What if the ACC were divided like this:

NORTH: BC, Syracuse, Maryland, Virgina, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Miami
SOUTH: Duke, Wake, NC State, N Carolina, Clemson, Ga Tech, Florida St.
(and paired in that order, too -- e.g. BC & Duke, ... UVa & UNC, VT & Clemson,... )

That would guarantee annual match-ups like:

* Clemson vs. Ga Tech, NC State, FSU, and Va Tech

* Va Tech vs. UVa, Maryland, Pitt, Miami, and Clemson

* Miami vs. BC, Maryland, Syracuse, Va Tech, and FSU

* FSU vs. NC St, Clemson, Ga Tech, and Miami

* Ga Tech vs. Clemson, Pitt, NC State and FSU

* Round-robin for all NC schools

My research indicates this would also increase average attendance by just over 900 more fans per game, not to mention almost $147K/year in ticket sales. (for more detail, see What the ACC can do, part 5 - Divisions, at ACCFootballRx.com; while you're there, check out the new banner and T.o.C. page, too!)

(edit 4/20/2011: updated featured match-ups)

(04-18-2012 03:31 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  What if the ACC were divided like this:

NORTH: BC, Syracuse, Maryland, Virgina, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Miami
SOUTH: Duke, Wake, NC State, N Carolina, Clemson, Ga Tech, Florida St.
(and paired in that order, too -- e.g. BC & Duke, ... UVa & UNC, VT & Clemson,... )

That would guarantee annual match-ups like:

* Clemson vs. Ga Tech, FSU, and Va Tech

* Va Tech vs. Pitt, Miami, and Clemson

* Miami vs. BC, Maryland, Syracuse, Va Tech, and FSU

* FSU vs. NC St, UNC, Clemson, Ga Tech, and Miami

* Ga Tech vs. Clemson and FSU

* Round-robin for all NC schools

My research indicates this would also increase average attendance by just over 900 more fans per game, not to mention almost $147K/year in ticket sales. (for more detail, see What the ACC can do, part 5 - Divisions, at ACCFootballRx.com; while you're there, check out the new banner and T.o.C. page, too!)

N/S divisions are basically "Old Big East" and "Old ACC"

(04-18-2012 03:34 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  N/S divisions are basically "Old Big East" and "Old ACC"

True, but that's just how the geography falls for the most part.
Actually with UVa and Maryland in the North that gives some nice short road trips...
...and Miami has always been closer at heart to the Northeast than the South.

At any rate, my numbers show that the best attendance numbers in College Park (not counting Notre Dame, Navy, and West Virginia) are when Va Tech and Miami come to town (even more so than Clemson & FSU). This would guarantee that you play both of those teams every year.

(04-18-2012 03:31 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  What if the ACC were divided like this:

NORTH: BC, Syracuse, Maryland, Virgina, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Miami

Need to bone up on your geography some? I get the reasoning though.

I wouldn't mind that. I think we'd end up seeing 'Cuse and Duke paired, though.

Works for me. UVA is the obstacle to this plan though. I don't think they want to be cut off from the South and would want more of southern presence than just UNC on the schedule.

(04-18-2012 04:59 PM)ringmaster Wrote:  Works for me. UVA is the obstacle to this plan though. I don't think they want to be cut off from the South and would want more of southern presence than just UNC on the schedule.

VT doesn't want any part of a North division either.

(04-18-2012 04:45 PM)T-Monay820 Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 03:31 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  NORTH: BC, Syracuse, Maryland, Virgina, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Miami

Need to bone up on your geography some? I get the reasoning though.

Yeah, I went to the "Dallas Cowboys = NFC East" and "Indianapolis Colts = AFC South" school of football geography.

(04-18-2012 05:01 PM)ChrisLords Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 04:59 PM)ringmaster Wrote:  Works for me. UVA is the obstacle to this plan though. I don't think they want to be cut off from the South and would want more of southern presence than just UNC on the schedule.

VT doesn't want any part of a North division either.

I realize this, but it's really messing up the entire conference. For the good of the entire group, the 2 Virginia schools need to be tied to Maryland & Pennsylvania.

At the same time, I would like to point out that this plan would give each team 4 games per year in the South. For example, Va Tech would play Miami, Clemson, and any 2 of the remaining South division schools; Virginia would play Miami, UNC, and 2 more South division schools. That means the schedule would have 3 teams north of Maryland and 4 teams south of Virginia - which should be acceptable, IMO.

Makes sense, thus it will never come to pass in the ACC.

This is what I would like to see. If they add 2 more and go pods, they can rotate pods to mix north and south every other year to keep all happy.

I've been a proponent of that for awhile now but too many schools are too big of pansies to get it done.

I like the split as is. The North/South issue will be viewed as the ACC v. Old Line Big East and the southern division would be loaded, especially if UVA is north and Miami south.

I would support N/S divisions but it doesn't leave much flexibility if UConn/Rutgers/ND join.

(04-18-2012 09:44 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  I like the split as is. The North/South issue will be viewed as the ACC v. Old Line Big East

This is an unfortunate problem, but the fact remains that if you want strong rivalries this is the best way to go (plus it would promote more divisional pride, IMO).

(04-18-2012 09:44 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  the southern division would be loaded, especially if UVA is north and Miami south.

Again, I propose placing Miami in the North for competitive balance (and to preserve the possibility of a Miami/FSU championship game).

(04-18-2012 10:02 PM)AtlanticLeague Wrote:  I would support N/S divisions but it doesn't leave much flexibility if UConn/Rutgers/ND join.

I'm of the opinion that the ACC will hold at 14 for the foreseeable future (though obviously if Notre Dame comes knocking, suddenly just about any divisional alignment is on the table)

I like that alignment. For Syracuse, they do not have much in common with the southern ACC schools except Miami and it would make travel better for all involved (other than Miami). This would allow all teams to make a trip to Florida for recruiting, possibly 2 trips a year when both FSU and Miami are played. I am sure the southern ACC schools would not mind it for their fans to be able to travel to games.
If Notre Dame joins they could re-balance things again. Notre Dame would most likely be in the northern division which would allow it to play its traditional rivals.

I have always been in favor of the North/South split with Miami in the North. But the best we can hope for now is to add two more teams and break into region based pods.

(04-18-2012 10:19 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 09:44 PM)HtownOrange Wrote:  I like the split as is. The North/South issue will be viewed as the ACC v. Old Line Big East

This is an unfortunate problem, but the fact remains that if you want strong rivalries this is the best way to go (plus it would promote more divisional pride, IMO).

Who gives 2 sharts whether it's viewed that way or not? It's balanced. It maintains rivalries, renews other rivalries and allows for the opportunity for more regional rivalries to start.

Rivalries and more marquee matchups are better tv draws and more fun for fans in general, as you already kind of said...

(04-18-2012 03:31 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  * FSU vs. NC St, UNC, Clemson, Ga Tech, and Miami

I like the thread.

But why are NC State and UNC listed as yearly games for FSU and not anyone else? In other words, why would FSU care more about those matchups than the other schools on the list? We probably care less about then than every other ACC school.

I like N/S Divisions because there are already pre existing rivalries on each side, and then its easier to create new rivalries like Pitt-Maryland, and Pitt-Virginia. I think Pitt-Ga Tech would make for an interesting cross division rivalry as well. Rivalries are what draws large crowds and ratings, which equals to big TV deals. IMHO

The last thing the ACC wants is a division of OLD Big East teams winning a conference Championship... that would be like admitting it's lesser, they'll keep 'em blended for cohesion and ACC pride sake, plus I think the VA schools want more of a southern influence for football recruiting sake!