It's official. The Atlantic Coast Conference has opened its doors, and the University of Miami and Virginia Tech have walked in.
While Virginia Tech made their intentions to join the ACC clear when the invitations were issued, Miami waited until Monday, June 30, to announce its acceptance. The schools will begin ACC play in 2004-2005.
"Coming here is bittersweet for me," Miami Athletic Director Paul Dee told the Associated Press. "We really do wish to accept this invitation in the way that it is intended and meant, but we also leave behind great friends and great universities in the Big East Conference."
Miami turned down a financially lucrative last effort by the Big East to keep the Hurricanes in the conference. In the end, though, the ACC got its prized recruit with Miami and a somewhat surprising pickup in Virginia Tech.
Initial expansion proposals, introduced seven weeks before the decision, would have added three schools to the ACC: Miami, Boston College and Syracuse.When plans for the 12-team model fell through, University President John T. Casteen, III renewed his efforts in favor of Virginia Tech.
"Virginia Tech has finally come home," Virginia Tech Athletic Director Jim Weaver said to the Associated Press. "This is a wonderful challenge for our coaches and student-athletes. For them, I am excited."
Weaver isn't the only one in the Commonwealth who's excited. Casteen had lobbied for Virginia Tech's inclusion since expansion talks gained momentum in April.
"The inclusion of Virginia Tech and the University of Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference is a positive outcome for the conference and certainly for the University of Virginia," Casteen said in a release. "Virginia Tech's inclusion is especially good news for all of us in Virginia."
University Athletic Director Craig Littlepage also said he believes addition of Virginia Tech and Miami will benefit the University.
"We have accomplished in the end something that will serve the best interests of the conference and the University of Virginia," Littlepage said.
The addition of the Hokies and the Hurricanes strengthens the ACC as a football school. Florida State, Virginia, Maryland and NC State, as well as new members Miami and Virginia Tech, all finished last season in the top 22, as ranked by the Associated Press. This football strength could help the ACC in the pursuit of lucrative television and BCS contracts.
The addition of two teams, rather than three, does, however, raise questions about whether the ACC will be able to hold a football playoff game. In accordance with NCAA by-laws, conferences with 12 teams are allowed a championship game, but conferences with fewer teams must petition for that privilege. If the ACC wishes to hold a football championship tournament, they will have to either petition for an exemption or lobby to change the NCAA rules. The other major 11-team conference, the Big Ten, does not hold a playoff game.
Adding Virginia Tech and Miami to the ACC also did not put an end to legal challenges to expansion.
"Our lawsuit is now a certainty. We will pursue this legal action tenaciously and vigorously -- seeking remedies on a fast track," Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said in a June 30 press release.
Virginia Tech withdrew from the lawsuit when it decided to accept the ACC's invitation. Boston College was dropped as a defendant when they did not receive an official invitation.
Blumenthal said he hopes for a quick resolution of the case, asking the court to set a schedule such that its progress is "measured in weeks, not months."
Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist announced July 1 that he will file papers asking for the dismissal of the case, defending Miami's right to choose its associates.
"Unless this case can be rather quickly dismissed, there is a chance that the public and public-supported universities will be responsible for substantial legal bills in fighting this misguided attempt to compel Miami to decline a legitimate offer," Crist said.
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