I like the ND deal. I honestly don't understand the vitriol...
As a VT fan, I would love for ND to join the ACC in full. But I also understand that the ACC and ND have both been upfront about their intentions. And I see the arrangement as benefitting both sides.
ND gets one of the premier conferences in men's and women's basketball and non-revenue sports to complete for championships in. They get coverage on the ACCN. They get better bowl access for years when they do not make the CFP in football. And they get increased exposure on the entire East Coast. The ACC is WAY better for ND than staying in the Big East or a potential deal with the BigXII.
The ACC gets 5 football games annually - spread around for every conference member nearly evenly. All road games are nationally televised on NBC, with a huge built-in audience. Home games improve the ABC/ESPN contract inventory and are often nationally televised in preferred timeslots as well. ND's inclusion also supports the ACC in bowl negotiations and the ACCN.
Prior to joining the ACC, ND had played VT exactly ZERO times in football. I very much enjoyed the 2016 win in South Bend on ND's senior day. And agonized at ND's dad-blasted comeback in South Bend in 2019. Although our team had awful defense in 2018... the Irish visit to Blacksburg was nationally televised, had a colorful and raucous crown in Lane and was a decent game for about a half (sigh). None of this happens without the ND/ACC deal.
I look forward to ND's second visit to Lane this Fall (and hope the team has something special in store for them)! And I have enjoyed the recent success of the men's basketball team against ND, including a sweep this year.
Here is how I look at it. It's VT's job to put a football team on the field that can compete with ND's better teams. It's the ACC's job to get their historic football teams to get back to Clemson's level (Miami, FSU and yes, even VT). It's not ND's job to fix the ACC.
And even when the ACC rises up again in football... I will be fine with the ND deal. Especially if the Hokies are coming out on top more often! :)
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In response to this post by reestuart)
Posted: 04/20/2021 at 4:37PM