LAHAINA, Hawaii — Been a busy stretch of days for North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham, who traveled to Virginia on Thursday night for the Tar Heels’ football game, then to Los Angeles on Friday for basketball, then back to Virginia for the field hockey team’s national championship game against Princeton and then, on Monday, to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational.
I caught up with Cunningham yesterday for a short interview about Maryland leaving the ACC:
Andrew Carter: What’s your reaction to Maryland leaving for the Big Ten?
Bubba Cunningham: Well, I was a little disappointed because as a founding member I thought they were a good league member. I thought they added value to the league. The traditions and rivalries that they had in the league I think were really good. But I understand that people make various make decisions. So it’s disappointing, but I understand it.
AC: How do you think the ACC will react?
BC: Well I think we’ll have to come together as a league and try to make that decision. I don’t think it’s been made yet. But the commissioner does a great job of getting everybody on the same page very quickly. So I would anticipate that he’d get the ADs, the chancellors, the presidents together very shortly, and develop a plan.
AC: Do you think the ACC would try to immediately fill that spot or is there a possibility of the conference staying at 13 members?
BC: Oh, I think 13 would be a possibility. Probably not likely, but a possibility.
AC: In your mind, are there any schools that jump out as immediate candidates to become that 14th full-time member?
BC: No, I don’t have any way to speculate on what that would be. And I think that’s what the discussions within the league would be.
AC: How much do you worry about Maryland’s move creating an unstable environment in the ACC?
BC: Well, I think the ACC is a great league, and I think it will always be a great league. I think that you always have to have some sense of concern, certainly when Maryland makes a move like this … but it’s a great league, with great schools. And whether we expand or stay at 13 remains to be seen. But overall, it’s still a great group of schools without Maryland.
AC: If the SEC called you up tomorrow and asked if North Carolina would be interested in joining that league, how would you respond?
BC: I’d say we’re one of the founding members of the ACC and we’re very happy with where we are.
So there you have it. Thanks to Bubba for his time.
Comments
UNC the Cheat School
Tue, 11/27/2012 - 08:36 — settersmUNC THE CHEAT SCHOOL
UNC loses too much by abandoning the ACC
Thu, 11/22/2012 - 18:46 — TarheelcrusherThe only school on earth that would be greedy and expand a conference and ruin the ACC and who would then jump ship and get out before it sunk would indeed be UNC CHeat. Having said that, there is too much to lose for UNC to ever go to the SEC. UNC alum John Swofford has stated many time how he wants all ACC tournaments played in NC (so tax revenues can keep UNC tuition low). There are 4 ACC schools in NC. Why would UNC CHeat leave a conference where every last detail works out in their favor (by design)? UNC is a basketball school while college football is also overwhlemingly supported by republicans. UNC is full of chumps that will leave you hanging but there's no way they can give up all the control they have over the 13 ACC schools and 16 UNC system schools.
You are incredible
Thu, 11/22/2012 - 21:46 — gvillegatrAnd you also have quite the imagination. I would love for you to substantiate at least one of you whines/crying concerning UNC in the above post.
I'm not too sure...
Fri, 11/23/2012 - 23:16 — UNC1998How anything he wrote pertains to the original blog post. If there is an ACC UNC will most likely be in it. Titanic style.... going down with the ship. If the ACC, were to implode... I would think UNC's main interest would be self preservation. I would not worry too much about basketball. It's a National brand and carries that strut as such. UNC football would need the SEC in a very big way. If it's true football actually pays the athletic dept's bills... UNC athletics would need the SEC in a very big way. Be honest, how many blind faith rank and file ticket buying fans would want to go see UNC in a division with Rutgers and Indiana? How many of those same fans would go see a game vs. Georgia, Tennessee, or S. Carolina. The choice is easy, clear, and did I mention easy? If Cunningham, the next chancellor and the BOT can not see that they are all Stevie Wonder blind. That's simple. If fans fill seats, and TV sets you have to give the fans what they want. UNC would lose fans with Big10 membership. They would gain fans with SEC membership. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't anyone with commons sense agree? People say no field hockey, no rowing. OMG! Well, if football doesn't make money those sports will go away anyway. The horse must be in front of the cart everytime.
UNC and AbCer's alike think this ...
Sat, 11/24/2012 - 10:46 — gvillegatrThat UNC is "married" to John Swofford and will never leave the ACC.
I got news (or I'd at least like to think I have news) for most of ya - John Swofford isn't no spring chicken. How many more years has he got as Commisioner? I realize there is no time table, but he doesn't want to do this until he crosses the river does he?
That being said, Swofford has shut the doubters up at every turn when it has come to the future of the ACC. We'll just have to see, as fans, what the immediate future has in store. As a fan, I certainly hope the ACC continues to be proactive first and UNC second.
But if it has to be UNC who makes a decision this is what they better do:
1.) get rid of Dook as your silly partner.
2.) think of football first (again).
3.) stay in the South if you can
4.) please do not insult us by exclaiming, "academics is first" (this ought be #1. I just do not want to change the numbering).
His answer...
Thu, 11/22/2012 - 16:45 — UNC1998regarding the SEC question was a classic non answer. That said, the moon must turn to cheese for UNC to leave it's beloved ACC. I also don't believe the ACC is going anywhere. I would, however, love to see UNC in the SEC. I'd love taking those football road trips. I'm not enthused about going to Pitt, Boston, or upstate NY. Athens, Columbia, Gainesville, Knoxville, etc.. would be great game atmospheres. I'm looking forward to attending UNC's game at S. Carolina next season.