ACC begins its site visit of Miami

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford headed a delegation that began touring the University of Miami on Thursday.

Swofford was joined by Florida State athletic director Dave Hart and North Carolina State athletic director Lee Fowler. Miami has scheduled a news conference for Friday afternoon to include Swofford and Hurricanes AD Paul Dee.

The visit to Miami is the first of three to Big East schools. Different delegations are expected at Boston College and Syracuse next week.

The site visits are mandatory based on ACC bylaws, and although they are considered mere formalities, they could be critical steps in the conference's bid to lure three of the Big East's top programs.

The delegation was expected to tour the Orange Bowl as well as Miami's on-campus facilities that include a new $48 million basketball arena and a workout facility that was part of a $4.5 million renovation in 2001.

The delegation also will meet with Miami president Donna Shalala and Dee, giving the ACC officials a chance to respond to recent overtures from the Big East.

Rutgers spokesman John Wooding confirmed that the Big East guaranteed Miami at least $9 million annually for the next five years if the Hurricanes remain in the conference.

The offer was made to Dee in a letter dated May 27.

The ACC voted May 16 to extend invitations to Miami, Boston College and Syracuse to begin formal discussions on joining the nine-team league and creating a 12-team superconference that would add a lucrative title game.

The ACC paid its nine schools a record $9.7 million in 2001-02. Miami reportedly earned $9.3 million, but $4 million of that came from its Bowl Championship Series appearance in the Rose Bowl. Had the Hurricanes not played in a BCS game, they would have made about $1.7 million less.

By bringing in three new teams, the ACC would have to guarantee it would take in an extra $29.1 million to stay even. TV deals and the BCS are up for renegotiation after the 2005-06 season, and with a slowing economy, there are no guarantees a bigger league will generate more money.

Nonetheless, Miami is weighing the move, and the rest of the country is waiting.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Shalala, Boston College president William Leahy and Syracuse chancellor Kenneth Shaw, nine U.S. senators implored the universities not to join the ACC.