Pitt officially joins the ACC on Monday. I’ll skip the snide commentary on the pretty-boy country duo concert that Pitt has to promote the move. This past week also marked the ten year mark of Virginia Tech and Miami joining the ACC. No one disputes the success of the move financially. For Virginia Tech — much more than Miami — it has been an unprecedented period of growth and success (except for the whole basketball thing) in their athletic department.
Nothing has transpired since to counter what Hokies athletic director Jim Weaver told me in May 2008 about the move.
“The best thing that has ever happened to the university both academically and athletically is the invitation from the Atlantic Coast Conference,” he said then. “There is absolutely no downside. None.”
Indeed, ACC membership has enhanced Tech athletics financially, competitively and academically. And while the Hokies’ non-revenue sports don’t approach the elite level enjoyed by league rivals such as Virginia, Duke, North Carolina and Florida State, they have improved exponentially.
That progress is most evident in the Directors’ Cup all-sports standings. From 1994-2004, Tech’s average finish was 91st, its best 63rd. Since starting ACC competition in the 2004-05 academic year, the Hokies’ average finish is 43rd, with bests of 35th in 2011 and ’12.
Labeled as a “football school,” Tech has won four ACC championships in its marquee sport. During the same nine-season span, Florida State has won two football titles, Clemson, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech one each, the latter vacated due to NCAA sanctions.
But the Hokies’ non-revenue programs have been far more successful than anyone envisioned, earning ACC titles in men’s and women’s track, men’s cross country, softball, wrestling and men’s golf.
Obviously, the football success overshadows everything, but don’t discount the overall success that the athletic department is enjoying.
