Article out of Louisville with comments from Louisville officials and others which indicate that the ACC was apparently "blindsided" by loss of Maryland.Louisville looks to be very proactive in trying to get that league to invite them as Maryland's replacement.Link at http://www.courier-journal.com/article/ ... rence-home

Swofford is in circumstances whereby he has to find the most acceptable #14. UCONN may appear to be the most obvious choice. But he has to keep schools such as FSU and Clemson happy too. Louisville is in the running also, and certain ACC schools may prefer them over UCONN--- ummhhh, a FSU-BC coalition that may not prefer UCONN?

Swofford should give a frank phone call to B12 Commish Bowlsby (probably has already occurred) and garner exactly what are the B12's intentions for L'ville. It would be an obvious factor to consider in making a strategic decision. If the B12 has immediate intentions to move further east, that's something the ACC may want to know in further protecting its own.

How could the ACC actually gain under the current circumstances? Convince Notre Dame to add a few more ACC games and become a full conference member. It would be check-mate and no need for a newbe and retain themselves at 14. Shall ND comply? Nope, the ACC gave ND all it wanted, and them some, a few months ago.

The following could be speculation, it could have basis in fact, or it could indicate that we should offer to share his drugs.

http://www.eersauthority.com/expansion- ... the-brink/

Hartford Courant column discussing fight between Louisville and UConn over Maryland's ACC slot at http://articles.courant.com/2012-11-21/ ... -hierarchy

Mark Blaudschun blog article reporting that ACC is still mulling over it's next expansion move with another conference call scheduled for next Monday at http://ajerseyguy.com/?p=3756

The ACC should go with UConn and Louisville for all sports

FranktheTank blog article(previously posted in another thread) discussing ACC realignment rumors at http://frankthetank.wordpress.com

Frank,

Interesting reading, and you provided thoughtful perspectives. Frank posts here at times. I particularly like him introducing the BE "split" commentaries that could come from the angle of the bb Catholic institutions, because that factor can sometimes get overlooked a bit and it is often speculated when, what, and how such may triggered.

I tend to believe the ACC may just go with adding UCONN, for the moment, taking the conservative approach, and believing they can afford to wait for anything beyond that. However, I would not embrace this at 100% necessarily, since the ACC has gone with multiple additions before, and the internal rumblings in the ACC may show clear divisions in sentiment.

At the time Notre Dame was being approved for ACC admission excluding full fb, and the extraordinary exit fees were adapted, Maryland and FSU were potentially showing they were viable for other options, but perhaps not the same. I do believe the ACC, with some of its recent expansion activities and revenue-related negotiations, may have not been listening well to the sensitivities of all of its internal voices. It perceptually and operationally remains a North Carolina based conference, and that has been an internal, conflicting element that has manifested itself into the open at times over the decades.

CBSSports blog article discussing ACC expansion at http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... per-source

The ACC needs to be smart about this next move, if 14 is the number they are looking to remain for some amount of time. This is where the conference needs to recall Machiavellian tactics to emphatically end the Big East's life by ripping the lone, remaining eastern school that fields both football and basketball. It's time to tap UConn.

If the ACC goes soft on academics and enlists Louisville, it leaves schools like UConn, UMass, Navy, and Army out there to rebuild under a different banner that will complicate both the ACC and Big Ten's place in the region. It's not that these programs are big time by national standards...they are just big schools in considerable markets, and they are flagships. What you get with UL, Cincy, Memphis, Houston, USF, and whatnot...that's old C-USA...let it rot out there in the wilderness that is the mid-south.

Add Temple to the list of eastern all-sports schools that would be remaining.

Here's a thought Notre Dame could be telling Swofford. Add Navy to the ACC for fb only. It replaces a school in the State of Maryland for fb, keeps #s' balanced, adds a permanent ND opponent for fb, no academic issues, and a name with strong national recognition. ND would love hybrid company for the other end.

For the ACC though, adding UCONN fits the mantra best.

UConn, Louisville for all sports gets them to 15. Notre Dame (all but FB) / Navy (FB only) makes 16 all-sports members. Worthy of consideration....

It sort of cancels the hybrid situation brought about by Notre Dame. Would Navy stand up to 8 ACC FB opponenets per year ? that's tough sledding for a military school.

ACC MB thread discussing unconfirmed ACC expansion report at http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=602464

CBSSports blog article reporting that ACC has sued Maryland for it's exit fee money at http://cbssports.com/collegefootball/bl ... lina-court

Well, Maryland can file a counter-suit in Baltimore or elsewhere in MD. While the ACC has headquarters in the State of North Carolina, Maryland may challenge that jurisdiction (remember what WVU did per leaving the BE). UM is a State of Maryland institution, and the ACC is not all State of North Carolina entities. The State of North Carolina rules that Maryland must pay? How is a North Carolina State court going to enforce it (another State insitution) without federal court?

Such may end up before some Judge who shall direct them to engage in a negotiated agreement/compromise or possibly ask both parties to agree to accept the terms from a binding arbitrator.