UVA, UNC Leaving the ACC for the Big Ten

May 30, 2011; Baltimore, MD, USA; Members of the Virginia Cavaliers jump into a pile after defeating the Maryland Terrapins in the NCAA Division I Men's lacrosse national championship game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-US PRESSWIRE

The haters came out in droves once Maryland announced its move to the B1G. People didn’t understand the meaning behind it. Moving to the B1G means Maryland can finally make money and climb out of debt created by its former Athletic Director Debbie Yow.

Current Athletic Director Kevin Anderson states:

“It guarantees our athletic department and our university financial stability. We have done so much with so little for so long.”

Moreover, in terms of lacrosse, people believed the historic tradition of Maryland lacrosse would be tainted. That was a fair assumption until rumblings began to come to light about a few more ACC teams leaving for higher ground.

EersAuthority.com reports:

The Big 10 conference has received applications for membership from UVA, UNC, and Georgia Tech while FSU, Clemson, UNC, NC State and Virginia Tech have contacted the SEC about potential membership. Despite public statements to the contrary the Big 12 conference has been in close contact with FSU, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Miami about joining the Big 12.

In other words, the ACC is done. If it all becomes a reality, then this means (hypothetically) the only remaining ACC teams are Duke, Wake Forest, Boston College, Pitt, Syracuse, and Notre Dame (excluding football).

Fun fact: The Minnesota Gophers just paid UNC $800,000 to take them off their football schedule in 2013 and 2014. What’s the point? Terrible programs, who have been waived from schedules, are now joining the conference they have never been able to compete against.

Who loses? Notre Dame and Syracuse. Both lacrosse programs thought they were joining the best lacrosse conference in the nation. Now, almost defunct, the ACC is no more. Additionally, can these schools void their agreement? They were essentially conned by the ACC (Maryland and Florida State were the only ACC schools to vote against the increased exit fee for jumping ship). Notre Dame may be able to move its olympic sports to the Big 12. If UNC and UVA join the B1G, then there will undoubtedly be a B1G conference. And, as a result, speculation about Maryland competing as an independent like Johns Hopkins would suppress.

Here’s the bright side to the depletion of the ACC. People will actually care about Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan lacrosse besides their own fan base. Say what you will, but these three schools were never in the conversation. Also, since Rutgers is moving on up to the B1G, that would mean five athletic programs have lacrosse, including Maryland and not including UVA and UNC. Translation, the pressure is on other schools to add a Men’s Lacrosse team, i.e. Minnesota. Lacrosse is about to explode in a big and incendiary way.

More links to curb your appetite:

Could Boston College and Virginia be the next to join the Big Ten
North Carolina and Virginia may have Big Ten offers
Big Ten Mailblog

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19 Comments

  1. TJ on February 26, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    This article is still NOT true. I don’t understand why this has not been taken down yet. Y’all aren’t a very reliable source by starting up and reporting on rumors.

  2. bob on December 3, 2012 at 4:02 am

    complete bull shit. not true at all. virginia has also come out and said they have no intention of leaving the acc.

  3. bob on December 3, 2012 at 4:02 am

    complete bull shit. not true at all. virginia has also come out and said they have no intention of leaving the acc.

  4. Brian on November 28, 2012 at 1:35 am

    i remember Maryland denying reports of going to the Big 10 a few months ago as well.

  5. Brian on November 28, 2012 at 1:35 am

    i remember Maryland denying reports of going to the Big 10 a few months ago as well.

  6. Brian on November 28, 2012 at 1:35 am

    i remember Maryland denying reports of going to the Big 10 a few months ago as well.

  7. Brian on November 28, 2012 at 1:35 am

    i remember Maryland denying reports of going to the Big 10 a few months ago as well.

  8. Ge on November 27, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    UNC has actually issued a statement saying they are staying. This “article” is untrue and represents seriously flawed “reporting”

  9. Ge on November 27, 2012 at 10:29 pm

    UNC has actually issued a statement saying they are staying. This “article” is untrue and represents seriously flawed “reporting”

  10. skeptical on November 27, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    you think espn would’ve broken this story by now….

  11. Cru on November 26, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    I don’t trust this article. Kinda makes me question any news from this site

  12. michael on November 26, 2012 at 7:27 pm

    This is not true

  13. Bobby C on November 26, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Will the Big 10 become the new lacrosse “super conference”?

  14. Bobby C on November 26, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Will the Big 10 become the new lacrosse “super conference”?

  15. Bobby C on November 26, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Will the Big 10 become the new lacrosse “super conference”?

  16. Bobby C on November 26, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Will the Big 10 become the new lacrosse “super conference”?

  17. Bobby C on November 26, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Will the Big 10 become the new lacrosse “super conference”?

  18. Bobby C on November 26, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    Will the Big 10 become the new lacrosse “super conference”?

  19. Bob on November 26, 2012 at 5:24 pm

    Earsauthority.com doesn’t list any source on this information. I call BS.

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