My Several Random ACC Thoughts
1. The ACC has great fans. As an FSU alum and fan, I can say that I love being in the ACC. This conference has some of the best fans in the country in terms of sports-literacy and sportsmanship. I've interacted with supporters of each school, and the more I do so the more respect I have for each group. Talking sports with fans of other ACC schools is enjoyable and enlightening.
2. ACC football games are fun. I've had the opportunity to see games at several of the ACC's southern members (Miami, FSU (of course), GT, Clemson, Wake Forest, Duke) and the ACC championship, and in each case I had a wonderful experience. There are some really great traditions at a lot of schools which make the game day experiences unique and entertaining. Additionally, out of all those "away" games, only the one at Miami and the ACC championship featured FSU. I find it's a lot of fun to watch two other teams play, and I strongly encourage each of you to visit some of the other schools in similar manners to really take in the full experience without the nerves!
2b. I was raised with a bias against Clemson, GT, and UNC fans. However, actually going to games at those schools and interacting a lot with their fans at events like the ACC baseball tournament has completely reversed that viewpoint. The fans at Clemson were wonderful when I was there and I have so much respect for them. The same goes for GT. I've also really enjoyed talking with UNC baseball fans over the years. You all should be very proud of your fanbases, and I just hope that for anyone who has ever come down to Tallahassee or interacted with our fans that it has been positive as well.
3. The ACC is a great athletics conference, and we should really own up to it. I'm not saying that fans need to become arrogant or start chanting "ACC, ACC" all the time, but when are we ever going to put away the mindset that we're the weakest of the major conferences and accept the fact that in reality, the conference is thriving in essentially every sport. I mean, think about it, ACC schools have won the national championship in football, basketball, and baseball all within the past 2-3 years! This year alone ACC teams competed in the national championship in all 3 of those sports, not to mention our incredible success in the olympic sports!
3b. Competing in the ACC in football does not inhibit the potential for football success. Yes, you're hearing that from an FSU fan. The conference has been very well represented as of late, and that is directly tied to individual institution's commitment to the game. If a school wants to succeed in the conference and nationally, all they have to do is to invest. Right now I think that FSU and Clemson are very well poised, but I see UNC, Louisville, VT, Miami, and others all making significant gains for the future.
3c. As much as it annoys me the other conferences make more tv revenue than the ACC, I do not see any evidence that it has hurt, or will ever hurt FSU. I can't speak for any other schools because I don't know their financial situations, but all I know is that it has not inhibited us from building an indoor practice facility or paying our coaches some of the highest salaries in the country. I can see how it might hurt programs with more of an income-crunch, but for all the talk by fellow FSU fans about how we're doomed if we don't keep up with the Jones's, I have yet to see any hint of its effect.
4. I wish the ACC would move the baseball tournament south again. I don't mind the football championship being played annually in Charlotte since it's the geographic center of the conference. I don't mind the basketball tournament staying in North Carolina or points north since most of the basketball-strong schools reside up there. I do wish however, that the ACC would move the baseball tournament back to Jacksonville however, at least on a rotating basis. Naturally my reasons are selfish, I miss being able to attend, but they're also somewhat altruistic. The tournaments in Jacksonville were really well attending by fans of all conferences because they were able to turn the trip into a vacation, with many families continuing on to the beach or to Disney World. It was a great atmosphere and I miss it. If the conference doesn't want to permanently move it there, which I can understand, I at least wish it would set up an annual rotation between say Jacksonville, Greenville, and Durham.
5. To the ACC "newcomers": Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Notre Dame*; we're glad to have you here! Each of you has contributed greatly to the conference in different ways, and out of all the options the conference had in expanding/replacing teams, I think they chose the 3 best programs, and I'm excited to watch as you each continue to grow in the conference and make your own success.
5b. And yes, I do wish/hope ND one day becomes a full member, but even if they never do, I'm happy for the great matchups we get to share with them now every 3 years or so. It boosts the schedule and gets the fans excited.
5c. I do not miss Maryland.
6. I can't speak for all FSU fans, but as a 3rd generation alum, native Tallahassean, and lifelong FSU fan, I can genuinely say that I am very happy that we are in the ACC; and the large majority of FSU fans will agree. That doesn't mean that there aren't times that I'm not frustrated with the conference, but in the end, the conference has been and continues to be a great fit for us athletically, academically, and culturally. A lot of people, most of them not FSU or ACC fans, talk about how unhappy Florida State is in the ACC and how quickly we'd bolt for the Big 12 or SEC in the opportunity arose; but the fact is, we have had those offers in the past and we're still here.
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