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Dynamics shift as ACC beats back Irish talk
From Bonesville.net staff and wire reports
East Carolina's possible realignment avenues took a new turn Saturday when
the leaders from the nine Atlantic Coast Conference schools indicated that
full participation in all sports would be required of any new member — a
position apparently at odds with any formula that would entice Notre Dame
into membership.
ECU itself could potentially become a target of the league or might
otherwise be swept up in a chain reaction if the ACC targets a Big East
program other than the Irish to achieve a membership of 12 schools, the
current NCAA-mandated minimum for staging a conference football championship game.
The Big East is already on the hunt for at least two additional
football-playing members — reportedly Louisville and Cincinnati. The Big
East would be compelled to cast its net for a third new member if the ACC
plucks Boston College, Pittsburgh, Syracuse or another team from its ranks,
and the Pirates may be one of the frontrunners for consideration by the Big
East in such a scenario.
Like Louisville and Cincinnati, ECU is currently a member of C-USA.
The ACC's chancellors and presidents discussed league guidelines for members
in a conference call Saturday.
"What we talked about was the importance of affirming the principles on
which this conference has been built, which are equity and full
participation," said North Carolina State chancellor Marye Ann Fox. "We
affirmed that equitable participation would be necessary."
The topic of inviting Notre Dame to join the league was not discussed, said
Fox, a member of Notre Dame's board of trustees.
"Nothing ever came to a vote or even a proposed resolution," she said.
Earlier this week, ACC commissioner John Swofford denied published reports
that the league is poised to add Notre Dame.
Fox agreed Saturday.
"I assume the reason this meeting was called was because of errors in the
press," she said.
In June, Virginia Tech and Miami agreed to join the ACC next year, expanding
the league to 11 teams. Initial plans were to include Boston College and
Syracuse instead of Virginia Tech, which would have given the ACC the 12
schools required by the NCAA to hold a lucrative football championship game.
The ACC has proposed reducing the minimum number of teams for a league title
game to 10. An NCAA panel denied the request in a nonbinding decision,
fueling speculation that the league could push to add a 12th member.
The Washington Post reported Saturday that the ACC is working to allow Notre
Dame to join the league as a partial member, playing four or five football
games against ACC opponents each season for several years before becoming a
full member.
Swofford did not deny that the league had talked with Notre Dame officials,
but said it was unclear whether the ACC would ever consider a
partial-membership arrangement.
"The principle of full membership and the principle of equity in the league
are two principles that are very important to our presidents and to our
institutions," he said this week. "Would that ever be offered? I don't know,
but I do know how important those two principles are."
John Heisler, Notre Dame's associate athletic director for media relations,
said Saturday the university is not interested in aligning its football team
with any conference.
"I don't think there's any suggestion that Notre Dame at this point is ready
to commit its football program to a league, whether it would be immediately
or some date down the road," he said. "We've made it plain that those aren't
conditions we're prepared to meet."
The ACC is scheduled to meet next week in Charlottesville, Va., to talk
about scheduling in football and basketball.
Swofford has said that Notre Dame is not on the agenda.
02.23.07 10:36 AM
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