ACC Coaches Love Expansion

The ACC’s most recent expansion on Sunday ran smoothly, unlike the drawn-out, slightly combative situation that started in 2003 and led to the conference building to 12 teams by 2005.

In 2004, when a vote among ACC presidents was taken to decide if the conference should add members, two of nine schools — Duke and North Carolina — were opposed to expansion. This time, support was unanimous at the start for the decisions that led to Syracuse and Pittsburgh being added after they chose to leave the Big East Conference.

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke’s basketball coach, wasn’t completely sold on expansion in 2003, but this time welcomed two schools with outstanding basketball programs. He praised Commissioner John Swofford and ACC officials for their work in building the conference to 14 teams.

“For us to have such strong leadership in place within our conference is magnificent, Krzyzewski said. The addition of two prestigious academic institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University, coupled with their great tradition in athletics, is a real coup for the ACC.”

The ACC’s presidents voted unanimously to accept Syracuse and Pittsburgh, after they filed formal applications for admittance late last week. Teresa Sullivan, Virginia’s president, said that the ACC grew stronger by adding the two schools.

“There are many important factors that we consider before inviting new members, Sullivan said. Among them are the institution’s commitment to academics, its athletic track record and geographical location. Both Syracuse and Pittsburgh are good fits for our conference.”

Dick Baddour, North Carolina’s athletics director, is a member of the ACC committee that helped start the work on adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh. The committee voted 12-0 in favor of recommending that the conference seriously look into expansion after learning that 10 schools were interested in moving to the ACC.

“I appreciate the work and preparation that the conference has done to put us in position to invite and accept Pittsburgh and Syracuse into the ACC, Baddour said. The ACC has been one of the top conferences for more than 50 years and (Sunday’s) additions will strengthen the league and help each of the current members sustain our outstanding programs in the future.”

Kevin White, Duke’s athletics director, said that the ACC made a bold move at a time when instability and uncertainty are building in college football. White called Swofford’s decision to add Syracuse and Pittsburgh “visionary leadership” that will strengthen the ACC in both athletics and academics for the future.

“To be sure, from the Duke perspective, we are ecstatic about the addition of these extraordinary institutions, White said. Pittsburgh and Syracuse provide the best fit, at the right time, for the ACC.”

The conference will now have a presence in New York, where about 44, 000 Syracuse alumni live in New York City, and in Pennsylvania, a state that has produced a large number outstanding high-school football players and basketball players.

And that can only help everyone in the ACC, according to David Cutcliffe, Duke’s football coach.

“Strengthening the foundation of our league has been a priority, and we’ve accomplished that goal, Cutcliffe said. The University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University have tremendous traditions in both academics and athletics, and we are proud to have both schools join the ACC.”

At least one ACC football coach, North Carolina’s Everett Withers, was willing to wait before passing judgment on expansion.

“I’m just trying to get to 4-0, Withers said after UNC beat Virginia on Saturday for its third win in three games. I’m just trying to coach this team. Somebody tell me who we play next.”

ACC Coaches Love Expansion

Winston-Salem Journal, Bill Cole

http://www2.journalnow.com/sports/2011/sep/20/wssport01-administrators-coaches-praise-acc-expans-ar-1409960/

The ACC’s most recent expansion on Sunday ran smoothly, unlike the drawn-out, slightly combative situation that started in 2003 and led to the conference building to 12 teams by 2005.

In 2004, when a vote among ACC presidents was taken to decide if the conference should add members, two of nine schools — Duke and North Carolina — were opposed to expansion. This time, support was unanimous at the start for the decisions that led to Syracuse and Pittsburgh being added after they chose to leave the Big East Conference.

Mike Krzyzewski, Duke’s basketball coach, wasn’t completely sold on expansion in 2003, but this time welcomed two schools with outstanding basketball programs. He praised Commissioner John Swofford and ACC officials for their work in building the conference to 14 teams.

“For us to have such strong leadership in place within our conference is magnificent, Krzyzewski said. The addition of two prestigious academic institutions such as the University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University, coupled with their great tradition in athletics, is a real coup for the ACC.”

The ACC’s presidents voted unanimously to accept Syracuse and Pittsburgh, after they filed formal applications for admittance late last week. Teresa Sullivan, Virginia’s president, said that the ACC grew stronger by adding the two schools.

“There are many important factors that we consider before inviting new members, Sullivan said. Among them are the institution’s commitment to academics, its athletic track record and geographical location. Both Syracuse and Pittsburgh are good fits for our conference.”

Dick Baddour, North Carolina’s athletics director, is a member of the ACC committee that helped start the work on adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh. The committee voted 12-0 in favor of recommending that the conference seriously look into expansion after learning that 10 schools were interested in moving to the ACC.

“I appreciate the work and preparation that the conference has done to put us in position to invite and accept Pittsburgh and Syracuse into the ACC, Baddour said. The ACC has been one of the top conferences for more than 50 years and (Sunday’s) additions will strengthen the league and help each of the current members sustain our outstanding programs in the future.”

Kevin White, Duke’s athletics director, said that the ACC made a bold move at a time when instability and uncertainty are building in college football. White called Swofford’s decision to add Syracuse and Pittsburgh “visionary leadership” that will strengthen the ACC in both athletics and academics for the future.

“To be sure, from the Duke perspective, we are ecstatic about the addition of these extraordinary institutions, White said. Pittsburgh and Syracuse provide the best fit, at the right time, for the ACC.”

The conference will now have a presence in New York, where about 44, 000 Syracuse alumni live in New York City, and in Pennsylvania, a state that has produced a large number outstanding high-school football players and basketball players.

And that can only help everyone in the ACC, according to David Cutcliffe, Duke’s football coach.

“Strengthening the foundation of our league has been a priority, and we’ve accomplished that goal, Cutcliffe said. The University of Pittsburgh and Syracuse University have tremendous traditions in both academics and athletics, and we are proud to have both schools join the ACC.”

At least one ACC football coach, North Carolina’s Everett Withers, was willing to wait before passing judgment on expansion.

“I’m just trying to get to 4-0, Withers said after UNC beat Virginia on Saturday for its third win in three games. I’m just trying to coach this team. Somebody tell me who we play next.”