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FSU to the Big 12 – “It is Inevitable”
May 20, 2012 | 1:35 PM Comments: 0
By Ingram Smith

Fisher's FSU team will serve as the catalyst for this year's conference expansion.

According to two people with the strongest ties possible to Florida State's Athletic Department, FSU fully plans on exiting the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Florida State will begin its transition to the Big 12 Conference beginning this June. One source went as far as to say, "at this point the move is inevitable."

Important dates to watch will be: May 30th, the Big 12 will have its conference meetings. June 15th, the new commissioner of the Big 12 when Bob Bowlsby will take office and August 15th, the deadline for any institution to withdraw from the ACC.

Florida State leaving the ACC this summer will culminate a process that began with initial talks with an intermediary representing the Big 12 last November. Florida State did not officially reach out to the Big 12 until a week before the ACC's most recent deal with ESPN was announced. Florida State has long been frustrated with the leadership of its current conference and in the Big 12 believes it has found a partner that is more focused, and in touch with the current economic climate of collegiate athletics.

Florida State will receive substantial financial help from the Big 12 in their exit fee from the ACC. Look for FSU to receive a similar deal that WVU received last year from the Big 12. FSU will be given anywhere from 10 - 14 million dollars towards the 20 million dollar exit fee.

Much of this money will come from the exit fees the Big 12 received from Texas A&M and Missouri's departure. It is very likely that FSU will additionally then be loaned somewhere in the area of 3 - 5 million dollars from the Big 12.  FSU's AD department will be responsible for the remainder of the costs associated with the departure from the ACC.  FSU has boosters that have already pledged the money towards the remaining fees that are not covered by the Big 12.
Florida State will enter the Big 12 as a full member in their first year.

The Future of The ACC

ACC Commissioner John Swofford Looks As Though He Has Been Outflanked By His Peers
Clemson will almost certainly pair with Florida State as team 11 and 12 for the Big 12.

Clemson has had talks with the Big 12 over a similar amount of time and when compared to FSU, Clemson and its leadership have done a much better job in navigating the challenges that are associated with a move as monumental as leaving a conference of which you are a charter member.

Georgia Tech is also talking with the Big 12. I stress that Georgia Tech is only having conversations. They are by no means in the same place that Clemson and FSU are regarding exiting the ACC. But the fact that Georgia Tech is even engaging in conversations is significant as they were unwilling to entertain any idea as recently as three weeks ago.

The fact that Georgia Tech is talking with the Big 12 gives you a pretty good idea as to the future of the ACC. The conference has been out flanked by its peers and will have likely have its work cut out to ensure its survival. It is very likely that you see the SEC make a play for two ACC institutions. One is likely to be Virginia Tech, the other has long been rumored to be North Carolina State. The Big 10 has always had an eye on expanding into new markets and the ACC possesses institutions in Duke, UNC, Maryland, and UVA that would pair well with their current culture.

John Swofford took over as commissioner of the ACC in 1997. At that time, the ACC had the richest media rights deal in college athletics and the crown jewel of the college sports world in many peoples opinion was the ACC Basketball tournament. 15 years later Swofford faces the fight of his life to keep his league relevant in a rapidly changing world of college athletics.

Copyright © 2012 Chuck Oliver.Net