CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – Miami’s possible move to the Atlantic Coast Conference could be delayed by a lawsuit filed by five Big East schools.
Miami athletic director Paul Dee said the school’s plans haven’t changed, despite the lawsuit filed Friday accusing Miami, Boston College and the ACC of concocting a scheme to destroy the Big East through the departure of the two schools.
“Derail’s not the term, maybe tapping on the brakes,” Dee said Saturday. “The train’s not off the track but it’s slowing down.
“We’re not going to force anything. It could take a long time to happen.”
Dee, who spoke before Miami’s game against North Carolina State in the super regionals of the NCAA baseball tournament, would not comment on whether a vote by the ACC to formally invite Miami, Boston College and Syracuse is expected soon.
“I do see it slowing down until everybody gets together,” he said. “We’ve had lots of conversations, but it’s not for me to make a commitment. That’s for the board of trustees and the president to decide.”
Miami president Donna Shalala declined comment. Dee said Friday that Miami was preparing to defend itself against the lawsuit filed in Hartford, Conn.
ACC spokesman Brian Morrison said Saturday that the league would have no comment on the expansion timetable. ACC commissioner John Swofford said Friday that conference lawyers were reviewing the lawsuit.
In the complaint Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Rutgers and Connecticut portray the ACC’s expansion plans as a secret conspiracy that would ruin their programs. They are seeking financial damages and want an injunction to keep Miami and Boston College in the Big East.
By stripping away three of the Big East’s eight football teams, the remaining schools would lose millions of dollars in revenue from the lucrative Bowl Championship Series and from TV deals, the lawsuit claims.
Syracuse is part of the potential ACC expansion, but was not included in the lawsuit because the plaintiffs said they found no evidence the school made promises to stay in the Big East.
The nine-team ACC has promised football power Miami increased revenue from a more lucrative TV deal it believes it could negotiate as a 12-team conference.
Despite the legal developments, Dee said ties between Miami and the Big East might not be permanently cut.
“I’m sure there have been lawsuits among friends before over issues, and one way or another they get resolved and people get on with it afterward,” he said.
AP-ES-06-07-03 1707EDT
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