Officials at Maryland, one of the original ACC members, said today that adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh will add to the conference's appeal and "marketing footprint."
Significantly, Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson said the school "would encourage a future expansion." It seems likely, doesn't it, that the ACC will move to 16 teams? Watching this unfold feels like seeing a movie where you already know the ending.
I said in an earlier post that Maryland's athletics identity has been largely shaped by its series with Duke, North Carolina and other ACC schools, particularly in basketball. But you can't be resistant to change -- especially not in this climate of flux. Obviously the conference will try to preserve the best elements of the old ACC. I still associate the ACC with eating barbecue and sugary tea in Greensboro, N.C., where the conference is headquartered.
"These two institutions are a great fit for the league based on the quality of the athletics programs and based on the quality of their academic reputations," Anderson said in a prepared statement. "We already compete against Pitt and Syracuse in a number of our sports and have appreciated the quality and sportsmanship of those teams."
More Anderson: "From a regional standpoint, adding these two high-quality schools will enhance the marketing footprint of the league. Both Pittsburgh and New York City will offer the conference new opportunities to attract fans in all our sports. We look forward to discussions about the future of the league and would encourage a future expansion."
University president Wallace Loh said the school "is proud to be a part of a conference that spans the entire eastern seaboard."