Maryland is leaving ACC to join the Big Ten

Discussion in 'Women's College' started by WPS_Movement, Nov 18, 2012.

  1. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    This is all over the news, and is considered more than just rumors.
    The inside word out of College Park, Maryland is that it will be announced later in the week.
    Done deal, apparently by those in the know. Just have to dot the "i's" and cross the "t's" at this point.

    It's been agreed in principle.
    Now they just have to meet together and officially cast the vote.
    Behind the scenes, the Big Ten universities are cool with it, and Maryland wants to move to the Big Ten. The Big Ten wants the move, to capture the Washington D.C. market (in addition to Baltimore and Philadelphia, and it opens up more east coast recruiting), and Maryland brings great academics, and is also one of the better research institutions.
     
  2. upprv

    upprv Member

    Aug 4, 2004
    Sad. Sad. $ad.
     
  3. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    What is this sad?
     
  4. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    Oh I get it, I didn't see the $ sign at first.
     
  5. Morris20

    Morris20 Member

    Jul 4, 2000
    Upper 90 of nowhere
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    This is NOT a done deal at this point. Could it happen? Evidently. But it doesn't pay to underestimate Maryland's ability to shoot itself in the foot . . . at a minimum there's $50 million (that the Terps don't have) standing between UMD and the B1G at the moment. Could the Maryland AD have jumped the gun and messed up this deal blabbing to the press? Uh . . . yeah. Is there going to be serious opposition all the way to the state legislature to leaving the ACC? It seems there will be . . .

    Not that it couldn't happen (and good for Rutgers if it does), but it doesn't look like a done deal yet.
     
  6. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    Not good for Maryland women's soccer (ACC soccer is just so great) but of course it is football and revenues driving this deal. Coming from the northeast it just strikes me as an odd fit culturewise. Maryland is an urban diverse school compared with mostly white Big Ten schools sitting in the middle of cornfields. Coming from the northeast for me Maryland has a southern feel with crabs and "Yes Maams" more fitting with the ACC culture and that will be out of place in the Big Ten. Of course BC is in the ACC and it's not particularly southern and ND and Pitt aren't either.
     
  7. SoccerTrustee

    SoccerTrustee Member

    Feb 5, 2008
    Club:
    Everton FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Brazil
    UConn would be the logical northern replacement for Maryland. Louisville still would want in but that would be more unlikely. That would give the ACC Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Notre Dame in the next 1-3 years, and possibly UConn in the north. And then North Carolina, Duke, NC State, Wake Forest, Clemson, Miami, and Florida State in the south. Georgia Tech as well but no soccer.

    This would hurt Maryland as they won't have the draw of being in the ACC to their recruits. But that hasn't hurt a program like Penn State so maybe that could be overcome.
     
  8. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006

    I sure don't see that ACC being as big a draw as the current one.
     
  9. worthyofbeing1

    Oct 23, 2011
    college sports is becoming a complete joke. it's all about money.
     
  10. Morris20

    Morris20 Member

    Jul 4, 2000
    Upper 90 of nowhere
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    yeah, that's new . . . nice of you to notice.
     
  11. midwestfan

    midwestfan Member

    Dec 31, 2011
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Let's get back to talking soccer, if and when Maryland and Rutgers join. It will absolutely strengthen women's soccer in the Big Ten, um 14. If anything it might concern some of the weaker teams in the big ten because two strong programs are being added. What does it do to the bottom four?

    I do think that it enhamces recruiting across the board.

    CP, what would this do to the conference rank compared to the SEC, ACC, PAC 10 etc?
     
  12. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    It would move the Big Ten up to the #2 conference (behind the ACC of course).

    Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, Ohio State, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan State, are all programs that have made "multiple" trips to the NCAA tournament in just the past five years alone. I believe 7 of those 8 programs have made a Sweet 16 at some point within the past five years as well (even Minnesota made the Elite 8 one year, if I remember right).
     
  13. WPS_Movement

    WPS_Movement Member+

    Apr 9, 2008
    TV revenue would be through the ROOF.
    And Maryland would get their fair share.
    They just dropped a bunch of non-revenue (Olympic) sports.
    They could add those back soon.

    And that's what this is all about. TV revenue.
     
  14. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    I think that's the bottom line but there's more to it as well. The ACC is not stable right now - the Big 10-12-14 is/would be. So if you stick with the ACC on tradition, you could be left holding the bag. It's not just moving to more money - but more stable money and away from second class citizenship (why is EVERYTHING in NC) in a lower revenue producing league that may lose other schools (FSU) and revenue in the future. Add to this the current financial situation of UMd and that makes it extra attractive. The academic stuff is a big deal for some and could make the move palatable for others who would otherwise oppose it. (Of course none of these are original thoughts - all from the article I cited)
     
  15. Morris20

    Morris20 Member

    Jul 4, 2000
    Upper 90 of nowhere
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    There's no question, if you ignore the idea of actual kids traveling to actual games in Minnesota/Nebraska every season, it makes a ton of sense. Of course, they'll have to spend even more to try and catch up in football (haha), but they'll have far more revenue, even if they end up further in the red in the end. In terms of graduating kids who play women's soccer . . . well, it's not like the powers that be are going to let THAT get in the way of $5-10 million more (or even more than that!) per year.
     
    sitruc and fhrocks2005 repped this.
  16. fhrocks2005

    fhrocks2005 Member

    Aug 29, 2011
    Club:
    Sky Blue FC
    Not too many Maryland fans like the AD Kevin Anderson. This just shows why. I understand that revenue generating sports are priority but just takes the cake. They are going to lose top recruits in soccer and other sports as well.
     
  17. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006

    You think this is the AD's call?

    Haha.
     
  18. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006
    And....BOOM

    it's done.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...yland-big-ten-conference-realignment/1714169/
     
  19. Morris20

    Morris20 Member

    Jul 4, 2000
    Upper 90 of nowhere
    Club:
    Washington Freedom
    Exciting stuff . . . now Maryland will be making an extra $10-15 mil. per year (eventually, someone is gonna have to cough up some version of $50 mil. up front) but competing with programs spending $20 mil. a year more on average than their ACC opponents. Sounds like the Terps get to suck hind tit while th Big Ten Network garners an extra few million per school by expanding to the DC market.
     
    sitruc repped this.
  20. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    Not sure this is clear but the move is for the 2014-15 year.

    Apparently there is a difference of opinion on how "legal" the $50M exit fee is so I would assume that there will be litigation and a settlement. Would the NCAA get involved?
     
  21. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006

    Not likely, the BCS has frozen the NCAA out of any power, especially for Football, which is what this is about. . The NCAA are legally an unincorporated business association. There isn't really anything they can do.

    If the NCAA goes nose to nose with the B1G they lose.
     
  22. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    Thanks for that info.
     
  23. Cliveworshipper

    Cliveworshipper Member+

    Dec 3, 2006
  24. New Engalnd Nellie

    Mar 6, 2008
    UConn to the ACC next or is BC going to try to block it?
     

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