Post by elp525 on Sept 19, 2011 5:10:45 GMT -5
09/18/2011
Shawn Falkenstein
Morgantown
ACC Teleconference: Pitt and Syracuse Join ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference has formally invited Pitt and Syracuse to join the conference. The ACC presidents met on Sunday and voted to invite the two Big East schools. And now ESPN reports that Connecticut is making an application to the ACC.
“The ACC has enjoyed a rich tradition by balancing academics and athletics and the addition of Pitt and Syracuse further strengthens the ACC culture in this regard,” said Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford. “Pittsburgh and Syracuse also serve to enhance the ACC’s reach into the states of New York and Pennsylvania and geographically bridges our footprint between Maryland and Massachusetts. With the addition of Pitt and Syracuse, the ACC will cover virtually the entire Eastern Seaboard of the United States.”
Here is the formal press release from the ACC.LINK
This move puts the Big East Conference in an awkward situation, but WVU athletic director Oliver Luck issued a statement early Sunday afternoon to reassure WVU fans he is doing whatever he can to put West Virginia in the best situation for the future.
"There is no question that the landscape of college athletics is once again changing," said Luck. "West Virginia University has great tradition as the state’s flagship land-grant institution, and we will continue working to do what’s best for our University and its athletic teams. No matter how the college athletic landscape changes, there is no doubt WVU is and will remain a national player."
Syracuse is a founding member of the Big East. Pitt joined in 1982. Their departure from the Big East has many wondering what will happen to the league, which will be reduced to just seven teams after the addition of TCU.
According to Big East bylaws schools must give the league 27 months notive before leaving and must pay an exit fee.
This is the second time the ACC has raided the Big East. In 2004 Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College left the Big East for the ACC. That promted the Big East to add Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida to the conference.
Meanwhile out west, the Austin American-Statesman is reporting PAC-12 is close to finalizing a deal that would bring Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State into its conference. According to the report, Texas would also be able to keep the new Longhorn Network if the deal is approved.
Shawn Falkenstein
Morgantown
ACC Teleconference: Pitt and Syracuse Join ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference has formally invited Pitt and Syracuse to join the conference. The ACC presidents met on Sunday and voted to invite the two Big East schools. And now ESPN reports that Connecticut is making an application to the ACC.
“The ACC has enjoyed a rich tradition by balancing academics and athletics and the addition of Pitt and Syracuse further strengthens the ACC culture in this regard,” said Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford. “Pittsburgh and Syracuse also serve to enhance the ACC’s reach into the states of New York and Pennsylvania and geographically bridges our footprint between Maryland and Massachusetts. With the addition of Pitt and Syracuse, the ACC will cover virtually the entire Eastern Seaboard of the United States.”
Here is the formal press release from the ACC.LINK
This move puts the Big East Conference in an awkward situation, but WVU athletic director Oliver Luck issued a statement early Sunday afternoon to reassure WVU fans he is doing whatever he can to put West Virginia in the best situation for the future.
"There is no question that the landscape of college athletics is once again changing," said Luck. "West Virginia University has great tradition as the state’s flagship land-grant institution, and we will continue working to do what’s best for our University and its athletic teams. No matter how the college athletic landscape changes, there is no doubt WVU is and will remain a national player."
Syracuse is a founding member of the Big East. Pitt joined in 1982. Their departure from the Big East has many wondering what will happen to the league, which will be reduced to just seven teams after the addition of TCU.
According to Big East bylaws schools must give the league 27 months notive before leaving and must pay an exit fee.
This is the second time the ACC has raided the Big East. In 2004 Virginia Tech, Miami and Boston College left the Big East for the ACC. That promted the Big East to add Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida to the conference.
Meanwhile out west, the Austin American-Statesman is reporting PAC-12 is close to finalizing a deal that would bring Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State into its conference. According to the report, Texas would also be able to keep the new Longhorn Network if the deal is approved.
