(06-18-2017 03:03 PM)Hallcity Wrote: There's been endless discussion of ACC expansion on this board. It focuses upon candidates that, in my opinion, run from unlikely (Cincy) to absurd (Oklahoma). Why don't we talk about a far more realistic proposition.
Imagine it's ten years from now, 2027. The ACC's composition is the same as it is now. The ACC Commissioner is approached by the chancellor of a school. This chancellor has talked off and on with the ACC Commissioner for a few years. The ACC has been polite but noncommittal. The chancellor tells the ACC Commissioner that circumstances have changed. This school has been in talks with the SEC. The chancellor says that a formal offer to join the SEC will come soon. However, the chancellor says that the ACC is the school's dream conference. The chancellor reminds the ACC Commissioner of some facts he knows well. The school is very much in the ACC's footprint. The school is large (over 35,000 students) and growing. It's located in a large and rapidly growing metro area that lacks a P5 school. The school is extremely ambitious athletically. It's been rapidly improving its facilities, attendance and athletic performance for more than 15 years. It's a leap to the P5 level but they're ready. The chancellor tells the ACC Commissioner that he knows there has been particularly strong opposition to this school joining the ACC coming from a couple of ACC schools but that he can make it politically impractical for those schools to oppose adding this school -- remember how Va. Tech overcame U.Va's opposition. The chancellor tells the ACC Commissioner that several ACC schools may want to avoid having to recruit against this school but reminds him that's going to happen anyway if this school joins the SEC. The chancellor tells the ACC Commissioner that he knows he can't really bring many new TVs viewers to the ACC but that he can take them away if his school goes to the SEC.
In case you haven't figured it out already, the school is UNC-Charlotte. The schools that might be most opposed to bringing in UNC-C would be UNC- Chapel Hill and NCSU but that opposition may become politically impossible.
Anything implausible about the scenario I'm presenting? In fact, isn't it likely?
What would you say the ACC should do if faced with this situation? I'm almost certain you don't want to add UNC-C but to paraphrase Lyndon Johnson, do you want them outside the tent peeing in or inside the tent peeing out?
I like it enough to think we should consider preempting the possibility that SEC membership might look more attractive to some segments of the UNC-C community when the time comes. Remember FSU's flirtations with the SEC in the early 90's and and with the Big 12 a few years ago?
Adding UNC-C will lock down a major metropolitan area, largely prevent the SEC from making inroads into the state (unless they want to be in Boone or Greenville), and add another nearby rival for Wake and Clemson. Academically (if that even matters), UNC-C isn't the greatest fit but they're roughly in the same range as Louisville and frequently mentioned expansion prospects Cincinnati, Houston and West Virginia.
UNC-C would have to elevate football and basketball of course, but a few seasons in CUSA should be good enough. UNC-C doesn't need to be world beaters or add to the football murderer's row. If they get to that level, it's all gravy and ACC membership will only help UNC-C with recruiting and building up the revenue sports once they're in. We should consider at least reaching out to UNC-C to discuss targets for football attendance, basketball performance, academics, &c. if a transition to ACC membership opens up for them in the medium to long term even without a threat by the SEC.
My only question is how would the divisions work out with 15 schools? If we're going with pods, I don't think all 5 North Carolina schools should be in the same pod. Here's my "back of the envelope" suggestion:
Atlantic Pod: Louisville, BC, Va. Tech, State, FSU
Coastal Pod: Miami, Tech, UNC-CH, Duke, UVA
other pod (name TBD): Syracuse, Pitt, UNC-C, Clemson, Wake
I know it's not perfect -- you'd have to find a way to preserve in-state cross pod rivalries, for one thing.
