FSU lawsuit: ACC had ‘self-dealing’ with then-commissioner, son
by Matt Baker Times Staff
FSU suggested former commissioner John Swofford made a TV deal to help his son’s employer.
“Florida State University has upped its legal rhetoric against the ACC, accusing the conference and now-former commissioner John Swofford of “self-dealing” with its TV deal and his son. That allegation came in a 59-page amended complaint FSU filed Monday evening in Leon County Circuit Court. It was the latest update in a weeks-long legal battle between FSU and its conference home since 1991 — a dispute that isn’t expected to end anytime soon. FSU’s complaint of self-dealing centered on Swofford, his son, the ACC’s lower-tier media rights and Raycom Sports. It requires some background.”
29 Replies
2y
Even message board posters questioned the relationship.
** Edited by reestuart at 1/31/2024, 9:53:38 AM
(In response to this post by WBGV)
2y
is something quite different from finding real evidence of it. Could FSU have found emails, telephone transcripts, meeting notes/minutes, witnesses to conversations? As FSU proceeds in this case, those who oppose them continue to quickly brush aside any possibility that the 'Noles might actually have a case. We are all entitled to an opinion.
Why are there formal actions in North Carolina and Virginia regarding the process for schools moving to other conferences? Somebody believes that The ACC is about to lose members. Not everyone on this board thinks the 'Noles will fail. Discussions frequently involve predictions of who goes where. For those who continue to dispute the true holder of the title: "Third Highest Media Contract," I suggest that you look down the road about two years from now and ask that same question. Does it matter?
(In response to this post by reestuart)
2y
FSU and other schools had to be. No way a conflict of interest concern wasn't brought up. At that point, Swofford would have had to show why it wasn't.
I think the ACC is DOA no matter what, but the FSU outrage is funny to me.
(In response to this post by 33laszlo99)
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Vippie1
2y
is to use the words witch hunt and disgrace.
I mean that sounds like pretty weak sauce.
(In response to this post by WBGV)
2y
It didn’t sit right then and still doesn’t. I’m happy to see someone call it out like FSU did in their amended filing.
Also, it’s interesting the ultimatum from ESPN might have been a lie by Swofford all along. I’m curious to see if any evidence about that gets made public.
(In response to this post by WBGV)
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daveinop
2y
ESPN was making presentations to the group
(In response to this post by hokieball)
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TDVick
2y
questioned these deals. Flugaur was reading the Forbes article. Perhaps FSU has a solid case.
Swofford part starts at 57:00 mark
** Edited by TDVick at 1/30/2024, 8:35:49 PM
Link:
Flugaur
(In response to this post by WBGV)
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SMU Pony
2y
....they would've thought to include it in their original filing, no?
(In response to this post by TDVick)
2y
keep the story fresh and illustrate the corruption. When this deal was originally made, many here (and on other ACC fan sites) pointed out that the gift to Raycom smacked of corrupt self dealing and a willing giveaway of revenue. Anyone can see that requiring ESPN to involve a joke distributor like Raycom was a complete farce and didn't serve the interest of any ACC school. If Raycom was a valuable partner, the SEC would have kept some distribution with them...but only one conference CEO's child was working for Raycom at the time.
** Edited by JohnsonCItyHokie at 1/31/2024, 12:40:16 AM
(In response to this post by SMU Pony)
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daveinop
2y
for the natives
Swafford was on the hot seat until he made the ND deal. FSU needed to make the move then...could have walked when Maryland did for the same exit fee.
None of this is an issue until the SEC and B1G got the really big money...that and playing their only good QB in a meaningless late season game
(In response to this post by JohnsonCItyHokie)
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TDVick
2y
about the ineffective negotiations. The optics look really bad right now and have for over ten + years. Once discovery and depositions get started I think this is going to look REALLY BAD.
** Edited by TDVick at 1/31/2024, 3:57:28 AM
(In response to this post by JohnsonCItyHokie)
2y
can roll-out one-by-one. Or they may have nothing, in which case this is a genius bluff. It sends The ACC on a wild goose chase looking for the damning evidence that may, or may not exist. Even if The ACC finds nothing, they may want to settle just out of caution. Discovery is a crapshoot. If they do find the evidence, they will settle quickly to quash the disclosure with an NDA. (My apologies to the attorneys on-board. I know I'm out of my depth.)
(In response to this post by SMU Pony)
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daveinop
2y
** Edited by daveinop at 1/31/2024, 1:41:15 PM
(In response to this post by 33laszlo99)
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HOO86
2y
If talking about nepotism from way back before FSU signed the Grant of Rights willingly is all they have, spare us the drama. It's boring. Maybe not to Fluguar. But to most.
We know the ACC dealt with Raycom for 30 years before FSU signed the GOR to do a new deal for the ACC Network. John Swofford was friends with Ken Haines. ESPN got all of those rights back except what Fox had left. We're also talking Tier 3 stuff ESPN wasn't going to air.
Now the ACC is working with the CW to do stuff with that part now that Fox Sports and Ballys are not still viable. FSU was around for all of this with no complaints.
(In response to this post by 33laszlo99)
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SMU Pony
2y
The ACC/Raycom deal was far from a secret dating back over a decade. FSU has known about it this entire time but just now raised the issue in 2024 because the Big Ten and SEC got significantly better TV deals in 2022.
Statute of limitations, laches, waiver and estoppel are all defenses I can see the ACC raising here (and to many of FSU’s other claims)
(In response to this post by 33laszlo99)
2y
He doesn’t get everything right, but he is always seems to be way ahead of the curve. Also, he isn’t afraid to acknowledge that his sources are at times wrong.
There was a lot of ACC content on his show today.
(In response to this post by TDVick)
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daveinop
2y
He has to put stuff out at a greater volume than it happens in order to make a living; so the only way to do that is speculate. That's what almost all of the radio talking heads do. And here he cites an article that uses the number of pages to connote significance. That author is either stupid or assumes the reader is. And GF clearly doesn't have much for sources in the ACC and SEC. If the appointees on FSU's board will feed him anything, he'll put it out; and have folks like you shill it for him. He's also smart enough to know that people will believe information that fits their own sense of right/wrong.
(In response to this post by WBGV)
2y
about conference realignment that few can match. He was reporting USC to the B1G long before anyone else. He was reporting Colorado and Arizona to the Big 12 long before anyone else. He was reporting about the implosion of the PAC-12 which some on this board claimed could never happen right up to the very day it did happen. He has been reporting on FSU for the last year and that now seems to be coming to fruition. His track record speaks for itself so I certainly don’t need to defend it. The fact that you feel that it is necessary to attack his credibility because you don’t like the information that he is now sharing says more about you than him.
(In response to this post by daveinop)
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daveinop
2y
he reports what he gets from his contacts and sources (some better than others) and if you want to isolate on the B1G, he's actually pretty good. If he says FSU has an offer from the B1G, I'd probably believe him.
But right now he's trying to pay the bills by feeding info from the FSU board and someone (I'd guess influential donor) at Clemson. He obviously has zero contact inside the ACC offices (he wasn't ahead of the curve on the ACC adds); they aren't feeding him info like Yormark did. And FSU is not in a good position, legally; no one needs an inside contact to figure that out. If "Look what Swafford did in 2010!" is FSU's best counterpunch...
(In response to this post by WBGV)
2y
They site events but their opinion of why they occurred doesn't really carry any weight. They would need emails, witnesses, etc
The ACC working in a way to preserve itself as a priority, rather than maximize revenues at all costs, is not unreasonable. Most companies and organizations focus on survival first, performance second.
** Edited by VT ChemE 1986 at 1/30/2024, 7:32:34 PM
(In response to this post by WBGV)
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HOO86
2y
This is not new. FSU had a vote on that , and they cast their vote. They were overruled. 12 others said yes. You don't always get what you want.
Griping about Swofford's actions when FSU was crappy in football during Bobby Bowden's last years is not relevant. FSU signed the Grant of Rights with explicit knowledge of all of the things in their whine.
They need to add that John Swofford was stupid enough to expect FSU to play decent football that he put the ACC football championship in Jacksonville, FL costing the ACC millions due to FSU's misleading illusion of quality football.
** Edited by HOO86 at 1/30/2024, 6:06:05 PM
** Edited by HOO86 at 1/30/2024, 6:06:46 PM
(In response to this post by WBGV)
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HOO86
2y
However the football championship was put in Jacksonville for Florida State. One of the only consistent ways to sellout Jaguar Stadium at the time was with a FSU game. FSU was 20 years in the ACC by that time, and Miami was brand new to the ACC.
(In response to this post by VTCALS72)
2y
“Nearly two weeks after the Atlantic Coast Conference raised the stakes in its legal battle with Florida State University by filing an amended complaint in North Carolina Superior Court, the Seminoles fired back with a return volley Monday evening. And it was a scorcher. In a 59-page amended complaint for declaratory judgment — 21 pages longer than the original complaint Florida State filed in December — the university took sharp aim at former ACC Commissioner John Swofford for a number of allegedly self-serving actions it says cost member schools millions upon millions of dollars. FSU’s attorneys also rebutted several claims from, and questioned the legality of, the ACC’s complaint.” - Ira Schoffel
(In response to this post by WBGV)