Onis Konanbanny has long considered Tennessee among his top college options, and his recent visits to Knoxville have only strengthened his affinity for the Vols. His most recent trip solidified his vision of playing for Tennessee.
The four-star cornerback from Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, S.C., part of the Class of 2025, returned to Tennessee over the weekend for the “865 Live” event. It was a relaxed day filled with activities and interactions with Coach Josh Heupel’s staff, setting the stage for his upcoming official visit to Knoxville. This experience notably influenced his perception of the Vols.
The ACC concluded its spring meetings on Amelia Island, Fla., last week, with discussions revolving around the conference’s stability amidst ongoing realignment. Greg Barnes from Inside Carolina discussed these matters on the Next Level show with host Tommy Ashley, reflecting on the ACC’s journey over the past two decades, its implications for North Carolina, and the university’s stance regarding a possible exit from the conference. Here are the highlights from Barnes’ insights.
THE ACC HAS BEEN BEHIND THE SEC AND BIG TEN FOR OVER A DECADE
In 2000, each school in the ACC received $8.1 million, making it the highest payout among all conferences nationally. However, in the present day, the ACC finds itself trailing behind both the SEC and the Big Ten. Even the Big 12 has managed to secure competitive media deals, resulting in slightly higher payouts compared to the ACC. This financial disparity has been evident since 2010 when the ACC’s payout of $12.3 million already ranked third behind the SEC and the Big Ten.
THE FIRST ROUND OF CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT WAS FLAWED
Since 2000, there have been some mistakes. During the first round of conference expansion, what did John Swofford do? Swofford wanted the Atlantic Coast Conference to dominate the Atlantic Coast. The ACC brought in Miami, Syracuse and Boston College. Those are massive TV markets. Unfortunately, New York and Boston are pro sports areas. So, a lot of those attempts at generating more media share didn’t pan out. The idea of bringing in Syracuse and Boston College didn’t pay off the way they thought.”
