In a nutshell, here's the CR thinking for both B1G and ACC
- B1G expansion was about a market grab (NY/NJ and Balt/DC both greater than CT/Ffld Cty markets, and those 2 schools met the AAU criteria) with state U's in major markets, who were both in the AAU already. Easy pick really.
- The ACC expansion rationale has changed every time, and has never been about markets. They initially wanted UM, BC, and SU. VA politics played a role blocking BC and SU from getting the votes, so they just added UM. The ACC leaders used terms like "like minded academic institution being a big factor in their selection process"
- BC then announced their commitment to the BE (while still negotiating behind the scenes with ACC). - The ACC then petitioned the NCAA to get approval for a CCG with 10 teams, NCAA said no.
- ACC went back out with invites to BC and VT (a way to appease VA politics) who both accepted, and SU was left in the cold. The ACC leaders used terms like "like minded academic institutions being a big factor in their selection process"
- Years later, ACC looking to move to 14 included SU and Pitt. BC AD on record as saying he pretty much blocked UConn's invite, and offered up Pitt as a compromise, saying it protected the "western front" from the B12 getting into PA. The ACC leaders used terms like "like minded academic institutions being a big factor in their selection process".
- Years later, UMd bolts for the B1G and ACC invites UL, who at the time was top 10 in FB and solid in all major sports. The ACC leaders DID NOT use the term "like minded academic institutions being a big factor in their selection process". This was a FB move and the bigger FB schools standing up to Tobacco Road finally. They had leverage with the real threat to take their schools to the B12. Tobacco Road balked, UConn passed over again.
