SB Nation Pittsburgh - Notre Dame To Join ACChttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2012-09-13T23:39:34-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30856032012-09-13T23:39:34-04:002012-09-13T23:39:34-04:00Big East Commissioner Mike Aresco Gives Statement On Notre Dame
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<p>Mike Aresco, the Big East commissioner, had comments Thursday on the announcement Notre Dame will be leaving for the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports excepting football and hockey, two sports the Irish did not play in the Big East. Aresco's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/236840/Statement-From-Commissioner-Mike-Aresco.aspx">short comment is predictably positive</a>:</p>
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<p>Notre Dame has been a valued member of the BIG EAST Conference and we wish them success in the future. However, Notre Dame’s departure does not change our plans. We have prestigious institutions that are excited to be a part of the BIG EAST. We remain committed to making the BIG EAST stronger than it has ever been.</p>
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<p>Notre Dame's move was already <a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3322406/notre-dame-joins-acc-syracuse-daryl-gross-jack-swarbrick/in/3084803">praised by Syracuse AD Daryl Gross</a>, and shows a change of heart for Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who didn't have kind words for Syracuse and Pittsburgh when they bolted for the ACC last September. The Fighting Irish will be the ACC's 15th school.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Big East, visit the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.bigeastcoastbias.com/">Big East Coast Bias</a>. Check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/user/sbnation?feature=watch">SBNation on YouTube</a> for more on this and other stories. <br></i></p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/9/13/3330294/notre-dame-acc-big-east-statementJosh Brokaw2012-09-12T15:33:18-04:002012-09-12T15:33:18-04:00Notre Dame Joining The ACC Is Great News For The Conference And For Pitt
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<p>Notre Dame joining the ACC benefits the conference, and it benefits Pitt as well.</p> <p>After months of rumors, speculation, and chatter, the Atlantic Coast Conference and Notre Dame made it official Wednesday. The Fighting Irish <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/andy_staples/09/12/notre-dame-acc-john-swofford/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a0" target="_blank">will join the ACC</a> in all sports, except football and hockey. The news sent shockwaves around the college landscape and is another nail in the Big East's coffin.</p>
<p>The move also showcases the foresight of both Pitt and Syracuse and their decisions, last season, to leave the Big East. Whenever Notre Dame joins, they will play five ACC football games per year, on a rotating basis. Pitt has a longstanding agreement with the Irish. The teams agreed on a contract to play through 2017, but that is now in jeopardy. Pitt and Notre Dame have more history between the two schools than any other ACC teams can claim. While Pitt may not be able to play Notre Dame annually once they join the ACC, though, the move allows Pitt some scheduling flexibility in the future. But first, lets talk about the present and how the moves strengthens Pitt and the ACC.</p>
<p>Pitt fled to the ACC to gain stability. The Big East was, and still is, a mess. Pitt and Syracuse saw the writing on the wall and made the move. It was a smart move then, and now it looks even better. Rumors flared up over the spring concerning Florida State and Clemson leaving the ACC for the Big 12. Now, with a $50 million exit fee, that will be nearly impossible. Also, the league's television deal with ESPN will most likely be reviewed and renegotiated. Schools are going to receive more money because of Notre Dame's decision. Isn't that what college football is all about nowadays?</p>
<p>With Notre Dame, the ACC doesn't have to add another school. It can be perfectly content to have a 14-team football conference and a 15-team basketball conference. The basketball conference is now, without a doubt, the strongest in the nation. The league doesn't have to go out and add two schools that could water down the product. Schools like Louisville, Rutgers, and Connecticut were once viable options for teams 15 and 16, but those ships have effectively sailed.</p>
<p>Now with a stronger conference, Pitt will benefit. The Panthers already gained in money and in reputation when they joined the ACC. Now, they'll benefit even more. With the addition of Notre Dame, the ACC should be able to lure even more attractive bowl tie-ins, much better than those of the Big East.</p>
<p>There are also some indirect benefits Pitt will receive because of this deal. First, Notre Dame being scheduled once every three years allows Pitt to have West Virginia, Penn State, and Notre Dame on the schedule on a rotating basis. Its something I've been advocating for ever since Pitt and West Virginia announced their intentions to leave the Big East. No matter how much animosity there may be between some fans, those rivalry games are something fans circle on the calendar. Playing WVU one year, Penn State the next, and Notre Dame the third year would make too much sense for it not to happen.</p>
<p>Whether or not you consider Notre Dame a football power, its agreement with the ACC adds another prestigious football program to the conference, which is certainly lacking in that department. Even though it's a partial deal, it shows that the ACC is serious about strengthening its brand and creating its own destiny. All threats of another raid have been put to bed. Schools will get bigger paydays. The conference is more attractive in the college landscape. And most importantly, it is safe from expansion raids. The ACC has turned out to be a perfect fit. Wasn't that the goal of Pitt's administration all along?</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3322110/notre-dame-acc-expansion-pitt-footballPat O'Mahony2012-09-12T13:33:42-04:002012-09-12T13:33:42-04:00Departures Of Notre Dame, Pitt, WVU And Others A Disaster For Big East Basketball
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<p>The Big East took another hit on Wednesday when news surfaced that Notre Dame would be leaving the conference to join the ACC for all sports except football and hockey. The Irish will join Syracuse and Pittsburgh as Big East members fleeing the conference for the ACC, but it's still unclear if they will join on the same timetable as the Panthers and Orange. The Big East is currently saying the Irish must provide 27 months notice. Pitt will play its final season in the Big East this year.</p>
<p>The move means that another cornerstone basketball program is leaving, dealing a big blow to one of the original powerhouse hoops conferences. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3320548/notre-dame-acc-conference-realignment-big-east-basketball/in/3084603">Mike Rutherford of SB Nation discusses how</a> ND's departure affects the Big East on the hardwood:</p>
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<p>With Notre Dame, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia all hitting the road, the Big East will ultimately have lost a combined eight NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances. Compare that to new members Memphis, Temple, SMU, Houston and Central Florida, who have been combined for just one Final Four appearance since 1985 and zero total national championships.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most troubling aspect in all of this for the Big East is the increased likelihood of even more programs jumping ship.</p>
<p>The ACC is now stuck on the odd number of 15 for basketball, and programs like Connecticut or Georgetown (who would come with the added bonus of not muddying up the football numbers since they are not an FBS program) would seem likely candidates to even that out.</p>
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<p>While the Big East is left decimated, the Irish, Panthers, and Orange add to the depth of another historical power conference in basketball, creating new regional rivalries in the ACC. The scariest part of the Irish's departure, as Rutherford notes, is that other cornerstone programs remaining in the Big East will be looking to jump at the first invitation. Thankfully for Pitt fans, the Panthers are safely in and on board in the ACC.</p>
<p>In addition to the three ACC departures, the Big East also lost West Virginia to the Big 12. The Mountaineers promptly exited this summer, winning a battle with Louisville to get a Big 12 invite. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3320548/notre-dame-acc-conference-realignment-big-east-basketball/in/3084603" target="_blank">Rutherford also writes</a> that the Cardinals, a 2012 Final Four team, will be looking to make a move as soon as there's another round of expansion.</p>
<p><i>For more on Notre Dame's move to the ACC, be sure to check out their SB Nation blog,</i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.onefootdown.com/"><i><b>One Foot Down</b></i></a><i>. For more on Pitt and their move to the ACC, check out <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cardiachill.com/">Cardiac Hill</a>.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3321694/notre-dame-basketball-big-east-accBrendan Porath2012-09-12T13:21:57-04:002012-09-12T13:21:57-04:00Notre Dame Addition Good For ACC
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<p>Notre Dame will be joining the ACC as a full-time member of the conference in every sport except football, which will bring several benefits to both the school and its new conference.</p>
<p>While the football team has always remained independent, the rest of the school's athletics had been a member of the Big East. The ACC is a better fit for Notre Dame academically as well as geographically, because the Big East will soon have members from the West Coast. In addition, the sustainability of the Big East as a major football conference is in doubt, so the transfer will help a Notre Dame program on the rise.</p>
<p>With the transfer, the football team will also play five games a year against ACC schools, allowing Notre Dame to expand its recruiting base.</p>
<p>Via SB Nation's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/9/12/3320428/notre-dame-acc-football">college football hub</a>:</p>
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<p>Five games a year allows Notre Dame a good bit of latitude in preserving existing rivalries with USC, Navy, and Stanford, but also allows it to expand the recruiting base by reaching out into ACC territories -- most importantly Florida, one of the three chief talent pools for college football talent, and the talent-rich eastern seaboard.</p>
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<p>The ACC will gain a highly-visible football program that may be able to help the conference expand into the Northeastern football market, which it has struggled to do. While the football program may not be part of the conference in name, they are certainly tied closer to it than any other division in college football.</p>
<p>For more on Notre Dame's switch to the ACC, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2012/9/12/3320428/notre-dame-acc-football">read here</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more on Notre Dame's move to the ACC, be sure to check out the Fighting Irish SB Nation blog, </i><a href="http://www.onefootdown.com/" target="_blank"><i>One Foot Down</i></a><i>.</i></p>
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https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3321626/notre-dame-football-accMatt Brigidi2012-09-12T10:20:41-04:002012-09-12T10:20:41-04:00Notre Dame To Join ACC As Non-Football School
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<p>Notre Dame officially becomes a member of the ACC in all sports except football and hockey.</p> <p>The University of Notre Dame has elected to leave the Big East and join the ACC, according to an <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="http://www.theacc.com/genrel/091212aaa.html" target="_blank">official press release</a> by the Atlantic Coast Conference.</p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/notre-dame-fighting-irish" class="sbn-auto-link">Fighting Irish</a> joined the Big East Conference in 1995 as full member with the exception of football. They won't technically be a football school in the ACC, either, although <a href="http://twitter.com/McMurphyESPN/status/245878966039220224">they'll play</a> five football games per year against ACC teams.</p>
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<p>The Atlantic Coast Conference Council of Presidents has unanimously voted to accept the University of Notre Dame as a new member. The Irish will compete as full members in all conference sponsored sports with the exception of football which will play five games annually against league programs.</p>
<p>"We are committed to keeping the Atlantic Coast Conference a vibrant and competitive league dedicated to ensuring the appropriate balance of academics, athletics and integrity," said the ACC Council of Presidents in a joint statement. "The addition of Notre Dame further strengthens the rich tradition and culture of the ACC as well as allowing for future academic collaboration and we enthusiastically welcome them into the league."</p>
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<p>Notre Dame becomes the latest school to defect to the ACC after <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/pittsburgh-panthers" class="sbn-auto-link">Pitt</a>, which joined the Big East in 1982, announced in July that it would join the ACC next summer. After playing one another in the Big East, the Panthers and Fighting Irish will be reunited yet again in their new conference.</p>
<p><i>For more on Notre Dame's move to the ACC, be sure to check out their SB Nation blog, </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.onefootdown.com/"><i><b>One Foot Down</b></i></a><i>.</i></p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2012/9/12/3320474/notre-dame-acc-conference-realignmentBryan Crawford