CLEMSON FOOTBALL

Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
Photo: Jamie Rhodes-US PRESSWIRE

Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC


by - Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – Board of Trustees Chairman David Wilkins thinks that the addition of Louisville to the Atlantic Coast Conference was the best the conference could have made in the wake of losing Maryland just over a week ago.

Maryland announced its intentions to leave the ACC for the Big 10 early last week, and the ACC moved in what Wilkins called “decisive” action in adding Louisville this week.

“There is no question, in my opinion, that it was a great move,” Wilkins told TigerNet. “It was a good move by the ACC and I think it was certainly decisive it showed good leadership. The ACC went out and got the best school available, a school with very strong athletic programs.”

The Cardinals are 9-2 in football this season under head coach Charlie Strong, but started 9-0 and had vaulted themselves into BCS talk. They play tonight at Rutgers, another school that is leaving the Big East for the Big 10. In basketball, Louisville is ranked 5th in the AP Poll and 6th in the Coaches Poll under head coach Rick Pitino, and Wilkins said it was that kind of strength that drew the ACC.

“They have very strong football and basketball programs,” he said. “Overall, all of their athletic programs are excellent, and it is a good new market for us. I think it is a strong, and I think it was the right thing for the ACC to do.”

Wilkins also said the addition of Louisville doesn’t hurt the conference from an academic standpoint.

“I think people have varying opinions on that, but the academics in the ACC are strong with Duke, Virginia and Clemson,” he said. “We are very strong, and we didn’t weaken ourselves at all. We are strong and will remain strong, and adding Louisville increased our football and basketball prowess.”

Maryland’s hasty departure led to speculation that the ACC – which added Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Syracuse in the last year – was less than stable. Wilkins said that the opposite of that is true, and cited the $53 million buyout.

“Maryland leaves and they are replaced in a very short time with Louisville,” he said. “It shows good leadership by the ACC. And once Maryland is forced to pay that $53 million, people won’t question that any longer. I think making them pay is the right thing to do – an agreement is an agreement and it should be enforced. The ACC has already filed suit and I applaud their efforts.”

Wilkins also credited James Barker for helping get Louisville into the league.

“You have to give Jim Barker a lot of credit in this,” he said. “I thought it was the right move. People knew they had strong football and basketball programs, and people listen to Jim Barker. He has a lot of respect around the league, and he had a lot to do with getting Louisville and Notre Dame.”

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Subject (Replies: 36) Author
spacer Front Page Story: Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
B-Meist®
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
TigerFanClint
spacer Did the basketball schools want UCONN? Wasn't it a
AThomas®
spacer BTW: Why didn't Barker get ND football too?***
AThomas®
spacer Existing TV contracts kind of get in the way***
BentZero
spacer Thats what the ACC ESPN twitter account said yesterday.***
ChickensHater
spacer Louisville is a basketball school and just lost to
josephg®
spacer Wilkins and Barker have heralded the end of Clemson football
PioneerG
spacer Are you suggesting they sabatoge the ACC
hleapha
spacer What I am suggesting is
PioneerG
spacer PioneerG, you are spot on sir. The ACC is a "cancer" in the
Ridge Creek
spacer Re: PioneerG, you are spot on sir. The ACC is a "cancer" in the
ALL IN Tiger 888
spacer And THEY know the only way we can really make our message
tigerzeye
spacer That's not really true. FSU let Bowden run their program
josephg®
spacer Face it, we're not getting an invite to the SEC
hleapha
spacer Re: Wilkins and Barker have heralded the end of Clemson football
Fieldgoal
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
TigerFanClint
spacer I like David a lot - but he is not in the Kool Aid as well***
Rally2
spacer In the Kool Aid - sorry***
Rally2
spacer It was probably the best possible option given the schools
Smiling Tiger®
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
pofc6818
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
deleted
spacer You still haven't won squat in the SEC, at least we have a
tiggerz04
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
Whitehurst74
spacer Re:Enjoy yourself at the Biiggest Loser Bowl
deleted
spacer Look out swoffie
MackDaddy®
spacer Re: You lost me at 'good leadership'***
deleted
spacer Wilkins applauds ACC lawsuit against MD???
TigerNotAtGT
spacer Why wouldn't you want them to collect it?***
josephg®
spacer Replacing UMD w/ UofL is an upgrade.
MRTTMT
spacer Yeah, B1G are the losers in this one***
Battery505
spacer So does "available" = remaining Big East teams?
clemsongt
spacer The Big 10 pays almost 50% more money than the ACC does.***
Buffalo Creek Tiger
spacer Wilkins and Barker need to spend more time....
BigCUFan®
spacer I think a reporter asked them questions and they
josephg®
spacer Thanks for not posting Wilkins's photo with this story.***
ctigerfan
spacer Re: Front Page Story: Wilkins applauds addition of Louisville to ACC
Fieldgoal