ACC didn't want any of the Hokies.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Atlantic Coast Conference voted Friday to target Miami, Syracuse and Boston College for expansion to a 12-team superconference, leaving Virginia Tech on the outside looking in.
Duke and North Carolina, the only two ACC schools that voted not to expand several days ago at the league's meetings in Florida, voted to include the three Big East schools in a morning conference call among the school presidents.
"We were not in favor of expansion," Duke president Nan Keohane said. "But since the decision to expand has now been made, we decided that we wish to be part of framing the outcome and to join with our partners in the conference in making this step as positive as possible for everyone involved."
Virginia and that state's legislature were pushing hard for the Hokies to be included in a deal. But a proposal submitted by the Cavaliers to include in-state rival Virginia Tech fell short of the necessary seven votes by ACC school presidents, the league announced.
Clemson's James Barker, chair of the ACC Council of Presidents, said expansion is pending based on ACC by-laws, which include visits to the three campuses and discussions with each school president.
Any expansion plan would likely go into effect in 2004 at the earliest.
"Over the past 18 months, our conference has been involved in an intense and thorough strategic planning evaluation on the long-term direction of the ACC," Barker said. "The priorities of this evaluation have been academic compatibility, commitment to student-athlete welfare, long-term financial stability and national athletic excellence. These three institutions represent and share the values for which the ACC has long been known."
The Big East starts its annual meetings Saturday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said Friday he was informed of the invitations in a phone call from John Swofford, his counterpart at the ACC.
"This comes as no surprise," Tranghese said. "We are looking forward to productive meetings this weekend. I am anxious to get started."
Formal discussions between the ACC and Miami, Syracuse and BC are not expected to take place before Wednesday's end to the Big East meetings. The exact meeting time between the ACC and Miami, Syracuse and BC has not been determined.
http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2003/0516/1555056.html
RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Atlantic Coast Conference voted Friday to target Miami, Syracuse and Boston College for expansion to a 12-team superconference, leaving Virginia Tech on the outside looking in.
Duke and North Carolina, the only two ACC schools that voted not to expand several days ago at the league's meetings in Florida, voted to include the three Big East schools in a morning conference call among the school presidents.
"We were not in favor of expansion," Duke president Nan Keohane said. "But since the decision to expand has now been made, we decided that we wish to be part of framing the outcome and to join with our partners in the conference in making this step as positive as possible for everyone involved."
Virginia and that state's legislature were pushing hard for the Hokies to be included in a deal. But a proposal submitted by the Cavaliers to include in-state rival Virginia Tech fell short of the necessary seven votes by ACC school presidents, the league announced.
Clemson's James Barker, chair of the ACC Council of Presidents, said expansion is pending based on ACC by-laws, which include visits to the three campuses and discussions with each school president.
Any expansion plan would likely go into effect in 2004 at the earliest.
"Over the past 18 months, our conference has been involved in an intense and thorough strategic planning evaluation on the long-term direction of the ACC," Barker said. "The priorities of this evaluation have been academic compatibility, commitment to student-athlete welfare, long-term financial stability and national athletic excellence. These three institutions represent and share the values for which the ACC has long been known."
The Big East starts its annual meetings Saturday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese said Friday he was informed of the invitations in a phone call from John Swofford, his counterpart at the ACC.
"This comes as no surprise," Tranghese said. "We are looking forward to productive meetings this weekend. I am anxious to get started."
Formal discussions between the ACC and Miami, Syracuse and BC are not expected to take place before Wednesday's end to the Big East meetings. The exact meeting time between the ACC and Miami, Syracuse and BC has not been determined.
http://espn.go.com/ncaa/news/2003/0516/1555056.html
