Clemson BOT to meet Thursday, discuss rumors of realignment and future

Chairman David H. Wilkins

by David Hood - Senior Writer - Wed May 23 12:03:54 GMT-04:00 2012

CLEMSON – The Clemson Board of Trustees will convene on Thursday, in a meeting that Board Chairman David Wilkins says is designed to get everyone on the same page regarding possible realignment and to address all of the rumors that have surfaced in the past week regarding that topic.

The SEC and Big XII signed an agreement last Friday that pits a team from each conference in an end-of-season bowl game, and speculation has run rampant since then that this allows for four major conferences – the SEC, Big XII, Big 10 and Pac-12 – with everybody else on the outside looking in when it comes to national prominence.

That has led to a rash of reports that have Atlantic Coast Conference teams, including Clemson, contemplating a move to other conferences in order to keep, as Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips told TigerNet Monday, their ‘seat at the table.’

With that in mind, Clemson’s Board will meet Thursday.

“That is what the main topic of discussion will be,” Wilkins told TigerNet Wednesday morning. “But I can tell you, that as far as I know, I am not aware of any contact that we have had officially or unofficially with the Big XII, nor have we had any contact or conversations with any conference besides the ACC.”

Wilkins said that with so many rumors floating about, and with speculation running rampant, he felt like this was the perfect time for the Board to convene.

“It’s just to get everybody on the same page,” he said. “The general discussion will be about what we think the future holds. We will talk about everything that has been going on, and this will allow us to get on the same page as the president [James Barker] and discuss the situation as he sees it. I have no reason to believe that he will say he has had contact with any other conference, whether through a third party or intermediaries. We are a member of the ACC, and we have not been asked to join any other conference.”

Wilkins said the meeting will be a chance for each member to voice his or her opinion.

“This will be about what we think about the future,” he said. “We will be looking at whether the ACC will be seeking other teams, and obviously Clemson can't act on that on behalf of the ACC, but this will be just a general information type of meeting. There is no proposal active, and no action has been taken. This will just allow folks to voice their opinion and share information.”

Wilkins said the BOT will, of course, act in the best interests of the university.

“All of us want what is best for Clemson,” he said. “Things are changing so fast, and we want to be aware of what possibilities are out there. I think we all want what is best for Clemson, period. We just have to deal with things right now. “