Comment
chefcane
All-ACC!!
Posts: 1826
(6/24/03 11:14:26 am)
Reply Expansion News From Across The Pond.........
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Man, 6,000 miles away and I still can't escape expansion.
Hold on to your horses because this gets complicated.
I got an e-mail last night from one of my ACC sources. Now, remember, I am only the messenger, and as this source says, "This could change by the time the vote takes place."
But, VT has been offered, and accepted an invite to the ACC. Now, what does this all mean? Could be SU on the outside looking in. Also, the 13 team league is dead.
While UNC is pushing hard this "only Miami" proposal, several consultants (TV), and other high ranking people have tried to tell Moesher this is the WORST alternative. Apparently, he doesn't understand that.
To put it bluntly, the call this afternoon has all the makings of a freak show. There are so many proposals being floated, its hard to get a grasp as to what is legit and what rumor.
But, from what I have been told, Miami is not going back to the Big East. That much is known. There is strong feeling that the Canes, and anyone else from the Big East, who does not inform the conference that they are leaving by June 30, will be screwed, long term, because the conference will change its exit fees. Which means, if the ACC falls on its face, the Canes could be a free agent by 6/30, and take their shot on the open market.
Many believe the biggest reason Moesher would agree to a Miami-only expansion is it will (supposedly) put an end to the lawsuit against the ACC. Even though everyone tries to tell Moesher the lawsuit is baseless, he seems to be the only one in this who believes its an impediment.
Does Miami accept a 10 team ACC? No one seems to have the final answer on that because the Canes have always maintained its either 3 or 0. The predominent thought seems to be that is still the case.
What does it all mean? It looks like there will be a bunch of plans floated again, but as of last night, the best plan some think will get seven votes involve Miami, BC, and VT. Now, should this happen, who knows what SU will do? They could seek legal action to push their position.
But, at this point who knows? All I know that in all my yrs in this industry I have never seen such an easy decision handled in such an inept fashion. The ACC has messed this up so badly, that, regardless of the outcome, there will be bad blood among conference members for yrs to come. That will mean payback in terms of the alignment and who knows what else.
I was told they are voting before the 30th, and there is strong sentiment from a lot of schools to vote tonight. From what I have been told, if they vote tonight, the best chance to get 7 votes for a three team expansion (this statement may be obsolete by the time I type this) is for UM, BC, and VT.
Now, SU made a great point in an earlier post about a VT site visit (or lack of one). There are two stories on this. One, is there was a sight visit to Blacksburg on Sunday and Monday (unconfirmed). The second story is they would vote to waive a VT site visit (also unconfirmed).
