The ACC needs a new expansion
A few years ago, the Atlantic Coast Conference looked for a way to become a "super conference," one that would be on par with the SEC and Big 12.
Well, the conference-then comprised of Florida State, Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke, Georgia Tech and Virginia-went shopping for three teams.
They went to raid the Big East of what was arguably its best three teams at the time-Boston College, Miami, and Virginia Tech.
Since that expansion, the league has failed to live up to the hype, with only VT and BC holding up their ends of the bargain. Of course, how could league officials foresee the tough times schools like Miami and FSU would fall on, or the rise of Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
Still, the conference has yet to win a BCS Bowl game (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta), nor a National Champion-of course the title draught exceeds the expansion, as the last championship was a Chris Wienke led FSU team.
Luckily for the ACC, Miami and FSU seem to be back on the rise, as do NC State and North Carolina. Still, the conference lacks a "super power," or two. Something the SEC and Big 12 both have, The Big 12 with Texas and Oklahoma, while the SEC has Florida and Alabama.
So, what is the ACC to do? My best advice is to first downsize, and then expand again.
Even though Boston College has played well in the their time in ACC, the proximity is a factor, especially in these tough economic times. There have also been talks of Maryland, one of the original founders of the ACC, leaving.
I don't see Maryland leaving, but BC I think should, and will pull out.
When considering another team, the ACC needs to look at its strength first, basketball. Then from that pool, find a team that can play football, and maybe be ok in baseball. Most importantly, find a team that shares a geographic proximity.
Two teams that are of interest would be West Virginia and Louisville. Both have had successful basketball programs, and each have decent football. Other schools like South Florida, Central Florida, and East Carolina have decent football programs, .500 to sub-.500 basketball, but it is in question whether ECU could hold up in a 12 game super conference schedule, while USF and UCF have been up and down, and really wouldn't help.
Even though Louisville would be the best bet for basketball with not only a big name coach, but a possible cross-conference rivalry with the SEC's Kentucky also, their football really wouldn't help, and that is where the conference needs help.
West Virginia would probably be their best bet. They have had success in football, as well as basketball. Also, they are geographically close to the rest of the ACC schools, not to mention the rivalries with Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Now, if West Virginia joined the ACC, I'm not sure if they would become the super power that they want...they honor would have to be risen to by either Virginia Tech, FSU, Miami, Georgia Tech, or Clemson.
Until the ACC does something though, they will still be seen as one of the many redheaded stepchildren-like the Big 10 and Pac 10- of the big boys like the Big 12 and the SEC.
Well, the conference-then comprised of Florida State, Clemson, Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Wake Forest, Duke, Georgia Tech and Virginia-went shopping for three teams.
They went to raid the Big East of what was arguably its best three teams at the time-Boston College, Miami, and Virginia Tech.
Since that expansion, the league has failed to live up to the hype, with only VT and BC holding up their ends of the bargain. Of course, how could league officials foresee the tough times schools like Miami and FSU would fall on, or the rise of Wake Forest and Georgia Tech.
Still, the conference has yet to win a BCS Bowl game (Rose, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta), nor a National Champion-of course the title draught exceeds the expansion, as the last championship was a Chris Wienke led FSU team.
Luckily for the ACC, Miami and FSU seem to be back on the rise, as do NC State and North Carolina. Still, the conference lacks a "super power," or two. Something the SEC and Big 12 both have, The Big 12 with Texas and Oklahoma, while the SEC has Florida and Alabama.
So, what is the ACC to do? My best advice is to first downsize, and then expand again.
Even though Boston College has played well in the their time in ACC, the proximity is a factor, especially in these tough economic times. There have also been talks of Maryland, one of the original founders of the ACC, leaving.
I don't see Maryland leaving, but BC I think should, and will pull out.
When considering another team, the ACC needs to look at its strength first, basketball. Then from that pool, find a team that can play football, and maybe be ok in baseball. Most importantly, find a team that shares a geographic proximity.
Two teams that are of interest would be West Virginia and Louisville. Both have had successful basketball programs, and each have decent football. Other schools like South Florida, Central Florida, and East Carolina have decent football programs, .500 to sub-.500 basketball, but it is in question whether ECU could hold up in a 12 game super conference schedule, while USF and UCF have been up and down, and really wouldn't help.
Even though Louisville would be the best bet for basketball with not only a big name coach, but a possible cross-conference rivalry with the SEC's Kentucky also, their football really wouldn't help, and that is where the conference needs help.
West Virginia would probably be their best bet. They have had success in football, as well as basketball. Also, they are geographically close to the rest of the ACC schools, not to mention the rivalries with Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Now, if West Virginia joined the ACC, I'm not sure if they would become the super power that they want...they honor would have to be risen to by either Virginia Tech, FSU, Miami, Georgia Tech, or Clemson.
Until the ACC does something though, they will still be seen as one of the many redheaded stepchildren-like the Big 10 and Pac 10- of the big boys like the Big 12 and the SEC.
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