in retrospect ...

STRAIGHT UP

No

The question is irrelevant, because Maryland's not going back to the ACC.

(03-21-2017 09:43 AM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  The question is irrelevant, because Maryland's not going back to the ACC.

INDULGE ME

In retrospect, no. U of L brings recent football success (adds more competition to a once ACC negative. Puts a smile on football first schools), they obviously brings top notch basketball (puts a smile on basketball first schools), they bring a top tier baseball team (puts a smile on all ACC programs that want great all around AD departments) and their Olympic sports are not bad either.

I would make that trade in a heartbeat, but not because UL hasn't been a great addition from a athletic/monetary standpoint. I'm just far more connected to UMD than UL, and those games inherently mean more to me. Syracuse also has a rich history playing the Terps in multiple sports.

The above said, UL fans are great, and I have nothing at all against the University of Louisville.

Not a chance, U of L is all around a great sports college and a good metro. The only thing they lack is the academic prestige. However, they seem to be working hard to improve that part of the college.

(03-21-2017 09:46 AM)green Wrote:  

(03-21-2017 09:43 AM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  The question is irrelevant, because Maryland's not going back to the ACC.

INDULGE ME

The current administration burned its bridges as it exited the ACC. Lots of smack talk from the Administration and former football coach, Randy Edsall. There's also a contingent (both Administration and prominent alumni) that was tired of the negative media attention the school received whenever Duke came to town.

(03-21-2017 10:42 AM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  The current administration burned its bridges as it exited the ACC. Lots of smack talk from the Administration and former football coach, Randy Edsall. There's also a contingent (both Administration and prominent alumni) that was tired of the negative media attention the school received whenever Duke came to town.

how cavalier to let personal animus get in the way of a monumental decision ...
seemingly, you have your finger on the pulse ...
does maryland regret leaving its natural habitat for far-flung competition ...
money is great and all ...
I understand ...
but c'mon ...
downtown des moines in the dead of winter ...

BRRR

From a Pitt perspective, yes, I would trade Maryland for Louisville.

Maryland had potential rivalry written all over it. We are very similar in a number of ways institutionally and culturally. Also, with the existing rivalries between the Steelers and the Ravens, and between the Penguins and the Capitals, I saw that as a natural offshoot of existing animus between the two sets of fans. I think Pitt and UMD had real potential to blossom into a rivalry of sorts. It was never going to supplant Penn State or West Virginia for Pitt, but it could have at least been something.

I would also trade West Virginia for Louisville (and Maryland too for that matter). Again, that would just give us an in-conference game that our fans truly cared about. The WVU fans can be vulgar and over the top. However, like Louisville their teams are usually competitive and they are a legitimate rival of ours. I would love to again play those games under a conference banner.

That said, from an ACC perspective, Louisville is a better choice than either West Virginia or Maryland. The Cardinals just bring a lot to the table with regard to their athletics program and in today's environment, that's a big damn deal. I will say that I think the Louisville athletic program is at least a little slimy and I don't like that about them. Also, their academics are not on par with Maryland's or most of the rest of the ACC. However, things like scruples and academic integrity questions don't have as much place in the discussion now as they did 15-20 years ago, so you hold your nose and count the money.

I love Maryland. My dad has a degree from Maryland (as well as Missouri and the University of Louisville). I have family that live in Maryland, and follow the Terps.

I thank them profusely for jumping on the Big Ten money train, opening up a slot in what I had always considered a pipe dream for my Louisville Cardinals.

I still pinch myself, to make sure that what we have been experiencing is truly real.

No offense to the Big Ten - they are a great conference made up of great institutions - but growing up in Louisville, getting exposure to the Big Ten through the proximity of Bloomington Indiana to the Louisville metro, if given the choice of ACC or Big Ten affiliation?? I'd take the ACC every day of the week and twice on Sundays. It just fits us better than the Big Ten.

So ... I don't have a vote in this hypothetical ... but I am forever thankful for the Terrapins, and wish them nothing but the best going forward.

(03-21-2017 11:00 AM)green Wrote:  

(03-21-2017 10:42 AM)NJ2MDTerp Wrote:  The current administration burned its bridges as it exited the ACC. Lots of smack talk from the Administration and former football coach, Randy Edsall. There's also a contingent (both Administration and prominent alumni) that was tired of the negative media attention the school received whenever Duke came to town.

how cavalier to let personal animus get in the way of a monumental decision ...
seemingly, you have your finger on the pulse ...
does maryland regret leaving its natural habitat for far-flung competition ...
money is great and all ...
I understand ...
but c'mon ...
downtown des moines in the dead of winter ...

BRRR

Actually it was getting pretty bad in College Park when Duke came to town. Not sure where it originated. Carolina and State were the big games when I was in College Park.

No one in either the Administration or the athletic department will admit to missing the ACC. They've invested a lot of money in turning around the football program, which has been dormant for nearly 15 years. We have a top 20 recruiting class coming in. And the Under Armour Performance Center should open sometime in 2018. So it appears the football program has turned the corner. But, it'll take another 2 years before the majority of the Randy Edsall era recruits graduate.

As for alumni and fans, it depends on who you ask. I'm sure the older alumni and fans miss the competition in Olympic sports. The younger alumni, otoh, seem to believe that they'll benefit (increased academic prestige) from the school's association with the Big Ten.

The second FB game I saw in person as a kid was Maryland @ NC State in (I think) '79.

Of all the ACC schools outside of NC, I've seen games involving Maryland (2 FB vs UNC, 1 BB vs UNC, 1 FB vs NCST, 2 BB vs NCST, 1 FB vs Duke) more than any other (and that accounts for my days at ECU when Virginia Tech was a regular on the schedule)

I say all of that to say, I do miss Maryland -- we have a history together -- but the circumstances in which they left, I wouldn't trade them for Louisville.

Boston College, however -- that's a different reaction :)

Of course, there's going to be no trade but in the fullness of time, I think that Maryland will be back in the ACC. It may take 20 years or more but it will happen because Maryland in the B1G doesn't make sense. Don't say it can't happen because the ACC is mad at Maryland. The parting with South Carolina was vastly more rancorous and SC nearly came back to the ACC. My guess is that as soon as the TV revenues equalize and Maryland can get out of its grant of rights, they'll be back.

And, as a Duke fan, it's not like I really want Maryland and all it's sometimes vicious craziness back.

I would trade Miami for West Virginia.

(03-21-2017 12:42 PM)ecuacc4ever Wrote:  The second FB game I saw in person as a kid was Maryland @ NC State in (I think) '79.

Of all the ACC schools outside of NC, I've seen games involving Maryland (2 FB vs UNC, 1 BB vs UNC, 1 FB vs NCST, 2 BB vs NCST, 1 FB vs Duke) more than any other (and that accounts for my days at ECU when Virginia Tech was a regular on the schedule)

I say all of that to say, I do miss Maryland -- we have a history together -- but the circumstances in which they left, I wouldn't trade them for Louisville.

Boston College, however -- that's a different reaction :)

I saw Boomer Esiason and them Maryland Terps at the Carrier Dome in '82! They had a good rivalry with Syracuse back in the day. Maryland also fit well with Syracuse's interest in providing some presence in the DC area, where many students and alumni live.

At one time in the not so distant past, Maryland was a solid football program (one of the two or three best in the ACC) with national credibility. Not sure what happened. Perhaps it is just a cyclical thing.

For the Big Ten, Maryland is another state flagship to add to its portfolio and is a great long term play. For current impact, though, Louisville is clearly preferable.

(03-21-2017 02:05 PM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  I would trade Miami for West Virginia.

(03-21-2017 09:28 AM)green Wrote:  in retrospect ...

STRAIGHT UP

Trade? I would add Maryland and Notre Dame to make a really, really good 16 team conference with great market coverage all along the east coast (and Kentucky, too).

If Notre Dame won't join on a full time basis then a combination of Maryland and Cincinnati, or Maryland and South Carolina would be perfect.

(03-21-2017 02:32 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(03-21-2017 09:28 AM)green Wrote:  in retrospect ...

STRAIGHT UP

Trade? I would add Maryland and Notre Dame to make a really, really good 16 team conference with great market coverage all along the east coast (and Kentucky, too).

I'd add texas in some form ...
then ...

CALL IT A DAY