How did Notre Dame and the ACC get here?
Breaking down the two sides' latest public beef, ahead of Pete Bevacqua's news conference.
A few years ago, Notre Dame athletic officials and general counsel Brandan Roach met to comb over the language of the school’s contract with the ACC.
This was akin to a run-through, just a couple of high-ranking folks doing their due diligence with realignment rumors swirling and the football team’s NBC contract approaching its renewal date.
If stuff were to hit the fan elsewhere, how nimble could the Irish be?
A lot has changed since then. Florida State and Clemson later sued the ACC to get out from under the conference’s Grant of Rights agreement, starting a bare-knuckle brawl between the schools and the league that ended with a settlement that saw changes to the distribution model and a reduction of exit fees.
Would that make it easier for Notre Dame to leave the ACC?
Has it really come to that between the Irish and the league that houses all of its sports except for football and hockey?
It sure is trending that way.
On Monday, Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua called a news conference for noon ET Tuesday in South Bend. In-between, he made the media rounds on live television, going so far as to tell The Dan Patrick Show that the ACC has caused “permanent damage” to the two sides’ relationship.