COLLEGE ATHLETICS Miami (Fla.) explores moving to ACC

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Miami is exploring the possibility of moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference, athletic director Paul Dee confirmed.
Dee told The News-Press of Fort Myers he has spoken with ACC commissioner John Swofford as well as athletic directors in the league.
"The status is there are discussions and we're exploring possibilities, but there has been no real invitation or acceptance either way," Dee told the newspaper for Sunday's edition, his first public comments on the issue.
Dee said several school officials would give their opinion on staying or leaving the Big East, but the decision mainly would be made by himself and school president Donna Shalala.
If the ACC lured Miami, the conference likely would expand from nine to 12 schools and host a conference football championship, much like the Big 12 and the Southeastern conferences.
Other potential members
Boston College and Syracuse are reportedly the leading candidates to join Miami since those schools would bring large television markets to a conference that currently only has one major media market in Washington, D.C. Seven of nine ACC schools must approve expansion. Several newspapers have reported that Swofford is one vote shy of gaining approval. Duke and North Carolina are against expansion.
Dee said it's unlikely Miami will join the conference next week, which has been reported.
Dee didn't rule out a decision happening in the next couple of months, but not Thursday, the 50th anniversary of the ACC.
"Absolutely untrue," Dee said. "Could something fall out of the sky between now and then? Maybe, but I doubt it. There is nothing we have to react to or anything by next Thursday."