Louisville Joining ACC

Louisville confirms it is joining ACC

By Chip Alexander
calexander@newsobserver.com

Posted: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012

The Atlantic Coast Conference found its replacement for Maryland: the University of Louisville.

The ACC presidents and chancellors voted unanimously Wednesday morning to accept the former Big East Conference school, league officials said in a release.

“The University of Louisville will be a terrific member of the Atlantic Coast Conference,” University of North Carolina Chancellor Holden Thorp, chair of the ACC Council of Presidents, said in a release. “We welcome them as full partners into the ACC.”

Louisville will offer a strong combination in the two major sports of football and men's basketball. The Cardinals finished 9-2 in football this season and were ranked in the top 25 much of the year. The basketball team, coached by Rick Pitino, is ranked fifth.

“With its aggressive approach to excellence in every respect, the University of Louisville will enhance our league’s culture and commitment to the cornerstones we were founded on 60 years ago,” ACC Commissioner John Swofford said in the release. “The University of Louisville is an outstanding addition to the Atlantic Coast Conference and I commend the Council of Presidents for continuing to position our league for the long-term future. If you look at what has been done over the last 15 months, the ACC has only gotten stronger with the additions of Louisville, Notre Dame, Pitt and Syracuse.”

The school president, James Ramsey, has ACC ties.

Ramsey publicly advocated a move to the ACC.

“The University of Louisville is honored to join the ACC, a conference with a long history of excellence in athletics and academics,” Ramsey said in the release. “The ACC will be a great home for U of L and our commitment to great academics, groundbreaking research and top-notch athletic teams.”

Ramsey once served as vice chancellor for finance and administration at UNC and was on the UNC faculty.

Maryland, a charter member of the ACC, will leave the conference for the Big Ten in 2014.

Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich said the Cardinals called the ACC a perfect fit.

“When it became apparent to us that we needed to make a move, the ACC is the perfect fit for us and we are so elated to be joining this prestigious conference,” Jurich said in a release. “Under John Swofford’s leadership, the ACC continues to prosper. We sincerely appreciate this opportunity.”

Too bad.....They're the future Big East!!!!