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July 19, 2012

The ACC Awaits

Filed under: ACC,Athletic Department,Big East,Conference — Chas @ 8:14 am

Just remember Pitt, nothing stupid in 347 days. Keep it simple.

Not much new since last night. A few more comments. Another press release.

Here’s the statement from the ACC.

“Today’s announcement that Pitt will be joining the ACC on July 1, 2013 is terrific one. It’s exciting to know that both Pitt and Syracuse will become playing members in the ACC starting with the 2013-14 academic year. I’m pleased that both schools were able to finalize agreements with the Big East. The ACC has long enjoyed a rich tradition of balancing academics and athletics and the addition of Pitt and Syracuse further strengthens this conference. Throughout this past year, we’ve been preparing to welcome both teams into our membership and we look forward to the future of the ACC with these two schools as prominent members.”

It’s nice to have it official. But everyone knew this was coming.

Negotiations for Pitt’s (and Syracuse’s) early departure came to an abrupt halt shortly before Marinatto was forced out as Big East Commissioner in May. Since Pitt was no longer privy to what the members and conference leadership were doing, they did not know why negotiations went dead. Less than a week after Marinatto’s forced resignation, Pitt had filed its lawsuit in Allegheny County. That seemed to get things moving once more.

“We can be reasonably certain the lawsuit became the catalyst for bringing this to a conclusion,” he said. “In the end, everybody benefited in the process. That helped get the conversation moving in a positive direction, and it was our hope all along to reach an agreement like this.”

I would have preferred Pitt not to have had to file a lawsuit, but it did keep the Big East from letting the matter fester any longer. The fact that Pitt put up little fight to prevent the removal of the case to federal court — unlike the way the Big East and WVU fought hard over venue and with dueling lawsuits — was telling in Pitt’s motives for the suit.

And with Syracuse reaching a reasonable compromise and the Big East Media Day coming very soon, there was little reason to keep haggling over the final numbers.

“It just made sense,” Pederson said. “We already were going to be in the Big East for two seasons after we made the decision to leave. It was just time to move forward. Certainly, other schools have paid more to exit their conferences earlier. We’re satisfied where we ended up.”

West Virginia paid $20 million to leave the Big East immediately. The Big 12, the Mountaineers’ new conference, is paying part of that fee. The additional $2.5 million Pitt will pay is expected to be generated from the revenue made from moving to the ACC.

Pitt stands to make $17 million per year under the terms of the ACC’s new television deal, which is a significant upgrade from the university’s current revenue in the Big East.

“It’s an exciting day in so many ways for this university and athletic department,” Pederson said. “We have a certain road map for the future. That was important. We’re going to make sure this final season in the Big East is special because it’s the final season for our seniors, and we want all of them to have great final seasons. But we’re also looking forward to moving ahead in the ACC.”

Pederson said now that Pitt and Syracuse are officially in the ACC for 2013, the conference can begin to work on scheduling and long-term planning.

Not to mention making it easier for the coaches to recruit and coaxing some more season ticket sales for this year with the lure of next.

There will be some who will complain that Pitt should have gotten a better price than Syracuse because Pitt lost two marquee home games — and had to cancel a non-con — because of the Big East losing TCU and WVU without any waiting period. At the same time, it was Pitt and Syracuse who announced they were leaving for the ACC first. Chicken-egg arguments all-around.

In the end Pitt will be in the ACC starting July 1, 2013. Let’s make this final year in the Big East a good one.





The timing is perfect, it coincides with Ultimate Frisbee competition.

Comment by steve1 07.19.12 @ 8:33 am

This also means savage will play QB for pitt in are first year in the ACC.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.19.12 @ 9:30 am

Of course, I wanted Pitt out of the Big East as much as the next fan, but I’m a bit surprised and upset that Pitt is paying $7.5 m. I would have liked to see Pitt negotiate a deal for less of a payout.

I’m pleased that Pitt can move on, though. 2013 will be really exciting.

Comment by A 07.19.12 @ 9:51 am

A you are so right 2013 will be exciting and in football we will be better than most of you think
the OL will be great and we will have a real QB for the first time in years and great runing backs
and very good tight ends the WR are a ?

BUT i look for us to have a very good year in the ACC.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.19.12 @ 10:28 am

Had to repost this so it’s incredibly funny !!

“This is another step for the Big East to take toward a very exciting future. With the addition of our eight new members, the Big East will be incredibly strong and vibrant,” said Joe Bailey, Interim Commissioner of the Big East.

LMAO…another step forward. This guy should be a politician. What a joke !!!

Comment by Emel 07.19.12 @ 9:20 am

One thing bigeast football won’t be in the future is incredibly strong and vibrant. Did he really say vibrant. haha 🙂

Comment by Emel 07.19.12 @ 11:36 am

Yeah, I don’t know how much pain the extra $2.5 million caused, but I think it gets to the point where you just say – Screw it, let’s move on.

Really exciting. I love the ACC portion of the country, and the potential roadtrips, as opposed to the Great Lakes-oriented Midwest B1G or the cowtowns of the Big XII.

Comment by BATR 07.19.12 @ 12:19 pm

Pumped as can be!! Full steam ahead, can’t wait.

Do have to agree with “A”, a little suprised we weren’t a little less than ‘Cuse. 6M maybe??

Maybe these were the tactics all along with Pitt and ‘Cuse?? I mean, I would assume Pitt and ‘Cuse were in communication the past year about everything, right?? No?? Doing their own thing??

Pitt settled pretty quickly, so that is what makes me wonder if Pitt said 5M all along, but knew whatever ‘cuse got, they would be good with it too??

I’m not a legal person, so I don’t know.

I do know they both paid substantially less than WVU’s 22M or whatever!! LOL

Anyhow, minor. Not upset at all, just suprised.

I’m good with 7.5M and gettin’ the hell out of dodge!!!

Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Dan 07.19.12 @ 12:26 pm

Like i said before free free at last.
I would have paid 10 million if i had to just to be out of that rinky dink big east.
ACC football basketball it will be great fun and we fit into every thing not just sports it is were we should be.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.19.12 @ 1:36 pm

EMel just think the first year in the ACC we will have a real QB no more tino gives us the best shot to win.

Comment by FRANKCAN 07.19.12 @ 1:41 pm

Hey, I’m finally seeing the ads everyone talks about from time to time! Wooooooooooooo!!!

Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Digdug 07.19.12 @ 2:37 pm

A move from a conference where Syracuse was the rag doll to a conference where, uh, Syracuse will be the rag doll. I’m liking it.

Comment by Get the Glory 07.19.12 @ 2:45 pm

Not so fast my friends. Lets not forget the business at hand here. One game at a time. What I’m looking forward to is our 1st (and last) unshared Big East Championship and an invite to a major bowl for a change. Thats the introduction I’m hoping Paul Chryst will have for his initial year as a head football coach.

The ACC will be here soon enough. In fact the ACC will be here come September! Beat Va Tech! It would be sweet to knock them off!

I live in Virginia and NOBODY here who are Va Tech faithful is thinking about that Pitt game . Everyone is considering it as a cream puff out of conference game for them. Well, next year we WILL be in conference, and hopefully looking forward to beating them once again like we did in 2012 at home. Hail to Pitt, win the BE!

Comment by Dr. Tom 07.19.12 @ 3:19 pm

First off, I’m freaking ecstatic that this is finally resolved….Damn i’m glad to be out of the Big East.

Second, someone on Coach Chryst’s staff should call Walt Harris about game planning against Frank Beamer and VA Tech for next year. Say what you want about Walt, he knew how to beat VA Tech.

Comment by CJK 07.19.12 @ 3:25 pm

I would only say three things to any Va.Tech fans that show lack of respect…….

31-28
28-21
38-7

Comment by Dan 07.19.12 @ 3:40 pm

Tech was constantly overrated in the Big East. In their short time in the ACC, the same has rung true there as well.

Comment by Get the Glory 07.19.12 @ 4:37 pm

@ CJK, Good idea, Walt did own Va. Tech, didn’t he? Dan, you do know your Pitt football history! A couple of those wins, we had NO BUSINESS beating them with the weakass teams we had. Who knew?

Lets just hope that we catch them looking past us this season. Va. Tech is usually good for losing one game a season that they shouldn’t have lost. Just ask James Madison University about that from 2010. Go Panthers, Hail to Pitt.

Comment by Dr. Tom 07.19.12 @ 5:49 pm

Bleacher Report has the Panthers at 60 pre-season behind Arkansas St, Ohio, LA Laf, N. Illinois to name a few. A competent QB would likely have the team in the top 30.

New York Times ranking has Pitt at #53.

Comment by move_on 07.20.12 @ 5:46 am

move_on, I’ve seen a couple with Pitt 43 and 51 also.

So, sounds about right really. Mid-pack.

Up to us to show them we’re not.

Maybe we are this year? Up to us to move forward and build something, huh??

Comment by Dan 07.20.12 @ 12:00 pm

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