The face of the Atlantic Coast Conference is slated to change for the second time this year. Boston College announced Sunday that it will accept an invitation for ACC membership. Boston joins fellow Big East Conference schools Miami and Virginia Tech as future ACC expansion teams.
"Our decision to join the Atlantic Coast Conference is based on my judgment in terms of what is in the best interest of Boston College academically, athletically and financially," BC President William P. Leahy said in a press release Sunday.
U.Va. Athletic Director Craig Littlepage said the athletic department is enthusiastic about the addition of Boston College to the ACC.
"This brings closure to the uncertainty we've had over the past six months," Littlepage said. "Boston College is a great potential member of the ACC. The addition of Boston College gives us another highly competitive and broad-based program."
Despite the geographically distant location of Boston, Littlepage maintained that the University sports programs will not be adversely affected financially.
"For every sport, there are a specific number of competitions," he said. "Competition against the three new ACC members will replace non-conference games."
Littlepage added that a decrease in non-conference competitions may decrease travel costs and student-athletes' time away from Grounds.
The addition of Boston College also would bring about a new ACC football tradition -- a conference championship game. NCAA rules dictate that only conferences with 12 or more teams can hold such a game.
Currently, only the Southeastern, Big 12 and Mid-American conferences hold championship games.
"An ACC championship football game gives the opportunity and prestige to gain additional exposure not only with our program but for the league itself," Littlepage said.
The ACC would be guaranteed the championship game once it includes 12 member schools, Littlepage added.
"This is all contingent on Boston College's exit of the Big East," he said. "There's no way to tell when it will be at this point."
The Big East is not giving up Boston College without a fight. Four football schools filed suit against Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFlippo and four ACC officers yesterday. The lawsuit alleges a conspiracy between Boston College and the ACC to weaken the Big East.
"We are extremely disappointed with Boston College's decision to leave," Big East Conference Commissioner Michael A. Tranghese said in a press release issued this week. "Our membership is very surprised that the ACC Presidents continue to come back into our league for membership."
Tranghese reiterated his conference's dedication to remaining a nationally-recognized group.
"We are continuing to move forward with our plans to maintain our status as one of the nation's top athletic conferences," he said.
ACC Commissioner John Swafford addressed the legal action in a statement yesterday as well, criticizing the Big East's tactics.
"It is a sad day for higher education and intercollegiate athletics when universities initiate this kind of unwarranted action -- suing faculty members and conference officials over an institution's freedom to associate itself with whatever conference it chooses," he said.
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