgh, Syracuse Announcement On Joining ACC Expected Soon
by Brian Favat on Sep 17, 2011 10:49 PM EDT
in Conference Expansion
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According to a report in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh may be set to make an announcement as soon as tonight that they are leaving the Big East to become a member of the ACC. OK, maybe not tonight. If not tonight, then tomorrow? That's according to Florida State president Eric Barron, who told the AP he was excited about the conference adding to its "northern tier."
"Pittsburgh and Syracuse, who have applied, these are solid academic schools, and the ACC is a truly academic conference," Barron said. "Certainly great basketball teams, a good history of football.
"I'm sure consideration will be very fast. I'll be surprised if it's not tomorrow (Sunday)."
Sounds like Florida State approves. How about you, Coach K?
"I'm proud of the leadership of our conference to be ahead of things," Krzyzewski told ESPN.com's Katz on Saturday night. "We're in a period of change. Whether everyone agrees with it or doesn't agree with it -- change is happening. It's not a revolution, it's evolution. These things are happening."
Cool. And you, Carolina?
"It's obvious that the world is turning upside down and we want the ACC to be in a position where we are strong," Baddor said. "It's absolutely the right thing to do."
Sweet. Let's see. That sounds like a big seal of approval from Florida State, Duke and North Carolina, the three likeliest ACC schools to object to any sort of expansion. Sounds like as good of a green light as any, so where do we sign up for this thing?
If both Pittsburgh and Syracuse are accepted to the conference tomorrow, CBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy reports that the schools could begin play as early as next season, which seems to be counter to the conference's 27-month notification window. Perhaps Pitt and Syracuse are banking on the fact that there will be no more Big East Conference to hold them to its 27 month waiting period established by the Big East. Who knows.
Either way, if these reports are true and both Pitt and Syracuse are accepted to the conference in short order, let me be the first to welcome (back) Pittsburgh (Cardiac Hill) and Syracuse (Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician) to the Atlantic Coast Conference. I think you'll find we're quite happy here. We are willing to look past all the mean things you said about us back in 2003. We were just forward-looking, you know?
PS - Pitt and Syracuse fans, do let me know how wonderful it feels to no longer have to share a conference with Connecticut, West Virginia and Rutgers. Hint: it's glorious.
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This is great for the ACC. If I could have picked 2 to go with, it’d have been both PITT and ‘Cuse. That being said, should the Big East collapse and 16 team superconferences come into being, won’t UCONN and Rutgers get rolled into the Big 10?
by chicagofire1871 on Sep 17, 2011 10:58 PM EDT reply actions
Doubt it.
Funny you should ask …
"Our position is our position," Delany said. "I don’t think that moves in the SEC or the A.C.C. or Pac-10 or Big 12, haven’t, to date, created an environment that changes our position. We’re as comfortable as we could be. We’re cautious and conservative."
http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/17/big-ten-commissioner-says-no-change-imminent/
Anyhow, if the B1G expands, it’s going after Missouri, Kansas, Notre Dame and a fourth (Texas?). Maybe a few others well before they call on Rutgers or UConn.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 17, 2011 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Looking forward to
Having BC back on the “in conference” schedule and continuing our rivalry. And looking forward to having louisville, rutgers and depaul off the schedule. It was kinda disappointing not playing you guys every season for the past several years. I’m glad that Syracuse isn’t going to the b1G, or whatever it’s called.
BC-Syracuse
Perfect end-of-season permanent rival. Let’s do it.
Editor, BC Interruption
by Brian Favat on Sep 17, 2011 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed.
Would be excited to have both you guys and Pitt on the schedule annually. Been too long.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 17, 2011 11:09 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm ecstatic
No more road trips to Depaul or Marquette or Providence or Seton Hall. The Pitt-UConn rivalry was starting to become really strong in basketball, so that will be missed. The Brawl will never have the same feel without Pitt and WVU being in the same conference. Rutgers is….well….Rutgers. That’s all that needs to be said
Cardiac Hill contributor
You quickly get over any rivalry with UConn. Especially when they try to sue you and Syracuse.
Editor, BC Interruption
Implications
This info pushed the GDF news off your front page. With all of the upheaval of conferences and realignment, WPL may not want to drive the BC bus over the “roadkill” that the Eagles have become and may be forced to drive safely for the sake of stability in a time of turmoil. GDF may have to drive the bus.
Glad to be in
Pitt-UNC and Pitt-Duke are going to be epic in the Pete.
Manager of Cardiac Hill - SB Nation's Pitt Panthers blog
Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter at @PittPantherBlog
Not sharing a conference WVU, UConn, and Rutgers? That sucks.
SU has played all of two schools more than WVU in football – Penn State and Pitt (Pitt will pass Penn State pretty soon barring this move collapsing and the Orange ending up in the Big Ten). Pitt’s a more important rivalry to them, but WVU is an opponent Orange fans care about. Rutgers is nice to have around as a measuring stick — if we’re not beating Rutgers, there’s something terribly wrong with SU football. And UConn’s really our second-most-important basketball rival.
Not sharing a conference with Villanova and St. John’s? Same deal. Long-standing rivalries, part of the crew we founded the Big East with, in fact.
Not sharing a conference with Georgetown? Terrible, though since the mega-Big East was having us play only once a year far too often anyway, I guess relegating it to a non-con game isn’t too bad.
Not sharing a conference with DePaul, Providence, and Seton Hall. That’s great. I mean, yes, Providence and the Hall were part of the original Big East too, but they, you know, aren’t very good. And DePaul never has been.
Not sharing a conference with Notre Dame and Marquette. Kind of meh. Good basketball teams, didn’t own the Orange illogically, but no real rivalries there.
Not sharing a conference with USF? On balance, a good thing. No bad feelings about them, and their fans and bloggers online have been great (that dude promoting them for the ACC here hasn’t made an appearance at TNIAAM or anywhere else I frequent), but they were only in the Big East because the powers that be demanded a Florida team to replace Miami and UCF was on probation.
Not sharing a conference with Louisville? That’s great. I mean, they were definitely a good addition to the Big East. Great at football and basketball to start with, and stayed great at basketball. But except for the GERG/Kragthorpe cripple-fights, the Cards won just about every football and basketball game we played with them. I don’t want to see them again.
Not sharing a conference WVU, UConn, and Rutgers?
Priceless.
One of the best perks of not being in the BE anymore…
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 18, 2011 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions
With that said, respect the mixed emotions associated with switching conferences. It was a shame to leave ‘Cuse, Pitt, and the Catholic schools (G’Town, etc.) earlier this decade.
Bottom line: the move this weekend is a win for ’Cuse/Pitt, and a win for the ACC.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 18, 2011 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
What sayeth Boeheim now?
Cmon Jim let’s hear your stupid views
by waterwater on Sep 18, 2011 12:06 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
So telling that the press keeps going to BE basketball>football coaches for their take on the situation. Herein lies the problem with the BE’s decision-making to date- priorities (basketball>football) are backward.
by Eagle in Brighton on Sep 18, 2011 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Isn't the same being done in the ACC with Coach K and all?
F the ACC
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MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
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Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
UCONN/Rugters to ACC too? Say it ain't so
by chicagofire1871 on Sep 18, 2011 3:33 AM EDT reply actions
I doubt its Rutgers and UConn. Sounds like Texas is still in play.
http://www.bloggersodear.com/2011/9/18/2432502/sources-texas-set-to-vote-monday-on-joining-acc
Editor, BC Interruption
No way UConn would accept
given the travel costs and all.
Besides, I think they’ll be a nice anchor for a reinvigorated Big East, with ECU, Buffalo, Temple and UMass.
by Lothar17 on Sep 18, 2011 7:00 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Besides, I think they’ll be a nice anchor for a reinvigorated Big East, with ECU, Buffalo, Temple and UMass.
I just spit Oatmeal all over my computer, thank you for making my morning Lothar.
Writer at BC Interruption SBN's Boston College Eagles blog
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Coach K seems to think the ACC may lose a member.
“It’s about the time zone,” Krzyzewski said. “If we’re going to do this at 14, I would love to keep all the members we now have. I’m not sure that will happen. But we’re being proactive and that’s good. We’re giving the 12 we have the knowledge that we’ve been proactive and the leader in this. It will become tougher to leave. Our conference is getting stronger. It’s easy to leave a conference when it’s weaker.”
F the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
I hope he's talking about Wake.
F the ACC
---------------------------------------------------------
MiNDSET? SWAG-ER-ISM!!!
---------------------------------------------------------
Wherever you are, Trick, you are wise, indeed.
Correct, Sir Trick.
You truly are one of God's treasures, Trick
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