ECU lobbies for ACC membership

ECU boosters lobby for inclusion in ACC
Greensboro News & Record
Posted at 4:15 p.m.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - As the Atlantic Coast Conference pursues Virginia Tech and Miami in its plan to expand, some fans of East Carolina University say the league should look a little closer to home.

The ACC is awaiting word from the two colleges on whether they'll accept an invitation to join the league, which has nine members now. If they both say yes, that would give the conference 11 schools - one short of the number needed to hold a conference championship.

ECU supporters are encouraging other Pirates fans to write to lawmakers including Gov. Mike Easley to ask for their help in persuading the league to include the Greenville school in its plans.

"I haven't heard any negatives on this from colleagues I've talked to," said state Sen. Tony P. Moore, who wrote to Easley on Thursday, seeking his help.

"We'll see how the governor feels about this. We'd like to see the same support that the governor of Virginia provided for Virginia Tech. We're the third-largest university in the state, and we would like to be considered."

Easley spokesman Ernie Seneca said the governor received Moore's letter but is focused on the state budget right now.

League spokesman Brian Morrison did not return a call seeking comment Friday.

University of North Carolina Chancellor James Moeser has raised objections to expansion in the past because of travel concerns, a point in ECU's favor, according to Chancellor William V. Muse.

"There would clearly be major benefits for the state of North Carolina, tremendous benefits economically for the eastern portion of the state," Muse said. "There are a lot of reasons why state political leaders should take an interest."

ECU is currently a member of Conference USA, which doesn't get a Bowl Championship Series berth in football unless it finishes in the top six in the series standings.

Both the ACC and the Big East - of which Miami and Virginia Tech are currently members - have an automatic series bid. Muse said he is looking for access to the best competitive situation for the Pirates in all sports with an emphasis on the highest level of Division I-A football.

The commissioners of Conference USA and the Big East have been talking, Muse said.

"If there are schools in Conference USA who want to be considered by the Big East, it is my understanding that there will be provisions for this to be done in a deliberate and professional way," Muse said.

 

ECU will get in the acc or Big east about the time it starts snowing in Greenville in August

 

How about December?

 

And further east...

 

December August.........hmmmmmmmmmmm

about the same months.

Seriously, this will not happen, my opinion is Miami is saying no, and VA Tech is coming in by themselves and the ACC looks like idiots

 

That's my gut feeling too and the football powers still will remain the newbies, FSU and Va Tech.

Miami sure can get the world from the Big East but that conference still has problems. I would not be surprised for there to be shakeups across the country and the ACC gets nothing like what they wanted originally.

 

Even if Miami does accept, we are in great position, unlike the doom and gloomers on the cusa board.....

We will either stay in cusa, be a member of some type be-cusa merger or go to the a-10....

I am not worried in the least.

 

I thought the ACC wanted to get stronger by adding teams?

 

I spoke with 3 different Va Tech grads (& avid fans) last week. All three said they would prefer to stay in the Big East, especially if Miami, BC, & Syracuse also stayed. They also all preferred the Southeastern Conference to the acc or the Big East.

 

But does VA TECH seriosly think they will ever get an invite to the SEC ? ? ?