A good article from TOS talking about what went wrong for the league
They spend a good deal of time talking about how we need our own Finebaum, but they miss the point of what that means. Finebaum is huge because SEC fans talk and care about football 24-7.
For example, the 3rd highest ACC team in attendance is Virginia Tech at 64k per game. That would rank 10th in the SEC last year, and 12th now with Texas & OU. FSU & Clemson are our top 2 in Attendance, but they'd rank 8th & 9th in the SEC, which is now 10th & 11th with OU and Texas. Louisville & UNC are close 5th/6th in ACC attendance with around 51k per game. That would rank second to last in the SEC only ahead of Vandy.
The league generally failed in its additions over time. Miami & Virginia Tech not living up to being elite programs is generally what hurt the league. They had great teams, but took huge steps back as they've gone into the ACC. The ACC was banking on FSU & Miami being like Ohio State-Michigan or like what Florida-Bama was when Tebow was playing. They then were banking on teams like Virginia Tech, Clemson, NC State, Virginia, & Maryland all being behind them as solid opponents. But when the top of the league failed, it carried down. And then the issue of the bottom tier teams became a bigger issue. When there isn't pressure to win, it carries over to everyone.
Imagine in 2004 when the ACC was hitting it's stride and it was possibly looking to get bigger TV money than the Big Ten and SEC, imagine a world where?
1. They add West Virginia from the Big East instead of Boston College.
2. Adding WVU, a better program in terms of TV competition improves the league. And they're a Maryland rival, possibly keeps them. The Rich Rod era would've given the ACC a bigger draw.
3. Then in 2012, Maryland doesn't leave and the ACC adds Pittsburgh & Louisville instead of Syracuse.
So look at these divisions now?
FSU, Clemson, Louisville, UNC, NC State, Duke, Wake
Miami, Maryland, WVU, VT, Pitt, UVA, GT
Just cutting off Cuse and BC makes the league much stronger. Adding those 2 added pretty much dead weight of programs that don't bring much in terms of viewers. But the ACC valued academics above all. It would've added a more regional part to it as well, which pushes programs to be better. WVU, Pitt, VT, UVA, Maryland, and Louisville would create a better regional rivalry atmosphere. Less empty stadiums and bad crowds.
They spend a good deal of time talking about how we need our own Finebaum, but they miss the point of what that means. Finebaum is huge because SEC fans talk and care about football 24-7.
For example, the 3rd highest ACC team in attendance is Virginia Tech at 64k per game. That would rank 10th in the SEC last year, and 12th now with Texas & OU. FSU & Clemson are our top 2 in Attendance, but they'd rank 8th & 9th in the SEC, which is now 10th & 11th with OU and Texas. Louisville & UNC are close 5th/6th in ACC attendance with around 51k per game. That would rank second to last in the SEC only ahead of Vandy.
The league generally failed in its additions over time. Miami & Virginia Tech not living up to being elite programs is generally what hurt the league. They had great teams, but took huge steps back as they've gone into the ACC. The ACC was banking on FSU & Miami being like Ohio State-Michigan or like what Florida-Bama was when Tebow was playing. They then were banking on teams like Virginia Tech, Clemson, NC State, Virginia, & Maryland all being behind them as solid opponents. But when the top of the league failed, it carried down. And then the issue of the bottom tier teams became a bigger issue. When there isn't pressure to win, it carries over to everyone.
Imagine in 2004 when the ACC was hitting it's stride and it was possibly looking to get bigger TV money than the Big Ten and SEC, imagine a world where?
1. They add West Virginia from the Big East instead of Boston College.
2. Adding WVU, a better program in terms of TV competition improves the league. And they're a Maryland rival, possibly keeps them. The Rich Rod era would've given the ACC a bigger draw.
3. Then in 2012, Maryland doesn't leave and the ACC adds Pittsburgh & Louisville instead of Syracuse.
So look at these divisions now?
FSU, Clemson, Louisville, UNC, NC State, Duke, Wake
Miami, Maryland, WVU, VT, Pitt, UVA, GT
Just cutting off Cuse and BC makes the league much stronger. Adding those 2 added pretty much dead weight of programs that don't bring much in terms of viewers. But the ACC valued academics above all. It would've added a more regional part to it as well, which pushes programs to be better. WVU, Pitt, VT, UVA, Maryland, and Louisville would create a better regional rivalry atmosphere. Less empty stadiums and bad crowds.
