Ok. I don't share your opinion of the "ACC West" being feasible or desirable, but OK, it is an option.
Realignment - time to get real
- Thread starter Loyal Coug1
- Start date
I'll have to check that page out. I see it as referring to the affiliation agreements, which will run at least through his term even if we opt out of one or both. Those are indeed West Coast based (well Colorado, AF and Wyoming might get their maps out!). So he can cross that off as succeeded I guess, assuming that we can play competitively.
One question about the ACC-West. Does anyone know if Stanford and Cal really want to be in a conference with WSU or OSU? We all heard that Arizona in particular hated our guts. Curious to know if there are any rumors about Stanford and Cal.
I will say that I question the value of an ACC-West division regardless. The ACC right now is a 2nd tier conference in the football world with Clemson and FSU in their ranks. If they leave, what real value does a watered down ACC have? It's probably still our best option but if their value drops by 40% when those schools leave, it's very possible that an updated MWC agreement will be closer to equitable than it looks now.
With the expansion of the playoff, the bowls are losing even more stature. Preserving bowls is like preserving a berth in the NIT. There were 43 bowl games in 2023. They don't seem to be going away.
Yeah, I shake my head at some of these. From $4M payouts to play in Yankee Stadium in winter to $22K to go to the Bahamas.
2024's post-season will be a strange one.
Stepping back a little from my MW reverse merger fixation, I would at least hope that we are talking and drawing up the possibilities. so we are ready if the time comes for whatever. Not just with the MW, but with the bowls, the ACC (barf). I see Jan 1 as a pretty important date. Recall that FUSC and FUCLA gave 2-year notices when they backstabbed us.
Sept. 1st is an important date. That is when the Pac2 have to decide on the second year of the Scheduling Agreement and you have to pay us another $12 million dollars. We appreciate your money.
Damn - didn't realize it was that soon.....
Edit - I'm not so sure about that Sept 1 2024 date. See below (from page 8 of the agreement), and link to the whole thing below that.
ARTICLE IV.TERM; TERMINATIONSection 4.01
Term
.(a)
Initial Term. The term of this Agreement shall commence upon the Effective Date and end on the earlier to occur of (i) the Outside Date, (ii) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 4.02 or (iii) the mutual written agreement of the Parties to terminate this Agreement in its entirety (as applicable, the “Term”); provided, however, that all payment obligations of the Pac-12 Parties under this Agreement shall survive any such termination of this Agreement until satisfied in full but (A) in no event will a Participation Fee for an Event occurring after such termination be due if such termination occurs pursuant to Section 4.02(b)(i) or Section4.02(c) and (B) if such termination occurs pursuant to Section 4.02(b)(ii) then Participation Fees for an Event occurring after such termination may be an appropriate measure of damages but are not guaranteed as liquidated damages.(b)
Outside Date. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Outside Date” shall be August 1, 2025. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if MWC and Pac-12 mutually agree in a signed writing on or prior to September 1, 2024, the “Outside Date” may be extended to August 1, 2026
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What this tells me is that the Pac-2 will have 27 days to create an arrangement. The Pac-12 deal ends on August 4, I believe. If WSU/OSU make any announcement that looks like "leaving the conference" before that date, the 10 traitors can come back with claims on the residuals. SO, we've got from August 4-31 to come to an agreement on something better than the MWC scheduling alignment.
All the talk about ACC west is pipe dreams. The strong odds say that it's only a matter of time until FSU and Clemson leave. Miami will be right behind them. Without those 3, the ACC has virtually no football value. It's a bunch of basketball schools that needed something to do in the fall. They might, in their desperation, try to create some sort of east-west alignment in order to survive, but the media value of that conference is unlikely to be worthwhile.
So, the term is one year unless the parties agree in writing to extend for an additional year.
Outside Date. For purposes of this Agreement, the “Outside Date” shall be August 1, 2025.
I interpret that to mean that the 1st year scheduling agreement will expire August 1, 2025. As it should because you've paid for a full season of football. And, it protects the MWC up to that date incase we need to apply those dreaded termination fees should the Pac2 decide to poach.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if MWC and Pac-12 mutually agree in a signed writing on or prior to September 1, 2024, the “Outside Date” may be extended to August 1, 2026.
My interpretation on this is that this new "Outside Date" is the end of the 2nd year (08/01/26). And, this only applies if you've agreed to participate in a second year by signing on or prior to Sept. 1st of this year.
So, I see it that you have to sign or NOT on or prior to Sept. 1st 2024 for the 2nd year.
Maybe so. Perhaps our resident attorney(s) will get bored and try to dissect this thing. if you are correct, that damn Gloria really put the screws to the Pac-2. Damn her all to hell. In any event, no doubt the powers that be have this interpreted.
That's my read. We have 3 months from today to decide if we're going to play an MWC schedule in 2025.
The hell of it is, they did not 'take' a bad deal, they begged for it. Most of the ACC rejected them, and ND had to intervene to rescue their ass. SMU bought passage on the Titanic - after the iceberg hit. They might as well be writing a check to become a member of a conference where the top income earning schools are suing the conference, doing every thing possible to get out. The Big12 will wait to pick off the two to four of the best income producing schools left (after FSU, Clemson, UNC, and Virginia depart), a selection that will not include Stanford or Cal or SMU.
The best outcome (IMO) would be for WSU and OSU to become a member of the ACC and form a western pod.
B1G: UCLA,USC, Washington and Oregon
ACC: Standford, Cal, Washington State, and Oregon State
The departure of FSU and Clemson could open the door. I actually don't care if they leave as long as they pay (GOR settlement) the ACC for leaving early. The likely hood of them playing for National Championships in the B1G or SEC would be greatly reduced for them (IMO) in the future aka Nebraska.
New power teams will emerge as the ACC Conference will have 2 teams each year in the Championship Series.
What could also happen is that the ACC could tap Big 12 teams to join the ACC Conference such as WVU.,
Since ABC/ESPN have the exclusive broadcast rights to the ACC Conference, I don't think they have a financial interest in seeing it collapse and give Fox Sports a big boost.
Just have to wait and see how it all plays out.
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
No, most of the ACC teams voted to take Cal and Standford.
FSU, Clemson, UNC and NC State voted against them initially.
However, when NC State changed their vote to take them the ACC Conference teams had the majority needed to vote them in.
No ACC school will leave for the Big 12 (4 AAC schools were invited into the Big 12).
HAIL TO PITT!!!!
Hey Panther. Good to get some thoughts from those of you back east. Welcome.
Pitt would be a great road game
Very impressed with Pittsburgh during a visit a year or so ago. Not anything like I envisioned.
