WVU, they drive fans and compelling content.

Once we needed to replace Maryland, WVU was not available. So it was between Connecticut and Louisville. But the next window to consider WVU is now, basically 2023. They have a break in their GOR. There is an exit fee from the Big XII, and that would have to be worked through, but the GOR is the bigger deal. ** Edited by HOO86 at 9/8/2022, 10:07:37 AM

the ACC decided to raid the Big East.

UNC and Duke didn't think we had the academics. No way WV got in

clinged to their "academic" snobbery. If the ACC had realized that rivalries is the ONLY way the ACC could improve the value of its football product, then it would see that WVU has more "value" than BC. Especially if the ACC's end game was to eventually add Pitt and Syracuse who both have a rivalry with WVU. Plus, it would be 1 less private school at the negotiation table with ESPN. Also, it would have impacted not only how the divisions would look in football, but likely impact whether the ACC would keep the divisions for sports like basketball. Remember the only reason VT and UVA were placed in the same division for football is because the ACC wanted to maintain the same divisions for other sports too (i.e. basketball). Since VT and UVA wanted to be able to play each other twice per season as a conference game in basketball, the only way that could be achieved is the 2 schools had to be in the same division for football. Here's how the divisions would have most likely looked if WVU was added instead of BC. Atlantic/Coastal (protected pairings) WVU - UMD VT - UVA Wake - Duke NC State - UNC Clemson - GT FSU - Miami or Miami - FSU (take your pick here) When it came time for the ACC to add Pitt and Syracuse, then it is obvious who would end up in which division. Atlantic/Coastal (protected pairings) Pitt - Syracuse WVU - UMD VT - UVA Wake - Duke NC State - UNC Clemson - GT FSU - Miami or Miami - FSU (take your pick here)

Problem is vocal minority of acc against if Its the 4 carolina schools - and they are vocal and no one wants to say hell with them. Same bunch that split from the southern in 1950 . This is led by unc - go figure-

NC State scheduled WVU. The Carolina schools can now see how the WVU fans would help sell their tickets. I thinks there was a time when the Carolina schools were against it, but not as much anymore. What everyone wants is opportunity to increase revenue. Plus adding options that don't cause excessive travel is a plus that they see. ** Edited by HOO86 at 9/8/2022, 10:14:40 AM

next best thing, ignoring the gap between them...

If they want to be a part of the channel and broadcast of all of their games and matches on the network, they would. Part of joining the ACC these days is joining the network. And we have 14 years left of the network. So yes they would for that 14 years.

Conference affiliation is becoming way less of a permanent deal. It's evolving more into a short term, "What can you do for me right now?" deal. In the ACC's case, "right now" is the next decade+, which is about as long term as you're going to get (Outside the Power 2, which isn't really accessible for the vast majority of lower conference schools.) ** Edited by hokieZ71 at 9/8/2022, 12:47:05 PM

I know that some of these media pundits want to declare the ACC unstable. They've been trying for 20 years to do that. But the ACC has a media deal for another 14 years including a linear channel backed by Disney. It's the PAC12 and Big XII who don't. ** Edited by HOO86 at 9/8/2022, 12:55:57 PM

If they are offered and think it is to their benefit to join, GOR won't be an impediment

That the WVU-Pitt game peaked briefly at 5 million viewers! Anybody else hear this too?

Ratings may have been higher if not going up against Penn State.

You don’t really think Jim Phillips is reading this board, do you? I gotta hand it to you …you never stop about the WVU thing but…. As said many times, it’s all about the dollars … if they can be added with nobody else losing bucks and frankly with an incremental increase ….if so then lobby the commissioner and all the ACC presidents and espn especially…but this message board ain’t gonna get it done

It's not my goal to create any actual change by posting about things here. Just mainly to take my thoughts and put them out in writing. The ACC is in a deal that by the year increasingly favors ESPN at the detriment of ACC members. The Big XII is said to be forcing ESPN's hand by holding a new contract negotiation over ESPN's head to allow Texas and Oklahoma to leave for the SEC one year early. Granted, just a year or two early before their contract expires, but the Big XII is trying to create more revenue for the lesser teams remaining in their conference by allowing ESPN to realize more value elsewhere. The Big XII's motto should literally be "We Aren't That Important" By adding WVU, the ACC could at least lock up the only real regional rivalries that exist in the Eastern Time Zone outside the SEC. (Remember, the B1G is no longer signed to a media rights contract with ESPN). The WVU-Pitt TV ratings just gave the ACC a huge bargaining chip in these negotiations were the ACC to expand. Cincinnati as a partner is a lesser WVU (rivalry is there with Louisville, but that's about it), but Cincinnati does bring a larger TV market and entry into a larger state for the ACC Network. That does matter to ESPN. Along with the whole locking down regional eastern time zone competition thing. Whereas the Big XII is trying to create value for their existing members by giving another conference early access to their own major brands (Texas and OU to the SEC), the ACC could simply create value by adding regional rivals to enhance its content virtually across the board. I figure the only opponents that wouldn't see a real boost in ratings vs WVU would be GT, Duke, Wake and Syracuse. There's no way the ACC adds WVU and Cincinnati and other ACC teams lose money. There should be a bump because it makes ACC content more valuable and the ACC Network more profitable. Again, just posting my thoughts. Not trying to sway the ACC office in any way.

You make several good points … Maybe you should be focusing on trying to sway the ACC! 👍 I also, as many, understand the chicken or egg first analogy that could be taken here… can the addition of schools, such as the ones you mention, become linchpins that allow us to negotiate what would turn out to be a net incremental increase for each team?… although it may not be on day one…. Tech needs to play the long game and so does the ACC. I believe tech needs to promote itself in every possible way and set themselves apart from any and all other ACC schools because of that looming possibility that there’s a war looming between the SEC & the slime 10…want to be in that Backup position of Being courted. …and ACC needs to promote itself as the complete major sports conference, in football of course by just winning etc and!! the leader in basketball — with a CLEAR end goal target of owning the territory in basketball…..and owning the revenue…why can’t the acc own its own Basketball invitational end of season tourney? Or why can’t the ACC lobby to change the dialogue or post season basketball soas that ACC gets majority of the playoff spots…because we are the best in Basketball or so the dialogue would go. Sorry, I just see that Wvu and or Cincinnati are short term Bandaids and not. CHANGING THE BIG PICTURE GOAL to actually win out over the sec and the slime 10. I know, waaay out of the Box thinking But there’s this guy named I believe Warren he came to the slime 10 and had his own out-of-the-box thinking claimed foe “alliances” all the while working the channels to slime anybody in his way to achieve superiority. Sounds like a lot of drama but the reality is that’s what they did …the question is is the ACC up to the task of changing the dialogue and reaping their own major revenues out of a downstream basketball postseason changing of the guard? Finally for now nope I’m not gonna go to the ACC or the ACC presidents or any of the things I suggested you do to work this issue!🤔🤣 …like you by mentioning it here you need somebody that’s a game changer and not afraid of taking risk… do those types of executives and leaders exist in the ACC? I don’t know but whoever is in the leadership role better be working some angles other than just adding a team here and a team there that’s how you force an ESPN or for the long game any networks for that matter to pay big bucks to be involved with the ACC. Me Thinks.