RE: ACC APOCALYPSE??? (latest from SportsDominoes -- LINK)
Mark, I can tell you where the quote specifically came from. It came from the UConn Conference Realignment Board by a poster with the handle of FromTheInside who for days had been sharing "inside" information.
From a post he made on March 13, 2012:
Everyone likes the 10-team format they have now. However, as I stated in the ACC thread, they will expand if the right teams are receptive to their inquiries. There is no doubt they will reach out to Florida State, Miami, GA Tech, Clemson, NC State, VA Tech, and Arkansas, and possibly Pitt & Maryland (along w/ Louisville, whom they've already had discussions with). If the right combination of teams are interested, they'll make a move. If not, they'll stand pat with 10.
The Big XII made a number of strategically brilliant moves w/ this latest contract. If they sign at least 2 additional teams (there are restrictions on whom), there is an automatic escalator in the contract that will raise the total payout by $2.05M per team (this based on the added conference championship game). And, they negotiated an opt out clause that will allow them out of the deal to take it to market if they expand to 12 or further, with ESPN/ABC having the right of first refusal on the contract. Once the language of the contract makes its way back to the ACC, I think there will be some nervous presidents & a nervous commissioner, b/c the Big XII essentially just got a license to hunt, with guaranteed ammo.
And, what's better, the ABC/ESPN/Fox contracts the Big XII has are only for Tier 1 & Tier 2 broadcasts. So, teams are free to shop their Tier 3 rights. So, just like Texas is netting $10M/season, and KU is netting $8M/season from Tier 3, Florida State, Clemson, etc will have the ability to make $20M + millions more on Tier 3, which would put them above the highest paid SEC teams.
Cheers,
Neil
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