FSU Booster Suggests ACC Divisional Realignment

 The Orlando Sentinel recently reported that the president of the Seminole Boosters, Inc has written a plea to his school to ask that the ACC make a small change in their divisional structure.  His suggestion is to have Georgia Tech and Maryland flip divisions so that Tech goes into the Atlantic Division with FSU.

His reasons for the suggestion are proximity.  Georgia Tech is actually the closest ACC team to FSU, and he thinks a rivalry will build over time.  We think it's a fine idea as well, for both that reason and others.

We've always applauded the ACC for trying to balance their divisions from the start.  (The Big 12 should be following suit.)  Having FSU and Miami in separate divisions is a smart thing.  The four North Carolina schools are evenly split between the two divisions as well.  That gives even more reason for the conference to consider the suggested change because there is no historic or geographic precedent for these divisions in the first place.

The bigger issue for us comes back to balance.  Right now the Atlantic Division has a few too many teams that struggle to travel well (BC and Wake Forest), either to ACC Championship games or bowl games.  In recent years, these teams have been won the division creating problems for the ACC, its championship game host city, and their bowl partners.

No one wants BC, and Wake has to stay in the Atlantic to balance out Duke in the Coastal.  Moving Georgia Tech for Maryland makes a lot of sense.  Tech adds another potential power team to the Atlantic group to go along with FSU and Clemson.  NC State is a potential riser as well.  Wake can still make things interesting while BC remains BC, an afterthought and ACC mistake that nobody has the guts to correct.

Maryland has always been more culturally comfortable with Virginia, UNC, and Duke. To use a current example, all four of these teams are lacrosse powers.  They are, in fact, the only four Division I ACC lacrosse programs.  All four made the NCAA Lacrosse Tourney, and all four advanced making the ACC half of Lacrosse's "Elite Eight."  If Duke weren't slated to play UNC this weekend, there would be a good chance for all four ACC to advance to the Final Four.

All four of these teams are traditionally hoops-centered schools as well.  In case there is worry about taking too much football steam away from the Coastal, Virginia Tech and Miami will keep that division honest in football while Butch Davis continues to build UNC's football fortune.  The divisions should still remain in proper balance.

FSU's booster is correct.  Developing a Georgia Tech/FSU rivalry is a great move for the ACC long term.  Getting another roadblock to keep BC away from the ACC Championship Game is just a hidden, but important conference benefit.

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