Friday, September 16, 2016

End of the Week Rant: the ACC Divisions are stupid

The ACC Divisions are stupid! Not a new theory, but I am reminded of that by the Colorado-Michigan game (of all things). In the run up to this weekend's game in Ann Arbor, I've seen Kordell Stewart's Hail Mary a dozen times. And each time the announcers say something along the lines of "one of the most memorable play of all time in College Football." Not spoken, but implied, is that Flutie's pass is right there too. Although we've all seen the play a million times, the BC-Miami game doesn't get that sort of annual stroll down memory lane because WE HARDLY EVER PLAY MIAMI! Why don't we play Miami? Because the conference is huge and they are in the other division!

The ACC's expansion necessitated divisions so that the conference could hold an Championship Game. At the time, they did their best to divide the teams to meet as many needs as possible and balance the power. Balancing teams based on their strengths in 2004 was dumb and shortsighted. Powers ebb and flow. Then you throw in the new teams and the Maryland departure and you have an even more random collection of teams that have no real connection.

As I've said and written before, the two divisions should revert back to some sort of shared history. The former Big East teams (Boston College, Louisville, Miami, Pitt, Syracuse and Virginia Tech) plus one sacrificial lamb should make up one division. The other would be filled by the more traditional ACC teams. That makes sense historically, geographically, and probably recruiting wise too. And best of all, BC would play Miami every year! ("...caught by Boston College! It's a touchdown!")

It won't happen. The politics are too messy. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't.


19 comments:

chicagofire1871 said...

100% agree. Not playing Miami every year has bothered me for a decade.

Bravesbill said...

Your main point is valid, but using the Flutie Hail Mary as a vehicle in which to argue your point is flawed. The Kordell Stewart Hail Mary may be getting a lot of play now, but I don't think I've seen replays of it in a long time. The Flutie Hail Mary is an iconic college football play that's relived and replayed all the time.

Mike Gualtieri said...

Flutie hail mary is replayed all the time. How many times does Michigan play Colorado?

JBQ said...

The amazing thing about "the pass" was that Flutie threw it from the 35 yd line. His scrambling allowed his receivers to get downfield. The Miami d backs cheated up because they "knew" that Flutie could not throw it that far. Phelan caught it about 3 yards into the end zone at the end of a close to 70 yd pass. I still will not watch replays because I think that Phelan will drop the ball. Something that spectacular will never fade away. BC has a watershed mark to aim for. So far, the results are anything but braggable. A number of people on campus resent the legacy and would like to destroy the statue. These individuals need to get a life. Thanks Doug. Billy and Troy had a lot to overcome from the resentment crowd who used them as surrogates of jealousy.

Sarum 80 said...

The radio call of the Flutie Pass is best!!!

Here's your ballgame folks....

Knucklehead said...

Watching Phelan running down the field is priceless.

I see him at games all the time. He is great.

He is cheap as shit though. I caddied for him at Brae Burn intermittently.

EL MIZ said...

old BE (6) - Boston College, Louisville, Miami, Pitt, Syracuse and Virginia Tech

old ACC (8) - Wake, Clemson, FSU, NC State, Duke, UNC, GA Tech, UVA

i think UVA would make the most sense. they have an in-state rivalry with Va Tech and are the farthest north. GA Tech would also make sense in that it fits the BC/Miami/Pitt profile of being in/near a major city.

is that the Mike G of WZBC fame?!

the Rant of the Week is a great feature.

CT said...

Wasn't the FSU-Miami split the overriding feature of ACC expansion?

Knucklehead said...

The ACC ought to hold a "lottery" each season that sets who is in each division of the conference. Then hold a second lottery to pick which teams everyone plays.

The lotteries would be awesome television.

Fuck anyone who steals this idea.

dixieagle said...

JBQ - who on campus resents the Flutie legacy? Leahy, because he doesn't want to try to live up to past athletic achievements? That is just so sad, if true.

mod34b said...

does a realign make sense $$ for ACC?

Geezer eagle said...

BC has no arch rival. Maybe a realignment will create one.

mod34b said...

g.e. holy cross!

no 'arch' rival...but worthy adversaries.. syracuse...pitt .. nd.... miami .... and the one school i truly hated and always wanted to mash (but rarely did) WV... fun playing and occasionally beating Clemson and FSU too.

VT does not consider us a rival and we do not consider them a rival....how many BC grads even know VT grads? not many

teams that i could care less about: NCSU, Wake, Duke, GT, UNC (teams within states of NC and Ga!)

Geezer eagle said...

Mod, Holy Cross was a life time ago. We dropped them my sophomore year. (That's how old I am).

Knucklehead said...

The money from the TV shows would make tons of $$. They could fix it so the rivalry game is played every year regardless etc etc. It would be cool to mix things up every season. It would give BC, Duke etc a chance if say Louisville, FSU and Clemson get put together.

Imagine being in the Big10 in the Michigan, MSU, Ohio St side. You have no chance of winning the conference ever with M and OSU.

mod34b said...

last BC v HC game: November 22, 1986.

i thought you were a 70s guy!

Knucklehead said...

I have that shit on VHS

Knucklehead said...

Not joking

Knucklehead said...

I was an eagle when I was 6