Today is July 1st, 2004......and is officially the day the first domino falls. Today, Miami-FL and Virginia Tech officially become members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. On this day next year, Boston College will join them as the 12th member of this esteemed conference.
It is fitting that football season comes before hoops....since the reason these schools are here is due to their pigskin prowess. Miami is a perennial power....while Tech brings a pretty good pedigree itself. That, alone, may give the ACC a second program in the BCS....and more money to line those pockets. And in 2005, we will see the inaguaral ACC Football Championship Game in either Charlotte or Orlando....mo' money, mo' money, mo' money!!!
Of course, when basketball season comes along....this love affair may sour a bit. Miami has had its good years....but they aren't ACC ready. Virginia Tech has been a doormat for the Big East in recent years....and weren't exactly lighting up the Metro or Atlantic-10 conferences before that. Last year, the ACC was THE dominant conference...and looks to be the same this year. Dook is Dook. Carolina returns everyone and gets a 2nd year under Coach Roy. Wake is always solid. So is G-Tech, State, Maryland and even Virginia. This could be a long year for the Hokies and Canes.
But, I remember Florida State's first ACC hoops game over 10 years ago. At the Dean Dome. The Noles won with Sam Cassell grinning ear-to-ear. And that Carolina team was a championship team.
But the real crying will be from ACC purists....which I have some ties here. Gone are the days of playing everyone twice and having a "true" conference champion. Now, certain teams you will only get to battle once a year. Under the new plan, you will get to play 3 schools twice every year.....with the other 8 schools in a "2-game....1-game" rotation. You'll play 4 schools once this year.....and 4 schools twice. Then those schools rotate the next year. Of course, this could get thrown out the window if the demand is the stick with the 16-game season.
Anyway....the New ACC opens with a BANG on Labor Day. Florida State at Miami. We get this matchup every year.....but this time it is a conference game and a leg up on the National Championship picture.
Good luck to the Miami Hurricanes and Virginia Tech Hokies!! And, again.....welcome.
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