Conference Realignment: Pittsburgh, Syracuse Announcement On Joining ACC Expected Soon

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.