Ummmm..when did Kentucky join the the ACC?
It is more than obvious (even going back to my OP) that I was referring to natural conference rivalries. Currently Louisville has 3 natural rivals; Kentucky, Cincy, and Memphis. None of those 3 teams are in the ACC and only 2 are possible considerations for the ACC to add in the future. Louisville may consider Notre Dame to be its competitive rival, but I doubt as its "natural" rival since the level of disdain (including football) is not there compared to Cincy and/or Memphis. It may eventually get there, but it is a two-way street and requires Notre Dame fans to have just as much disdain for Louisville.
If/when the ACC decides to expand again, then it wants to make sure it increases its content for the ACCN and even whatever regional coverage. It is much easier for a conference to build the content off natural rivalries than competitive rivalries. Natural rivalries exists regardless how good or bad both teams are when the games are played. Competitive rivalries require both teams to be good when the games are played. Once 1 team goes south, then so does the competitive rivalry.
Just because Louisville hasn't been able to schedule a game against Cincy or Memphis, doesn't mean they don't consider them to be a rival. Just look how many rivalries (i.e. Kansas-Mizzou, Michigan-Notre Dame, Nebraska-Oklahoma, Texas-TAMU, etc.) have suffered since all this conference re-alignment has taken place. If the ACC went to a static North-South division alignment with the dividing line the VA-NC border, then you can't tell me the South's Oldest Rivalry will suddenly be non-existent between the 2 schools since they would now only get to play once every 4 years. I believe the same is true for Louisville when it comes to Cincy and/or Memphis.
WRT the football schools there is no reason to buy into UConn football when there are better options out there who also happen to be good in basketball too. It also doesn't help UConn's cause that it plays its home football games in a stadium built on an old airfield that is in the middle of nowhere. Now if UConn football was actually good and ready to consistently compete for division and conference championships, then the football schools might be willing to overlook UConn's stadium situation. As the program stands now, it is just another Wake. [Post edited by VTHokie2000 at 04/12/2017 11:49PM]
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In response to this post by HOO86)
Posted: 04/12/2017 at 11:49PM