(06-12-2019 12:04 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 11:01 AM)RutgersGuy Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 09:34 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 09:21 AM)usffan Wrote:  

(06-12-2019 08:57 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  The problem I have with that line is that the ACC had tried to kill the Big East in 2003-2004. Did ESPN tell them to do that, too?

To me, it was clear the ACC was looking for a chance to strike again at the Big East, it didn't need an impetus from ESPN. Not saying ESPN didn't say something about it, but IMO it was happening anyway.

The ACC had it out for the Big East, and for pretty clear reasons.

So using your logic, the conspirator who provides the means, method and literally the roadmap for performing an execution is not to blame for the execution itself?

And to RutgersGuy's point, why do you think ESPN wasn't involved in the first attempt at this?

USFFan

Because we don't have any evidence that ESPN was involved in 2003, and the ACC had plenty of motivation in 2003 (and in 2011) to try and kill the Big East anyway, regardless of ESPN's view of the matter. And, for ESPN's part, in 2003 conference media payouts were so small that it wasn't a big deal to try and maneuver something like this.

Just a look at the map during the 2000s showed that if the ACC was going to expand in power and money, it had to go north. And north was where the Big East was.

And they needed assurance from their TV partner that expansion would give them the money they wanted. The ACC doesn't make any moves without checking with ESPN first.

This is probably true - but I don't know if ESPN "told the ACC to raid the Big East" so much as the ACC asked ESPN "how much will you pay us if we add X, Y and Z?"

I like to think ESPN saw it as a way to consolidate valuable assets to one conference and saving money while adding valuable match ups like FSU/Miami. Thats why they have Miami and FSU in different divisions as they dreamed of those two matching up in the CCG and making them both (ESPN and the ACC) lots and lots of money. Too bad Miami decided to jump off a cliff after entering the league and the ACC having multiple CCG between VT and BC take place in empty stadiums in FL.

Let's not get it twisted, the goal was to get Miami the juggernaut into the ACC. The other teams were just to get to 12. Cuse originally invited for their BBall team who would bring big ratings after the recent at the time national title with games against UNC and Duke. That 12th team was a whatever addition of whomever could get the most votes from the members. Didn't work out that way once politics got involved.