It's official. The Atlantic Coast Conference has opened its doors, and the University of Miami and Virginia Tech have walked right in.
While Virginia Tech made their intentions clear last week when the invitations were made, Miami waited until Monday to announce their acceptance. The schools will begin ACC play in 2004-2005.
"Coming here is bittersweet for me," Miami Athletic Director Paul Dee said to 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 that 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 ago, 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 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, has 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."
Athletics Director Craig Littlepage also 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 wants a football championship, 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
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