The Confidential

The ACC Sports Blog

Archive for the month “December, 2012”

05 Dec 2012
10 Comments

Is Florida State the Next to Leave the ACC?

With the Georgia Tech rumors squashed over the weekend, the rumor mill has turned back to Florida State.  This time, it is a rumor that Florida State is shopping itself around.  You can take the source for whatever it is worth.

One does have to keep in mind that the Florida State fan base is putting a lot of pressure on the administration here.  Somehow, they have rationalized that their football failures are based on lack of revenue, rather than simple things like poor coaching and bad luck. The best case scenario is that Florida State’s leadership has to come out and say that they are happy with the ACC.  This is imperfect because it will just anger the fan base more.  The worst case scenario, of course, is that where there is smoke, there is fire.  Welcome to the Big Ten’s vision of college football–where money is more important than anything else.

The reality is that, unless and until someone does something to stabilize the ACC, it is just going to be one rumor after another.

So what could possible stabilize the ACC?  The Confidential thinks that the only thing that could possible stabilize the ACC is for ESPN to step up and make the ACC a legitimate player from a revenue standpoint.  In the absence of that, there will not be a grant of rights, which would be significantly more protective than the exit fee (whatever it is).  At the very least, the ACC and ESPN should negotiate to allow Florida State to keep its precious Tier III rights.  Throw a dog a bone, even if it is whining for no reason.

Posted by acaffrey in ACC only, Conference Realignment and tagged , , , ,
04 Dec 2012

Boston College Hires Steve Addazio

After a few miserable seasons, the Boston College Eagles need to go in a new direction.  With many options, the Eagles nabbed Steve Addazio from Temple.  Other rumored candidates for the job included Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, Ball State coach Pete Lembo and New Orleans Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.  Notably, none of those candidates had head coaching experience. Addazio certainly had the edge there.  Addazio has done fine for Temple, leading them to a 13-11 record in two seasons.

A few interesting tidbits about the move.  First, Syracuse will be joining the ACC next year.  Addazio’s son, Louie, is a tight end for Syracuse.  Apparently, Addazio likes facing Syracuse and his son.  He also had this to say after the Syracuse-Temple game this year:

“Obviously, I’m rooting for them in a bowl game,” he said. “Syracuse has got a special place in my heart. Aside from Friday, I’m certainly cheering for them.”

Second, after dismissing Frank Spaziani, one would think that Boston College would find an Irish-American coach.  Instead, they hire a guy named Addazio?  Sin é an corr.

Still, this seems like a good hire.  A guy with Northeast recruiting ties and SEC coaching experience.  A good fit.

 

Posted by acaffrey in Football and tagged , ,
04 Dec 2012

The Confidential’s College Basketball Top 25 & Bottom 5: December 4, 2012

Each week, the Confidential will provide its ranking of the top 25 teams in College Basketball, as well as the Bottom 5 major conference teams.  Here is the December 4, 2012, update, with analysis of the top 10 and bottom 5:

  1. Duke (8-0): The Blue Devils have beaten Kentucky, Louisville, and Ohio State.  Who has beaten better teams?  Nobody.
  2. Indiana (8-0): Tough call between Syracuse and Indiana, but the edge goes to the Hoosiers.  Indiana has convincing wins over Georgetown and North Carolina already.
  3. Syracuse (6-0): The Orange have beaten San Diego State in San Diego and Arkansas in Fayetteville.  Looking very good as the calendar hits December.
  4. Michigan (7-0): With wins over Pitt and NC State, the Wolverines are off to a perfect start.  The most talented Michigan team in a long, long time.  Well, outside East Lansing anyway.
  5. Florida (6-0): Gator-mania is back.  Florida has already beaten Wisconsin and Marquette.  Struggling Seminoles are up next.
  6. Louisville (6-1):  The Cardinals are not coping well with the injury to Gorgui Dieng.  Still, only loss of the season is to Duke.
  7. Gonzaga (8-0): After a few quiet years, Gonzaga hopes to return to national prominence.  Hmmmm…does the Big East need a team in Washington?
  8. Ohio State (5-1).  Like Louisville, Ohio State has only lost to Duke.  The Buckeyes are part of a strong upper tier of the Big Ten.
  9. Cincinnati (7-0): Lack of elite opponents makes this ranking a bit high.  But the Bearcats are at least beating some major conference opponents (Oregon, Alabama, Iowa State).
  10. Arizona (5-0).  The Wildcats have not really played anyone yet.  So the undefeated start is not all that impressive.  Yet.
  11. Missouri (6-1).
  12. Illinois (8-0).
  13. New Mexico (8-0).
  14. San Diego State (5-1).
  15. Creighton (7-1).
  16. Georgetown (5-1).
  17. Notre Dame (7-1).
  18. Minnesota (8-1).
  19. Wichita State (8-0).
  20. North Carolina State (4-2).
  21. Oklahoma (6-1).
  22. UNLV (5-1).
  23. Kansas State (6-1).
  24. North Carolina (6-2).
  25. Michigan State (6-2).

* * *

300. West Virginia (2-3).  A lot of teams with 3 wins knocking on the door here, but the Mountaineers and their 2 wins earn the spot.  Not likely to last though.

301.  Vanderbilt (2-4).  Vanderbilt has lost to Oregon, Villanova, Marist, Davidson.  Yikes.

302.  Georgia (2-5).  The Bulldogs losses to Youngstown State, UCLA, Southern Mississippi, and South Florida are perplexing.  Indiana is understandable.

303.  Mississippi State (2-5).  No shame to losing to North Carolina, Marquette or Texas.  Providence was a disappointment.  Troy an embarrassment.

304.  Auburn (2-5).  Is Auburn the worst athletic department in the country?  Football team faces more scandal and was terrible this year.  The hoops team has now lost to Murray State, Rhode Island, Boston College, DePaul, and Dayton.

These rankings are early and will certainly shake up as the season progresses.  Still, if you feel like debating, share your comments…

Posted by acaffrey in Rankings and tagged , , , , , , , ,
03 Dec 2012
7 Comments

Is Georgia Tech the Next to Leave the ACC? Updated.

The Confidential does not invent these rumors, just reporting them. This one is getting a lot of attention over on Frank the Tank’s latest blog entry.  See the comments and sources there.

This never ends.

Update 1: For whatever its worth, the acting athletic director is denying the rumors.  See here.  The money quotes are as follows:

“I’m not aware of any communications between university leadership and the Big Ten or any other conference,” Griffin said Friday afternoon from Charlotte, where Tech will play Florida State for the ACC football championship Saturday.

Griffin acknowledged that an action like switching conferences from the ACC to the Big Ten would take place at an executive level, but said that Tech president G.P. “Bud” Peterson “has told me there’s been no communication nor does he expect any.”

It is hard to know what is smoke and what is smoke from fire these days.  Take most of what you read with a grain of salt, apparently.

Update 2: Well, Bud Peterson has spoken up.

Here is the money quote:

“Not true. Not true,” Peterson said prior to the ACC Championship game. “We’re happy in the ACC. We’re staying.”

Internet and radio reports cited unnamed sources or repeated rumors that the school will follow Maryland out of the ACC and to the Big Ten, one reporting that the school will hold a news conference Monday to announce its departure.

“We’re not going anywhere,” said Peterson, speaking outside his suite at Bank of America Stadium.

Perhaps there can be some relaxation now.

Posted by acaffrey in Conference Realignment and tagged , , ,
01 Dec 2012
2 Comments

Now the Rumor is Georgia Tech & Virginia to the Big 10

Someone named Kevin Jones claims to have a source indicating that Georgia Tech and Virginia will be in the Big 10 by Monday.  If so, it certainly seems that Jim Delaney is hell bent on putting the ACC out of business.  If you cannot win on the field or on the court, at least you can win in the conference realignment game.

 

Posted by acaffrey in Conference Realignment and tagged , , , ,

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