The ACC Invite: From Pitt's Perspective

[TexanMark]

A look inside the ‘awkward process’ that landed Pitt in the ACC

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

Nice article.

If they didn't find a landing spot the AACK would be equal to being in the MAC to Pitt.

But my guess is the Big 12 takes them and WVU together with someone else to actually have 12 teams like its called they aren't undesirable like this weeks FB opponent.

The Big East was a terrible football league after Miami and VT (then BC) left. Obviously the finger should be pointed at us for a large part of that but the ACC is way better I just wish we got to play Miami and VT.

 

[SmilinBob]

I can't imagine that the Big 10 would have selected Rutgers over Pitt, ever. Perfect team for PSU and rival they always needed in that conference. I wonder if the Big 10 would have asked Maryland over Rutgers if "eyeballs" (cable area) is what they so desired?

 

[sutomcat]

Nice article.

If they didn't find a landing spot the AACK would be equal to being in the MAC to Pitt.

But my guess is the Big 12 takes them and WVU together with someone else to actually have 12 teams like its called they aren't undesirable like this weeks FB opponent.

The Big East was a terrible football league after Miami and VT (then BC) left. Obviously the finger should be pointed at us for a large part of that but the ACC is way better I just wish we got to play Miami and VT.

I think the article was poorly written and only included what the Pitt people wanted it to include. Syracuse was supposed to be added in 2003 and was promised a spot when the next round of expansion happened. The reason Pitt was chosen was because their weasels tried to get an invitation to the B12. The ACC got word of the rumors, panicked and moved to get the Panthers first. Otherwise, the other school to join with Syracuse would have been Rutgers or UConn.

 

[jgeorge322]

I think the article was poorly written and only included what the Pitt people wanted it to include. Syracuse was supposed to be added in 2003 and was promised a spot when the next round of expansion happened. The reason Pitt was chosen was because their weasels tried to get an invitation to the B12. The ACC got word of the rumors, panicked and moved to get the Panthers first. Otherwise, the other school to join with Syracuse would have been Rutgers or UConn.

curious what form a "promise" for a future spot in a conference would look like. hey syracuse, we screwed you this time, but next time, were picking you for real! when next time eventually happened, if the acc had better options at that time, would it really not have pursued those because of a "promise" to syracuse. i doubt it. were talking big time $ here.

 

[CuseCactus]

I'm just happy we ain't UConn.

 

[HtownOrange]

curious what form a "promise" for a future spot in a conference would look like. hey syracuse, we screwed you this time, but next time, were picking you for real! when next time eventually happened, if the acc had better options at that time, would it really not have pursued those because of a "promise" to syracuse. i doubt it. were talking big time $ here.

Recall that Syracuse was recruited to join when FSU joined. The possibilities can only be pondered.

 

[nzm136]

I think the article was poorly written and only included what the Pitt people wanted it to include. Syracuse was supposed to be added in 2003 and was promised a spot when the next round of expansion happened. The reason Pitt was chosen was because their weasels tried to get an invitation to the B12. The ACC got word of the rumors, panicked and moved to get the Panthers first. Otherwise, the other school to join with Syracuse would have been Rutgers or UConn.

There's no way UConn or RU > Pitt, and I doubt that there was a SU promise. We were picked because we were the best available option, not because of a promise.

 

[nzm136]

I can't imagine that the Big 10 would have selected Rutgers over Pitt, ever. Perfect team for PSU and rival they always needed in that conference. I wonder if the Big 10 would have asked Maryland over Rutgers if "eyeballs" (cable area) is what they so desired?

PSU recruits out of the DC - Philly - NYC area, and PSU doesn't want to elevate Pitt. An 'elevated' RU isn't a threat (see RU's current program). The B1G bent to PSU because PSU threatened to bolt to the ACC, which, for the first time ever, was a legitimate eastern conference that spanned the Atlantic Coast, encompassing PSU's traditional rivals, PSU's recruiting grounds, and football hot beds. It also had a ND deal coming down the pike.

It wasn't a cable area that mattered. It was cable viewers who are willing to pay for the BTN (i.e. people who like watching PSU play).

 

[sutomcat]

There's no way UConn or RU > Pitt, and I doubt that there was a SU promise. We were picked because we were the best available option, not because of a promise.

There was a promise. But the reason Syracuse got the promise was because it had been at the top of the ACC wish list since 1990.

 

[SmilinBob]

PSU recruits out of the DC - Philly - NYC area, and PSU doesn't want to elevate Pitt. An 'elevated' RU isn't a threat (see RU's current program). The B1G bent to PSU because PSU threatened to bolt to the ACC, which, for the first time ever, was a legitimate eastern conference that spanned the Atlantic Coast, encompassing PSU's traditional rivals, PSU's recruiting grounds, and football hot beds. It also had a ND deal coming down the pike.

It wasn't a cable area that mattered. It was cable viewers who are willing to pay for the BTN (i.e. people who like watching PSU play).

Ask the members of the Big 10 who they would prefer Pitt or RU. I know PSU wanted playmates from the east and they still would have either RU or Maryland to pound on. Pitt, by far, would have been the better choice if the Big 10 was picking between Pitt vs RU or Maryland. Pitt was a true free agent, RU and Maryland were and are in huge debt.

 

[gbo]

I think the article was poorly written and only included what the Pitt people wanted it to include. Syracuse was supposed to be added in 2003 and was promised a spot when the next round of expansion happened. The reason Pitt was chosen was because their weasels tried to get an invitation to the B12. The ACC got word of the rumors, panicked and moved to get the Panthers first. Otherwise, the other school to join with Syracuse would have been Rutgers or UConn.

The fact that Rutgers or UConn would have been invited is reason to celebrate Pitt in the ACC. Never thought I'd be happy they were a member but I am now.

 

[Scooch]

Pitt is in the ACC because the southern football schools preferred western PA recruiting and an eastern school that had at least a flicker of a football pulse. UConn was initially recommended but was passed over.

That’s it.

 

[sutomcat]

A look inside the ‘awkward process’ that landed Pitt in the ACC

In-game struggles aside, Pitt's ACC move made sense — and dollars

 

[CousCuse]

Delaney made a colossal mistake by not making Syracuse his prime eastern expansion target. Had he got Syracuse and Maryland, Pitt would likely gone to the Big12 with WV. That would have left the ACC to consider Rutgers and UCONN, which I think would be an emphatic NO. At that point the B1G would have shut the door on the ACC and owned the northeast as well as the midwest. Now the Northeast is split up and the ACC has the better brands. And the Orange would have been able to compete in the B!g after a short period of adjustment whereas Rutgers and Maryland look out of place. At that point I think ND would have become a B1G member at some level or maybe a full member.

 

[orange79]

Delaney made a colossal mistake by not making Syracuse his prime eastern expansion target. Had he got Syracuse and Maryland, Pitt would likely gone to the Big12 with WV. That would have left the ACC to consider Rutgers and UCONN, which I think would be an emphatic NO. At that point the B1G would have shut the door on the ACC and owned the northeast as well as the midwest. Now the Northeast is split up and the ACC has the better brands. And the Orange would have been able to compete in the B!g after a short period of adjustment whereas Rutgers and Maryland look out of place. At that point I think ND would have become a B1G member at some level or maybe a full member.

Syracuse is not a fit in the B1G. We are right where we belong.

 

[CousCuse]

Syracuse is not a fit in the B1G. We are right where we belong.

If the B1G had said we want Syracuse and we will make them full members with a full share, you think that would have been turned down?

 

[orange79]

If the B1G had said we want Syracuse and we will make them full members with a full share, you think that would have been turned down?

Where did I say that? Of course we would have accepted. We were in search of any lifeline from the sinking ship that was the BE. I said, "Syracuse is not a fit in the B1G. We are right where we belong. " Even if we were in the B1G, I would contend that we were not a fit there.

We are right where we belong.

 

[orangecuse]

Every single day Syracuse, and all of its fans should thank their lucky stars for the gift of a lifetime invite from the ACC. Otherwise, SU would be no different than Uconn, on the outside looking in, no matter who wants to attempt to debate otherwise. I try not to ever go down that train of thought, because the realization of that is simply haunting.

 

[orangecuse]

Where did I say that? Of course we would have accepted. We were in search of any lifeline from the sinking ship that was the BE. I said, "Syracuse is not a fit in the B1G. We are right where we belong. " Even if we were in the B1G, I would contend that we were not a fit there.

We are right where we belong.

1000 likes if I could. You are dead on!

 

[CousCuse]

Where did I say that? Of course we would have accepted. We were in search of any lifeline from the sinking ship that was the BE. I said, "Syracuse is not a fit in the B1G. We are right where we belong. " Even if we were in the B1G, I would contend that we were not a fit there.

We are right where we belong.

TCU and Baylor fit in the Big12, USC fits in the Pac12, the Orange would have fit just fine in the B1G. Also if Syracuse played in the B1G east, the dome would be full every time those teams came to town.

 

[orange79]

TCU and Baylor fit in the Big12, USC fits in the Pac12, the Orange would have fit just fine in the B1G.

No. They would not have. A conference is more than just athletic teams. It is the entire university. And Syracuse fits very poorly with huge, mega-landgrant state schools. Frankly, I'm surprised Northwestern has managed to survive all these years.

Would SU have been able to compete athletically? Maybe. Probably. Who knows?

We are right where we belong.

 

[Bayside44]

If the B1G had said we want Syracuse and we will make them full members with a full share, you think that would have been turned down?

JB public ally said he would not have allowed it. Our alumni, displaced CNYers, money, student recruitment etc is all the ACC footprint.

 

[CousCuse]

No. They would not have. A conference is more than just athletic teams. It is the entire university. And Syracuse fits very poorly with huge, mega-landgrant state schools. Frankly, I'm surprised Northwestern has managed to survive all these years.

Would SU have been able to compete athletically? Maybe. Probably. Who knows?

We are right where we belong.

Your looking at it from the point of view as to what's good for Syracuse. I was taking the point of view as to what would have been better for the B1G. You're basically arguing that Rutgers was better for the B1G than Syracuse. I think what is good for the Syracuse athletic department is to maximize the revenue, which going to the B1G would have achieved. There is no giant land grant university in New York and Syracuse has largely filled that vacuum in regards to sports fans affiliations.

 

[CousCuse]

JB public ally said he would not have allowed it. Our alumni, displaced CNYers, money, student recruitment etc is all the ACC footprint.

50 miliion >>>30 million. I know JB is brilliant so I don;t think he could have not realized this.