Four new schools joined ACC in past five years; what have they brought to the table?
Kelly Gramlich, columnistPublished 7:21 a.m. ET July 3, 2018 | Updated 7:37 a.m. ET July 3, 2018
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July 1st, 2013, was a very important day in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That was the day that Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Notre Dame officially joined the ACC and left their previous conference affiliations behind. One year later, on July 1st, 2014, Louisville officially joined the ACC as its 15th member, replacing Maryland who left the league for the Big Ten.
More: Clemson AD Dan Radakovich: 'Big three' success improving brand in school's other sports
More: Celebrating a year of Clemson sports with the GRAMY awards
All four new additions have contributed to the ACC’s athletic resume in some form or fashion, excelling in specific sports while inevitably, underwhelming in others. Overall, how has each school fared since joining the ACC? Let’s take a closer look.
Pittsburgh (2013-present)
Since joining the ACC, Pittsburgh has held its own on the gridiron, averaging nearly seven wins per season and appearing in four bowl games in five years. Panther running back James Conner was named the ACC Player of the Year in 2014. Surprisingly, Pittsburgh has not met expectations on the hardwood. The Panthers reached the Sweet 16 in their first ACC season in 2013-14 but since then, they have only made the NCAA Tournament once and in 2017-18, failed to win a conference game.
Pitt kicker Chris Blewitt, left, is congratulated by Ryan Winslow after making a 48-yard game-winning field goal against Clemson during the second quarter last Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. (Photo: Ken Ruinard/Independent Mail)
Additionally, the Panthers have yet to win 30 games in a season on the baseball diamond since joining the league. The volleyball program has enjoyed success but women’s basketball has been less than advertised.
Grade since joining the ACC: C+
Syracuse (2013-present)
When Syracuse joined the ACC, the basketball credibility of the conference instantly increased. However, since becoming a member of the league, Syracuse has struggled in the regular season, winning less than 25 games in four of its five years in the conference. However, despite the lack of regular season success, the Orange have been on fire in March, reaching two Sweet 16s and a Final Four.
Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey (2) passes against Clemson during the 4th quarter on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo: BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff)
On the football field, Syracuse has fallen on hard times. The Orange have played in just one bowl games since joining the conference, and that was in their first season. Syracuse does not have a baseball team, which hurts them in a league like the ACC but, their women’s basketball program has picked up the slack. The Orange have reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the past five seasons and made it all the way to the National Championship game in 2016.
Grade since joining the ACC: B
Notre Dame (2013-present, except football)
Notre Dame is a tough situation to evaluate because they are not a full-time member of the ACC in football, but they do play five ACC games a year. Since 2014, Notre Dame is 15-5 against members of the ACC. Arguably, the biggest contribution the Irish have made to ACC football is providing opportunities for the league’s schools to add quality wins to their respective resumes. In Florida State’s path to the 2014 College Football Playoff and in Clemson’s to the 2015 Playoff, both schools had to play and defeat Notre Dame. Unfortunately for the Irish, their biggest impact on the ACC in football has been helping others achieve their goals.
Clemson forward David Skara (24) guards Notre Dame forward Martinas Geben (23) during the 2nd half on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum. (Photo: BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff)
However, Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have been outstanding since joining the ACC. The men have reached two Elite Eights in the past five seasons and won the ACC Tournament in 2015. The women just won the National Championship in dramatic fashion. The Irish have made the postseason just once on the baseball diamond but have excelled in other sports like lacrosse and men’s soccer.
Grade since joining the ACC: B+
Louisville (2014-present)
In its first four seasons in the ACC, Louisville football has greatly exceeded expectations. The Cardinals have averaged 8.5 wins per season and Lamar Jackson captivated not just the league but the nation, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2016 and the ACC Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. There’s no doubt Louisville has bolstered the football reputation of the ACC.
A crowd and photographers look on as Clemson cornerback Marcus Edmond dives to stop Louisville wide receiver James Quick from getting a first down with less than a minute in the game on a fourth-down play Saturday, October 1 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. Clemson won 42-36. (Photo: Ken Ruinard /Independent-Mail)
The Cardinals' men’s basketball program has been a bit of a different story, embroiled in scandals that resulted in the firing of Rick Pitino and a self-imposed postseason ban in 2017. Louisville’s women’s basketball program has been elite since joining the league, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2015 and 2017 and the Final Four in 2018. On the diamond, Louisville’s baseball program has been extremely successful since joining the ACC, winning 45 games in each of the past four seasons and reaching the College World Series in 2017.
Grade since joining the ACC: A-
Kelly Gramlich, columnistPublished 7:21 a.m. ET July 3, 2018 | Updated 7:37 a.m. ET July 3, 2018
TWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE
July 1st, 2013, was a very important day in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference. That was the day that Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Notre Dame officially joined the ACC and left their previous conference affiliations behind. One year later, on July 1st, 2014, Louisville officially joined the ACC as its 15th member, replacing Maryland who left the league for the Big Ten.
More: Clemson AD Dan Radakovich: 'Big three' success improving brand in school's other sports
More: Celebrating a year of Clemson sports with the GRAMY awards
All four new additions have contributed to the ACC’s athletic resume in some form or fashion, excelling in specific sports while inevitably, underwhelming in others. Overall, how has each school fared since joining the ACC? Let’s take a closer look.
Pittsburgh (2013-present)
Since joining the ACC, Pittsburgh has held its own on the gridiron, averaging nearly seven wins per season and appearing in four bowl games in five years. Panther running back James Conner was named the ACC Player of the Year in 2014. Surprisingly, Pittsburgh has not met expectations on the hardwood. The Panthers reached the Sweet 16 in their first ACC season in 2013-14 but since then, they have only made the NCAA Tournament once and in 2017-18, failed to win a conference game.
Pitt kicker Chris Blewitt, left, is congratulated by Ryan Winslow after making a 48-yard game-winning field goal against Clemson during the second quarter last Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. (Photo: Ken Ruinard/Independent Mail)
Additionally, the Panthers have yet to win 30 games in a season on the baseball diamond since joining the league. The volleyball program has enjoyed success but women’s basketball has been less than advertised.
Grade since joining the ACC: C+
Syracuse (2013-present)
When Syracuse joined the ACC, the basketball credibility of the conference instantly increased. However, since becoming a member of the league, Syracuse has struggled in the regular season, winning less than 25 games in four of its five years in the conference. However, despite the lack of regular season success, the Orange have been on fire in March, reaching two Sweet 16s and a Final Four.
Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey (2) passes against Clemson during the 4th quarter on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo: BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff)
On the football field, Syracuse has fallen on hard times. The Orange have played in just one bowl games since joining the conference, and that was in their first season. Syracuse does not have a baseball team, which hurts them in a league like the ACC but, their women’s basketball program has picked up the slack. The Orange have reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the past five seasons and made it all the way to the National Championship game in 2016.
Grade since joining the ACC: B
Notre Dame (2013-present, except football)
Notre Dame is a tough situation to evaluate because they are not a full-time member of the ACC in football, but they do play five ACC games a year. Since 2014, Notre Dame is 15-5 against members of the ACC. Arguably, the biggest contribution the Irish have made to ACC football is providing opportunities for the league’s schools to add quality wins to their respective resumes. In Florida State’s path to the 2014 College Football Playoff and in Clemson’s to the 2015 Playoff, both schools had to play and defeat Notre Dame. Unfortunately for the Irish, their biggest impact on the ACC in football has been helping others achieve their goals.
Clemson forward David Skara (24) guards Notre Dame forward Martinas Geben (23) during the 2nd half on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum. (Photo: BART BOATWRIGHT/Staff)
However, Notre Dame’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have been outstanding since joining the ACC. The men have reached two Elite Eights in the past five seasons and won the ACC Tournament in 2015. The women just won the National Championship in dramatic fashion. The Irish have made the postseason just once on the baseball diamond but have excelled in other sports like lacrosse and men’s soccer.
Grade since joining the ACC: B+
Louisville (2014-present)
In its first four seasons in the ACC, Louisville football has greatly exceeded expectations. The Cardinals have averaged 8.5 wins per season and Lamar Jackson captivated not just the league but the nation, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2016 and the ACC Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017. There’s no doubt Louisville has bolstered the football reputation of the ACC.
A crowd and photographers look on as Clemson cornerback Marcus Edmond dives to stop Louisville wide receiver James Quick from getting a first down with less than a minute in the game on a fourth-down play Saturday, October 1 at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. Clemson won 42-36. (Photo: Ken Ruinard /Independent-Mail)
The Cardinals' men’s basketball program has been a bit of a different story, embroiled in scandals that resulted in the firing of Rick Pitino and a self-imposed postseason ban in 2017. Louisville’s women’s basketball program has been elite since joining the league, reaching the Sweet 16 in 2015 and 2017 and the Final Four in 2018. On the diamond, Louisville’s baseball program has been extremely successful since joining the ACC, winning 45 games in each of the past four seasons and reaching the College World Series in 2017.
Grade since joining the ACC: A-
