12/21/24
October 13, 2003
Boston College accepts invitation to join ACC.: Expanding the ACC's footprint from New England all the way to southern Florida, BC is going to stand out geographically. You have to wonder what made this move so appealing for BC. One thing is certain, it definitely hurts the Big East.
posted by corpse to basketball at 08:33 AM - 15 comments
This sucks dollarwise for all the teams in the Big East even though it is a basketball conference. It saddens me that this one extra game that the ACC wants is ruining the tradition of their excellent hoops conference, denting another excellent hoops conference, and ruining another decent football league (that over the years was better than their lame ass one team league most years). I don't like VT, Miami, or BC, but this kills recruiting for Syracuse (hometown team) when they get the BCS bid stripped, and even when SU is bad (likely the next few years anyway) they're going to lose a few million of that conference share. Not to mention TV ratings... The ACC sucks.
posted by Bernreuther at 09:39 AM on October 13, 2003
But I think Mike McD is right to see the silver lining in this--anything that contributes to the destruction of NCAA football is a good thing. I maintain this is an idiotic action on BC's part. If they stayed in the Big East they'd have an easier road to the BCS every year. They're leaving the Big East for the sake of their football team, which is--what?--the eighth most popular team in Boston? (If BC fluked their way into a title game, would Bostonians care?) They're joining a conference whose members they have zilch in common with--not geographically, not religiously. I don't get it, and I have yet to read any "This makes sense for BC--here's why" defense of this move.
posted by Justin Slotman at 11:25 AM on October 13, 2003
The ACC has really shot themselves in the foot. This older article indicates that the TV football deal for the 11 team league is actually LESS than the 9 team deal. The basketball deal is not likely to increase on account of Tech and Miami being so lousy in that sport. Thus the necessity to go to 12 teams, allowing a football championship game. At least in the short term, it looks like the 9 original schools will receive a much lower payout from the league than they had pre-expansion. I hope whoever hired the consultants to come in and pimp expansion gets fired.
posted by mbd1 at 11:51 AM on October 13, 2003
I am an ACC fan, but this still sucks. Ruining arguably the best basketball conference in the nation to pursue the almighty dollars that come with college football. I like VT too, and this helps them a lot (no more "schedule" baggage from having to play the Big East other than Miami), but on balance, I would have preferred a 9 team ACC.
posted by trox at 12:41 PM on October 13, 2003
If the automatic Big East BCS bid gets stripped, who does it go to instead?
posted by billsaysthis at 12:45 PM on October 13, 2003
Bill, probably noone. mbd1, good call. It was said in the beginning that the numbers were far more optimistic than realistic, but that talk got swept under the rug. The TV contract won't be that big, their projections for a title game were too high, and they're splitting the pie 12 ways instead of 10 now. I hope they get screwed and everyone makes less. Then those other 3 will hope they stayed in the Big East. Meanwhile, the Big East can add in Louisville and maybe those other good catholic schools and be one of the best basketball conferences. Or THE best. (though I of course am in theory opposed to pillaging, just as I was with the ACC)
posted by Bernreuther at 12:51 PM on October 13, 2003
There's about to be a frenzy of conference reshuffling, and I figure it will be yet another example of my alma mater getting screwed (the University of North Texas, two-time winners of the mighty Sun Belt Conference). My best hope is for a new SouthWest Conference to start with TCU, SMU, Baylor, Houston, Tulsa, Rice, UNT, and New Mexico State.
posted by rcade at 12:59 PM on October 13, 2003
I think it's time for my Boston University Terriers to step up and join the Big East. Oh wait, we don't have a football team and our basketball team sucks. Nevermind.
posted by swank6 at 01:05 PM on October 13, 2003
One mistake BC makes here is that they lose any regional connection to the teams they'll be playing. Losing the regional rivalry with UConn and Providence College will have a larger effect than may be imagined. Sure people will pack into Conte Forum to see the first ACC/BC basketball games....but this move was made because of football not basketball, where BC is thouroughly outclassed. They only gain 1 or 2 big home football games a year (Miami and VT were already on their schedule) games they will be heavy underdogs in....and they're ceratinly no closer to securing a bowl bid than they were in the Big East. Then in basketball they add Duke, NC, NC State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest...all perrenial top-25 teams. How are they any closer to an NCAA bid here? BC is making a move I think they'll regret, and at its best could be considered lateral. Hopefully the Big East can focus on basketball...where the NCAA is at its best.
posted by YukonGold at 01:38 PM on October 13, 2003
Oh wait there's one positive for BC. Dicky V will like them more now.
posted by YukonGold at 01:38 PM on October 13, 2003
My best hope is for a new SouthWest Conference to start with TCU, SMU, Baylor, Houston, Tulsa, Rice, UNT, and New Mexico State. Other than having my alma mater lose Big XII status, I really have no problem with that. TCU would likely roll over everyone in football, at least at first, and TU would probably school everyone at basketball, but Baylor'd probably at least win a few more games at each per year. Who replaces them in the Big XII though? Arkansas?
posted by Ufez Jones at 01:59 PM on October 13, 2003
And what about BC hockey? I thought the NCAA was against schools being one conference in one sport and another in another--which is why BC is going ACC in both football and basketball. It's just the limited number of D-I hockey schools that makes the NCAA be inconsistent where hockey is concerned, right? Not that inconsistency and the NCAA is news.
posted by Justin Slotman at 02:41 PM on October 13, 2003
UNT played TCU pretty well last year. I'd still favor the Frogs, but not by much.
posted by rcade at 03:02 PM on October 13, 2003
Bernreuther, your answer will make the non-BCS conferences happier I suppose, though I'm not sure they have the clout to force the Big East to roll over. Maybe Rutgers will have the incentive to finally wake up and keep some of the terrific Jersey high school football players in-state. Represent!
posted by billsaysthis at 03:47 PM on October 13, 2003
Kind of sad but hopefully the Big East can get another basketball team and keep moving. It's not like BC, Miami, and Virginia Tech were basketball powers and the Big East has always been about hoops. I really hope Louisville comes to the Big East. With Louisville the Big East would be just as good in basketball and probably be fine. (Although though they could use a G-Town rejuvenation at this point). On another note, I hope this leads to the end of the NCAA soon. Maybe the Big 10 and ACC can just incorporate and start negotiating title games among themselves.