How do you come to the conclusion that I am not a WVU fan? I starting going to games when I was a kid in the early early 90's and spent 8 years getting 2 degrees from WVU. My bona-fides aside, I know what WVU is and what it's fan engagement is. Even before all the improvements from 2000 to now, WVU was still far ahead of Syracuse, BC, Rutgers, and Maryland in all the areas you are mentioning. Yet WVU was passed over for all 4 of those schools which makes it pretty clear that something else mattered a hell of a lot more. Unless there has been some cataclysmic shift, other factor(s) must still hold at least some importance to compete with your fan engagement premise. Especially since the other factor(s) completely dominated the importance of fan engagement a decade ago as illustrated by the absolute **** programs that were taken other than WVU. I'm not saying WVU isn't better than most ACC schools in terms of sports quality and fan engagement. I'm not saying that WVU wouldn't pull its financial weight or even bring in more money. I just doubt it's so much of a value add that the ACC couldn't have a legitimate calculation to not invite WVU. Especially seeing as staying put is an option for them just like the Big 12 found out when we looked into expansion a few years ago. It's precisely because I am a WVU fan, which doesn't mean I must be a homer, that I am pessimistic. That's because WVU has gotten spurned more often than not for programs that are clearly inferior in terms of fans and competitiveness.
Very well stated. I am convinced that back then a block of four schools and those in charge still had a problem with June 20, 1863. They are gone now. I've been in South Carolina for 15 years now and I can tell you attitudes of recent generations have changed. I grew up in the 60's when stereotypes were taught as an accepted part of life.
On Jan 4, 2012 WVU's football reputation received a huge boost in the Carolinas by totally humiliating a 10 - 2 Clemson team that had defeated VT in the ACC Championship game by 4 TDS. WVU's 70 - 33 pounding of Dabo Swinney's Tajh Boyd and Sammy Watkins led 14th ranked team gained WVU a lot of too late respect in ACC territory. Swinney even fired his defensive coordinator. WVU officially joined the Big 12 on July 1, 2012 after being invited in October of 2011.
For some reason, the Big 12 even paid $9 million of WVU's $20 million settlement with the Big East. They weren't simply trying to add another team to go with TCU, they wanted the so called 'best of the rest.' The next thing I am going to share with you, most people scoff at but an excellent inside source who played for WVU and became a successful NFL pro swore to me was true.
He stated that hours after WVU immediately accepted the Big 12 official invitation, ACC Commissioner Swofford called to inform AD Luck that although
no vote had been taken a 'show of hands' indicated WVU would be offered if they held off on the Big 12 and agreed to accept an invitation if one were offered. That's how it works.
True or not, I believed him and I was an online sportswriter at the time. My point is, things change as well as peoples' attitudes and beliefs. Does that mean I believe the ACC and WVU are currently working out a deal? Not unless it includes Notre Dame going all in with WVU making the 16th member. But Shane Lyons tells us there is nothing to worry about and we have 4 * recruits assisting with recruiting. Shane was the Assistant ACC Commissioner for 10 years up until 2011. I do believe something is going on with someone that will be good for WVU. I'm 68, my friend. I have to.