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26 Mar 2013
2 Comments

NCAA Tournament- Sweet Sixteen Conference Breakdown

It’s been a couple days  since the Round of 32. The dust has settled, and a little under a quarter of the field of 68 still remain. Teams have gone home.  Careers have ended. And yet, 16 teams are still alive. Let’s check back in on the six power conferences and see how they stack up.

ACC

Tournament Teams (4)- Duke, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State

Remaining Tournament Teams (2)- Duke, Miami

Verdict- A lot of question marks remain for the conference after a second round that didn’t go exactly as planned. North Carolina blew an 11-point lead against rival Kansas in what amounted to a home game for the Jayhawks. The Lawrence, Kansas campus lies just minutes from Kansas City and the very vocal, and very partisan crowd, let the overmatched and undersized UNC team know it. North Carolina simply didn’t have the strength inside to maintain their lead once Kansas got back on track. Yet, despite an early exit, the most painful part of the season for Tar Heel fans begins now- who stays and who goes? The decisions of sophomores James Michael McAdoo, PJ Hairston, and junior Reggie Bullock, could very well determine whether the team takes a step forward, or backward next year. Since none of the players are seen as first-round locks, most experts, Coach Roy Williams included, see a much stronger and more veteran Tar Heel team taking the court next year.

But what North Carolina has to gain, Duke and Miami have to lose. How far can these veteran teams go before their seasons end and they lose the leadership of players like Mason Plumlee, Ryan Kelly and Kenny Kadji? Both senior-laden teams put together solid, yet unimpressive wins over inferior opponents. They face tougher competition in the Sweet Sixteen in a strong Michigan State team (Duke), and a Marquette team that keeps on winning even when it shouldn’t. News of out Coral Gables today is not encouraging for the Hurricanes, who will be missing floor-swallowing big-man Reggie Johnson, who had a procedure done and did not travel with the team. How they can adjust without him will say a lot about their chances to move on.

Big 12

Tournament Teams (5)- Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Kansas

Remaining Tournament Teams (1)- Kansas

Verdict- As usual, Kansas continues to carry the banner for the Big 12 Conference. After an impressive comeback win over North Carolina, the Jayhawks move on to face the best team that Michigan has had since the Fab Five of the early nineties. A team, that ironically, none of the current players would remember. Needless to say, Kansas has their work cut out for them to match the energy of Michigan’s Trey Burke. But don’t count out Bill Self’s team just yet. It isn’t easy to win a national championship, or 300 games at one school, but as of Sunday, Self has done both. The x-factor will be how the Jayhawks can handle being away from the home environment that the early rounds in Kansas City gave them.

Big East

Tournament Teams (8)- Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, Syracuse, Marquette

Remaining Tournament Teams (3)- Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette

Verdict- Marquette survived again and future ACC members Louisville and Syracuse moved on. That seems to be the story of the 2013 NCAA Tournament for the Big East. But how many times can the Golden Eagles escape elimination? To put things in perspective, Marquette, a seminal tournament team, and the collegiate home of Dwyane  Wade, has won both of their tournament games by a total of 3 points. The (regular) Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast have won their first two round games by a total of 20 points in their first NCAA Tournament appearance. If the Miami Hurricanes are able to play to their full potential this weekend, except to see the Golden Eagles packing their bags when the final buzzer sounds. As for Louisville, a favorable matchup with a surprising Oregon team should leave them on-guard, but confident for another appearance in the Elite Eight. Syracuse must contain Cody Zeller, the “Big Handsome,” and Victor Oladipo if they want to move past the Hoosiers.

 Big Ten

Tournament Teams (7)- Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois

Remaining Tournament Teams (4)- Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana

 Verdict- The Big Ten currently leads all BCS conferences with 57% of its eligible teams still alive in the Big Dance (compared to 50% for the ACC, 20% for the Big 12, 37.5% for the Big East, 40% for the Pac-12 and 33% for the SEC). Yet, slowly, but surely, their dominance has chipped away. Difficult matchups with top teams Duke (#2 seed), Kansas (#1 seed) and Syracuse (#4 seed- should have been seeded above Marquette) make the performance of the conference in the Sweet Sixteen a crucial part in determining whether the  league is a contender, or over-hyped pretender. Ohio State also can’t look past an Arizona team that will come out strong after rolling-over inferior opposition. The most interesting development to come out of the Midwest? The firing of Minnesota Coach Tubby Smith. While, Smith never got the job done like he did during his championship-winning tenure at Kentucky, it’s certainly curious to wonder whether the Golden Gophers think they can bring someone better to the great white north. The firing of Seth Greenberg at Virginia Tech, a perennial bubble coach, led to numerous transfers, and a plummet in the standings at the worst possible time. Will Minnesota bounce back, or fall down?

 Pac-12

Tournament Teams (5)- Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, California, Colorado

Remaining Tournament Teams (2)- Oregon,  Arizona

Verdict- The Confidential’s prediction of the firing of Ben Howland became prophetic when his departure from UCLA was announced earlier this week. While the change wasn’t surprising (there have been strange rumblings surrounding the program for years), the rejections by VCU’s Shaka Smart and Butler’s Brad Stephens for the head coaching position, may have come as a shock to Bruins fans. As Oregon continues to overachieve, and Arizona faces its first truly tough matchup of the tournament, the news  out of Westwood remains the most compelling. Will current NC State coach Mark Gottfried, who has numerous UCLA ties, make his way across the country next season? Only he knows. But if current juniors CJ Leslie and Lorenzo Brown follow through with rumored plans to enter the NBA Draft, and UCLA offers Gottfried the job, you can bet that he won’t be wearing red again anytime soon.

 SEC

Tournament Teams (3) – Missouri, Ole Miss, Florida, Kentucky

Remaining Tournament Teams (1)- Florida

Verdict- In the end, Ole Miss’ surprising season came to an end at the hand of another unexpected tournament team, First Four survivor La Salle.  Marshall Henderson did his best to keep the Rebels alive, but it wasn’t enough, as Florida became the only SEC team remaining at the end of the Round of 32. The Gators face an interesting in-state matchup with tournament darling, Florida Gulf Coast, who has cruised through the first two rounds after making the field for the first time. While they have the firepower to move on to the Elite Eight, the Gators have to remember that this Eagles team beat another in-state rival, fellow Sweet Sixteen team, Miami, earlier this season. Can Florida save the reputation of the conference, in a way that a floundering Kentucky team could not? Or will it just be another stop in a surprising run by everyone’s new favorite Cinderella.

While the excitement of the first four days has ended, and games cannot be found on TV all-day everyday anymore, intriguing third round matchups create an exciting and potentially unpredictable Sweet Sixteen. It is almost impossible to predict who will be left standing after this weekend, and after all, who would want to? With this year, it’s just more fun to go along for the ride.

.

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Basketball, UNC Correspondent
23 Mar 2013
1 Comment

NCAA Tournament- Round of 32 Conference Breakdown

Now that the real first round of the tournament is done (we won’t count the First Four), it’s time to see how each power conference is doing. While we all love the Cinderellas of the A-10, we’re going to focus on the big guys for now. As usual, the Big East has had a tough first two days.

ACC

Tournament Teams (4)- Duke, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State

Remaining Tournament Teams (3)- Duke, Miami, North Carolina

Verdict- NC State didn’t live up to the hype this year. With so much talent returning, and a highly heralded recruiting class in tow, the Wolfpack were expected to challenge for the ACC title this season. Instead, they stumbled to the finish and played on Thursday in the conference tournament. Fittingly, they lost in the first round of the NCAAs too. Duke and Miami looked strong in convincing first-round wins, while North Carolina can only hope to become more consistent after it gave up a 20-point lead against Villanova. Next up, its tournament nemesis, Kansas.

Big 12

Tournament Teams (5)- Oklahoma State, Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma, Kansas

Remaining Tournament Teams (3)- Iowa State, Kansas

Verdict- The first round wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t as good as it should have been for the Big 12. Marcus Smart and the Oklahoma State Cowboys looked lost against an Oregon Ducks team that, despite its decent 26-8 record, wasn’t expected to be much of a force in the tournament. Kansas State suffered a disappointing loss to La Salle, while Oklahoma was outmatched by San Diego State from the stronger Mountain West. All eyes will be on Kansas City as the Jayhawks look to continue their hot streak against former coach Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.

Big East

Tournament Teams (8)- Louisville, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Villanova, Georgetown, Syracuse, Marquette

Remaining Tournament Teams (3)- Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette

Verdict- It’s been another bad tournament for the Big East, which has had very little success in the first round the past few years. Marquette barely squeaked by Davidson, Georgetown lost to tournament first-timer Florida Gulf Coast, Cincinnati couldn’t hold on against Creighton and Villanova’s comeback just wasn’t enough against North Carolina. In the last year of its current configuration, the old Big East went out in typical fashion. The lone bright spots were wins by future ACC members Louisville and Syracuse.

Big Ten

Tournament Teams (7)- Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois

Remaining Tournament Teams (6)- Michigan State, Ohio State, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Illinois

Verdict- The Big Ten has lived up to the hype so far, having virtually no trouble with its first slate of games. Wisconsin’s early exit came at the hands of Marshall Henderson and a hot Ole Miss team who was one three #12 seeds to beat a #5 seed this year.

Pac-12

Tournament Teams (5)- Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, California, Colorado

Remaining Tournament Teams (3)- Oregon, Arizona, California

Verdict- If you had told me at the start of the season that UCLA would lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, I would have said you were crazy. Not with Shabazz. Not when they’re starting to turn things around. But the University of Carolina at Los Angeles (See Larry Drew, David Wear, Travis Wear) has just been too inconsistent, despite a late season surge. Coach Ben Howland’s place on the hot seat doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon…unless he’s fired.

SEC

Tournament Teams (3) – Missouri, Ole Miss, Florida, Kentucky

Remaining Tournament Teams (2)- Ole Miss, Florida

Verdict- Where’s Kentucky? The year’s worst (major) basketball conference finished the first round almost exactly as predicted. Missouri lost early and Florida, predictably, blew out their opponent. But Ole Miss’s stunning upset of Wisconsin has the Big Ten on the clock.

So far, the 2013 NCAA Tournament has been one of the most exciting in recent years. From stunning upsets by tournament first-timers, to old-fashioned brawlers, it’s been a perfect way to end an unpredictable season. With five current, or future, ACC teams still in the mix, the conference is in a prime position to bring home another title to college basketball’s greatest conference.

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Basketball, March Madness, Rankings, UNC Correspondent, Uncategorized, Weekend Preview
17 Mar 2013
4 Comments

…and the ACC continues to be disrespected

* This article is about the 2012-2013 ACC- Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Louisville are considered to be a part of the Big East Conference

Has anybody else noticed how unbelievably often the ACC is disrespected these days? From the endless message board rumors of our imminent demise, to the cheap shots about our football, it’s like we can’t catch a break about anything. ESPN pundits and national news sportscasters are too busy mouthing-off their own unfounded opinions that they fail to notice that we still have top-tier academics and the best overall athletic programs in the nation.  Our football is improving and our basketball might just be “back.” But, why say something good when you can hop on the bandwagon and put us down? I get it. We’re not the “flavor of the month. We’ll “never get better.” Our “sub-par TV deal reflects our sub-par product.” But is this actually what people would think if they did the research themselves instead of listening to ESPN? The Worldwide Leader is notorious for creating news. They pick a league, and make sure everyone thinks that it’s the best. For years, it’s been the Big East in basketball. Has the Big East been “bad” in basketball? Absolutely not. Has it been deserving of its one million bids that it seems to get every year? Not really, since most Big East teams flame out in the first few rounds. The ACC has the most NCAA basketball titles of any BCS conference in the past decade. Down or not, that says something.

But now the Big East is dead, so ESPN has hitched their train to the next big thing- The Big 10. I’ve already gone on record on this site many different times with my distaste for the Big 10. I believe I’ve even gone as far to say that if my school joined the Big 10 that I’d never watch college athletics again. It’s not necessarily the specific schools, it’s just that I can’t stand the complete arrogance that surrounds the conference. Are their academics bad? No. Are they better than ours? No. Is their football bad? Sure, it absolutely was this year. (But ESPN insists that the ACC was worse because they just can’t bear to say that we’re actually improving). I can accept those things. People make up their minds and won’t change them no matter what you say. But there’s one thing I just won’t accept- the absolutely unwarranted hype around Big 10 basketball this season.

Does the Big 10 have quality teams? Absolutely, even if their style of play is incredibly boring and hard to watch. Are they deserving of 7 bids and such high rankings, compared to the ACC’s four? I can’t say the word “no” enough. The snubs of Maryland and Virginia, two absolutely quality tournament-level teams, have been discussed enough and the specifics don’t need to be mentioned here. But to say that the Big 10 is just head and shoulders above everyone else is unbelievable. This is, the same Big 10 that the ACC tied in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge this year, isn’t it? This is, the same Big 10 that the ACC holds a winning 8-6 record against this season, with wins against “top teams” like Ohio State, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Minnesota, isn’t it? ESPN can spit out all of the statistics that they want to- RPI, BPI…you name it. But it doesn’t matter if Ohio State ranks ahead of the ACC in every single category imaginable. If they still lose head-to-head they STILL LOSE. That’s the problem with the media. They like to over-analyze things when it’s really much simpler. Have certain ACC teams been down in recent years? Sure. But UNC and Duke both won multiple titles in the most recent decade. That’s four more than the Big 10. It doesn’t matter what your rebounding differential is, or what your pace is if you can’t replicate it on the floor each night. UNC averaged 7 made 3-pointers going into their regular season finale against Duke. So “statistically,” the Tar Heels shouldn’t have lost because with 7 3’s instead of 1 they would have won the game. But they didn’t, they got blown out. Statistics don’t matter during the game, the actual play is the only thing that does.

The most recent ESPN Magazine issue was a Big 10 love-fest. It states that certainly, “everyone” agrees that Trey Burke is the best point guard in the nation. Have these people watched Shane Larkin? My guess is that the only reason they think Burke is better is because he plays in the Big 10. Is Burke a bad point guard? Certainly not. I’m all about giving credit where credit is due. He’s in the top-3 this year no question. But I’m also about seeking the truth when bias gets in the way. I love the ACC. And I’m not delusional enough to think that we were the best conference this season in basketball, we probably weren’t. But I know one thing for certain- we deserved more bids than we got and we deserve more respect than we receive. That’s not a statistical matter, it’s just pure fact.

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Basketball, UNC Correspondent, Uncategorized
12 Mar 2013
7 Comments

Expansion-Related Exaggerations- The Farce of Big 10 Academic Superiority

Even though the rumors of the ACC’s demise have quieted down somewhat (which just goes to prove the absurdity of their existence to begin with), I want to continue with my planned series on conference realignment. So today I’m going to tackle the most often mentioned reason to join the Big 10. No, it’s not television money…it’s research money.

It’s true that the Big 10 is a great academic conference. But the benefits of its research organization, the CIC, are greatly overblown. Universities can, in fact, collaborate on research with anyone they want to. They can work together. They can raise funds together. They can do all of the things that the CIC offers without ever even stepping foot in the Midwest. And they do- ACC universities already do this with great success. For example, the University of North Carolina has become the nationally recognized leader in concussion research. They’re working on it on their own terms, with the schools that they want to. Yet, they’re not in the CIC. And Virginia Tech is pushing the boundaries of renewable energy. Their solar house has become a nationally recognized award winner, but they’re not members of the CIC either.  It’s not the organization that innovates. And it’s not the amount of money that it has that changes the world. It’s the people, and ACC universities are home to some of the top research talent available.

But you might say that money DOES matter and that the CIC will provide this to prospective members like UVA and GT. Okay, so how do ACC schools stack up when comparing research dollars? A quick glance at The Center for Measuring University Performance’s “Top American Research Rankings” list, shows ACC schools like Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, NC State and Pittsburgh alongside Michigan and Wisconsin. That’s the Big Ten alongside the ACC- there’s virtually no difference. ACC schools benefit from their association with each other just like the Big Ten schools do. Research dollar rankings prove this.

And that’s without even touching academic rankings. The ACC far exceeds the Big Ten as a whole in the often mentioned US News and World Report findings. The ACC boasts 11 universities in the Top 60 (including Maryland), while the Big Ten only has 6. Even with Maryland gone, the ACC will have a remarkable 66.6% of its members in this top group, compared to the Big Ten’s 50%. Again, facts not bias.

Many Big Ten fans point to membership in the Association of American Universities. Since an impressive 11 of 12 Big Ten schools hold a spot in this organization, it’s no wonder that they cite this as evidence of their superiority. Who wouldn’t? Yet, while it’s true that the AAU boasts a truly elite group of universities, having an exclusive membership like a collegiate fraternity does not mean that its members are more academically advanced than their peers. Highly regarded universities such as Dartmouth (#10), Notre Dame (#17), Georgetown (#21), Wake Forest (#27) and Boston College (#31) do not hold membership in the AAU, but are all, rightfully so, considered to be among the top schools in the country (US News and World Report ranking in parentheses). Membership in the AAU is not a necessary part of, or even a precursor to academic success. It looks good to have a title beside a school’s name, but what the school accomplishes is much more important. ACC schools prove this everyday.

This article is by no means an outlet to demean the Big Ten, but to start a discussion. The Big Ten is an impressive collection of schools with great academic programs and a rich history- this can’t be denied. But it’s great for them, NOT us. We appreciate our history. We celebrate our success. And we’re proud of our top-notch academic programs. The facts speak for themselves.

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Conference Realignment, Opinion, UNC Correspondent, Uncategorized
22 Feb 2013
4 Comments

State of the Pa…Tar Heels??

What? Here is the deal:

Last time State and UNC met, in a game that went the Wolfpack’s way but not by much, I gave you stats about the rivalry in my preview. This time, I have a slightly different idea.

Last time, ACC Confidential did not have a UNC correspondent. Now we do, in the guise of Mr. Tar Heel, whose posts have been consistently informative and engrossing, as have the posts from my other correspondent colleagues as well as our moderator’s.

So, on the eve of the rematch, I have a proposal for Mr. Tar Heel. Although I am not a betting man, I offer a friendly wager as follows:

If UNC wins, a distinct possibility since we are going to to their place and since this is being billed as a battle for 4th and a bye in the ACC tournament, then I will write a post praising the Heel’s performance. If State wins, then Mr. Tar Heel would write one praising the way the Pack took UNC to task. Simple. Elegant.

I haven’t brought this up via email or any other medium with Mr. Heel, so it may be that he will reject the idea faster than Richard Howell blocking a James Michael McAdoo layup. And that would be fair enough, since I am kind of putting him on the spot.

So, what say you, Mr. Tar Heel? Up for this?


Posted by mikemab2000 in ACC only, Basketball, NC State Correspondent, UNC Correspondent and tagged , ,
20 Feb 2013
3 Comments

Taking Action on Conference Realignment- Contact Information for Fans

UPDATE- With recent rumors  that UNC, GT, UVA and FSU are leaving, please focus on those schools, Jim Delany, John Swofford and ESPN if you are going to contact someone on this list. Unfortunately, I could not find email addresses for John Swofford, Jim Delany and John Skipper. If you DO find them, please post them to the comments section, and I will edit this post. It appears that the greatest need can be found with these parties. We deserve a say in this too. This is OUR conference. I’ve included my original message below. DON’T FORGET TO SIGN THE PETITION ON CHANGE.ORG.

Thank you to everyone who has provided feedback on my latest article regarding conference realignment. I really appreciate it, and this type of discussion is why I enjoy Atlantic Coast Confidential so much. While I plan discuss issues such as television ratings and academics in the near future, I wanted to provide everyone with a comprehensive list of individuals with a significant stake in the ACC’s future.   While this is all public information, please respect the time and position of these individuals, if and when contacting them.

I truly believe that the ACC has a bright future in college athletics. Yes, many changes can be, and need to be made, for the league to reach its full potential. But this is why I have provided the information below. Joining another conference is a short-term solution without a long-term vision. While football is driving the flow of money right now, its future is in doubt due to rule changes, governmental intervention and increasing awareness of injuries. Baseball was once America’s past time, but was replaced by football. Ice skating and boxing were once among the most popular sports in the country. If, and of course there are many factors involved, football ceases to be on top, where would you want your school?  Would you want to be geographically and culturally isolated, playing very few of your longtime rivals, or would you like to be in a group based off of common geographic, athletic, academic and social characteristics? No other conference has better media markets, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, soccer and academics than the ACC. Our football is undeniably on the way up. There is more potential in the ACC than any other conference. Please share this with your friends, retweet it, post it on Facebook, or whatever you need to do. By working together, and having our voice heard as fans, I believe that we can make a difference.

Boston College
Father William P. Leahy, S.J. (william.leahy@bc.edu)
Office of the President
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Bradley J. Bates (brad.bates@bc.edu)
Director of Athletics
140 Commonwealth Ave.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Clemson University
Dr. James F. Barker, FAIA (jbarker@clemson.edu)
Office of the President
Clemson University
201 Sikes Hall
Clemson, SC 29634

Dan Radakovich (athldir@clemson.edu)
Director of Athletics
Jervey Athletic Center
PO Box 31
Clemson, SC 29633
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Duke University
Dr. Richard H. Brodhead (president@duke.edu)
Duke University
207 Allen Building
Box 90001
Durham, NC 27708

Kevin White (kwhite@duaa.duke.edu)
Director of Athletics
Box 90555
Durham, NC 27708
____________________________________________________________________________________
Florida State University
Dr. Eric J. Barron (ebarron@fsu.edu)
Office of the President
600 W. College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32306

Randy Spetman (rspetman@fsu.edu)
Director of Athletics
PO Box 2195
Tallahassee, FL 32316
____________________________________________________________________________________
Georgia Tech
Dr. G.P. Peterson (bud.peterson@gatech.edu)
Office of the President
Georgia Institute of Technology
North Ave.
Atlanta, GA 30332

Paul Griffin (njameson@athletics.gatech.edu)
Acting Athletic Director
150 Bobby Dodd Way, N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30332
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

University of Louisville
Dr. James Ramsey (jrrams02@louisville.edu)
Office of the President
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292

Tom Jurich (tom@GoCards.com)
Director of Athletics
Athletics Department
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
________________________________________________________________________________________________
University of Miami
Dr. Donna E. Shalala (dshalala@miami.edu)
Office of the President
University of Miami
PO Box 248006
Coral Gables, FL 33124

Blake James (dgentile@miami.edu)
Director of Athletics
University of Miami Athletics
5821 San Amaro Drive
Coral Gables, FL 33146
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
University of North Carolina
Dr. Holden Thorp (chancellor@unc.edu)
Office of the Chancellor
103 South Building
Campus Box 9100
Chapel Hill, NC 27599

Bubba Cunningham (bubba.cunningham@unc.edu)
Director of Athletics
UNC Athletic Department
P.O. Box 2126
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
__________________________________________________________________________________

North Carolina State University
Dr. Randy Woodson (Chancellor@ncsu.edu)
Office of the Chancellor
Campus Box 7001, A Holladay Hall
Raleigh, NC, 27695

Deborah A. Yow (d_yow@ncsu.edu)
Weisiger Brown Building
2500 Warren Carrol Dr.
Campus Box 8502
Raleigh, NC 27695
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

University of Notre Dame
Rev. John I Jenkins, C.S.C. (president@nd.edu)
Office of the President
400 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556

Jack Swarbrick (tinkham.1@nd.edu)
Director of Athletics
University of Notre Dame
C113 Joyce Center
Notre Dame, IN 46556
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Mark A. Nordenberg (norden@pitt.edu)
Office of the Chancellor
University of Pittsburgh
107 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Steve Pederson (spederson@athletics.pitt.edu)
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Athletics
PO Box 7436
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Syracuse University
Dr. Nancy Cantor (ncantor@syr.edu)
Office of the Chancellor
900 S. Crouse Avenue
Crouse-Hinds Hall, Suite 600
Syracuse, New York 13244

Dr. Daryl Gross (Djgross@syr.edu)
Director of Athletics
Manley Field House
1201 E. Colvin St.
Syracuse, NY 13244
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

University of Virginia
Dr. Teresa A Sullivan (jdb4d@virginia.edu)
Office of the President
PO Box 400224
Charlottesville, VA 22904

Craig Littlepage
Director of Athletics
McCue Center- PO Box 400846
Charlottesville, VA 22904
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Virginia Tech
Dr. Charles W. Steger (president@vt.edu)
Office of the President
210 Burruss Hall
Blacksburg, VA 24061

Jim Weaver (weaverj@vt.edu)
Director of Athletics
Virginia Tech Athletics Department
Jamerson Athletic Center/Cassell Coliseum/Merryman Center
Virginia Tech (0502)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Wake Forest University
Dr. Nathan O. Hatch (nhatch@wfu.edu)
Office of the President
211 Reynolda Hall
P.O. Box 7226
Winston-Salem, NC 27109

Ron Wellman (halldf@wfu.edu)
Director of Athletics
PO Box 7265
Winston-Salem, NC 27109
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
John Skipper
President- ESPN
ESPN Plaza
Bristol, CT 06010

John Swofford
Commissioner
Atlantic Coast Conference
4512 Weybridge Lane
Greensboro, NC 27407

Jim Delany
Commissioner
Big Ten Conference
1500 West Higgins Rd
Park Ridge, IL 60068

Larry Scott
Commissioner
Pac-12 Conference
1350 Treat Blvd
Walnut Creek, CA

Mike Slive
Commissioner
Southeastern Conference
2201 Richard Arrington Blvd. North
Birmingham, AL 35203

Bob Bowlsby
Commissioner
Big 12 Conference
400 East John Carpenter Freeway
Irving, TX 75062

 

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Basketball, Conference News, Conference Realignment, Football, UNC Correspondent
19 Feb 2013
25 Comments

Ending Conference Realignment- The Role of the Fans

UPDATE- I will be posting contact information for all future/current ACC school Presidents and ADs (except for Maryland), as well as information for ESPN and all major conferences tomorrow morning (2/20)

Maryland’s Short-Term Fix, Destroys a Long-Term Vision

As realignment rumors heat up in the WVU circles, I wanted to continue my series on conference realignment. Today, I wanted to touch on the fan’s role in all of this. At times, it seems like our opinions don’t matter at all. When Maryland first announced their intentions to join the Big Ten, prominent alumni spoke out against President Wallace Loh’s practically singular decision. He claimed that due to the confidential nature of the talks, he was unable to involve more people in the decision-making process. Basically, this meant only one thing in common speech- He wanted to do what he wanted to do. He didn’t care what anyone else thought. Any responsible school president would have realized that a decision of this magnitude, one that uproots a school from its athletic conference of over 60 years, needs more than an outsider’s input and opinion. Big decisions have big implications. That’s why even though the benefits of the Charlotte Bobcats rebranding as the Charlotte Hornets are painfully obvious, they’re still conducting serious research to determine the best move going forward. For a team coming off of the worst season in NBA history, it’s pretty telling that they’re willing to make this kind of investment. They want to know how the fans feel because they know that this will affect the bottom line. Maryland didn’t care, they just acted. Fans weren’t given an opportunity to speak, and when they did, it was too late. Don’t let this happen to your school, or your conference.

Since Maryland’s Big Ten announcement, many fans and alumni have publicly reversed their opinion on the subject. And why not? They can’t change anything so they may as well be happy. Or at least convince themselves that they’ll be happy. But it won’t work. After all, who in the Maryland administration can say that  games against Iowa and Minnesota will be as exciting as the one against Duke last Saturday? They can’t. The only reason they can sell the “academic superiority” and “financial benefits” of a move to the Big 10 is because they have an inferiority complex stemming from their complete financial mismanagement and athletic mediocrity. They have to say something, even if it’s justifying “exciting new matchups” against “traditionally strong” teams like Wisconsin (last NCAA men’s basketball championship in 1941), Ohio State (1960) and Indiana (1987), teams that they have far less history against than members of the ACC. And that’s just basketball. If the Maryland football team was struggling with support when they played local rivals, how many tickets do they think they’ll sell for games against Indiana and Iowa? Will fans really show up for an Ohio State game, if they didn’t show up for  Florida State? Wallace Loh can say yes all he wants, but history points to no. The problem isn’t your opponents Maryland, the problem is YOU. You mismanaged your own budget, you devalued your own rivalries and you were the one putting unbelievably mediocre teams on the field and court for the last decade. You got yourself into this problem and the answer isn’t to join the Big Ten.

Proposed Expansion Disaster- UNC to the Big Ten

As a fan of an ACC school often rumored to be leaving, I know one thing for certain. If MY school joined the Big Ten, I would never care about it in the same way again. In fact, it would all but ruin college athletics for me. It takes decades for rivalries to develop and bonds to be formed. I don’t have 100 years to sit around and wait for games against Nebraska to suddenly and magically become interesting. I’m still not sold on BC and they’ve been in the league for 10 years. History and tradition DO matter and any forward-thinking school president can see that this. Think long-term, not short-term. Rivalries develop because of commonalities and any amount of money cannot change that. Maryland will soon find this out. UNC-Michigan is NOT a rivalry. Maryland-Iowa is NOT a rivalry either. Schools can’t change conferences and expect the perceived “benefits” to outweigh the drawbacks when the drawbacks are rooted in decades of history. The University of North Carolina is a Southern school with Southern traditions and Southern rivals. We’re in the conference that we’re in because of characteristics that transcend more than anything the Big Ten Network can give us. UNC joining the Big Ten would make every game a Boston College game for me. In other words, I really wouldn’t care to watch them.

Fan of a School vs. Fan of a Conference

People say that they’re a fan of a school not a conference, but let’s not pretend that it doesn’t matter who you play. Would Ohio State fans really be happy with a Mountain West schedule? No, they wouldn’t. Would Clemson fans be happy with a CUSA schedule? Absolutely not. The conference that a school is in is just as important as the school itself. A win over Bowling Green would not be as exciting to me as a win over Duke. A conference is the school’s identity. It determines over 60% of matchups in each sport. Schools grouped together to begin with because they had common goals and characteristics. That’s why I wouldn’t be happy with my school in the Big Ten. I’d rather be in the Big 12, SEC or Pac-12 than the Big 10 because honestly, there are more interesting opponents in each of those conferences. We have more in common. But above all, I want to stay in the ACC because that’s where we belong.

What Can Fans Do? Let the ADs, Commissioners and TV Execs Know What You Think

So what can we do as fans? I want to encourage you to write to Commissioner Swofford and conference ADs and presidents. Share your ideas with them. Share your vision. Tell what you like about the conference and tell them about what you don’t. Even contact Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney, Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick and ESPN President John Skipper. They will certainly have a say in all of this before it’s done. Sharing your ideas doesn’t take very long and it’s worth a shot before it’s too late. I’ve done it before and heard back within weeks. At a time when our conference is in such a state of flux, it’s important for the fan’s voice to be heard. Your school BELONGS in the ACC and the ACC NEEDS to stay together. More money won’t solve your problems, I promise. You’ll end up as a misfit pariah like Maryland for the next 50 years. Think about it this way. Being rich doesn’t make Lil’ Wayne and Donald Trump any more similar. In fact, they could not be more different.

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Conference News, Conference Realignment, UNC Correspondent, Uncategorized
13 Feb 2013

Duke-Carolina- The season begins or ends here for the Tar Heels

It’s been called many things. The “greatest rivalry of all time.” The “unofficial start of the basketball season.” College basketball’s only “national rivalry.” It’s seen Gerald Henderson throw his elbow into Tyler Hansbrough’s face, Austin Rivers make “the shot,” and future surprise NBA superstar Danny Green leap over a flopping Greg Paulus. But tonight’s UNC-Duke game represents so much more than that for the 2012-2013 North Carolina Tar Heels. It represents a chance at redemption. So much of the season has been characterized as a disappointment. Carolina fans just aren’t used to a 16-7 record and NCAA Bubble talk in mid-February, but this year it’s a reality. Carolina NEEDS to win this game. Is it fair to the team for fans to act so spoiled? Probably not. It’s one thing to expect excellence, but another to demand it on an insane level. After losing four first round draft picks to the NBA, another Final Four was not a realistic expectation. This is a YOUNG team.

So what are MY expectations for tonight as a UNC fan?

1) That the game will be competitive

We’re going into a hostile environment, much like we did on Saturday, and we got destroyed. Duke has great fans, I’ll be the first to admit that. Cameron Indoor and the Crazies give Duke one of the best home-court advantages in the country, despite what derogatory things their fans may or may not say. Condolences to NC State’s Tyler Lewis. The Tar Heels need to learn from their mistakes and play at a high-level the WHOLE game. Second-half runs against Butler and NC State show that they can hang with the big guys if they try. They have the talent, and what they lack in experience, they should make up for in effort. Carolina can’t get behind early, or its chance at a competitive edge will be gone.

2) That the UNC lineup will start to reflect real-game results, not practice performance

I love Roy Williams, and I’m a big believer in what he does. Fans can criticize him for being stingy with his timeouts, or not putting certain players on the floor, but he knows the team better than any of us do. We’re not in the locker room. We’re not in practice. He’s loyal, and to be honest, he’s not the one playing the game. It’s the players. So when he takes credit for each and every loss I really respect that because it’s fundamentally not his fault. At the same time, I’ve watched so many games this year where lineups just haven’t worked. For whatever reason, this year’s team seems to have a hard time getting started. This has led to big deficits early on. Roy has experimented a lot and that’s okay because these are young players who are adjusting to their own individual roles on the team. But this is the Duke game. This is not the time for experimentation. The best players need to be on the floor as much as possible. And the best players during the game may be different than the “best players” in the last practice and the “best players” so far this season. Roy needs to stick to the hot hand tonight. There’s too much on the line for anything less.

3) That UNC will do a better job of guarding the three-point line

Duke lives and dies by the three, it’s a fact. They were off at Miami and we all know what happened then. But this is Duke-Carolina and it’s on an entirely different level than that, no matter what Miami’s ranked and what UNC’s not. UNC needs quality wins and a postseason berth IS at stake tonight whether the team will admit it or not. Since the game is at Duke, I don’t expect them to be off tonight. Duke has great fans. So it’s extremely important that Carolina does a better job of covering the three. Our perimeter defense is notoriously bad and it has been for years. But this year’s team is a guard-oriented group which gives us the opportunity to change this for the better. Mason Plumlee is a force inside, but Seth Curry earns more points each time he scores. Our focus needs to be on Curry and the other Duke three-point shooters, not Plumlee. With Joel James out we just don’t have the size to do that anyway. The Tar Heels NEED to commit to better perimeter defense or they cannot be competitive.

I’m cautiously optimistic about tonight’s game. Yes, it is a long-shot that Carolina wins. On paper, Duke just has a better team, even without Ryan Kelly. More experience, more size, a home-court advantage. But this is Duke-Carolina and anything, I mean ANYTHING, can happen. If the Tar Heels can pull out the win, then they’ll have a lot of momentum going into the last half of conference play.

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Basketball, March Madness, UNC Correspondent, Uncategorized
09 Feb 2013
2 Comments

Krispy Kreme Challenge 2013

2400 calories, 12 doughnuts, 5 miles, 1 hour

The Krispy Kreme Challenge was started 9 years ago as a dare between a few NC State students. Run 2.5 miles from the bell tower, eat a dozen doughnuts, run back. Since then, the event has exploded. It’s been featured in places like Sports Illustrated, and has inspired dozens of other food-themed races across the country. The 2013 winner was Timothy Ryan of Madison, Wi. with a time of 31 minutes, 32 seconds. Pretty impressive. This year, there was even a costume contest. Pac-Man, the ghosts and the little white ball were all present. So were Mario and his crew, fairies, Krispy Kreme cups with lipstick, sumo wrestlers, and giant costumed hamsters. It was awesome. The Krispy Kreme Challenge was not a race, it was a spectacle.

But it’s not just fun and games. At this year’s event, 8,000 runners raised $177,000 for the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Total donations since the beginning total over $500,000, and all proceeds for any past and future races will always go to this cause. It’s amazing.

I was lucky enough to be one of those runners and competed in the challenge for the first time. It was a great experience. Not only do I feel honored that I was able to take part in such a great event, but somehow, I ate all 12 doughnuts and didn’t get sick. Even though NC State is not my ACC school, I’m proud to have been a part of this event. The ACC is more than a conference. Its members are more than schools. And this event is a great example of the type of impact that we can all have on the world around us.

To learn more about the Krispy Kreme Challenge, and to find information about next year’s race, visit http://www.krispykremechallenge.com/

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Non-Serious, UNC Correspondent, Uncategorized
05 Feb 2013

The Mysterious Case of Marquise Williams

While the Tar Heels have an important game against Wake Forest tonight, and a few obstacles to get through to come away with a victory (a team-wide flu epidemic and the absence of PJ Hairston), I thought I would do a spotlight on the UNC football team with signing day almost upon us.

On Monday, numerous media outlets reported that UNC back-up quarterback Marquise Williams was not enrolled in Carolina this semester. That led to a flurry of speculation surrounding his future with the Tar Heels. On Tuesday, the school sought to quiet these rumors by stating that Williams is indeed still on the team and is planning to enroll in summer school and play this fall. That still hasn’t been enough to bury the issue.  Many message boards are still convinced that he’s transferring.

So why is Williams not in school this semester? It could be for a number of reasons. He could be having academic difficulties, or might be dealing with an important issue at home. Everyone goes through something from time to time and it’s not fair for fans to jump to conclusions. But it brings up another interesting point. If he IS transferring, what impact will it have on the Tar Heel football program?

Williams came in as one of the top dual-threat quarterback prospects in the Class of 2011. After redshirting his freshman season, he played in nine games this year as Bryn Renner’s backup, running for 186 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 10 of 17 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but with scholarship restrictions depth becomes an issue. Last year, UNC brought in two-star QB Kanler Coker from Georgia and has already seen this year’s Mr. Football from the State of Ohio, Mitch Trubisky (this year’s #7 dual-threat QB), enroll early. So it would seem that UNC has enough strength at the position to withstand the loss of Williams, right?

Wrong. Williams is arguably one of the most talented QBs on the roster and is the second most experienced player at the position. If Renner goes down, that leaves Larry Fedora’s promising second-year offense in the hands of a completely unproven starter. No Tar Heel fan wants to see that because we have high hopes for this season and for the future. Perhaps, Williams has similar hopes for his own future and doesn’t feel that it’s at Carolina. Fair enough. After all, he will be eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft and won’t have any significant snaps under his belt if Renner stays healthy.

But is the number of UNC QBs leaving the program an indicator of the times, or an epidemic? In 2009, part-time UNC starter Cam Sexton transferred to Division II Catawba College for a better chance at the NFL. He posted average numbers and ended up signing with the Canadian Football League’s Calgary Stampeders. He was released in April of last year. Another backup QB, Braden Hanson, transferred to the University of North Dakota in early 2012 and set the team’s single season passing record with 660 yards in a game against Montana in October. That worked out well for him, but he is not expected to be drafted this April. Even worse for the Tar Heels, two QBs backed out of their commitments to Carolina, Vanderbilt’s Patton Robinette and Notre Dame’s Everett Golson (recognize that name), before even playing  a down.

So no matter what the reason, or even the perceived depth at UNC’s QB position with a solid starter and multiple backups, a loss of Williams would be huge for the Tar Heels and would continue the turmoil that just hasn’t stopped since Marvin Austin tweeted about being in Club LIV. Fortunately for Marvin, he got a Super Bowl ring last year, despite not playing. Michael McAdoo (not James Michael), a member of the Baltimore Raven’s injured reserve squad, continued the tradition this year. Butch Davis must be so proud.

Posted by Mr. Tar Heel in Football, UNC Correspondent and tagged ,

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