Sounds cliche, but the ACC wasn't "protecting the brand." It's kinda like when you are dating someone that is above your station; and everybody knows it, including the person you are dating. In short order, you start to compromise yourself in ways you never would if you were dating someone on your plane so to speak. Well, that's how I felt about the ND invite from the start. Everyone kept saying," well, the Big XII would have given them the deal." My response was, "well, then let them give it to them." While I respect all that Notre Dame is, I didn't somehow get any bigger thrill playing them home and home than I did Ohio State or LSU. BTW, with my own children, I semi-jokingly tell them when they're on their way out the door, "Don't damage the brand." Or, if I hear a good report about them, I tell them, "You improved the brand." Or if someone is talking **** out there about any of us, I tell them, "You protect the brand." They kinda get a kick out of it and have "bought in." LOL. genius parenting.