NCAAbbs

If the ACC expanded again and went to 14 teams which 2 BE teams do you think Swafford would go after next. I don't know if the ACC would ever expand again but I am interested in any opinions that you would have from the ACC perspective. Thanks.

Maybe a UCF or Pitt.

this time lets screw the SEC

Florida and Georgia

The difference is the SEC is actually a legit conference. If we did expand again I would like West Virginia and Syracuse or Pitt.

I can agree with Cuse and Pitt. I definately think the ACC would go back for Cuse if they went to 14 since they were on the original hit list. They also make a great traveling partner for BC.

I doubt it. Jim Boeheim and company would fight that until death. I think their president is a Big East homer as well.

Syracuse last time was a done deal to the ACC until the state of Virginia blocked them and pretty much forced us to take VT instead.

a) For any such thing to happen would mean larger things are happening across the NCAA landscape, with other major leagues following suit. Highly unlikely the ACC would pursue such a measure of it's own recourse.

b) Based on Carnegie classifications, what's known about academic and research programs, etc, the BE schools (1A) most compatible with what the ACC has/is seeking would be Pitt, SU, Rutgers, UConn and WVU. Their level of interest and value to the ACC would be a matter of debate, obviously, but institutionally those are the members most inline with the existing ACC membership.

Not that the ACC would expand, but I won't be surprised if it happened. In fact, when the ACC asked East Rutherford, NJ officials to submit a proposal to host an ACC football championship game, I suspected that the league was looking to gain access to the NYC/NoNJ TV market. So with that in mind, the 2 schools I think come into play are:

Rutgers and Connecticut

And it's easy to add the 2 to the existing divisions and keep the other rivalries safe and sound, as such..

ATLANTIC
Boston College
Connecticut
Clemson
Florida State
Maryland
NC State
Wake Forest

COASTAL
Duke
Georgia Tech
Miami
North Carolina
Rutgers
Virginia
Virginia Tech

Notes:
Switch Duke's cross-division rival from Wake Forest to Connecticut.
Switch Wake Forest's cross-division rival from Duke to Virginia Tech.
Switch Boston College's cross-division rival from Virginia Tech to Rutgers.

What are you guys smoking?

ACC expand again? Stop dreaming.
The Big East fools like Boston college and V. Tech were following Miami in the last raid. The Belief was that UM was a football powerhouse and where they went that's where the money would go.
That was then. This is now. Today the ACC couldn't draw Memphis out of Conf. USA. No current Big East team will see any value in joining the ACC. well, maybe Seton Hall. The ACC is a busted conference. You guys suck in BB and in FB.
Had seven in the big dance and seven out. Duke gone in the first round and the magic is gone with them. No one respects the ACC anymore because you don't deserve it.
FACT #1 The Big East won the conference realignment wars hands down.
It's funny the only way ACC fans think they can improve is by raiding. It's funnier that you believe some other teams would conider joining your conference where it is right now.
Your raiding days are over- now you have to live with what you got.
Yep. You got it. The whole world of college sports is laughing at you. I know, I know. You're going to turn this thing around next year. Well, That is then, this is now.

Yawn. When you think of college football, which comes to mind first: Big East or ACC? When you think of college basketball, which comes to mind first: Big East or ACC?

Sorry bud. Welcome to NCAAbbs, but no one really cares about the Big East. You have Jim Boeheim. Congrats. Goodbye.

Wake up call.
When I think of Football I think of the SEC as does the rest of the world.
ACC football has always been a joke and was in danger of losing its automatic BCS bid when they decided to raid the big east. Swofford's deal was bad. Miami was slipping before leaving the BE and V.Tech was one Vick brother away from slipping back to nothingness. BC has never won anything in the BE in BB or FB. Never. In fact, when the BE put three teams in the NCAA final four (an unmatched NCAA record) the only other eilte eight team that could have made it and failed was, you guessed it- Boston College. We could have had four- but noooooo BC messed it up for everybody. BC is doing better in the ACC then they have ever done in the BE. VT basketball was a doormat in the BE, they also seem to be killing you guys. The move was good for them.
When we think of basketball its time for rethinking.
If you look at the current make up of the conferences, the Big East has 7 NCAA title holders. G'town (1), Syr (1), Uconn(2), Villanova(1), Marquette (1), Louisville (2) and Cincy (2).
The ACC has four title holders North Carolina (4), Duke (3), NC State (2) and Maryland (1)
Big east has 7 former champions. The ACC has 4. Heck, the SEC has 3 Fla (1), Kentucky (6) and Ark (1). That right. Kentucky by itself is only one NCAA crown short of Duke and North Carolina combined.
Of course, UCLA has 12 NCAA crowns by itself. That's more than the entire ACC (10) or the Big East (10).
The big east added champions and big names and big markets in BB in Louisville, Cincy, Depaul and marquette. Home grown teams have revived like Georgetown and we have upstarts like West Virginia- ask Wake Forest and Chris Paul about West Virginia three-point shooting.
So just what makes ACC basketball so special? Yea, there have been a few great years for two of your teams. But those years, Like UM football, have come and gone. North Carolina was impressive this year overall, but this was a down year for the ACC in both FB and BB. How many down years does it take before people say your conference sucks? You were supposed to be the superconference. What happened?
The BE had a great year in FB and not to shabby in BB frankly, because we work hard. V Tech football was built in the BE. Now W. Vir and USF are being built under BE ethics.
Boston College BB is one Dudley away from returning to being Boston College, the founding member BE team that never even won the BE tournament. Not once in over 25 years.
Look, only the ACC fans are clamoring over the ACC. As a Big East fan. I'm getting over the raid because it's looking like the ACC shot itself in the foot and got rid of some BE teams that were on their way down anyways. Northeastern kids are no longer looking to play in the ACC like Kenny Anderson, Mulbury and a host of others did. They can now look at the BE, Madison Square Garden and more NCAA title holders than any other conference. The BE upgraded in BB.
ACC football is not going to outrecruit the SEC in the south.
By firing it's coach, UM is back to ground one and has to build a program in talent rich Florida competing with Fla. State, Fla. and now USF- which is also in a legit BCS conference.
P.S. no ACC FB team finished last year in the top 12 and probably won't start this year in the top 12. The BE had three that finished in the top 12.
Tell me again why I'm thinking of the ACC in football?
Swofford gave up BB for FB and now has neither.
Honestly, as a Big East fan, I bore with debating ACC folks. You have fallen below the BE radar. I looking for much better fish to fry. I'm moving on. See ya.

This is the most garbage I've read...I just wasted 4 minutes of my life reading this long message of hate and jealousy

I think you guys are thinking too small...

personally, I'd like to see the ACC take a stab at Penn State

I also think Rutgers is awakening in terms of football...

Add Rutgers and Penn State

Looks like the Big East is leveraging itself against the most powerful basketball and football conference in the south. The SEC. Here's something from the big east website.
Maybe you ACC guys can go after Florida.


"ESPN Regional Television, a subsidiary of ESPN, Inc., in conjunction with the Big East Conference and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced today the creation of the Big East/SEC Invitational, an annual two-night men's college basketball event featuring four games from two sites to be televised live on ESPN and ESPN2 on December 5-6, 2007.
Four different teams from each conference will be selected to participate for the next four years and the format will feature doubleheaders played at two off-campus sites.
The Big East and SEC have combined to produce four of the last five NCAA Men's Basketball Champions (Florida - 2007 and 2006, UConn - 2004, Syracuse - 2003) and seven of the last 12 national champions (UConn - 1999, Kentucky - 1998 and 1996)."

I think we're only doing this because we're jealous of the ACC. Heads up guys, I doubt you can get any team to join your conference now but maybe you'll have better luck getting one of our Big East coaches to come coach one of your sorry teams. You know our coaches are really hot. But if the money is really good they may step down and do something with you ACC guys.
I can't wait till football season starts- can you?
Best of luck.

Wake and VT as rivals? Eh.

I'll start at the top:

This thread was started by someone who's a fan of someone outside the ACC (UConn or Mempis, IIRC). Then, given the nature of the comments no sane person would surmise the average ACC fan truly thought the conference would expand again. Given the scenarios consistently painted on the BE board and others, surely a little daydreaming fun is allowed.

No argument here, but at least the money followed.

I've got $500 says ANY CUSA East team would make the jump yesterday. CUSA payout to each member is about $1.1M. The ACC, about $10M. Who'd Memphis rather see on their hoops schedule: Duke, UNC and Maryland or Marshall, Rice and SMU?

Perhaps not now, but in 2003 the BE was less stable. Case in point, 3 members left the conference.

True, the ACC bombed in the dance this year, but one year does not a legacy make. The conference's track record speaks for itself and the committment to continued improvement is there.

Given the ACC achieved everything they wanted out of the manuever I think we can safely call this an opinion. Yes, on field performance has been meager in some cases, but that hasn't impacted revenues, attendance, or national exposure.

It's funny how you think you can read our minds. Several ACC teams made massive investments in their facilities before the realignment as part of an effort to improve from within. Witness the stadia expansions at GT, NCSU, UVA, training facility upgrades at Clemson and Maryland. Part of the reason the former BE members made the move was BECAUSE of the committment the ACC institutions were making that many BE members (Temple and, at the time, Rutgers and SU) were not making.

That the ACC struggled on the field has been acknowledged even by ACC fans, but that's largely due to poor coaching. Take away Rich Rod, Schiano and Louisville AD Tom Jurich and it would be understandable to question the viability of BE football. So for any reason you can suggest the BE will continue their uphill climb (resources, fans, etc), those same reasons apply to how and why the ACC won't continue with this slump. May take more than a year but there is nothing to suggest it's permanent. That's just hate talking.

Most of the nation thinks of the SEC and Big Ten first and second. Always have, always will. Even ACC fans recognize that. It's part of the reason they, along with the ACC admins, realized a change was needed.

Think Swofford's move was bad? You said the ACC was close to losing its BCS bid. Well it's locked up now, as is larger TV contracts and national exposure. Why? In large part because they expanded the conference! Larger footprint, less intrusion into ACC country via VT switch, more alumni and communities affiliated with the conference... Could it have been done more gracefully? Yes. Would I have preferred other institutions? Yes, and most everyone has their own ideal scenario. But I'd hardly call an action that achieves what it sets out to do a failure.

a) BC only made it to the Sweet 16 that year, losing to Memphis State who then beat Oklahoma to reach the Final Four. b) So, making the Sweet 16 isn't even a good accomplishment for you guys? How pious! c) Surely nothing of BC's loss had to do with the other team actually being better, right?

Again, I'm none of this has anything to do with those squads actually playing well, right? And VT has responded to the move tremendously. Notice their fan support for hoops has increased from 6k per game to 9k since making the move.

Good for Kentucky and UCLA! Clearly the Cats fans showed how level headed they are this past season, don't you agree! ;-) All of which means what, exactly? Florida proved you don't have to be a hoops superpower to win the title, and past performance can only take you so far. Ask the folks at San Francisco how they live off their past. Going forward, however, is another matter, and the ACC schools have as much in terms of resources to offer student athletes as the BE. UVA and Wake have tremendous support, facilities and committments from their admins, much moreso than UF.

Again, what's this mean going forward. Oh by the way, with all those hoops powers you mentioned do you really think WVU will sustain itself as a title contender, particularly now that Beilein has left? Perhaps you think every BE team should be in the top 25?

Permanently?! Well then, I guess there's no need to actually play the games. Cmon kids, lets pack up and go home. Clearly we're THAT inferior!

I thought you said we sucked? Which is it - Super conference or sucks? Cuase if the ACC just sucks then you should have no trouble not regarding them as a super conference, right?

Yes, the BE had a great year. Let's see if it continues. And if the football member wish to retain the current structure.

And the BE is two football coaches away from potential mediocrity. Further, I don't think the ACC is counting on BC becoming the next USC.

Which explains why some BE fans continue to spend time worrying about the state of the ACC...

Wait, I thought you were suggesting the BE had some great history. What kind of statement is this, as it belittles the BE. What, you think those kids didn't see the BE in their own back yard, watching the grat SU-Georgetown rivalries on CBS? And by the way, the BE added USF hoops and now plays even les of a round robin schedule then the ACC. the Su fan in me is fearful of that killing some great rivalries.

It doesn't need to outrecruit the SEC, it simly needs to remain competitive in the national scene. Staying at nine members as the BE possibly moves to 12 for football, as Miami wanted to do, would've killed the ACC.

From my perspective it reads like an obsession. Or Schadenfreude.

If this was only about improving football why didn't the ACC go Miami-VT-WVU/Louisville? If this was only about hoops why not leave Miami and get Louisville or Pitt? Because there's more to it than just those sports if you study the make up of the institutions and the existing power conferences.

Yes, clearly he was acting on his own...

Thanks for playing and for your interest in the ACC. Have a nice day.

The ACC is not planning to to expand again. They just barely got enough votes for expansion last time. The only thing I see happening is BC and WVU changing conferences. If BC decides to return to the BE to have more geographical rivals in the northeastern and WVU leaving the BE to be in a southern conference like VT did.

Did you even bother to read the first thread... probably not, otherwise you wouldn't have typed all that bs lmfao

WVU may not have the academic records to get in...SU would be more likely. But BC certainly doesn't appear to be leaving right now.

Unless BC decides to returns back to the BE, I think WVU will be team for the ACC. The ACC is trying to compete and model themselves after the SEC, therefore WVU is in the ACC geography area, have a nice program and history with some ACC teams. They may require WVU to raise their academics requirements.

Boston College and West Virginia should switch conferences because of gas prices.
Same thing for Marshall and South Florida.

The Big East is the lowest level BCS conference. Any of their teams would give a left nut to join the ACC, Big 10 or SEC. Not only is the money better but there is a lot more clout to these conferences.

The Big East fans love to shout how great they are and say we went 5-0 last year in bowl games. What they fail to mention is that they were the higher ranked team in every one of their games. It is not a case of superior football, it is a case of crappy bowl deals that pit them against inferior, lower rated opponents.

Syracuse is still kicking themselves for letting the ACC invite slip through their fingers. You can count on that!!

Honestly, I don't think the Big East thinks it needs to add a school.

But if they need a #9 football school, ECU needs to be the school coming along, even it's a football-only arrangement.

I'm trying to figure out if it is funny or just sad that ECU fans consistantly beg on message boards to be brought into other conferences, Big East, ACC and SEC.

If there were ever a conference that would not want ECU, is would have to be the ACC. Do you really think the ACC needs a fourth school in North Carolina?

If I were the ACC I would select Pittsburgh and USF. That would be fantastic, but it's not gonna happen.

Actually, that would make 5 out of the 14 schools located in the Carolinas- Wake, Duke, North Carolina, NC State, East Carolina.

. I just came back to see that the ACC fans are still trying to figure out how to fix their jacked-up conference. I see my earlier posts have touched a few nerves and have been disected- sentence by sentence- by ACC fans who bad mouth my opinion but yet, hang on my every word. Some of you even repeated my entire post and then complained about how it was a waste of your time. So, why have everyone read it twice? Go figure.
. The whole world knows ACC football is in trouble. IF you have another year like last year, you will be doomed.
. To the guy who said the BEast played inferior foes in the bowl games. Two of those games were against the best the ACC had to offer. But I do agree with you. I had hoped the BE could do better than tie-in to the crappy ACC. It was fun beating your best. I remember when people said UofL was no UM. Well, UofL throughly spanked UM early in the season. Then we take out your best in BCS and bowl games. How sweet.
. But don't take it personally. Everybody beats the ACC BCS team. Heck, just when was the last time the ACC won their BCS bowl game. I can't remember that far back. I have long-term memory loss anyways. But Like I said- it's not personal. WVU did the same thing to SEC BCS champ UGA a year earlier in the Georgia Dome- no less. I guess that's just how we do things in the BEast.
. Funny how, Swofford's plan was to have UM play FSU to kick off each year- on Monday night for a national audience. This year I think the ACC is going with WF in the kick off. I feel the entire ESPN nation is waiting for this game. Of course, I just kidding you with you guys. Sorry fellas- I think any WVU/UofL/Rutgers combination would have had larger national interest. BUt hey, don't be mad at me. I'm just the voice of truth to a conference deep in fantasty.
. P.S. I hear the BEast is gonna be something in basketball this year with the class coming in. You guys know we already have the record of three teams in the final four- I think we're going for four. BUt what do I know.
. For the queer who said I'm jealous of ACC football. The ACC had FSU in football and nobody else at a championship level. UM and VT fromthe Beast added two past champions to your collection. Now the BEast has WVU and UofL as title contenders and the ACC has, well, nobody.
. For the guy who thinks Syracuse wished they joined the ACC. Really? Who do you think feels smarter SYR or BC athletic director? O-K maybe the BC guy is a little happier- I'll admit. I mean after all, BC is killing you ACC guys in all sports. They never won anything in the BEast.
. And Yea, I know SYR BB got snubbed in the tournament last year- but I believe that's because the BE had no representative on the selection committee. We got cheated but we'll fix that. We still put a team in the final four (Georgetown) by knocking the ACC BB camps (North Carolina). Hey, it happened- I can't make this stuff up.
. Anyways, thanks for your continued interest in the BEast- where champs are made (VT, WVU, Rutgers) and the ACC, where champs become chumps (UM, FSU and soon to be VT).
. See you on the field fellas. Booya!!!

We just don't care for the Alantic Sun teams that was brought into our CUSA. It's kind of the same deal as you not wanting to stay in the A-Sun.

Ohio and Miami-OH from the might be possible adds. Miami ranks 60th in US News & World report while Ohio is 110th tied with Florida State. Consider that Swofford is an Ohio grad and that these adds would get ACC access to the Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland markets.

This subject seems to be the only thing everybody in every conference wants to talk about. You've all hammered it into the ground.

Frankly, I think you're all nuts.

It's dead. Bury it.

Did Cuse defeat any of the ACC teams since the Raid?

The Be 7-3 record against the ACC is overrated. WVU and UL have fours wins out of the seven wins. WVU(Maryland & GT) UL(Wake & UM). UNC have 2 of the ACC Losses USF and Rutgers.

Stuff happens, did you forget that ACC owned the BE in 2004 and 2005.
UM does own BCS wins, 2000,2001 and 2003 couple with FSU win in 1999.

The ACC is stable, the BE is still talking about expanding or splitting between BB and FB schools.

Just keep letting ND pimp you all. They take away at large BCS Bids and top non BCS bids from the BE.

PeopleChampion you must be crazy.
Here are your answers:
Did Duke beat any BE teams since the raid?
WakeForest, the ACC's best team, has 2 of the three ACC wins and those are against Syracuse and UCONN. IF we drop our losses to your best and you drop your losses to our best team, the BE is still ahead 5-1.
UM may have had BCS wins in 2000, 2001 and 2003. Unfortunately, they were in the BE those years. What are you thinking? No ACC team has a BCS win since 1999. A seven year drought. Personally, I think if you can't win a BCS game in ten years you should lose your automatic bid. Maybe this link will help you:

http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfb/timeline

Since the split the BE has defeated the SEC champ (Georgia) and the ACC champ (Wake Forest). Can you say "Next?"
The ACC was not stable before the raid- What makes them stable now? Before the raid the ACC struggled to maintain a required top 12 BCS ranking. Last year WF entered their BCS game ranked 13th. Then they lost to UofL and I think they finished the season ranked 17 (not sure). The only thing we agree on is ND. The way I see it, your problems are not with the BE but the SEC, they dominate your region now in both FB and BB.
NCAA rules require teams to play for 5 years to become a conference. The BE will split after 2010 and we may be taking BC and Maryland with us. I think we need to kick the ACC out of the northeast IMHO. At that time, we will also have no place for ND but they will fit in nicely with our BB only schools.


P.S. UofL beating ACC champ WF and one of the "kings" of college football UM, is pretty impressive. You can say the ACC was down but remember UofL lost their Heisman candidate runningback early in the season. That's the only thing tht kept the games close. Though they weren't that close at all.

I am sure BE fans are glad that 2006 season was considered great for them. Nobody dictates or predicts the future, coaching changes, seniors graduations, and juniors leaving early.

UM won or share most of the BE tiles during their stay, however they have not yet won an ACC Title. They should tell you something about the depth of the ACC Conference. 1997 is the only season that UM did not finished in the top 2 in the BE.

The ACC Raid help some teams in the BE, Rutgers becomes a bowl team and WVU becomes an elite team in the BE. The Old BE lineup is alot tougher than the current BE lineup.

The top teams in the OLd BE
UM
VT
WVU
Cuse
BC

The top teams in the Current BE
WVU
UL
Rutgers
USF
Cincy

Be carefully for what you wish for, the BE is lowest financially BCS conference. If BC decides to return to the BE it would be for geography reasons. WVU will be waiting by the phone when that happen.

By most counts, with the number of Heisman candidates, the BE is better now than ever.
Why do people believe past UM teams have anything to do with the current team? The guys that played on that old team have left the building. Your logic that the ACC is tougher because UM is struggling does not take into account that UofL devastated UM in a game. This is a weaker UM team that eventually fired their coach. This was not the same caliber UM that existed inthe BE and just as UM fell, Rutgers can rise and have a good team. It does not mean that Rutgers rose because UM and VT left the BE. Last years Rutgers team would have beaten UM and VT just as would have WVU and Louisville. BE coaches are sought after. Didn't UM go after Rutgers coach? You're talking with your heart People Champ and not with your head.
The polls got it right. The ACC was down last year and the BE was up. Live with it man. Live with it.


P.S.: Don't bet on the BE remaining the lowest financially and don't bank on WVU looking at the ACC ever. The ACC is in the toughest spot, it shares the south with the primere confernece, the SEC. The ACC had been a one team conference, FSU, for years. It's not like the rest of the ACC was ever really any good. When FSU fell the ACC fell. Your current ranked teams are VT and that's about it. Where would you be without the BE. The BE: where champs are made. The ACC: where champs become chumps.
The least an ingrate like you could say is thank you BE. ESPN knows they overpaid the ACC contract.

This could go on and on. Last year was UL first win against UM. It is a proven fact that Rutgers benefitted from the ACC Raid. The ACC won the majority of the matchups in 2004 and 2005. Using your logic or theory, the MWC is better than the BE. Their 2004 Champion did crushed the 2004 BE Champion. If you want to play the facts game, do not leave anything out. Are you mad because Cuse got rejected by the NC schools and UVA politics? The Big 10 is rumored to raid the BE for Cuse. Outside of the WVU and UL Game, which BE game drum up alot of interest that does not include WVU or UL. Rutgers was a Cinderalla Story last year, they will fade like the other Cinderalla Teams.

Man I feel the hate.
Why do you ACC fans hate the BE so much? Even this post: "Let's raid them again." I mean, Swofford got what he wanted and, on our end, the BE is doing fine.
If you followed BE sports you'd know that WVU played UM tough for years. They were a program on the rise. Programs rise and programs fall. USF is on the rise- they have a great coach. I believe WVU will not be a condender next year and USF will lead the BE.
As far as BC goes, I personally don't believe they are completely happy in the ACC. No one expected the BE to survive, but it has. What do you think is a better rivalry: BC vs Syr, Uconn, Pitt or BC vs NC, Ga. Tech, or some other southern school.
The BE had a good year last year. Rutgers may be suspect, but they opened the door to recruit NJ talent and showed that NYC has a pulse as far as college football is concerned. There's something to work with there, if the BE can figure it out.
We're building a conference and we're happy so far. Yea, the ACC was down last year and won't fully recover this year, but that's the way the ball bounces.
P.S. in 2004 the MWC was better than the Big East at the top but in 2006 the BE was heads and shoulders over the MWC and the ACC. period. Slaton and White were not playing in the BE in 2004. Neither was UofL.
This is college sports and guys graduate and new stars emerge. Do you think Florida will win the BB title again now that all those players have moved on to the NBA? They may, but it will have nothing to do with last year's championship team.
Football fans seem to like to win their games before the season starts. WVU will be good this year because they were good last year and their stars are back. UM has to find new stars or they will never be great again. Rutgers found some talent, give them credit.
Just becaue you have a UM or an FSU on you jersey doesn't mean you automatically win games. and just because you have a "R' doesn't mean you have to always lose.
Also, I don't know if Rutgers helps the Big 10 Network. The Big 10's top football games will still be played on ESPN and unlike a lot of other college towns, NYC is a pro sports towns and once even had two pro teams in BB, FB and Baseball. Places like Morgantown and Iowa, just have college to watch. New Yorkers don't have to watch Rutgers swimming and Lacrosse or Rutgers baseball or any of the extras the Big 10 Newtork will give their fans inthe midwest. Syracuse has no television market. Most NYC residents couldn't tell you what state Syracuse is in.

Here a link I think you'll like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTotiPwfI...ed&search=

If you liked that link, you'll love this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw9YicB_LCM&NR=1

Prior to WVU upsetting GA in the Sugar bowl, the BE had an awful year in 2005. They was 0-3 in bowls at the time, the ACC had some convincing wins against the top BE teams. VT beat both UL and WVU, UM beat USF, and NCSt beat USF. WVU's victory over GA hides all those things.

Syracuse have been in a down period every since McNabb left. Stuff happens from year to year. Cuse destroyed UM in 98 and UM returned the favor in 99.

I watched both the VT games. VT had Marcus Vick- a pretty good quarterback. WVU was in the game up until a kickoff return that bounced off the chest of a WVU receiver and into the hands of a VT player. I remember thinking somebody should just beat that kid up.
UofL almost beat UM maybe just prior to joining the BE. They finally got the job done last year.
As a BE fan, I'm hoping for very few surprises this year. Of course, good surprises, like maybe USF beating Auburn, would be welcome. That would be the new BE's second biggest win since WVU/UGA.
The five bowl wins last year, really don't honestly impress me either.
Good luck to the ACC this year. Somebody once told me that the ACC destroyed FSU. I don't know if that's true. I don't know if it is about recruiting in the region with the SEC. I haven't paid enough attention but if the ACC developes the rep as the Jr. south league to the SEC, it's going to be a hard image to break. I understand Swofford's need to upgrade. I have no issue with the ACC keeping VT and UM, the only two national champ level teams from the last ten years in the BE. But I'd like to see BC (Benedict College) come home and bring Maryland with them. I think conferences should be regional and not all over the place.
Of course USF is the BE exception because all the FB talent is in the south, particularly Florida. In the south football is king. I don't know one New York City high school with a football team. They do play football in Jersey.
People Champ, don't be mad at me abut MD and BC, if the ACC can't win with UM, VT and FSU- I'm not the problem.

In football, The BEast is definitely the first one thought of.

The ACC has never been a football conference - outside of FSU, or Clemson in the distant past. There are more decent teams, but no real powers any longer. ACC football is FSU - until somebody can prove otherwise. Wake Forest didn't do it last year. Neither did anyone else in the conference.

Virginia Tech could be dominant this year, but they have a habit of folding at the end of the season. Until they can prove they won't, they won't get much notice in the national championship picture.

FSU could be back this year, but I think they're a year away. Wake will be decent again, as will Clemson. But neither will win the conference.

BC might be the sleeper this year in the ACC, although that remains to be seen. I still think they made a mistake joining the ACC, since they aren't close to any other ACC schools and have so much traveling to do. But it's their mistake. They have to live with it. However, if they can manage to win the conference, it will make everything seem ok for BC.

For basketball, The BEast rules.

The ACC comes to mind first for oldtimers. But the younger generation doesn't remember the days of glory for North Carolina - when Duke was a nobody. The BEast is a tougher basketball conference than the ACC, and the entire nation knows it!

Right now WVU and UL is the class of the BE, if those two teams have the same type of seasons that UM and FSU did last year, the talk about the BE being a mid major conference will echo again. WVU and UL are keeping the BE afloat. Rutgers was a Cinderall story.

Don't forget we also have USF. USF will win the conference someday, mainly because their coach is a monster- he wants to be top dog. That's a good thing. We need more coaches like him.

Sorry, however USF have a long uphill battle to reach that goal of winning the BE.

First, USF is the 4th best team in Florida despite what the records were last year. The top recruits will still pick the Big 3 over USF.

Second, USF is still young, they do not have the traditions of the Big 3, that attracts the top recruits.

Third, Until USF do something major other than pulling an upset win against UL or WVU, the remaining top recruits who do not sign with the Big 3 will continue to leave Florida and sign with Top Traditional Programs.

Fourth, USF is closer to UCF than they are to the Big 3.

Conclusion, USF will have to win major recruiting battles against the Big 3 to win the BE.

You mean you hope top recruits will choose Miami. And you also have to hope that Miami has the coaching staff to further develop these recruits. After all, FSU has failed to offer a top 10 team in years. Miami didn't fire their top recruits, they fired their coach. It is not yet proven whether the new guy is up to the job after all, he was the second choice after Rutgers coach turned down the job.

UM,s Dynasty run began in 1977 under Lou Saban. Top recruits have been coming to UM every since that time. Even when UM was on probation, top recruits still signed with them. You need to learn the atmosphere of College Football in Florida before you make stupid statements. The Big 3 rise as Elite teams began in the late 70's. That is almost 30 years of winning tradition and putting players into the NFL. What make you think an 11 year old program that only being playing D-1A for 7 years, will leapfrog anyone of the Big 3 team? Even Jim Leavitt is not ready for USF to be considered part of the Big 4. Once he publicly admit that USF is in the Big 4, the honeymoon is over. The sport media and fans will demand that USF will be included in the NC or bust expectations that the Big 3 have.

BTW, GS passed up the UM job, however, when Florida Sports writer had their Florida Coaches Media Day, guess who showed up?

You can talk about tradition all you want. Traditions begins and new and end and nothing is gauranteed. Besides it looks like Miami is starting a new traditon as thugs on the field who get whipped. USFis also beginning a new traditon. Perhaps you better take note. anyways Um plas USF down the road. I'm not afraid-- are you? In fact I'm looking forward to it--- are you?
Let the season begin!!!!!!!!! ANd the talking end.

By now- with FSU's lost to Clemson, you can't beleive there is a big 3 in FLorida. FSU hasn't been BIG for over ten years and their hopes for a national championship are already over for this year. Things are changing. FSU now has a tradition of failure.
You seem like one of those guys who believe tradition is more important than hard work. Ask Appalanchia State about work vs tradition.
An 11 year old program can be at the top of the heap with the right coach and right players. DOn't take my word for it-- just keep watching.

You're a wittness of a new tradition of excellence being born right before your eyes. DOn't miss the future because you're looking at the past.

Well after couple weeks of football, is there any debate which conference is better top down? ACC sucks and should have the BCS bid revoked.

BCU and GT are the best teams in the ACC? Man it will be another great bowl season. I really hope BE conference game don't have to play another ACC team again in the BCS bowl. It would suck for us to beat on some sorry ACC team that no one will give us respect for beating.

AMEN BROTHER. AMEN!