A thought about the Swofford visit

Jul 20, 2012, 8:33 PM

First let me say that I prefer the ACC over the Big12 any day of the week. However, I think if Clemson ever got an SEC invite we would absolutely have to accept. I do not believe an SEC invite is ever going to be in the works due to the SEC wanting new states.

Now, having said all of that, here is what I have to say about the Swofford visit. I have seen a few posts on the FSU scout board and some of them make a lot of sense when they say that this was not your normal conference commish visit to Clemson. They say there is no way that that cast of characters (President, BOT, Ch. financial officer) meet to discuss old myths and chat a little about future ACC expansion possibilities.

THey think that it should be very obvious to see that this was a sales call by Swofford. This was a visit unlike any he has made to any other ACC school. He was here to make a sales pitch to keep Clemson in the fold. They believe FSU got no visit because Swofford thinks they are already gone and there was no use. Swofford needed to make this pitch to Clemson and also know where Clemson stood going into the ACC media week, not that anything would be announced there. They also think it is quite significant that Swofford wasn't asked or invited to attend this meeting, but rather he asked if he could attend.

And here's the kicker, and I'm not trying to start anything, nor hope for anything. Many FSU fans feel the SEC, not the Big12, is the interested party with FSU and Clemson. They say there have been two Pensacola area radio stations talking about it. One host they admit is not very credible, the host of the other station, they say, is very credible with connections to the conference.

I don't know what's going on, but something is definitely going on and it is a lot more complicated than that drivel that was reported from the meeting. I can see why Clemson would be on the fence if the Big12 was involved, but if by some shot in a million it was the SEC, our administrators had better not be on the fence. And as much as I am against a Big12 move, I'm not sure we can stay if FSU has decided to leave.

The timing is curious. Just before the ACC media meetings, just after dropping the series games with Ole Miss and Okla State, just after conversations between ACC presidents and Notre Dame regarding some type of conference connections.

I would really like to see the ACC make it intact with the 14 we have and have no interest in drumming up all the Big12 nonsense again, but this visit by Swofford does change things. And I am inclined to agree with the FSU people who say this was flat out a sales pitch, not very different and with timing not very different from the Big12 commish going to Tex AM and Missouri at the last minute for a final pitch last year.

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being "reaffirmed" by Swofford's visit is remarkably non-committal, and considering the circumstances and timing of the visit is almost stating that Swofford's likely objective of reassuring Clemson of the league's strength was largely ineffectual. In essence, Barker is saying that nothing has changed and that the league is doing nothing to address our dwindling fortunes by remaining a member under the status quo.

Honestly, the TV market strategy for conference expansion has been horrendously overblown and oversimplified by the vast majority of sportswriters and fans. It's stunning that so many people overlook the realities of what this philosophy has brought upon the ACC (dwindling national interest and an overall competitive malaise despite the addition of massive population centers), and the Big Ten's example of brand-centered expansion (the bustling metropoli of Nebraska over Rutgers, Pitt, UConn, Syracuse, etc.).

It will be interesting.

A thought about the Swofford visit

This would solve Clemson's math problem and the OOC schedule

Re: This would solve Clemson's math problem and the OOC schedule

The SEC would be willing to give us entrance

No major rumblings from Central FL.

Barker's comments about Clemson's position in the ACC

Still sounds to me that all options now and in

If the part about FSU being gone is right then we better

Don't get overhyped here

Re: FSU does not control us.***

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