Clemson and Florida State have already began flirting with conference realignment in recent weeks. In fact, TCU’s new AD Chris Del Conte affirmed earlier this week the Tigers and Seminoles are making a push to leave the ACC
image credit: Frogsowar.com
for the Big 12, so as far as we are concerned these are no longer rumors without legs.
There is a third school involved in the flirtation that is now just coming to surface. Del Conte also named Miami as being the third ACC program ready to jump ship and like it or not this should come as no surprise. Miami has been forced to address the rumor and so they have released a statement to make an attempt at distinguishing the chatter…for now. Take a read below at what Miami AD Shawn Eichorst released:
We are so fortunate at Miami. Our University, under past and present visionary leadership and with an 87-year history of achievement, is strong in our foundation and in our beliefs. It allows us to stay steady when there are stormy seas, and that core strength holds us together today more than ever.
Since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2004, the University of Miami has worked hard to measure up to the high academic and athletic standards set by our peers and we could not be more proud than to call the ACC our home. We are confident in our progress and in our accomplishments, yet there is still much work to be done. We are committed to the ACC and to doing our part to continue the tradition of excellence across the board. In that regard, we have not engaged in any formal or informal discussions with any other conferences.
The additions of the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University, as well as the new exclusive television partnership with ESPN, signal the very strength and nationwide appeal of the ACC. Fans will be able to watch more ACC sports and more ACC games in more ways than ever before with the most powerful brand in sports behind us. This is an exciting time to be a part of the ACC and we are honored and humbled to be among its members.
image credit: BCinterruption.com
Doesn’t that sound like the same letter it released back in the day before it left the Big East for the ACC?All kidding side, take Eichorst’s statement with a grain of salt. Miami isn’t going to reveal their hand as it stands now, but rest assured that as the Summer moves forward Big 12 and SEC expansion are on the way and could very likely include the programs mentioned above and more.
image credit: mbd.scout.com
Eichorst obviously made no mention of any dialog that may have taken place with another conference and based on Del Conte’s comments, its only a matter of time until that comes to light just like it did with Florida State.
If we have learned anything from last year’s edition of conference realignment musical chairs, its that statements like this have absolutely no value and is purely for public consumption subject to change at any given time. Can we really blame these guys for hiding the wheeling and dealing?
What’s happening with the ACC now is almost a mirror image of the Big East mess that unraveled last year and we all know how that turned out, considering we refer to the conference now as the Big Fail. Will Miami be committed to the ACC if FSU, Virginia Tech, Clemson, NC State, North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland all leave? Obviously not. Am I nuts to think in this case the remaining ACC teams would have no choice but to merge with the Big East? Here we go again folks…
Here are five reasons Florida State should jump to the Big 12.
Raju Kansagra
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