ACC Expansion: Pitt, Syracuse Won't Join ACC In 2012, Will Push For 2013
by Brian Favat on Feb 14, 2012 10:30 AM EST
in Conference Expansion
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PrintCBSSports.com's Brett McMurphy is reporting that while the Big East will announce today that West Virginia is leaving for the Big 12 in time for the 2012-13 season, Pittsburgh and Syracuse will not be joining them in a Big East mass exodus in 2012.
"Sources told CBSSports.com that Pittsburgh and Syracuse won't try to leave this summer, but will attempt to negotiate deals to allow them to join the ACC a year early in 2013. Unlike West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse have not pursued any legal action to get out of the Big East's 27-month exit requirement and leave before 2014.
The main reason Pittsburgh and Syracuse are not trying to leave the Big East this season is both schools don't want to be "any more disruptive to the Big East" for the coming season. If Pittsburgh and Syracuse left for the ACC this summer, the Big East could be down to only five football members."
Unlike the Big 12, who desperately needs the Mountaineers to join for the 2012-13 season to fill the schedule and existing TV obligations, the ACC doesn't have the same need for Pitt and Syracuse straight away. But Pitt and Syracuse will try to negotiate its way out of the Big East in time for the 2013-14 season, which makes sense considering the conference will then have reinforcements in the form of six new members -- Boise State, San Diego State, Houston, Memphis, SMU and UCF.
From the ACC's perspective, this timing is probably better for all involved. This will allow the ACC to finalize the 2012 football schedule and not be forced into playing just eight conference games with 14 programs to honor existing scheduled non-conference obligations.
Gene's move to swap home dates with Army for the 2012 and 2013 seasons now looks rather prescient now given that the Eagles may be forced to go on the road for their ninth conference game in 2013 should Pitt and Syracuse successfully join in time for the 2013 season.
Currently BC has seven home games and five road games in 2013, with the Eagles hosting Army, Stony Brook, Syracuse (previously scheduled non-conference game), Wake Forest, N.C. State, Florida State and Georgia Tech. Road games against USC, Maryland, Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia Tech. If Cuse and Pitt are able to successfully join in time for the 2013 season, BC will simply cancel its non-conference series with Syracuse and play the same conference opponents.
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Not sure how to feel about this
The Big East holding Pitt & Cuse doesn’t do the ACC any harm, or good. The ACC doesn’t get the $$ bump for the additional schools, but the Big East continues to hurt itself from having schools on its payroll that are leaving, causing its upcoming media negotiations deal to possibly lose $$. Either way, I’m glad to see that bulbous buffoon in Providence take another shot to the gut. Never liked that guy.
Don't give up, don't ever give up ~ Jim Valvano
I think it’s better to wait a year. This will allow teams to get out of existing non-conference agreements and won’t result in as many scheduling headaches.
Look at West Virginia. Both Florida State and West Virginia wanted out of their non-conference game next season, but WVU played the part of the bad guy, FSU was able to maintain the appearances of the “anytime, anywhere” mantra from the late 1990s and got paid for playing the victim.
It was rumored that the ACC would only play an eight game sched this year if Syracuse and Pitt joined, but that’s kinda awkward and would have significantly altered the scheduling pairs for next season (which, in turn, could have had a dramatic impact on the divisional races).
Better to have plenty of time to set the schedule. It wasn’t like the ACC is getting a financial windfall from these adds, either … reportedly only $1-2 mil more per school. Waiting gives everyone more time to get the schedule right and presents minimal disruptions to the current non-conference obligations and the Big East sched (my guess is they convince Boise State to come in a year early to replace the Mountaineers).
Editor, BC Interruption
I'd stay too, if I were Pitt and Syracuse.
With WVU gone, why not stick around to win the Big East and get into a BCS. With seven teams, those are decent odds. Why not taking advantage of the flawed system that is the BCS while you still can? Seriously, a 1 in 7 chance at making a bowl game.
Boston College, Class of 2010
by polarbearbrother on Feb 14, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions
Hello from sunny central NY!
I can’t tell you guys how excited we all are at joining the conference and from what it looks like it’s going to be by 2013. Yeah, the wait sucks; basically since we announced our intentions the BE has been treating us like the proverbial red-headed step child. But hey it gives us another year to get our football program back on tract and it also gives us an easier shot at the BE conference title next year. It is going to be great competing against BC, VT and Miami on a regular basis again. We are also licking our chops at taking on UNC and Duke in BB. Anyways, Good Luck on the rest of the BB season and hopefully we’ll see you guys on the FB field sooner than later. Go Orange!
Bubba Army
by AdirondackOrange on Feb 14, 2012 9:23 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
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