both public and from insiders and one confirms the other. It was Maryland first because (1)Wally Loh wanted the B1G, (2)MD was a shambles financially and (3) the TV market of DC/MD was the first piece to filling in the NE donut of the B1G TV footprint. It was Rutgers second because (1)they were also weak financially and (2) they filled the northern part of the NE donut of the B1G TV footprint. With MD and Rutgers in addition to PSU they filled the NE corridor from DC to NY and at the time the only game on the B1G mind was the upcoming renegotiation of the media deal. Giving PSU neighborhood partners was an added benefit but, it was not about smoothing any hurt feelings at PSU over the Sandusky matter. I am not doubting your colleague was given some story about UNC/UVA. Loh fed a lot of MD people BS to try and gain their support for the move as most were strongly against it. Fact is there was no time for the communication asserted to have taken place with UNC/UVA/GT in context of getting the deal done and maintaining the secrecy until the deal was done. If you check you will find the MD deal was approved by the board on a Monday and Rutgers followed suit the next day. Internally, Swofford tried to get Loh to slow down and see if there was an alternative but, the deal was done in Loh's mind. From a public perspective, you can Google and read a variety of interviews from that time on ESPN and various other publications through Delany's retirement perspective in the Athletic(2020 I think if memory serves). They confirm what I was told by people actually close enough to know and have shared with you above. None of that ever hinted at a play for UNC/UVA/GT. I think you will find if you check with your colleague that Duke, considered by some Maryland fans as their primary basketball rival was also thrown in those stories to gain acceptance from the Maryland fan base. It bothers me not that Maryland left but, rather how they left. The stories, like the one you were told, were fantasy concocted to soften the opposition to the move within the Maryland fan base.