Jim Phillips, Jim Ryan release joint statement after Clemson joins FSU challenging ACC grant of rights

The Atlantic Coast Conference has released a statement in response to Clemson filing a lawsuit against the ACC on Tuesday.

League Commissioner Jim Phillips and Chair of the ACC Board of Directors Jim Ryan released a joint statement about Clemson’s lawsuit.

It reads:

“The ACC remains confident that its agreements with all its members will be affirmed by the courts. Clemson, along with all ACC members, voluntarily signed and re-signed the 2013 and 2016 Grant of Rights, which is binding through 2036. In addition, Clemson agreed to the process and procedures for withdrawal. The Conference’s legal counsel will vigorously enforce the agreement and bylaws in the best interests of the ACC’s current and incoming members.”

Clemson is not necessarily looking to leave the ACC yet, but it made it clear on Tuesday in its lawsuit, as well as in a statement, that it is exploring the possibility.

The University filed a 28-page complaint against the league on Tuesday, joining Florida State in its battle against the Grant of Rights.

Clemson released the following statement about its lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference:

“Today, Clemson University filed a lawsuit in Pickens County, South Carolina, against the Atlantic Coast Conference.  In this litigation, Clemson seeks confirmation of the plain language found in the Grant of Rights agreements and the related media agreements between the ACC and ESPN – that these agreements, when read together, plainly state that Clemson controls its media rights for games played if it is no longer a member of the ACC. Clemson also seeks a ruling regarding the unenforceability of the severe penalty the ACC is seeking to impose upon exiting members and confirmation that it does not owe a fiduciary duty to the conference as alleged by the ACC. 

“The ACC’s position regarding the Grant of Rights, the exit penalty, and obligations owed by members to the conference, as detailed in its public statements and other court filings, leaves Clemson with no choice but to move forward with this lawsuit. Clemson has not given notice that it is exiting the ACC and remains a member of the conference.”

Clemson and Florida State — two of the most prominent members of the ACC — have both filed lawsuits against the league as they explore leaving the conference, presumably to join either the SEC or Big Ten.

The next several months and potentially years should be very interesting as Clemson and FSU battle the Atlantic Coast Conference in court.