We had an invite. Nothing else happens without an invite, acceptance and the knowledge that we would be accepted. That vote was 7-2. You and King are trying to use invite and acceptance of our application as one in the same. Would you feel better if I used the words "invited to apply" (and schools aren't invited to apply without knowledge that both sides will accept).
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Yes: the ACC clearly "invited SU to apply" with 7 votes and I believe 2 abstentions. The expectation on the part of everyone was this was a done deal; SU said yes, we accept; as you say, conferences don't make invites to then reject them; in English: the ACC screwed up big time; the whole process was a complete fiasco.
However, OrangePA's point that started this discussion, was the ACC might now uninvite SU as it did in 2003. This is a complete misunderstanding of what happened then and now. In 2003, the ACC invited SU to apply and then changed it's mind. In 2011 the ACC formally and officially voted to include SU into the conference. SU is not going to be "uninvited"; nor is SU going to be kicked out because the Big East or some school or schools is disappointed about what happened.
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More clarification from your quoted source:
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John Swofford's opening statement:
"This is the third and concluding visit that our conference visitation teams have made to the three institutions... This visit, as Debbie said, and I would certainly concur, has gone extraordinarily well and been very well received by those representing the ACC... Certainly, you can learn things from looking at numbers and looking at sports sponsorships and all of the kinds of things you can put on paper, but I think coming here for a site visit and having the opportunity to visit the campus, to get to know people, not only in the athletic department, but the chancellor's office, the provost's office, the admissions, the student affairs office -- all of those kinds of things go into a decision by Syracuse and by the Atlantic Coast Conference as to whether or not this is a good marriage and whether or not this is something that would be positive for the three institutions as well as the existing nine institutions that are currently in the ACC to come together as 12 to meet the demands of the future in intercollegiate athletics.
These visits and this process are what that's all about in determining the end result of whether this is a good step for us to take. This visit helps us along the way in getting to that point."
"What we will do is to return and, in fairly short order, our presidents will convene by conference call in all probability to hear reports about each of the three site visits. Those reports will be given by a faculty representative that has been on each of the visit. It will be from three different people. In addition, I think there will be conversations among our presidents with Chancellor Shaw, Father Leahy (Boston College) and President Shalala (Miami). At that point, you identify any lingering questions that the three schools might have or the ACC might have that we may need to address together.
Ultimately, you reach a point of making a decision. Along with that decision, if it is in the affirmative, a timing decision as to when this might take place. I can't tell you exactly when all of that would happen. I guess I would say it would be in the foreseeable future rather than the distant future."
