Mike Krzyzewski called the ACC's Grant of Rights agreement announcement "one of the great days in the history of our conference." Credit: CHUCK LIDDY

The ACC announced a Grant of Rights agreement with all 15 current and future members of the league Monday (that does include Notre Dame). In layman's terms, the TV revenue of each school will belong to the league until 2027, essentially guaranteeing all schools will stay in the conference (no one would leave that money, which will be around $20 million, behind). Here are statements on behalf of a few notable Duke administrators and coaches, as released by the school:

“I am thrilled with today’s announcement by the Atlantic Coast Conference. It is one of the great days in the history of our conference as it shows the highest level of commitment – not by words, but by actions. With all the uncertainty regarding conference affiliations the past several years in college athletics, this announcement, coupled with our media rights deal with the world’s best sports broadcasting network, secures the ACC’s future, and thus Duke’s, for years to come. As a long-time coach in this league, I understand how terrific the ACC has been. With continued commitment by current members and the addition of several outstanding institutions, the ACC should be in position to reestablish itself as the nation’s top conference in the years to come.” – head men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski

Kevin White has been Duke's athletic director since 2008. Credit: DUKE UNIVERSITY

Before Duke took down yet another top-five opponent in Ohio State, athletic director Kevin White gave a few thoughts on the ACC's recent expansion and the future of the league going forward. Here's a Q & A.

What was it about Louisville that made it the best fit?

"They have a national program. They’re really good in not only the high-profile sports but also the Olympic sports. They’re good in everything. They won an awful lot of championships in the Big East. They’ve invested really well, they’ve got great facilities, they’re really committed. They’ll bring an energy and vitality to the league and be highly competitive."

Did Maryland’s departure make it important to find a viable athletic replacement?

"I would say it was a decision driven by institutional quality in every way. Louisville is an emerging academic public institution. Its profile seems to have been enhanced an awful lot since I was around them in the Big East (White was the athletic director at Notre Dame from 2000-2008). They’ve invested well. It’s a school that has come a long way in the past two decades."

What do you think about further expansion?

DURHAM—Duke athletic director took a few minutes to share some thoughts on the addition of Louisville to the ACC. I'll have more updates late tonight after Duke plays Ohio State, but here are White's thoughts on the TV aspects of the revitalized ACC.

On the possibility of the ACC creating its own network:

"We are pursuing it and taking a good hard look at it. I don’t know how it will play out, but we are in the early stages of that. It’s an interest area of mine, it’s an interest area of (Duke associate athletic director) Jon (Jackson’s), so we are working on that at Duke as well just to be a good partner with the ACC. I’d love to see us do a really deep dive and explore the possibility of whether that makes sense for the ACC."

On the possibility of the ACC adopting a grant-of-rights TV clause, like the Big 12 has (essentially, if a school would choose to leave the conference, its media rights and revenue would remain with the conference for an agreed upon length of time:

"That’s something I think we’ve got to continue to explore."

As I said, check back late tonight (well, more like early tomorrow morning) after the Duke basketball game for all of Kevin White's thoughts. 

When in doubt, lawyer-up. That's what Notre Dame did in its search for a new athletic director. The Irish hired Indianapolis lawyer Jack Swarbrick to replace Kevin White, who left in June for the same job at Duke.

According to the AP story, Swarbrick, a Notre Dame graduate, helped Indianapolis land the Super Bowl and Final Four. What that has to do with running a major college athletic program, I'm not sure. 

Either way, the Irish are pumped. Oh, and Swarbrick said he believes the bowl system works.

DURHAM — One of Kevin White’s first moves as the Duke athletic director was to give a key employee room to grow.

White promoted Mike Cragg, the man behind the successful Duke Basketball Legacy Fund, to senior associate athletic director on Wednesday.

"He is deserving and ready to take on additional responsibilities in facilities and special projects,” White said in a statement. “Mike will serve as the project lead on a master facilities plan for Duke Athletics, an undertaking that will have a major impact on the future of this department and the welfare of all Blue Devil student-athletes."