My memory is hazy . But didn’t we think we were getting in at one point back during the mulchahy or pernetti years . Wasn’t there a touchdown club meeting where this was hinted at ?
Rutgers and the ACC ?
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anon_ivydyf0amkzay
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Not sure what transpired but back then RU to the ACC would have been a welcome sight to all…time has shown that not getting into it worked out way better!!
Whew!!!
Whew!!!
Many peeps here wanted to go to the ACC.....couldnt understand why all it is is a regurgitated Big East with a few more teams.
As I remember Rutgers was never in consideration. ACC looked at winning in basketball and football instead of the media market. They wrongly believed Syracuse owned NYC. So glad Rutgers went to the smarter, better run Big 10.
IIRC a good portion of the Maryland fanbase wasn't too happy with the move to the B10. I'm sure now they're grateful their admin made the move.
My recollection is that we could have had an invite to the ACC but Pernetti was confidant that a B1G invite was coming and the ACC knew about it so didn't invite RU.
This and thank g-d for Pernetti. Had the fortitude to wait for the better offer. Otherwise we would be on that sinking ACC ship.
Getting an ACC invite is news to me. Prior to the Big Ten invite RU nation was in deep depression about our conference future. And the ACC seemed outright dismissive and demeaning.
My memory from that time is fading. But I am pretty sure we never got an ACC invite.
I only remember Big Ten rumors and even some weird Big 12 rumor but no ACC rumors besides the ACC having no interest in Rutgers.
I only remember Big Ten rumors and even some weird Big 12 rumor but no ACC rumors besides the ACC having no interest in Rutgers.
Big 12 rumors had the Big 12 at one point thinking of adding UWV, Pitt, Cuse and Rutgers and at the end only UWV actually got an invite, since Pitt and Cuse went to the ACC and we were in stand by mode for the Big Ten, finally getting an invite a couple months later.
We will never know how serious the Big 12 was about us, or if it was even true! But West Virginia did get an invite so there might have been a nugget of truth there. But, we will never know.
We will never know how serious the Big 12 was about us, or if it was even true! But West Virginia did get an invite so there might have been a nugget of truth there. But, we will never know.
It was ALWAYS the B1G...from Day 1....Rutgers was focused on that and THANK GOD they were!
The Acc was an option. At least certainly moving towards one.
It was never an option for us though. The administration was focused on the B1G.
It was never an option for us though. The administration was focused on the B1G.
My recollection of a Tim Pernetti interview he gave seemed like he knew something was coming. He just acted like a person that expected one invite and had another in his back pocket. No hint of panic or concern in his voice with Rutgers being left out in the cold. I don't recall an actual ACC invite but you got the feeling listening to him in that interview that if the B1G didn't come through, he had a fallback with the ACC. Again, no proof of that, just an observation at the time.
From 10 years ago:
The Acc was always an option. It just wasn't our first option.
We had an ACC invite locked up if we wanted it. We didn’t want it.
Rutgers held their ground for the B1G and it worked out.
Also, fun fact, Greg never would have left for the NFL if he knew the B1G invite was coming.
Rutgers held their ground for the B1G and it worked out.
Also, fun fact, Greg never would have left for the NFL if he knew the B1G invite was coming.
The ACC never wanted Rutgers apparently. They did whatever ESPN told them to do anyway and ESPN was in the business of devaluing large Market programs so they can lowball the whole conference.
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This. The ACC ALWAYS looked down on Rutgers and we were NEVER inline for membership there. Turns out they were wrong and missed the boat. Glad to see them now all sitting in a sinking ship
True. But we certainly would not have turned down the ACC if it was a legitimate option at the time. We were not in a position of leverage. Glad things worked out the way they did.
Well this thread really cleared that up 
There was a year between this.
I don’t know how quickly everything happened, but I can’t imagine Greg was involved in conference alignment talks.
The ACC knew about the pending Big Ten RU invitation to join the conference, however when Nebraska (suddenly became available) it took the proposed RU invite. That's when Schiano stated, I was concerned of the possibility that RU might get left behind, which caused him to have valid concerns. Further, the ACC saw an opening and asked RU to submit an application to the ACC wink/wink. RU notified the Big Ten of the happening and that accelerated the Big Ten to hasten further expansion. An ACC application was never submitted by RU as the BIG took quick action, even Jim Delany spoke publicly about the ACC move for RU. It was common knowledge here in North Carolina that RU was contacted for entrance in the ACC. The rest is history. That's my true story and I'm sticking to it!
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You two are confused. We were a lock for the AAC not the ACC.
Never got an invite. Never was asked.
ACC looked down at Rutgers. Good for us.
The ACC = UNC. We did well to stay away. Hoping that trend will continue. The University of Non Compliance deserves a second-tier conference.
Actually on further review of my memory I think I agree. But I will say this - if offered the NFL he was going to go eventually. He's too highly motivated to not take the NFL chance.
but even after joining the B1G, some RU fans here felt the ACC was a better fit.
If they had thir way RU would be ACC and all of us would be wondering if the ACC would wind up like the Big East Conference and have to find a new home..
Wonder what those posters have to say now????????????
Those people - and sorry but - were morons for EVER thinking that and, the REASON IIRC, from most, was "we're a better CULTURE FIT...we're more "like those schools." I was like "HUH???"
Really well done and accurate - RU knew the B1G was happening and that is why there was no panic when Sara and Pitt left. It is also the reason Tim P and the WVU AD walked out of the Big East strategy session after sara and pitt announced.
Someone should write a book about what happened in the east from the time of the Eastern 8 through today - some very very interesting events and characters.
The ACC has been percived as a basketball power house for decades becasue of Duke and North Carolina.Rutgers didn't have the cache in mens basketball for 30 years which accounts for the non interest by the ACC.
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
Agree that was a big element of it, but the ACC always seemed to look down on Rutgers as an institution and feel they were too goo for us. Turned out the other way around
Conference invitations/departures/arrivals are always shrouded in mystery and message board "I know a guy who told me..."s. I don't think anybody could possibly know whether this is true or not...
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