In other news, BC grad and Philly blogger Enrico is subject of a nice write up in the Inquirer. Even if you don't follow Philly sports, his blog the 700 Level is worth checking out.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
ACC invites and other links
Even though the ACC had a decent showing in out of conference play, the perception outside the conference is that the ACC is down. Take a look at this post in the Big Lead that focuses on BC. You're going to hear a lot more of this line of thinking as the season progresses. In my opinion the problem lies with the disappointments like NC State and UVA. When preseason favorites fail to live up to hype and flawed teams like Miami make early runs, the conference appears to be down. Consensus seems to be that the ACC will get five teams in the tournament. I think that's fair, but it is way too early. There is still a chance that six and maybe even seven ACC teams will be dancing in March.
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11 comments:
I'm still reeling from BC's decision to leave the Big East, which is clearly the more competitive and entertaining conference
Entertaining? Perhaps, but attendance at sporting events are up since the move to the ACC. Competitive? Perhaps in basketball, but football is just WVU and everybody else.
The ACC provides a financial stability that the Big East doesn't. The payouts, bowl tie-ins and locations of the away games are more rewarding. A strong upgrade overall.
Hello Alicia:
We have discussed BC's decision on this blog before, of course. In my mind, the problems started right out of the gate, because the Big East was conceived as a BASKETBALL conference primarily.
The Big East was founded in 1979 when Providence, St. John's, Georgetown, and Syracuse invited Seton Hall, Connecticut, and Boston College to form a conference primarily focused on basketball. Villanova joined a year later in 1980 and Pittsburgh joined in 1982.
Big East regents rejected Penn State's application for admission into the Big East in 1982, since the conference at that time was only focused on basketball. This turned out to be a huge mistake for the Big East, in my opinion.
It wasn't until a decade later the Big East was serious about becoming a major football conference and added five schools, including Miami, Temple, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Rutgers - Penn State ended up joining the Big Ten Conference. The inaugural Big East football season was launched in 1991. West Virginia and Rutgers were football-only members until 1995, Virginia Tech was a football-only member until 2001, with Temple remaining a football-only member until consistently failing to attract enough fan support and vacating its membership in 2004. Notre Dame was also offered a non-football membership as of 1995.
This led to an unusual structure since not all members of the conference competed in Division I-A (now FBS) football. This had long led to (rumors of) instability.
I was never comfortable with the Big East - especially in football. Our move to the ACC seems like a great fit - and don't forget the Academic Goals of the ACC Consortium as well (12 Universities with Global Goals).
It actually looks like a good move for both conferences.
Hi, I should clarify that I was referring to basketball since that's what the post was about. When BC left the Big East, I understand that it was a smart move for them b/c ACC=better football=money; however, as a hoops fan first, it was still disappointing.
Living in NYC, I certainly miss having the conference tournament in my backyard. But I do not miss BC being in Big East basketball, especially given the Big East conference's bloating to 16 teams.
Also, I hardly find the Big East venues more entertaining than the ACCs. Have you ever attended a game at Gampel Pavillion? I feared for my life when we ran them out of the gym in 03.
Having attended many games at both Conte and Gampel- there's no comparison in terms of great atmosphere to watch a game. Gampel is 1000 times better, rowdy fans and all.
I have to respectfully disagree. Pound for pound, I'd take an ACC venue for bball over a Big East arena anyday. More history, more tradition, great atmosphere.
Cameron Indoor? new Comcast Center? Dean Smith Center?
Hello Alicia:
You're right - I should have limited my comments to basketball.
But really the original idea for the conference could have come together differently, also. It's always fun in hindsight to realign these conferences to one's own personal opinion.
Basketball-wise - without ever thinking forward to football, it might have been a good idea to invite Rhode Island and Holy Cross in 1979 (I vaguely remember HC being excluded, so the league wouldn't be predominently Catholic Schools.)
Most of these schools also had a relationship with Fordham, St. Joseph's and St. Bonaventure. It's funny how the idea of the (Big)EAST moved out to include Pittsburgh, West Virginia and Virginia Tech - and south on to Miami.
That many of these schools were Catholic - so what. There were some great rivalries in this alignment as well. Sorry for digressing.
I don't think the Big Lead's post says anything we don't know. 9-7 we're in, 8-8 we're probably out. I think there are at least six wins still out there.
Sorry to be a jerk with multiple posts. Brian is right on.
I'm going to the UNC game next Thursday at the Dean Dome - what a fantastic place. Also, I'm going up to Clemson to check out Littlejohn Coliseum. The RBC Center in Raleigh is top-notch, and I'll be going to Atlanta at some point to check out Alexander Coliseum at Georgia Tech. ACC venues are great. Someday I'll get to Cameron. Others are great as well - MD, VA, etc.
I never had any desire to go to UConn or Syracuse. The professional center where Geogetown played was terrible.
Word- the MCI Center is huge and sterile.
Though the Big East may have more legit Tourny teams up and down the board, in terms of atmosphere, NOTHING beats the ACC.
The Dean Dome and Maryland's Comcast Center are filthy places to play, and there is no better environment for college sports than Cameron Indoor.
GT, WF, UVA all aren't shabby either.
In terms of tradition, fan fervor/atmosphere, and for the most part (save perhaps Clemson, Miami, FSU) a legitimate step up in terms of quality of academics close to BC, the ACC is a more superior conference (without even considering football).
Still needs some getting used too, but is a nice fit.
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