Pitt's Athletic Director Steve Pederson Comments On ACC Situation

We've been talking about Pitt's ACC situation ever since the Big 12-SEC game was announced. But now, someone else spoke on the situation - Pitt's Athletic Director Steve Pederson.

Pederson didn't give a whole lot up, of course, but he did offer some thoughts on the ACC and if Pitt will plan to look elsewhere.

At a recent Johnstown Panther Club event, Pederson spoke a bit about the ACC situation:

The big question is whether or not the ACC will be the same conference the Panthers thought they were getting into when they signed up for it. There have been major rumblings that Florida State and Clemson are pondering a move to the Big 12 that would drop the ACC from its planned 14 teams to 12.

Pederson brushed aside questions about that on Thursday.

"This is a great conference," he said of the ACC. "I wouldn't make too much of discussions that are probably more for the benefit of media and some fans than they are for the benefit of reality. I think we're talking about a lot of hypothetical cases.

"The ACC is the best combination of athletics and academics in the country," he said.

"We're proud to be a part of that and I think all 14 institutions feel the same way."

There's little we can take away from this. Pederson isn't going to make inflammatory comments, as he shouldn't. The one thing he said, which is a bit interesting is something I've maintained as well - a lot of this is hypothetical. I'd assume that if Florida State and/or others would leave the conference, Pitt would reevaluate their position at that time.

Pederson also briefly touched on playing Penn State and the Big East lawsuit, which you can read about in that link.

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