Expansion

[TechRush]

So many Tech fans want the ACC dissolved so Tech can get in a better conference. What I think they don't realize is that Tech will most likely end up like those PAC 12 teams begging to get in a P5, ehh P4, conference or left with no other option than stepping down to the WAC. We all know Tech has less of a chance of landing in the SEC than Notre Dame joining the ACC, so slim to none. And how many more teams will the B1G take? They are already at 18 and one spot is saved for when Notre Dame finally has to öööö or get off the pot. So be careful for what you wish for.

All hail the ACC GOR!

 

[ClubSeats]

The main reason for a GOR is to keep teams from moving up to a better situation. When Maryland was willing to pay the previous buyout the ACC GOR grew to what we have now. The GOR is great for the lesser teams in the ACC, else they would be in the same boat as Washington State and Oregon State find themselves now. The GOR is bad for teams who could likely move to a better situation. If the PAC 12 had a GOR like the ACC it would probably still exist.

9 seasons in the B1G, Maryland hasn’t finished above .500 in-conference a single time. But moar money!

 

[clapper]

The main reason for a GOR is to keep teams from moving up to a better situation. When Maryland was willing to pay the previous buyout the ACC GOR grew to what we have now. The GOR is great for the lesser teams in the ACC, else they would be in the same boat as Washington State and Oregon State find themselves now. The GOR is bad for teams who could likely move to a better situation. If the PAC 12 had a GOR like the ACC it would probably still exist.

Your Maryland example doesn't hold. They were heavily in debt and tried to jump to the B!G for the extra cash they needed, but couldn't afford the buyout that was in place then. They sued the ACC and lost. Swofford negotiated an out for them, which still favored the league.

F$U is making the same case now as Maryland did. They just haven't gotten to the stage of a lawsuit yet, and precedent is not in their favor. Plus, there is no incentive to let them go. So, a negotiated settlement could be on the table, but not until it favors the remaining members.

 

[WracerX]

9 seasons in the B1G, Maryland hasn’t finished above .500 in-conference a single time. But moar money!

It’s not like MD was lighting up the AcC either. They have had 1 coach who could lift them above the 500 line.

So if you aren’t going to compete, why not get paid. And if you are going to compete, why not get paid.

 

[mookie43]

Apparently the TV contract can be renegotiated if the membership drops. If say Clemson and FSU left, we would be in a world of hurt.

I’m still holding on to my fantasy that 8 teams will vote to disband the league and join the SEC. If you follow the logic of the SEC in adding large public institutions in adjoining states then we are in.

 

[aeromech]

With a GOR wouldn’t have helped the PAC. UCLA and USC left when the contract was being renegotiated. Then the schools got a lower than expected offer and more schools bolted.

The GOR just makes everything happen at once.

It is true that the ACC GOR is tied to the currrent ACC contract; but a GOR does not have to be tied to a TV contract. A GOR doesn't have to expire either even though the ACC GOR does.

 

[aeromech]

Your Maryland example doesn't hold. They were heavily in debt and tried to jump to the B!G for the extra cash they needed, but couldn't afford the buyout that was in place then. They sued the ACC and lost. Swofford negotiated an out for them, which still favored the league.

F$U is making the same case now as Maryland did. They just haven't gotten to the stage of a lawsuit yet, and precedent is not in their favor. Plus, there is no incentive to let them go. So, a negotiated settlement could be on the table, but not until it favors the remaining members.

Wrong. If Maryland was currently in the ACC with the GOR they wouldn't be going anywhere. Maryland's exit definitely influenced the ACC GOR. Having to go through a lawsuit and settlement with Maryland influenced the GOR. Thinking Maryland jumping to the B1G had no influence on the ACC and the GOR is somewhat naïve. It was the same suits & ties that dealt with Maryland's departure that formulated the ACC GOR.

 

[stinger78]

GOR wasn't that big a deal; didn't Big 12 have it when Texas/OU left? The issue was the duration as he said. The huge cost of leaving is cause there's still a whopping 13 years remaining on the contract to buy out of (while Texas/OU only had to buy out of 1 year). For comparison, the amount of time on the combined SEC and Big 10 contracts starting up is 17 years.

The ACC basically started assuming it was going to fall apart 7 years ago, so they decided to try and put off what happened to the Pac 12 (and lesser extent Big 12) as long as they could get away with. Instead they probably just create a new way of falling apart that leaves everyone involved worse off.

Yep. There was great fear that FSU and Clemson, and for some reason, UNC (I'll never figure that one out) would bolt for more money. So, after losing UMD to the B1G, and the rumor of more (read: GT), the ACC executed the original GOR in force from 2013 through 2027 - 15 years. But then, after 10 years (2022), with the launch of the ACC network and the move of OU and UTA to the SECheat, the conference renegotiated the GOR and extended it until 2036 - another 15-year deal. All the ACC programs signed the renegotiated deal.

However, that was before the revamped CFP and the pillaging of the P12 by the B1G resulting in its collapse. Apparently, money has no geographical conscience and dollars are king. So then, now it's simply groveling for all the money you can get, and devil take the hindmost.

 

[clapper]

Wrong. If Maryland was currently in the ACC with the GOR they wouldn't be going anywhere. Maryland's exit definitely influenced the ACC GOR. Having to go through a lawsuit and settlement with Maryland influenced the GOR. Thinking Maryland jumping to the B1G had no influence on the ACC and the GOR is somewhat naïve. It was the same suits & ties that dealt with Maryland's departure that formulated the ACC GOR.

No, the GOR is just an escalated buyout. F$U can leave right now as long as they abide by the terms of leaving. Mayland was in the same boat - they couldn't afford it back then either. Maryland couldn't leave when they did without the ACC caving on the last deal. I will agree that if the same deal that was in place now as when Maryland left, F$U (and others) would have bolted already. The only difference is the escalated financial terms though.

 

[THWG247]

Apparently the TV contract can be renegotiated if the membership drops. If say Clemson and FSU left, we would be in a world of hurt.

I’m still holding on to my fantasy that 8 teams will vote to disband the league and join the SEC. If you follow the logic of the SEC in adding large public institutions in adjoining states then we are in.

Adding Stanford, Cal, and SMU negates that, espn is still held to the same contract

 

[JJacket]

No, the GOR is just an escalated buyout. F$U can leave right now as long as they abide by the terms of leaving. Mayland was in the same boat - they couldn't afford it back then either. Maryland couldn't leave when they did without the ACC caving on the last deal. I will agree that if the same deal that was in place now as when Maryland left, F$U (and others) would have bolted already. The only difference is the escalated financial terms though.

I've said it all along. There is NOTHING preventing FSU and Clemson from leaving the ACC. They would have to figure an alternative source of income since they would lose media rights +$100 million-ish. If you want out, leave. Those are the terms.

You can leave too, UNC. Same terms. You won that ACC FB championship in 1982. Obviously, you are a desirable powerhouse

 

[THWG247]

So many Tech fans want the ACC dissolved so Tech can get in a better conference. What I think they don't realize is that Tech will most likely end up like those PAC 12 teams begging to get in a P5, ehh P4, conference or left with no other option than stepping down to the WAC. We all know Tech has less of a chance of landing in the SEC than Notre Dame joining the ACC, so slim to none. And how many more teams will the B1G take? They are already at 18 and one spot is saved for when Notre Dame finally has to öööö or get off the pot. So be careful for what you wish for.

All hail the ACC GOR!

Unlike the PAC there are quite a few more than two ACC teams that no other P5 conf is going to want, that will most likely keep the ACC alive, weakened and with a really sh!tty tv/streaming contract but still there and a place for the nerd school misfits to gather and remain P5.

 

[THWG247]

 

[aeromech]

No, the GOR is just an escalated buyout. F$U can leave right now as long as they abide by the terms of leaving. Mayland was in the same boat - they couldn't afford it back then either. Maryland couldn't leave when they did without the ACC caving on the last deal. I will agree that if the same deal that was in place now as when Maryland left, F$U (and others) would have bolted already. The only difference is the escalated financial terms though.

The buyout when Maryland left wasn't effective in keeping Maryland from leaving, the current GOR is effective in keeping anyone from leaving. You arguing that Maryland leaving had no influence on the GOR is silly; but whatever.

 

[aeromech]

I've said it all along. There is NOTHING preventing FSU and Clemson from leaving the ACC. They would have to figure an alternative source of income since they would lose media rights +$100 million-ish. If you want out, leave. Those are the terms.

You can leave too, UNC. Same terms. You won that ACC FB championship in 1982. Obviously, you are a desirable powerhouse

Hard to argue with that.

 

[stinger78]

No, the GOR is just an escalated buyout. F$U can leave right now as long as they abide by the terms of leaving. Mayland was in the same boat - they couldn't afford it back then either. Maryland couldn't leave when they did without the ACC caving on the last deal. I will agree that if the same deal that was in place now as when Maryland left, F$U (and others) would have bolted already. The only difference is the escalated financial terms though.

No quibble about the effectiveness of the GOR, it’s the length of the contract that is the issue. ESPN knows no ACC team can leave for a long time as they’re in a relatively new deal, so there is no incentive to renegotiate. The only way out may be through expanding the conference and forcing a look-in. If they can get Stanford, Cal, and SMU in, that adds CA and TX to the conference - the two most populous states. It might make a look-in profitable for the conference.

 

[1982Jacket]

9 seasons in the B1G, Maryland hasn’t finished above .500 in-conference a single time. But moar money!

The vaaaaaaaaaast majority of folks here who think GT going to the BIG 14 (which, BTW, is never going to happen) is a panacea are literally ONLY worried about beating dwags. They could not give two öööös about "in-conference." They are just beaten down and tired of all their dwag neighbors, family, and co-workers laughing at them, and they think that if Tech only had more money then maybe it could beat ugag once in a while.

It really is just that simple.

BYW, are there any BIG 14 schools who have an annual rivalry with some school outside the BIG 14? Iowa-Iowa State, FWIW (which is not much)? Any others? When ND joined the ACC in everything except sharing their football moneys, they stopped playing UMich, Purdue, Mich St, etc.

For example, when Penn State joined the BIG 14, they had to abandon a nearly unbroken 100 year rivalry with Pitt. Ditto Nebraska/Oklahoma - which used to be one of the biggest bational games every year.

In the SEC, ditto Texas A&M/Texas. The "Border War" between Missouri/Kansas. It looks like Bedlam ist kaput. Etc., etc., etc. However, they did maintain Clem's Son vs South Carolina.

So IF in some alternate universe Tech joined the BIG 14, it might have to stop playing dwags anyway.

 

[1982Jacket]

No quibble about the effectiveness of the GOR, it’s the length of the contract that is the issue. ESPN knows no ACC team can leave for a long time as they’re in a relatively new deal, so there is no incentive to renegotiate. The only way out may be through expanding the conference and forcing a look-in. If they can get Stanford, Cal, and SMU in, that adds CA and TX to the conference - the two most populous states. It might make a look-in profitable for the conference.

No one in Texas give's two öööös about SMU. I'm sure they'll add a whole dozen new eyeballs to ACC broadcasts. The same goes for Stanford and UCal. If those schools had any fanbase, the BIG 14 would have swallowed them up, too.

 

[GTCrew4b]

The vaaaaaaaaaast majority of folks here who think GT going to the BIG 14 (which, BTW, is never going to happen) is a panacea are literally ONLY worried about beating dwags. They could not give two öööös about "in-conference." They are just beaten down and tired of all their dwag neighbors, family, and co-workers laughing at them, and they think that if Tech only had more money then maybe it could beat ugag once in a while.

It really is just that simple.

BYW, are there any BIG 14 schools who have an annual rivalry with some school outside the BIG 14? Iowa-Iowa State, FWIW (which is not much)? Any others? When ND joined the ACC in everything except sharing their football moneys, they stopped playing UMich, Purdue, Mich St, etc.

For example, when Penn State joined the BIG 14, they had to abandon a nearly unbroken 100 year rivalry with Pitt. Ditto Nebraska/Oklahoma - which used to be one of the biggest bational games every year.

In the SEC, ditto Texas A&M/Texas. The "Border War" between Missouri/Kansas. It looks like Bedlam ist kaput. Etc., etc., etc. However, they did maintain Clem's Son vs South Carolina.

So IF in some alternate universe Tech joined the BIG 14, it might have to stop playing dwags anyway.

I am actually only worried about the financial viability of the GT athletic department. I think going to the Big Ten back when we had an opportunity to do so would’ve been huge for our finances and free us from some of our big booster dependency. I think we culturally align with Big Ten schools and I think a move would’ve made our non-revenue sports excel.

I think we would’ve left if we had a more bold president at the time who had a better vision of the changing landscape of college football and TV.

 

[1982Jacket]

I am actually only worried about the financial viability of the GT athletic department. I think going to the Big Ten back when we had an opportunity to do so would’ve been huge for our finances and free us from some of our big booster dependency. I think we culturally align with Big Ten schools and I think a move would’ve made our non-revenue sports excel.

I think we would’ve left if we had a more bold president at the time who had a better vision of the changing landscape of college football and TV.

Good post. Except I don't know why the "financial viability of the GT athletic department" shlould be any kind of issue, when schools which play in conferences with annual payouts which are a tiny fraction of the ACC's seem to be OK. And even beat Tech from time to time in football (I'm looking at you, Northern Illinois and The Citadel).