PITT to ACC?

[Crimson's Ghost]

Thats just how I feel, too. I think the ACC will be a great thing for interest and competitiveness.

[abpk2903]

Sorry Kurt but I couldn't get my jollies up for Duke, Virginia, North Carolina, or NC State coming to Happy Valley, either. I like the Michigan, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin matchups. Plus I don't even want to imagine PSU playing in the ACC in basketball.

[Crimson's Ghost]

well you compared the 4 worst teams in the ACC to the 4 best teams in the Big Ten.


I could say I really couldn't get excited about Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois and Northwestern and like playing Florida State, Virginia Tech, Miami and Clemson.


I get what your saying, though.

[abpk2903]

That was the point I was making to Kurts post comparing the worst of the Big Ten to the ACC:

I think the ACC will upgrade interest in Pitt football for their fans. I think Florida State(if they stay), UNC, Clemson(if they stay), Virginia Tech, and Miami will give Pitt fans more interest in coming to games and supporting teams. If all the teams stay, and if Texas and Notre Dame join I don't think Pitt will compete very well in football, but I think the beginning of the conference will see a rise in attendance and fan interest.

As for the Big 10. I agree it is a boring Sluggish brand of football that usually gets exposed in Big games. It didn't interest me prior to Penn State joining and i havent gained interest as the years have gone on. Call me crazy but I would much rather see Virginia Tech, Miami, Clemson, etc come to Happy Valley than Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, and Northwestern.

[KirkHerbstreit]

Point made, however, I'd take UNC, Virginia, and NC State over Indiana, Minnesota, and Northwestern every day of the week. Plus, I think Penn State vs. Vt Tech, Miami, Clemson, and Florida State would be awesome year in and out. Not to mention Pitt. In the long run, however, it won't happen so not worth discussing.

I don't see any team outside of Notre Dame coming in to the Big 10 and making a splash. There's not much left to pick from. I think the Big 10 waited to long and will probably remain at 12.

[abpk2903]

Kirk I'm not sure if you attended PSU or if so you did so recently but the amount of benefits of being in the Big Ten academically outweigh any athletic benefits, as a recent alum. The amount those 12 universities share research, networks, and knowledge is incredible. The libraries are set up if PSU libraries doesn't have access to books or articles but some other university in the Big Ten does you can as a student get access to that. A lot of the professors are doing research with other Big Ten professors. Most of the professors there have done their grad work at other Big Ten institutions. I know this is a point that TAE harps a lot on here but athletics is such a small part of being in the Big Ten. I would extremely disappointed if Penn State were to leave it. Plus I feel that rivalries are starting to take root in the Big Ten and starting over with teams like VT or FSU would really hurt the athletic programs. Lets not mention the amount of money Penn State receives for being a member of the Big Ten through bowl tie-ins, Big Ten networks, and high profile games.

[Crimson's Ghost]

The ACC is no slouch academically. I get the Big Ten's prestige there, but Duke and UVA, and UNC are very, very good schools.

[abpk2903]

I am no way saying they are. Duke and Northwestern are comparable. North Carolina and Michigan are comparable. The point I am making is it would take at least a decade for Penn State to get to the level academically with ACC schools they currently are with Big Ten schools. I am not even sure if the ACC has the academic side of things in place as well as the Big Ten does.

[Crimson's Ghost]

For the most part the ACC has a good deal of AAU caliber schools, in fact the thing that would make the most sense in the world, would be to trade Clemson for Vanderbilt. Vandy's overall academic level fits with the ACC, and the sleaziness of Clemson fits in with the SEC.

[The Ancient Enemy]

There is NO chance that Penn State leaves the Big Ten. Both parties tremendously benefit one another way, way, way too much.

Here's a very brief history lesson. The B10 was created by like-minded universities who wanted to work together to do scientific research, and share resources. Because of this, they play athletics against one another.

Most other conferences are the exact opposite, some even do not collaborate on the science side of the allegiances.

The Big Ten was, and will always be, run by crusty old white elitist snobs who hold their academic/scientific research MUCH higher than they do athletics. Now, that doesn't mean there's no focus on athletics. But the presidents are definitely more academia oriented.