Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990 TAG: 9006210445
SECTION: C-5 SPORTS PAGE: EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
ACC members decided last month in league meeting at Myrtle Beach, S.C., that the eight-team conference should not expand, but the league may be squirming now because of movements by other conferences and independent powers in the direction of expansion or the creation of super leagues.
"We came to the conclusion that we were comfortable with our eight schools," North Carolina athletic director John Swofford said. "Now some things have happened since that meeting. A lot of momentum was gained in Dallas at the College Football Association meetings.
"As a conference we have not formally reconsidered the decision we came to at Myrtle Beach. As you would expect, at the athletic directors' level, we have had some informal conversation among ourselves about what's happening around us."
The ACC discussed its expansion potential among league athletic directors earlier this week.
Swofford said his primary concern was that the conference not be left out in the cold if a nationwide expansion move develops as expected.
"I think it's important that we not feel five years from now that we did not have enough vision or courage to make some changes . . . if we decide that's the best thing to do," he said. "And I don't know that it is. I think it's very important to the league, to the future of the league that we take a serious look at it and see what opportunities are there . . . "
Swofford cautioned that expansion may not be in the making, but he said he believed the first steps toward expansion could be taken as early as late summer, depending on precedents set by other leagues.
One source told The News and Observer of Raleigh that Miami "would jump in a minute" if invited by the ACC and that Florida State would be a plus, both because of their strong football tradition and national reputation. Swofford would not comment on which schools might be most likely candidates to align with the ACC.
Swofford said the league must consider the possibilities of expansion primarily because of football, which does not have nearly the stature of basketball in the ACC.
"We don't have any need to expand from a basketball standpoint," he said. "[But] there may be some things we can do to enhance the ACC from football standpoint and beyond through expansion."
by CNB