ACC EXPANSION Conference considers inviting Miami only

A vote on expansion might not come until late June.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Struggling for now to garner support to expand the Atlantic Coast Conference to 12 teams, commissioner John Swofford has begun lobbying ACC chancellors to consider inviting Miami only.
Swofford hasn't ruled out adding Miami, Syracuse and Boston College, a source said Tuesday night, but he is exploring a Miami-only scenario as a potential compromise to expansion holdouts North Carolina, Duke and Virginia.
Miami President Donna Shalala has told Swofford she would accept an invitation if Boston College and Syracuse also were invited, but she hasn't been as willing to come to the ACC alone, sources said.
The ACC announced it might not vote on expansion until late June. ACC presidents were scheduled to hold a conference call at 7 a.m. today -- their third call in the past eight days.
Swofford will not call a vote unless he believes he has the necessary seven "yes" votes to extend invitations to the schools.
Three schools hesitant
As of Tuesday, there were indications he did not have the votes, although that could change if one of the three dissenting presidents (at North Carolina, Duke or Virginia) changes positions.
While Swofford did not rule out a vote, the ACC issued a statement that hinted at additional delays. The statement read, in part, "The nine ACC presidents who will make the decision on expansion may not formally vote on the matter until late this month."
The statement also indicated a vote is expected by the end of June.
Miami has indicated it wants an answer by June 30, after which the Big East exit fee jumps from $1 million to $2 million.
Big East plans
Regardless of whether the ACC expands, the Big East plans to expand so it has eight football-only members and 16 members for basketball, ESPN.com reported. The Big East's revenue-sharing plan would change, allowing the eight football-only schools to keep a bigger share of the money.
If Miami, Boston College and Syracuse remain in the Big East, two more basketball-only schools could be added, such as Marquette of Conference USA and Xavier from the Atlantic 10, the report said.
If only Miami leaves for the ACC, then the Big East would pursue Louisville of Conference USA for football and basketball, and Marquette and Xavier for basketball, according to the report.
If Miami, Boston College and Syracuse leave, the Big East is expected to invite Louisville and consider South Florida and Central Florida, among other schools, for the other two slots, according to a source.