ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips stands by statement regarding Notre Dame, College Football Playoff

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips stood by his original comments regarding Notre Dame and their College Football Playoff snub this past weekend. Phillips had to respond to Notre Dame AD Pete Bevacqua saying the ACC did “permanent damage” to their relationship.

“I spoke about this publicly earlier in the week,” Phillips said. “I stand by those comments. With all due respect to that situation, I think that’s where I would leave it.”

Here are the original comments from Bevacqua that caused a stir within the ACC and Phillips. The Fighting Irish leader said it on The Dan Patrick Show.

“I have tremendous respect for Miami, great team, great school,” Bevacqua said. “Their athletic director, Dan Radakovich, is a good friend. We were mystified by the actions of the conference, to attack their biggest business partner in football and a member of their conference in 24 of our other sports. I wouldn’t be honest with you if I didn’t say that they have certainly done permanent damage to the relationship between the conference and Notre Dame.”

These comments from Bevacqua came on Monday, only for Phillips to respond. Phillips released a statement on the matter to On3’s Brett McMurphy.

“The University of Notre Dame is an incredibly valued member of the ACC and there is tremendous respect and appreciation for the entire institution,” Phillips said. “With that said, when it comes to football, we have a responsibility to support and advocate for all 17 of our football-playing member institutions, and I stand behind our conference efforts to do just that leading up to the College Football Playoff Committee selections on Sunday.

“At no time was it suggested by the ACC that Notre Dame was not a worthy candidate for inclusion in the field. We are thrilled for the University of Miami while also understanding and appreciating the significant disappointment of the Notre Dame players, coaches and program.”

Miami will travel to Kyle Field on Dec. 20, facing Texas A&M in the first round. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET and 11 a.m. local time. Notre Dame’s season is done, declining an opportunity to play in the Pop-Tarts Bowl against BYU.