Seven years later, the Big East has rebounded quite nicely

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Seven years later, the Big East has rebounded quite nicely

By Donal Ware

Mar 16, 2010

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I have been a follower of both the ACC and the Big East for years now. I have had that luxury, growing up in the Washington area, rooting for both Maryland and Georgetown. I know this is ACC country and what I am about to say may rub some the wrong way.

So be it.

In 2003, when the ACC raided the Big East and got Miami, Virginia Tech, then Boston College, the move was supposed to elevate the ACC, particularly in the area of football.

From a financial standpoint it was supposed to bring in more revenue for the conference, with a football championship and a subsequent new television deal. The move almost crippled the Big East.

And like any entity that is pushed to the brink of disaster, the Big East pushed back, offering memberships to then Conference USA members Louisville, South Florida and Cincinnati and even wisely offering membership to basketball-only DePaul, which gives the Big East coverage in the third-largest media market, Chicago, and to legitimate basketball contender Marquette, giving the Big East another decent-size media market in Milwaukee.

Seven years later, not only is the ACC not better [than the Big East] in football, they are not better than the Big East in basketball.

And yeah, I know the move was more about elevating the ACC than killing off the Big East. But the ACC had an opportunity to do both at the same time. It was a business move. The ACC is a business and in business at times you look to eliminate the competition.

When I look at where ACC football was before expansion, it has not gotten better. Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston College were better in the Big East and none of the three have done a whole lot since coming to the ACC. In the four years preceding full expansion (2000-03), the ACC had 13 Top-25 finishes, including Florida State finishing fifth in 2000.

In 2004 and 2005, the "transition years", it looked like "expansion" was going to be a good move with a total of nine top 25 finishes including a pair of top 10 finishes by Virginia Tech. In the last four years, there have been 13 Top-25 finishes with both Tech and Boston College finishing in the Top 10 in 2007.

Conversely, the Big East had 11 Top-25 finishes preceding expansion, but had five top five finishes. The transition years: three top 25 finishes with West Virginia finishing fifth in 2005. The last four years: 10 top 25 finishes with four top 10 finishes.

What this shows is that neither conference is very good in football. But the ACC is so bad, it should have its BCS guarantee taken away, especially this past year, and given to a conference more deserving. The ACC is 1-5 in BCS Bowl games since expansion.

A move to strengthen football has backfired on the ACC and has actually hurt basketball.

Boston College was the only decent program of the three and the last three seasons for the Eagles have been unimpressive. Miami's basketball program was helped, but it has not helped the ACC and the same goes for Virginia Tech. The Big East is a better basketball conference, and previous to this year, has twice had eight teams in the field of 64 since expansion.

And it happened again where the Big East has eight teams in this year's field, while the ACC has six.

You could argue that Wake Forest should not have gotten in. And before you say Virginia Tech should have gotten in, no. A 10-6 record in the ACC with only three "quality" conference wins against Clemson, Wake Forest and Georgia Tech and a weak non-conference schedule will not get it done.

The Big East has Syracuse, West Virginia, Villanova, even Georgetown that could compete for a national championship. The ACC has Duke. The Big East has a No. 1 seed, two second seeds, a 3 seed, two 6s and a 9. The ACC has a No. 1 seed, a 4, a 7, two 9s and a 10.

Even while I was watching the Big East and ACC tournaments, I noticed vast differences.

The Big East, as it has for years, plays its tournament at the world famous Madison Square Garden, in New York City. The ACC plays its tournament in various cities including Greensboro this year, Charlotte, Tampa and Atlanta. All nice cities but none of them NYC.

When I look at the introductions of the teams before the championship games, I see Georgetown and West Virginia starters being introduced with the lights down and the spotlight on the players, to the sounds of the Notorious B.I.G., while the Duke and Georgia Tech players were introduced with no flash or pizzazz. Every Big East Tournament game is televised nationally on ESPN or ESPN2. Big East means Big Time.

Not only has the Big East rebounded nicely from near disaster, it has outclassed the ACC.

Most Recent Comments

RE: Seven years later, the Big East has rebounded quite nicely

I'm an N.C. State fan, but as for Duke, let them play in Madison Square Garden and there would be a home court advantage to far outweigh any Big East school. I know the ACC has had some down years, but they'll get better. And there are no "speciality" schools in the ACC. They play all the sports except Hockey, which is of course Boston College's alone. The ACC will be back....guaranteed.

RE: Seven years later, the Big East has rebounded quite nicely

I don't disagree that the Big East has fared better since ACC expansion. But I wouldn't argue that the Big East's eight NCAA bids is "better" than the ACC's six. Each conference has exactly 50% of its teams in the Big Dance.

RE: Seven years later, the Big East has rebounded quite nicely

as far as I care the Big East can have those teams back...

RE: Seven years later, the Big East has rebounded quite nicely

As an ACC fan I agree, but with the following exceptions.
1) Prior to our raid on the Big East, I believe that the SEC was about to raid us and take Clemson, FSU and maybe Georgia Tech. Our move was a defensive one to show those schools that we were committed to football.
2) The Big East is more a confederation of schools rather than a true conference. When you have schools in teh conference in some sports (Marquette, Depaul, Gtown) in some sports, and not in others, you are not truly a conference. With a conference, you take the good with the bad. The ACC has never kicked a member out. (Temple)
3) The Big East is stronger in basketball this year. No question. But this runs in cycles. The Big East was big in the early 90s but faded in the late 90s. It will happend again. Don't forget which conference the reighning national champion comes from.
4) You can't compare the tourneys. Been to both and both are great in their own way. The ACC is all about tradition. The Big Esst wishes it had our tradition. But their tournemant is good in its own way. it is more glitzy but not near the number of social events.
5) The Big East was all over ESPN? Duh? ESPN invented the Big East and supports its every move. Its like Raycom on steroids.
6) But overall, I do agree the ACC needs improvement. I am not sure why John Swofford is still around. We need new blood .

WRAL Sports Fan

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