So it's finally official: Notre Dame is leaving the Big East, and joining the ACC.
Sort of.
Officials from Notre Dame on Tuesday confirmed the move of all of their sports except for football to the ACC, and both those officials and their colleagues with the ACC were proudly proclaiming that the switch (again: for all of Notre Dame's sports except for football) would benefit both the school and the conference for years to come.
The Irish are expected to make the jump as soon as the 2014 season, and while they won't be actual football members of the conference, they have committed to playing at least five ACC opponents each year. In other words, they get all the benefits of being in a conference without the inconvenience of having to give up their precious independence, which seems to me to be a greater hindrance than benefit at this point.
But whatever. I digress.
In a statement, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said that Irish officials concluded that a move to the ACC was "the best course of action for us."
Said Swarbrick: "We are able to maintain our historic independence in football, join in the ACC's non-BCS bowl package, and provide a new and extremely competitive home for our other sports."
The move comes at a time of ongoing and unprecedented conference shuffling--shuffling that has seen major powers such as Nebraska, Syracuse, West Virginia and others move to new homes and left some leagues, including the Big East, teetering on collapse.
In theory, this move does provide the ACC with a newfound sense of security, which the league will certainly enjoy after a stormy few months earlier this year which saw rumors running rampant about the possible departure of such stalwarts as Clemson, Florida State or Virginia Tech.
In his own statement, ACC commissioner John Swofford said: "The ACC was founded on the cornerstones of balancing academics, athletics and integrity. Our partnership with Notre Dame only strengthens this long-standing commitment."
Except for the fact that Notre Dame really isn't a real member.
But again, I digress.
Enjoy, ACC. Enjoy, Notre Dame.
I'm sure this is going to work out just great.
Photo: Getty Images
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