Notre Dame to ACC: Twitter Reacts to Irish's Conference Swap

The plan to slowly and painfully wipe the Big East Conference off the face of the earth took another step forward today with the announcement that Notre Dame will be joining the ACC in all sports except football as soon as possible. 

The news was first reported by Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com, who also added that the Irish football team will be playing a lot more games against ACC competition. 

"

Notre Dame will join ACC as full member w/exception of football. ND will play 5 football games annually vs. ACC, sources told @espn

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) September 12, 2012"

It's strange, because the Irish football team will basically end up being a de facto ACC team without actually having to be part of the conference. 

With the news breaking, Twitter reacted hard and fast to the conference shift of Notre Dame, as well as what it means for the ACC and Big East. 

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly provided an interesting, if unsurprising, quote (via Brian Hamilton of the Chicago Tribune) at the team's press conference. 

"

#NotreDame HC Brian Kelly: "From a football standpoint, we have further solidified our future as an independent in college football."

— Brian Hamilton (@ChiTribHamilton) September 12, 2012"

People can ask the question all they want about the Irish football program joining a conference, but until NBC decides it wants nothing to do with them, they have no reason to back themselves into a corner. 

Duke guard Seth Curry, who obviously has a vested interest, pointed out what this will do for basketball in the ACC. 

"

That ACC schedule is going to be a beast starting next year! #besthoopsconference

— Seth Curry (@sdotcurry) September 12, 2012"

Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel brought forward an interesting scenario that may or may not happen when the ACC aligns all the teams it is going to be getting. 

"

This is speculation, but imagine an ACC North of BC, Pitt, Cuse, ND,MD, VA, VTech. That would look pretty familiar, right?

— Pete Thamel(@SIPeteThamel) September 12, 2012"

Seriously, they might as well just re-name the conference the Big East, or, since box-office grosses prove people love sequels, Big East 2.0.

Tom Dienhart of the Big Ten Network brought forth an interesting analogy about what exactly the ACC stands to gain by bringing Notre Dame in without the benefit of football. 

"

Getting #NotreDame without football is like getting a Whopper without the beef. What's the point? Is the ACC the new Big East?

— Tom Dienhart (@BTNTomDienhart) September 12, 2012"

Notre Dame does have a good basketball program, but it isn't exactly going to generate a lot of buzz for the conference that already includes Duke, North Carolina and an improving Florida State program. 

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports, speaking to sources, put out a little tidbit about why Notre Dame decided to make this move now. 

"

Source: concern over future football scheduling drove Notre Dame to make ACC move. Bigger than weakening of Big East

— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) September 12, 2012"

We can talk about other sports all we want, but we all know that the business of college sports—particularly basketball and football—dictates the way that everything works with these schools. 

Speaking of the business of college sports, ESPN's Darren Rovell noted that Notre Dame needs to figure out a way to get out of the Big East before the 27-month required window. 

Given the relationship between Notre Dame and NBC, it would be a surprise if the two sides ever parted. 

"

Notre Dame is going to have to get out of Big East by 2014 the latest as NBC deal comes up in 2015 and they have to know status.

— darren rovell (@darrenrovell) September 12, 2012"

Michael Borkowski, who is a storyboard artist, is one of many people to point out what Notre Dame in your conference without the football program really means. 

"

So ACC is making the same mistake the Big East made. Why won't someone tell ND "all or nothing"?

— Michael Borkowski (@MBorkowski) September 12, 2012"

There is no way for Notre Dame to change anything in the ACC without football. I guess there is some good news, as the conference does get five football games with the Irish. 

John Gasaway of ESPN decided to poke some fun at the annual ACC/Big Ten challenge that his network has a lot of money invested in at the start of every college basketball season. 

"

ACC/B10 Challenge fast becoming mismatch. ACC can use 12 best teams. Big Ten has to use Nebraska.

— John Gasaway (@JohnGasaway) September 12, 2012"

Don't knock Nebraska basketball—that team beat South Dakota last year. The turnaround is coming, and the Cornhuskers will rise. 

Speaking of ESPN, Jay Bilas took to Twitter to make a joke that he doesn't intend to be a joke, but you can't help but laugh at it when you read it. 

"

ACC statement on ND hypes "integrity"?: es.pn/TSvULF Why do college orgs moralize so much? Can't it be about schools and sports?

— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) September 12, 2012"

If it's just about schools and sports, Jay, then these people making decisions won't have anything to talk about. But fans and analysts love it when they talk because the rationale is quite funny. 

Albert Breer of the NFL Network knows that Notre Dame has pulled off the greatest heist since Robert DeNiro in Heat. 

"

Wow ... Kudos to Notre Dame for swindling ANOTHER conference into bringing them in without football being part of the deal.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 12, 2012"

The artist known as Fake Dan Beebe took the time to make the joke that Jay Bilas wanted to but is far too classy to pull off. 

"

$5000 to the first athletic director who can publicly state that he's interested in joining the Big East with a straight face.

— Fake Dan Beebe (@DanBeebe) September 12, 2012"

If I was a floundering school in a mid-level conference, I would love $5,000 to join the Big East. Of course, I would just be making a lateral move.

The legend of Faux John Madden has not only confirmed that Notre Dame is headed to the ACC in all sports except football, but also broke the story about a new team joining the Big East. 

"

BREAKING - ACC announces Notre Dame to join conference in all sports but football; Extends football invite to Miami Dolphins.

— Faux John Madden (@FauxJohnMadden) September 12, 2012"

There is no word on what the Dolphins are going to do. They might make more money in the NFL, but at least they will have the chance to win at least one game.

Kansas City sports anchor Mick Shaffer observed that there is something wrong with the name of the conference that Notre Dame is leaving.  

"

The "Big East." I count two lies in that name.

— Mick Shaffer (@mickshaffer) September 12, 2012"

To be fair, the conference still has a claim to the big name, at least based on the number of teams still there. 

A serious moment came from Jimbo Fisher (via FSU Football) about what it will mean to see the Seminoles playing Notre Dame in the near-future. 

"

Jimbo on #ACC Conf Call: When ND plays here it is going to be wonderful. It is a great opponent with great tradition. #Noles

— FSU Football (@FSU_Football) September 12, 2012"

Tradition, as we all know, is huge in college football. Notre Dame might have more of it than any other program in the country, so the ACC will get a big football boost from the Irish. 

Mark Schlabach of ESPN spoke to a Big East official who told him that Notre Dame isn't getting out sooner than expected, unlike Pittsburgh and Syracuse when they paid money to get out early. 

"

Big East assoc commissioner John Paquette told me #NotreDame must pay $5 million exit fee, half of what full members owe, but wait 27 months

— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) September 12, 2012"

This is a big day for Notre Dame, though what exactly it means, we won't know until the move actually happens in 27 months. 

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