Maybe. We’ll see. Wow. I don’t know.
This could be big.
Syracuse University and the University of Pittsburgh, two bedrock members of the Big East Conference, are engaged in talks about joining the Atlantic Coast Conference, according to a source with direct knowledge of the talks.
No one from Pittsburgh, Syracuse or the A.C.C. denied the conversations were taking place. Officials from all three entities declined to comment on the matter.
The person with knowledge of the talks declined to speculate on a timetable or the seriousness of the discussions. But in this delicate time for conferences and their futures, the discussions between the 12-team A.C.C. and two Big East members is significant.
The discussions show how the creeping trend toward 16-team super conferences that has concerned so many college athletics officials appears to be inching closer to reality.
As always, who knows for sure. But, wow. This would be huge. No question Pitt and Syracuse would and should go if the invite happens.
Not enough details, though, in the story to say much about it other than, “that would be swell.”
Let the head spinning begin, er continue.
Which is the exact opposite of the blogs we’ve seen suggesting the BE is aggressively trying to add the doormats of the Big 12. WTF
Long live the Rat Pack !
While I’d be disappointed to see Pitt go to the ACC, I think it is the safest place to be. And given Pitt’s frustration with the Big East commissioner, I can’t blame them. Would this move result in ESPN re-opening the TV contract with the ACC?
Like another person mentioned, gotta love the basketball potential here. Wow, what a conference it would be!!!
I actually am impressed with Pitt being proactive in this situation. There is no way that they could just sit around and play the waiting game here. In my opinion they must make this move, with or without WVU. Which ultimately would suck!
It would be fun to whip Boston College again on a regular basis. That was always fun.
Furthermore we would dominate the Big 10 much easier in basketball than the ACC. sheesh !
If I were the Chancellor or worked in the athletic department, the money at stake would mean something to me. However, I’m just an alumn and a fan, and I don’t understand why some of you get so wrapped up in the relative value of TV deals above all else. I don’t want to see Pitt sever its remaining long-term rivalries just to help the bottom line over the next few years.
For those of us who derive a lot of enjoyment from our excellent basketball program, the basketball piece of this is huge.
All that said, I wouldn’t mind Pitt in the Big Ten, but I think the ACC would also be a good fit. (First choice is still a reinvigorated Big East.)
I don’t care about ending the rivalry with the hillbillies.
But who cares what I think. What would Jamie Dixon think? Anyone know how he would feel about this?
I was hoping that Pitt would join the ACC someday and hope this rumor is true. Pitt can be successful in the ACC which is a fine conference.
I know Thamel is a good source for info, but he seems to push every rumor out there. Last year, I believe he had us as a lock to join the Big Ten at one point.
The point is these kinds of conversations probably happen all the time. Conferences put out feelers to gauge interest. Then a reporter gets hold of the info and calls the chancellor or AD to get a comment. Neither side is going to comment on a simple conversation, so it gets reported as “would neither confirm nor deny” and everyone’s imagination gets spinning.
Heck, Nordy could have been sitting down to dinner and said, “I really don’t want to talk about it right now” for all we know. And if he had made some comment, every reporter in the BE and ACC would be calling him while he’s trying to watch Pitt vs. Iowa.
And now Dr. Tom has a headache again, perhaps for no reason at all.
Grow some balls and kick out Providence, Seton Hall and DePaul and bring on Mizzou, Kansas and BC. Up the exit fees and act like the Big East will be one of the four remaining conferences. Big East basketball is the only unique thing about the conference, don’t let it fizzle out because the commissioner is weak.
Hopefully Trey starts and Sunseri becomes a ball boy at Bama
Adding the Big 12 castoffs does not make the conference stronger. They do not fit naturally in the geographic landscape of the Big East and it would be struggle for their fan base to embrace the new division rivals. Only way it works is if Oklahoma and Ok St join Kansas and K-State (they’re a package deal) with either Missouri or Texas Tech (preferred for TCU rivalry) coming with them. 16 team conference and then some decisions for basket ball. You could have a “Classic Big East” division and then the Big 12 – OK, OK St, Kansas, K-State, TCU, Missouri or Texas Tech, Louisville and South Florida in one division.
In this scenario, for basketball, keep G-Town, St. Johns, ‘NOVA and Providence (gotta throw a bone to the commish) for a 20 team conference.
This is a pipe dream and the reason I think the ACC is the best move. If this scenario did play out though , the Big East would be able to compete with the “big boys” of the SEC, Big Ten and Pac 12 conferences.
Brett McMurphy of CBS Sportsline and ESPN are reporting that Pitt and Syracuse have officially applied for application to the ACC.
link to blogs.sites.post-gazette.com
That is a lot stronger than the rumors flying around last night.
Nobody from Pitt is at the stadium yet, the party is due to arrive and when they do I’ll have more but I did talk with John Paquette of the Big East and he said that the league is not going to comment on the situation – but he didn’t deny that there may be a pending crisis.
Stay tuned.
I have major reservations given the powers that be
in Providence as to whether the BE will ever be able to resolve its issues. Remember, in order to be semi-decent we have a guest school, NDU who plays on our fields and basketball courts and contributes NADA to our financial pot. A JOKE!
If this turns out to be a real offer I would run to join the ACC..the financial situation re TV contracts will be reopened once the dust settles and Pitt will come out ahead. The BE is DEAD!!
If the Big 12 has their top 2 remaining programs bolt Texas and Okla. I suspect they will invite Big 12 schools Kansas, Kansas State, and Missouri.
If Texas and Oklahoma say they are staying in the Big 12 it woould be possible that now Pitt and Syracuse would have 3 options available by making this move.
1. Go to the ACC
2. Go to the Big 12 as replacements for TAMU, Colo and NEB (WVU, SYR, and Pitt) or (Syr, Pitt and TCU)
3. Stay in the Big East with 3 new members from the best of the rest club. Houston..Etc..Villanova
RE the natural rivalry w/wvu, that will stay in place for thanksgiving rivalry weekend as an out of conference just like GA vs. GA Tech.
I hope, I hope..
BTW – can someone tell me how many more poor seasons does Notre Dame football have to have before they lose their NBC deal??? Enough already.
1. Conference movement is going to happen at a rapid pace. Schools that wait too long may be left in the dust in one of the leftover conferences that will have no big money or bowl deals. They can’t wait for the Big East to fall. The ACC is a good fit.
2. This puts pressure on the Big East. I think the big schools in the BE like Pitt/WV/Syr would be in favor of getting the existing commissioner out. It is obvious there have been problems with his passive leadership as the conference could re-invent itself with getting rid of the basketball only schools, and bringing in better football schools. With a 16-team Big East which includes big name schools with better national geographic placement, the Big East could set a new TV deal standard in the next 6 months. But this isn’t happening with the existing BE leadership. Good for Pitt and Syracuse for putting pressure on the Big East – that is exactly what the league needed. Don’t rule out the Big East getting proactive and keeping Pitt and Syr, however, I don’t see that as much as going to the ACC. If the BE commissioner is ousted, the odds of keeping the BE increases a good big if Nordy and his counterparts get more say. The big east is messy with the Basketball only schools having a say – and they bring nothing to the table at this point.
Should be fun to watch. Hail to Pitt for being proactive and having the balls to be the first to step up from the Big East instead of being left behind in the dust. There will be a lot of big conference decisions in the next few months. Big East teams also need to give the conference 27 months notice prior to leaving – that puts us 3 football season out!!!!
Gotta love it. Bottom line is this – who the hell knows what is happening behind doors and what super conferences will look like? until we know, it sure is fun to discuss …
The BE also screwed up hiring a commish from a basketball only school. That was the beginning of the downfall right there.
PITT needed to be proactive. If you wait around you could be on the outside looking in. Just wait to see the few remaining Big 12 schools who will have no place to go. This move is better than waiting around and then you lose out.
If the ACC schools stay (FSU/VTech/Clemson) this will be a major upgrade for football for Pitt. Plus you get a 9th conference game and we can eliminate playing the Maine’s of the world
With Texas A&M Leaving for the SEC, You can be sure that UVA, FSU and Clemson will be looking at jumping to the SEC as well.
Still very fluid. But a major upgrade for Pitt!
As to all those who wish we would have joined the Big Ten, I believe that we did reach out to them as well but got no response or a flat out “No”. I believe if it was up to Penn State we would have been invited but the rest of the Big Ten (which is mathematically challenged) did not see enough value in our membership.
The Big 10 does not want Pitt…why is this brought up? Pitt will NEVER be in the Big 10! NEVER!
The Big East is garbage football and too many basketball teams..it makes no sense. This is an outstanding move, let’s hope we get in!!
On another thought…fantastic basketball and from a football point of view a better league with enough schools within reasonable driving distance…SHELL this is up your alley!!
Admittedly I removed VT after remembering the comments from their president. I agree that they are a package deal. I still believe that the SEC could poach teams from the ACC. This is all about $$ and the SEC is king. They could get more money for these schools than the ACC could pony up as long as puts them in new media markets.
That being said for all the reshuffling that could occur, going to the ACC is good for Pitt. That said, I think that based on our strong enough academics, solid non-olympic sports teams and large media market, we won’t be left without a date to the dance when all is said and done. We will fit into one of these super conferences.
What the heck are you thinking. Bad enough you would be thinking about the Big Ten. But the lousy ACC conference. You afraid of TCU coming in here and kicking your butt.
I have no interest in watching you play teams from down south. Bad enough my alma matter left the Mid-Atlantic region and joined the Big Ten, now my favorite team is leaving for the south. I guess I’ll have to become a West Virginia fan.
ACC,,,, what a Joke…… There basketball is second rate to the Big East, and their football teams won’t hold up to TCU and West Virginia (and soon Rutgers and UCONN).
Are you nuts….
Cancel my trip to Pittsburgh this year..
Do we really know the ACC did not want Pitt back in 2003? Maybe Pitt did not want them.
No, Duke and Wake Forest will not ever be known as football powerhouses. So what? Pitt keeps Syracuse, gets back Virginia Tech and Boston College, and adds Maryland. It is better than being in a befuddled Big East or having to join Conference Leftover USA or the MAC.
