Respect for Pitt???? Within the ACC Community? Need outsiders thoughts

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I posted this for a Q&A with Chris, but it might best asked here where visiting ACC school fans can chime in. But....

It is about general respect for Pitt as a football program.

We discuss alot the respect locally vs nationally and we always agree where Pitt seems to have more national respect than locally. But I have noticed something else. Amongst the ACC community, they are almost dismissive of Pitt. Since Pitt joined the league, they are the only teams not named Clemson and FSU to play in multiple ACC championship games. They are the only won to actually have won an ACC Championship. We have had a Heisman finalist. Not to mention our overall history in college and pro football. Yet, when "poaching" ACC teams is discussed, or when teams are ranked in preseason conference polls, Pitt is nowhere to be found. Why? When the "Magnificent Seven" was coined, Pitt wasn't on it. Yet they have been more successful recently, have a better history, and even better attendance than at least 4 of those "Seven". What gives? I mean schools like NC State and Carolina can't hold our jock strap as a football program.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Just a few thoughts:

1) We didn't do anything of much of significance for the better part of 40 years. Of course that's going to be the perception. If Virginia came out of nowhere and won the ACC the next two years, we'd still be calling them Virginia the year after that. It's going to take a few more years of this to gain respect. And frankly 9-4 and a Sun Bowl win isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Maybe our own perception has become a bit clouded.

2) I don't know that I consider UNC and NC State to be below us. I mean neither have the historical highs we've had. But they're pretty similar to the tier we're on as a program.

3) Sort of going back to the first point... we haven't had ANY god awful seasons in the last 23. Five wins (happened three times) was as bad as it's gotten. That doesn't get a ton of respect, though, because people tend to only remember the highs; whether you're 3-9 or 8-4, you're still mostly irrelevant on the national scene. People outside the fan base don't care about things such as having the second best record in the ACC since Narduzzi has gotten here.

 

[lilspainishflea]

I went to UVA and I live in Atlanta. I have many friends and family members who went to UVA, UNC, Duke, Georgia Tech, and Clemson. I've done road trips to Clemson, Georgia Tech, UVA, and Charlotte. In my experience, Pitt is thought of pretty well among those fans.

I wouldn't necessarily say they acknowledge that Pitt has won a lot of ACC games specifically, but the overall vibe is that Pitt is a decent-to-good program. We certainly get way more respect from them than Pitt ever got from my neighbors and friends in Pennsylvania.

 

[HailToPitt725]

I think it’s important to remember that on-field results don’t mean much when talking about realignment. I mean, Maryland and Rutgers got invites to the Big Ten. We don’t bring the tv ratings (SEC) or untapped market (B1G) that these conferences are looking for. All of the schools in the ‘Magnificent 7’ do; I’m actually surprised that Georgia Tech wasn’t included because they’d bring the ATL market for the Big Ten.

But I will say that I agree with what @lilspainishflea said; I think we generally have a pretty good reputation among ACC fanbases. We likely just don’t have the same influence as others do that’ve been in the conference longer than us.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

But I will say that I agree with what @lilspainishflea said; I think we generally have a pretty good reputation among ACC fanbases. We likely just don’t have the same influence as others do that’ve been in the conference longer than us.

The reputation we have among schools like UVA, Duke, VT, GT, etc. most likely stems from the fact that we often beat those teams.

On the contrary, the reputation we have among many of the local non-diehards is one of critique because they're thinking in pro sports terms, this town being what it is. Championships or bust n' at. I know people who can't even fathom why I would watch Pitt, because "they have no chance of ever winning a national title."

I would think the smarter college football fans at the in between schools (UNC, NC State, Florida State, etc.) would at least respect us. I have no idea whether or not that is the case. We seem to at least have Clemson's respect after going 2-2 against them.

 

[h2p_5150]

The poaching talk has nothing to do with program quality. If it did, Miami and Virginia Tech wouldn't be commonly brought up. UCLA isn't exactly LSU, but they were highly sought by the Big Ten.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I probably should have been more specific. It is not so much the fans, but the media. The fans aren't writing speculative articles on who's poaching who. The fans aren't voting in preseason rankings. The fans aren't putting out these type of media hype.

So maybe I should have specified the media within the ACC footprint.

 

[pittdan77]

I probably should have been more specific. It is not so much the fans, but the media. The fans aren't writing speculative articles on who's poaching who. The fans aren't voting in preseason rankings. The fans aren't putting out these type of media hype.

So maybe I should have specified the media within the ACC footprint.

I think that trying to determine the respect a school receives in terms of whether or not someone wants to "poach" them is problematic because the Big12 is trying to "poach" UConn and I can't think of too many programs that get less respect in football.

Okay, that's probably a bit over the top but I think Pitt has regained some of the respect it has lost. Let's face it, Pitt was pretty sketchy from an overall athletics standpoint until very recently. At least in terms of anyone who views the last 20 years or so as a reasonable benchmark.

 

[lilspainishflea]

Championships or bust n' at. I know people who can't even fathom why I would watch Pitt, because "they have no chance of ever winning a national title."

Yeah but if this is the case, then PSU and WVU fans especially should STFU.

If Championships are all that matters, then there are about 15 college football programs in the US and Penn State is maybe on the bubble of being among them. Might as well shut everyone else down.

I think the animosity toward Pitt reflects somewhat inaccurate stereotypes about Pitt. It's fair to say that we lack the stadium experience oftentimes enjoyed by PSU and WVU. It's fair to say that Pitt is no longer an elite program. It's fair to say that PSU is a better program (WVU is certainly not at this point).

But a lot of the hatred towards Pitt, IMO, is because Pitt is different. It's not a huge campus with tons of tailgating. Pitt has lots of nerds that don't care about football or partying. We saw what PSU and WVU offered and came away unimpressed. We rejected PSU and WVU for a different experience and they hate us for it. It's anti-conformity from a bunch of sheep who all have to stick together. They feel the sheer weight of their numbers makes them right and us wrong.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Yeah but if this is the case, then PSU and WVU fans especially should STFU.

If Championships are all that matters, then there are about 15 college football programs in the US and Penn State is maybe on the bubble of being among them. Might as well shut everyone else down.

I think the animosity toward Pitt reflects somewhat inaccurate stereotypes about Pitt. It's fair to say that we lack the stadium experience oftentimes enjoyed by PSU and WVU. It's fair to say that Pitt is no longer an elite program. It's fair to say that PSU is a better program (WVU is certainly not at this point).

But a lot of the hatred towards Pitt, IMO, is because Pitt is different. It's not a huge campus with tons of tailgating. Pitt has lots of nerds that don't care about football or partying. We rejected PSU and WVU for a different experience and they hate us for it. It's anti-conformity from a bunch of sheep who all have to stick together.

It's not fans of either of those teams who tell this to me; they're just not college football fans at all... or only very casual fans. There are a lot of those around here. I guess it makes sense if you're into the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. You're kind of occupied year-round. And then they'll just watch whatever the big, nationally televised game(s) are that week on the college level.

I do think Penn State is one of the teams in the national championship conversation, in general. Not right at this moment, while so much talent is concentrated among so few teams. But if Saban retires and a few other things happen, sure - they have a shot.

 

[HailToPitt725]

Yeah but if this is the case, then PSU and WVU fans especially should STFU.

If Championships are all that matters, then there are about 15 college football programs in the US and Penn State is maybe on the bubble of being among them. Might as well shut everyone else down.

I think the animosity toward Pitt reflects somewhat inaccurate stereotypes about Pitt. It's fair to say that we lack the stadium experience oftentimes enjoyed by PSU and WVU. It's fair to say that Pitt is no longer an elite program. It's fair to say that PSU is a better program (WVU is certainly not at this point).

But a lot of the hatred towards Pitt, IMO, is because Pitt is different. It's not a huge campus with tons of tailgating. Pitt has lots of nerds that don't care about football or partying. We saw what PSU and WVU offered and came away unimpressed. We rejected PSU and WVU for a different experience and they hate us for it. It's anti-conformity from a bunch of sheep who all have to stick together. They feel the sheer weight of their numbers makes them right and us wrong.

In regards to your last paragraph: if the Big Ten and SEC pick the rest of us apart, or the ‘super league’ is formed, I’ll be fascinated to see how the rest of the country responds.

Would the “best of the rest” look to form their own mini super league? Would schools try to return to regional groupings, or perhaps, like you said, conferences with peer academic/cultural institutions? It’ll set off a really weird chain reaction that I’m not sure what the effect will be.

Edit: for instance, I’d much rather stay with a schools such as Duke, Georgia Tech, Virginia, etc. than go to the Big 12 and be grouped with a bunch of schools that we have nothing in common with, academically or geographically.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Yeah but if this is the case, then PSU and WVU fans especially should STFU.

If Championships are all that matters, then there are about 15 college football programs in the US and Penn State is maybe on the bubble of being among them. Might as well shut everyone else down.

I think the animosity toward Pitt reflects somewhat inaccurate stereotypes about Pitt. It's fair to say that we lack the stadium experience oftentimes enjoyed by PSU and WVU. It's fair to say that Pitt is no longer an elite program. It's fair to say that PSU is a better program (WVU is certainly not at this point).

But a lot of the hatred towards Pitt, IMO, is because Pitt is different. It's not a huge campus with tons of tailgating. Pitt has lots of nerds that don't care about football or partying. We saw what PSU and WVU offered and came away unimpressed. We rejected PSU and WVU for a different experience and they hate us for it. It's anti-conformity from a bunch of sheep who all have to stick together. They feel the sheer weight of their numbers makes them right and us wrong.

OK. But you also just described most of the ACC.

 

[lilspainishflea]

OK. But you also just described most of the ACC.

???

People don't routinely choose between going to Pitt versus going to Clemson. So Clemson people don't have antipathy toward us because we never rejected their school. And people in South Carolina aren't subject to tons of propaganda on why we suck from a young age.

We stack up better in the minds of ACC fans because they view us from an objective, feelings-neutral, position.

 

[cbpitt2]

Back in 2005, the ACC courted Miami, BC and Syracuse. Miami and BC fled the Big East and later VT joined the ACC. I don't ever recall reading that Pitt was courted by the ACC back then. That to me indicates who the ACC thought higher of at that time.

Later Syracuse and Pitt joined the ACC.

From what I could find in Wikipedia.

Atlantic Coast Conference - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[HailToPitt725]

Back in 2005, the ACC courted Miami, BC and Syracuse. Miami and BC fled the Big East and later VT joined the ACC. I don't ever recall reading that Pitt was courted by the ACC back then. That to me indicates who the ACC thought higher of at that time.

Later Syracuse and Pitt joined the ACC.

From what I could find in Wikipedia.

Atlantic Coast Conference - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

And wasn’t it true that the ACC originally looked at UConn and Syracuse in the previous round of realignment? Something about Boston College opposing it?

 

[The Ole Six-Fiver]

I’ve posted this before in the B1G thread but I’ve never bought the bunk that “PSU Delivers The Pgh Market”. It’s nota unilateral situation. PSU does deliver a portion of it. Pitt has more alum in the concentrated region and delivers more of it. Then there are some WVU, some ND, more Ohio State than the media here will acknowledge, and maybe a bit of VT.

But the disrespect for Pitt begins locally for CERTAIN. Almost every single sports related media figure in the region is an alum of a Pitt rival, and most are PSU alum or those who didn’t but are PSU worshippers (aka Ron Cook). Maybe 2 at most can be considered a Pitt friendly. The misconception that it’s a PSU market here is part of that bias, which certainly (unjustifiably) hurts our chances to be picked by a mega conference. In reality the SEC in particular should have interest, possibly as a package with VT and WVU.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

???

People don't routinely choose between going to Pitt versus going to Clemson. So Clemson people don't have antipathy toward us because we never rejected their school. And people in South Carolina aren't subject to tons of propaganda on why we suck from a young age.

We stack up better in the minds of ACC fans because they view us from an objective, feelings-neutral, position.

My point is....outside of a few, most ACC schools are "nerd" schools who aren't motivated by specifically football as a metric for their self worth.

 

[Dan1911]

I posted this for a Q&A with Chris, but it might best asked here where visiting ACC school fans can chime in. But....

It is about general respect for Pitt as a football program.

We discuss alot the respect locally vs nationally and we always agree where Pitt seems to have more national respect than locally. But I have noticed something else. Amongst the ACC community, they are almost dismissive of Pitt. Since Pitt joined the league, they are the only teams not named Clemson and FSU to play in multiple ACC championship games. They are the only won to actually have won an ACC Championship. We have had a Heisman finalist. Not to mention our overall history in college and pro football. Yet, when "poaching" ACC teams is discussed, or when teams are ranked in preseason conference polls, Pitt is nowhere to be found. Why? When the "Magnificent Seven" was coined, Pitt wasn't on it. Yet they have been more successful recently, have a better history, and even better attendance than at least 4 of those "Seven". What gives? I mean schools like NC State and Carolina can't hold our jock strap as a football program.

I agree. Anytime Pitt wins the ACC. The media immediately say it's because the ACC is having a down year. Same when pitt beats another good team. That team is having a bad year. It's never "Pitt is coming on strong.". Pitt wins the ACC, forget about a bcs/playoff bid. It's BS.

 

[pittmeister]

Just a few thoughts:

1) We didn't do anything of much of significance for the better part of 40 years. Of course that's going to be the perception. If Virginia came out of nowhere and won the ACC the next two years, we'd still be calling them Virginia the year after that. It's going to take a few more years of this to gain respect. And frankly 9-4 and a Sun Bowl win isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. Maybe our own perception has become a bit clouded.

2) I don't know that I consider UNC and NC State to be below us. I mean neither have the historical highs we've had. But they're pretty similar to the tier we're on as a program.

3) Sort of going back to the first point... we haven't had ANY god awful seasons in the last 23. Five wins (happened three times) was as bad as it's gotten. That doesn't get a ton of respect, though, because people tend to only remember the highs; whether you're 3-9 or 8-4, you're still mostly irrelevant on the national scene. People outside the fan base don't care about things such as having the second best record in the ACC since Narduzzi has gotten here.

Let me answer that question this way…

In the days before the Mike Tyson / Peter McNeeley fight, Bert Sugar (the great boxing writer) was asked to comment on the perceived lack of respect for McNeeley. Sugar shrugged and said:

“He’s not even a household name in his own household”.

That’s the predicament Pitt is in… The local media doesn’t respect Pitt so why should the ACC media?

There is much respect for Pitt among the ACC fans. But it will take many 10 win seasons before they get the same respect from the intrenched media in Virginia and North Carolina...

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Let me answer that question this way…

In the days before the Mike Tyson / Peter McNeeley fight, Bert Sugar (the great boxing writer) was asked to comment on the perceived lack of respect for McNeeley. Sugar shrugged and said:

“He’s not even a household name in his own household”.

That’s the predicament Pitt is in… The local media doesn’t respect Pitt so why should the ACC media?

There is much respect for Pitt among the ACC fans. But it will take many 10 win seasons before they get the same respect from the intrenched media in Virginia and North Carolina...

It's not something anyone is doing wrong, really. We haven't earned it, yet.

Frankly, it takes a long time to get there, too. Is Baylor revered? No, they're a complete afterthought. But here are some recent seasons they've had:

2011: 10-3
2013: 11-2
2014: 11-2
2015: 10-3
2019: 11-3
2021: 12-2

And you guys think Pitt should be getting all this respect?!

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

It's not something anyone is doing wrong, really. We haven't earned it, yet.

Frankly, it takes a long time to get there, too. Is Baylor revered? No, they're a complete afterthought. But here are some recent seasons they've had:

2011: 10-3
2013: 11-2
2014: 11-2
2015: 10-3
2019: 11-3
2021: 12-2

And you guys think Pitt should be getting all this respect?!

Again. I think context is difficult for people. I am not saying these deserve to be mentioned with Clemson. But it should be getting more respect than say NC State. Or Louisville. Or even UNC or VT. At least over the last decade.

 

[Dan1911]

It's not something anyone is doing wrong, really. We haven't earned it, yet.

Frankly, it takes a long time to get there, too. Is Baylor revered? No, they're a complete afterthought. But here are some recent seasons they've had:

2011: 10-3
2013: 11-2
2014: 11-2
2015: 10-3
2019: 11-3
2021: 12-2

And you guys think Pitt should be getting all this respect?!

I thought Baylor got an invite to the playoff winning their conference. Iist be wrong. Sorry if I am.

 

[pittdan77]

Again. I think context is difficult for people. I am not saying these deserve to be mentioned with Clemson. But it should be getting more respect than say NC State. Or Louisville. Or even UNC or VT. At least over the last decade.

I think the simplest explanation is that the people making noise for these schools feel as if they need to create some kind of narrative. Who is making all the noise at FSU? The AD and the fan base. So what? They have next to no influence on what is going on. If there was something real going on they would have been told to keep quiet.

It's always the quiet ones.

 

[Dan1911]

I guess I got it wrong. Wasn't Baylor in the bcs/ playoff at some point?

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Baylor got an invite to the playoff winning their conference. We didn't. I'd say they got plenty of respect.

1) No they didn't; they played Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl
2) They were ranked how many spots higher?
3) They had better wins than us (Oklahoma and Oklahoma State were better than Clemson and Wake)
4) They had less ugly losses than us (Oklahoma State and TCU vs Western Michigan and Miami)
5) But, again, no they didn't

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Again. I think context is difficult for people. I am not saying these deserve to be mentioned with Clemson. But it should be getting more respect than say NC State. Or Louisville. Or even UNC or VT. At least over the last decade.

Since 2017, NC State is 47-28. Pitt is 46-31. I mean, what exactly are we expecting people to do? Plus NC State is 2-0 against us in that time. We have a conference championship and they don't, but still. I bet most people on this board couldn't name the last five PAC 12 championships. It happens, and then people forget about it. And I haven't really seen teams like VT and Louisville getting much respect lately.

 

[topdecktiger]

Back in 2005, the ACC courted Miami, BC and Syracuse. Miami and BC fled the Big East and later VT joined the ACC. I don't ever recall reading that Pitt was courted by the ACC back then. That to me indicates who the ACC thought higher of at that time.

Later Syracuse and Pitt joined the ACC.

From what I could find in Wikipedia.

Atlantic Coast Conference - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Miami and Virginia Tech joined in 2004 and Boston College joined in 2005.

Originally, the ACC had planned to invite Syracuse and Boston College with Miami, but that was due to television markets.

And wasn’t it true that the ACC originally looked at UConn and Syracuse in the previous round of realignment? Something about Boston College opposing it?

No. There was in interview with the AD of Boston College at the time, in which he said they didn't want UConn, but he did not say they blocked UConn.

 

[Dan1911]

I'm not sure I buy the rankings thing. The media rank many Big Mac teams high in preseason polls. They all beat each other so every win is against a ranked team and every loss is a quality loss. Same with the SEC. Most teams are out of the playoffs before the season even starts.

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

I'm not sure I buy the rankings thing. The media rank many Big Mac teams high in preseason polls. They all beat each other so every win is against a ranked team and every loss is a quality loss. Same with the SEC. Most teams are out of the playoffs before the season even starts.

The first CFP ranking doesn't happen until like November.

 

[Dan1911]

I'm talking traditionally as well as those "unofficial" preseason polls that sway perception..

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

At least one team that wasn't ranked in the preseason made the College Football Playoff in each of the last two years.

 

[pittmeister]

Since 2017, NC State is 47-28. Pitt is 46-31. I mean, what exactly are we expecting people to do? Plus NC State is 2-0 against us in that time. We have a conference championship and they don't, but still. I bet most people on this board couldn't name the last five PAC 12 championships. It happens, and then people forget about it. And I haven't really seen teams like VT and Louisville getting much respect lately.

I seriously don’t think anyone’s paying attention to you….. Carry on though….

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

I seriously don’t think anyone’s paying attention to you….. Carry on though….

You're a sensitive dude. Not sure why you have to cower into fetal position when anyone wants to talk facts that don't align with your fanhood. I said what I think Pitt is and isn't.

 

[pittmeister]

You're a sensitive dude. Not sure why you have to cower into fetal position when anyone wants to talk facts that don't align with your fanhood. I said what I think Pitt is and isn't.

No need to go “Karen” on me. I was just making an observation dude….

 

[csh2088]

Fans from the original ACC schools view Pitt better than they do Boston College, Syracuse, and Louisville.

 

[CrazyPaco]

Miami and Virginia Tech joined in 2004 and Boston College joined in 2005.

Originally, the ACC had planned to invite Syracuse and Boston College with Miami, but that was due to television markets.

No. There was in interview with the AD of Boston College at the time, in which he said they didn't want UConn, but he did not say they blocked UConn.

2003, targets were Miami, BC, Syracuse. Miami & BC were working together with ACC behind the back of the Big East. Object: schools leave at last minute prior to required notification for maximum damage, break the Big East, usurp east coast media markets, defacto take the BE BCS auto bid so ACC is likely to get two every year (FSU and Miami).

Plan leaked by Pitt chancellor when Wake Forest hoops coach reneges on commitment to take post-Howland Pitt job due to "BE not existing in a year". All heck breaks lose as plan hits media. Lawsuits filed.

UNC and Duke were no votes to expansion making UVA the pivotal vote because the other six schools were still for it. VA legislature holds UVA vote hostage unless Virginia Tech is included in expansion. Vote stalls inside conference. Compromise: Syracuse and BC dropped and replaced with VT. Expansion vote for only Miami and VT succeeds 7-2. VT drops out of lawsuit against ACC.

Once Miami and VT officially in as voting members in 2004, vote to accept BC succeeds. ACC reaches the 12 membership total required to stage conference football championship game.

In the mean time, Big East has back filled with C-USA teams. BCS votes to pass "Big East rule" to allow BE to keep its BCS bid despite membership changes largely out of sympathy and general disgust with ACC's subterfuge...only one vote against BE rule (the ACC). Lawsuits settled out of court with ACC paying some damages, including Pitt receiving a one-off non-return home game from Miami in 2010. BE survives as a power conference for a decade until the BCS contract nears end coinciding with next round of realignment.

 

[topdecktiger]

2003, targets were Miami, BC, Syracuse. Miami & BC were working together with ACC behind the back of the Big East. Object: schools leave at last minute prior to required notification for maximum damage, break the Big East, usurp east coast media markets, defacto take the BE BCS auto bid so ACC is likely to get two every year (FSU and Miami).

Plan leaked by Pitt chancellor when Wake Forest hoops coach reneges on commitment to take post-Howland Pitt job due to "BE not existing in a year". All heck breaks lose as plan hits media. Lawsuits filed.

UNC and Duke were no votes to expansion making UVA the pivotal vote because the other six schools were still for it. VA legislature holds UVA vote hostage unless Virginia Tech is included in expansion. Vote stalls inside conference. Compromise: Syracuse and BC dropped and replaced with VT. Expansion vote for only Miami and VT succeeds 7-2. VT drops out of lawsuit against ACC.

Once Miami and VT officially in as voting members in 2004, vote to accept BC succeeds. ACC reaches the 12 membership total required to stage conference football championship game.

In the mean time, Big East has back filled with C-USA teams. BCS votes to pass "Big East rule" to allow BE to keep its BCS bid despite membership changes largely out of sympathy and general disgust with ACC's subterfuge...only one vote against BE rule (the ACC). Lawsuits settled out of court with ACC paying some damages, including Pitt receiving a one-off non-return home game from Miami in 2010. BE survives as a power conference for a decade until the BCS contract nears end coinciding with next round of realignment.

The Big East rule didn't allow the Big East to keep the automatic bid. The rule actually mandated that the average ranking of a conference's champion must be within the top 12 over a given period.

What happened after 2004 is that the Big East was allowed to count the incoming schools toward that average. (Louisville was #10 in the BCS that year.)

BIG EAST KEEPS BCS MUSCLE

While the rest of the college football world may have been questioning the Big East’s status as a major player, league commissioner Mike Tranghese wasn’t. Turns out he had an ace in the…

nypost.com

 

[CrazyPaco]

The Big East rule didn't allow the Big East to keep the automatic bid. The rule actually mandated that the average ranking of a conference's champion must be within the top 12 over a given period.

What happened after 2004 is that the Big East was allowed to count the incoming schools toward that average. (Louisville was #10 in the BCS that year.)

BIG EAST KEEPS BCS MUSCLE

While the rest of the college football world may have been questioning the Big East’s status as a major player, league commissioner Mike Tranghese wasn’t. Turns out he had an ace in the…

nypost.com

Well yes, the rule change meant the Big East kept its BCS auto bid, because as the rules were then written, it would have otherwise been lost. It's exactly what that article is talking about. All the BCS conferences voted to throw that lifeline to the Big East, except the one conference that wanted to drive a wooden stake through its heart.

 

[topdecktiger]

Well yes, the rule change meant the Big East kept its BCS auto bid, because as the rules were then written, it would have otherwise been lost. It's exactly what that article is talking about. All the BCS conferences voted to throw that lifeline to the Big East, except the one conference that wanted to drive a wooden stake through its heart.

That's incorrect

The article clearly states that the Big East still retained it automatic bid under the previous rule. The worry was that the Big East would have had no margin of error over the next couple of years, if the champion happened to finish lower in the rankings.

Additionally, the article does not say the ACC voted against this.

 

[Upg bobcat]

I didn't think the ACC was interested in UCONN, I thought it was the Big Ten. Big Ten wanted NYC market, and I believe the two schools it vetted were UCONN and Rutgers, and ultimately decided to go with Rutgers.