Technically, the Syracuse Orange and Pittsburgh Panthers don't become ACC members until 2014. But all signs point towards the schools and the Big East working out an arrangement for that to change by 2013.
One more sign comes courtesy of Andy Katz who says that reps and coaches from both schools will be at the ACC meetings, and not the Big East ones, this May.
So what's the deal? Are we getting out of here or what?
When will the two schools join the ACC? "Hopefully, we'll get everything worked out here soon,'' Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson said. "Their league is reconfigured and ready to move, and when you get to that point where everybody is on the next page, everybody should move on.''
Ah, I see Pederson is a master of the "saying a lot but saying nothing at all" school of PR talk.
Both schools have basically been shut out of all Big East decision-making since the announcement, which includes decisions that have affected them financially, so it's no surprise that they're going to start hanging out with the folks who will have them over for dinner.
Question is, what do we bring? Pretty sure NC State has BBQ covered and I'm guessing Maryland brought the crabcakes. How bout a jug of Sassy Sauce?
Now that the Big East has it's future (/chortles) all set and doesn't need to hamstring the Orange and Panthers anymore, it's only a matter of time before it's official that the upcoming season will be the last one for both schools in the conference.