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On Wednesday, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced that Notre Dame will join the conference for all sports except football and hockey and that the Irish football team will play five games against ACC opponents annually. Later in the morning, the ACC Weekly Media Conference Call took place with Boston College coach Frank Spaziani fielding questions on the Eagles' week 3 opponent Northwestern.
That is, not before a number of questions on the news that BC's Catholic rivals would be joining the conference in all sports except football and hockey.
Here's Spaz on the relevance of Notre Dame football and the impact playing the Irish has on the BC program.
Well, we have a long‑standing tradition with Notre Dame, and I think we have a mutual respect and appreciation for each other. We understand what a great institution it is.
I think it's tremendous for our league and certainly for Boston College. We play them, and now to be playing them in other sports is valuable, very valuable.
And on the benefits to having Notre Dame join the conference.
Well, you just alluded to it. It's a marquee brand. I think any time you add a marquee brand to your established tradition and the wonderful stuff that you have, it enhances it.
Asked whether he was disappointed that Notre Dame was being added to the conference without football ...
Well, from our perspective, we play them every year anyway (laughing), so it's‑‑ I would have to digest that. And I think that's an evolving situation. They're going to be playing five.
Like I said, I think it's good for the league. It's really good. And I don't see any disappointment in there at all.
Finally, Spaz ties a bow around the Notre Dame news with a joke. Per usual.
Well, you know, let me just say this: We play them every year, and that's what I'm concerned about. And the league will have to be concerned about how it evolves with the season and how they absorb into the rest of the ACC. But from our perspective right here, once again, we play them every year. I thought they were in the ACC to be honest with you.
Spaz was also asked a bunch of questions about BC's actual week 3 opponent, but you know, doesn't seem all that interesting with the college athletics landscape standing on its head today.