Stech, do you see

[vivitron73]

Any chance of staying in the ACC even if Clemson and FSU join the Big 12 and the SEC pursues us?

[Stech]

The end game for the ACC has been obvious to me since 2003...if they can get Notre Dame to join they will create their goal, the Big Conference Ivy. If they can do that, then Clemson and FSU aren't going anywhere. If they can't then the chances of Clemson and FSU bolting league get greater and if they go, then the ACC teams may jump.

I will throw you a little bit of a surprise in thinking that many will probably disagree with me on this which is why I post the way I post. I think ND knows that they will have to be in the conference to get to the National Championship in football and with ND being a very private school academically oriented they want the ACC to be in the Big 4 and they know that if they go to the ACC that will seal the deal. That said, their big donors aren't the easiest people to deal with...just ask FSU about that one. So the moves have to be done very very carefully.

[UpstateSCHokie]

I wonder if the ND people not realize that if they do not come to the ACC soon, there may not be an ACC to come to later which means they will be forced to join either the B1G or the B12. Which do they prefer?

The end game for the ACC has been obvious to me since 2003...if they can get Notre Dame to join they will create their goal, the Big Conference Ivy. If they can do that, then Clemson and FSU aren't going anywhere. If they can't then the chances of Clemson and FSU bolting league get greater and if they go, then the ACC teams may jump.

I will throw you a little bit of a surprise in thinking that many will probably disagree with me on this which is why I post the way I post. I think ND knows that they will have to be in the conference to get to the National Championship in football and with ND being a very private school academically oriented they want the ACC to be in the Big 4 and they know that if they go to the ACC that will seal the deal. That said, their big donors aren't the easiest people to deal with...just ask FSU about that one. So the moves have to be done very very carefully.

[DMaroonHokie]

I wonder if the ND people not realize that if they do not come to the ACC soon, there may not be an ACC to come to later which means they will be forced to join either the B1G or the B12. Which do they prefer?

The only way to get ND into a conference is to make it the only way to the playoff. The only way to get them into the ACC is for them to realize it is now or never. The ACC may be dead in a year. Lots of stuff going on. ND wants to be the king of its realm. Would it be the B1G? No. Would it be the Big XII? No. The only conference where they could throw their weight around is the ACC. Let them think that and get them in first. Then they will be much easier to put in their place. Just like the ACC did with Miami.

[Maroon Effect]

The end game for the ACC has been obvious to me since 2003...if they can get Notre Dame to join they will create their goal, the Big Conference Ivy. If they can do that, then Clemson and FSU aren't going anywhere. If they can't then the chances of Clemson and FSU bolting league get greater and if they go, then the ACC teams may jump.

I will throw you a little bit of a surprise in thinking that many will probably disagree with me on this which is why I post the way I post. I think ND knows that they will have to be in the conference to get to the National Championship in football and with ND being a very private school academically oriented they want the ACC to be in the Big 4 and they know that if they go to the ACC that will seal the deal. That said, their big donors aren't the easiest people to deal with...just ask FSU about that one. So the moves have to be done very very carefully.

How does that really help? I am sure whatever is done to "sweeten" the TV deal will flow directly into the 1st National Bank of South Bend. With respect to playoffs and bowls, the ACC champ will still need to be undefeated to get into a 4 team playoff, and there are no high profile bowl tie-ins left. MAYBE, ND to the ACC changes the discussion to a 6 team playoff? I just don't see it becuase some schools cound end up playing upwards of 16 games: 12 regular season games + conference championship + play in game + semifinal + NC game. I am not challenging you, I just don't see all of the moving parts here.

[133193Hokie]

The Big 4 have drawn the line in the sand. I am sure they are telling ND and the ACC teams that they will never agree to a playoff beyond 4 teams. They want to pick off ND and a selection of ACC teams. They need for the ACC to feel the heat.

[HokieNC]

The Big 4 have drawn the line in the sand. I am sure they are telling ND and the ACC teams that they will never agree to a playoff beyond 4 teams. They want to pick off ND and a selection of ACC teams. They need for the ACC to feel the heat.

i believe this is true. question is if ACC stays intact and ND subsequently join, then does that pressure BCS and result in expansion of playoff w/ acc included on equal footing.

[vivitron73]

I understand and I just don't want to see our football product take a hit. I understand the academic side of things and how they are important, but sometimes its hard to find a happy medium. However, I do feel like without Clemson, FSU, and/or Notre Dame, enrollment numbers could take a hit being in such a weak football conference as we all know there is a positive correlation with enrollment numbers and the football product. That would be a pro going to the SEC because you could see more kids applying at least for the next few years with the excitement that a new conference like the SEC would add. That being said, we should all know by the end of of July where everyone stands. If it doesn't happen by the end of July then it's probably not going to happen in my opinion. Thanks for the scoop.

[133743Hokie]

ZERO impact on enrollment and academics at VT -- none

I understand and I just don't want to see our football product take a hit. I understand the academic side of things and how they are important, but sometimes its hard to find a happy medium. However, I do feel like without Clemson, FSU, and/or Notre Dame, enrollment numbers could take a hit being in such a weak football conference as we all know there is a positive correlation with enrollment numbers and the football product. That would be a pro going to the SEC because you could see more kids applying at least for the next few years with the excitement that a new conference like the SEC would add. That being said, we should all know by the end of of July where everyone stands. If it doesn't happen by the end of July then it's probably not going to happen in my opinion. Thanks for the scoop.

[EAMHokie94]

ZERO impact on enrollment and academics at VT -- none

Source? I'd say there's a huge impact. In the four years I was at Tech (90-94) I don't remember much construction. In the time since I've left, it's an entirely different campus.

What changed in the mid 90's? Hmmm.