From yesterday's Post and Courier: "Why Clemson believes the word 'is' could punch a loophole in the ACC's contract with ESPN "Clemson's attorneys seem poised to focus on an exceptionally mundane term: the word "is." "In recently revealed paragraphs of Clemson's April 17 complaint — which were previously redacted because they might contain "trade secrets" — the university asserts the ACC's deal with ESPN only conveyed the broadcast rights to games played by a "conference institution." That is defined in the ESPN contract as a "college, university or other institution that is a member of the ACC." "Emphasis on the word "is," the university's lawyers say. "If the Tigers left the ACC, they wouldn't be a "conference institution" in the present tense — "is" — as written in the ESPN deal. According to Clemson's lawyers, the ESPN contract doesn't speak to a school that "was" a member. "This fleshes out an argument Clemson has been making since it filed its lawsuit in Pickens County in March: That the ACC might "irrevocably" own members' broadcast rights, "regardless" of whether they remain in the league for the entirety of the ESPN deal, as the grant of rights says." Just sharing - I didn't sleep in a Holiday Inn last night so I have no idea if the argument is valid.