Maryland Files $157M CounterClaim Vs. ACC

((HT: Baltimore Sun/Barker))

The suing and countersuing between the ACC and the University of Maryland over the school's exit to the Big Ten Conference has now come from Maryland- as they are now asking for $157-million in damages the school is saying it should get because the ACC has tried to recruit Big Ten schools as Maryland was leaving...

The counterclaim also asks the North Carolina court to have the conference pay Maryland $16 million that the school says has been improperly withheld since Maryland said they were jumping...

The conference is still looking for its $52-million plus exit fee- in full... from a school that left the ACC because it was running at a deficit and had to eliminate sports in an attempt to try and get closer to a break-even budget...

And got their money grab by joining the Big Ten and getting to be a part of the money distribution of the Big Ten Network- something the ACC has talked about, but won't have any time soon...

And the school is blaming, partly, the four-letter...
From Barker:

Maryland’s counterclaim says the ACC’s desire to expand is driven “in large part on counsel and direction that the conference received from ESPN.”

“Whether that guidance was given formally or informally,” the document alleges, ESPN has “incentivized the ACC to compete more aggressively in the market for conference affiliation/membership.”

Here's the presser that caused all this consternation back around Thanksgiving 2012...
((HT: UMDNews))

DEVELOPING: Maryland To Big Ten/12

As we head to 14...

Rutgers, you're now on the clock...

According to the Diamondback newspaper on campus in College Park through their Twitter...

University to announce it's joining the Big Ten at press conference this afternoon, conference VP of communications says

The Big Ten Network is saying they will broadcast the presser starting at 2:30...

Maryland's pending move to the Big Ten would end their first-man-in affiliation with the Atlantic Coast Conference- which was formed in 1953.

Rutgers is holding their normal Board of Regents meeting this afternoon...

The larger stumbling block for Maryland is the $50-million exit fee, which all surrounding the A-Cee-Cee situation say can either be lessened or eliminated through legal action. Maryland and Florida State voted against the increase from $20-million to $50-million...

Now, we know why...

The school is at a financial crossroads having cut seven sports and operating at a deficit. The difference in school's rights fees, currently, is close to $8-million per school. The Big Ten's first-tier contracts are up for renewal in 2017.

More when we know more...

1700 UPDATE: we know more...

Here's BTN's Dave Revsine catching up with B1G Commissioner Jim Delany...

Dumb Ass Rumor of the day: Maryland to Big Ten? (UPDATED: Well, maybe, not so dumbass...)

Huh? Really? Are they delusional? Maryland?

Seriously?

Nah.

A Maryland rivals website (Maryland247) is claiming that there is truth to rumors that the University of Maryland will move to the Big 10.

The obvious question is why?

And it's not that we don't believe that Maryland might consider it, though they'd be certifiably insane to do so.

The question is: Why would the Big 10 go after the Terps?

Sports-wise alone, you are talking about one of the ACC's lightweights. A team that has collapsed to epically bad levels under coach Randy Edsall. And it's not like they were Clemson or Florida State previous to that.

Yes,Maryland is decent in basketball, but really, would the end here justify the means?

The Big 10 already has plenty of teams. Twelve to be exact. Why go to 13 and be unbalanced? Yeah, sure, Maryland would fit on a level with the Minnesota's, Illinois and Purdue's of the world, but it's not like you are bringing in a school that screams "Contract Negotiation" with ESPN or anything.

It kind of both pisses us off and makes us laugh that this is even brought up. And yes, we know sites like the 24-7 sites exist to put rumors and crap out there. And before someone from a 24-7 site says "What the hell do you know?" we aren't saying you don't serve a purpose, you do. We believe you when you say someone told you this. We just question whether that person realized it was probably a joke?

PM UPDATE: David Jones, columnist for the Harrisburg Patriot-News (via his Twitter), had an interesting take on the Maryland egress...

Not scoffing at BWI report of Maryland to B1G. It's credible. If it happens, that would indicate someone must be #14. Rutgers makes sense

Which means that the egress from the Big East is still ongoing and people think the long-term viability of the conference in football is still in question...

According to an article by O'Neil, McMurphy, and Katz over at ESPN, Maryland president Wallace Loh is fronting the talks with the B1G and AD Kevin Anderson has told staffers that there are talks going on...

The larger issue for a Maryland exit is the exit fee with the ACC- now $50-million- considering all their financial problems at present. The ACC would then, in turn, probably pursue UConn to fill the space left by Maryland's transfer.

That would keep ACC at 14 football members- Commissioner John Swofford's desired number...

Maryland To Cut 8 Sports

And the answer is...

All three men’s track teams, men’s swimming and diving, men’s tennis, women’s water polo, and women’s acrobatics and tumbling...

27 now becomes 18 by June... and 166 athletes and 12 coaches are affected...

Wisdom Martin tries to impart some on the situation...
((HT: MyFoxDC))

Athletic Programs Cut at University of Maryland: MyFoxDC.com

An ACC school that has 27 sports in the first place seems kinds far-reaching, and the HQ can see it both ways...

Sucks... no doubt about it...
The school has said it will honor the scholarships of the athletes affected should they choose to stay on campus...