College football is upside down right now. It started with the transfer portal, then went to NIL, and now its realignment. The old timers don’t care for it but the “today” fans are running with it. So, what happens if Clemson goes to the SEC OR the B1G? It’s going to be devastating to ACC history.
The new crowd loves the thought of playing home and homes with the likes of Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama while those on the other side see years and years of playing NCState, North Carolina, Wake Forest coming to a screeching halt. It’s not about what pundits see as better competition or playing in a “cupcake” conference, it’s about watching a proud group of schools who have played each other for many years go down the tubes because of money.
When the ACC added Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Miami, the thought was bringing in a couple of basketball schools to compete against UNC and Duke. VT and Pitt proved to be good football schools, Syracuse held up its end of the basketball bargain, and Miami just never really lived up to expectations. The Canes are making a splash now in football thanks to billionaire John Ruiz pouring money into “NIL” which is really pay for play, an aspect the NCAA has completely botched and has allowed to happen. However, they still have to be coached and developed, something Miami hasn’t done since Jimmy Johnson. Having said that, where does Miami end up playing in 2023? Will the NCAA regulate NIL and reel it in? Lots of questions here.
Clemson travels to Wake Forest in week four of the season. Is it the last time Clemson fans will watch the Deacon ride into the stadium on his motorcycle? In week six, the Tigers travel to Boston College, a favorite road trip every year for fans that enjoy not only the surroundings but taking time to go to the Cheers Bar downtown. And the others destination location in Boston.
Face it, college realignment doesn’t care about history, it’s trying to rewrite it. Us old timers will miss the ACC games if they get their way. Today, it’s all about the Benjamins. It’s all about greed. College sports are no longer about the student-athlete. It’s not about going to college for the college experience. At least, it’s not for the student-athlete. It’s for the money. When boosters start spending millions on high schoolers to get them to go their school of choice, watch out out for the trickle down effect it will have on players not getting the big bucks and coaches who make far less to coach these guys.
Coach Dabo Swinney will do what he does best. He is the “Gunny Highway” of Clemson football. “You are Clemson Tigers now. You will adapt. You will improvise. You will overcome.” Whether it’s the ACC or the SEC or the B1G, Coach Swinney is in charge of the program and has proven over time he rolls with the punches and usually comes out on top.
If Clemson leaves the ACC, this old timer will miss the old days.
One Comment
I’m an old timer and I have no warm and fuzzy fondness for the archaic ACC. John Swofford NEVER ingratiated himself to Clemson, we were little more than an after thought to
Him. This move to wherever, if it should come to fruition would be positive in every way. I’m no my old timer’s opinion