ACC: Atlantic Coast Creature

It has often been said in modern society that entire organizations can develop human-like personality traits. Especially when that organization involves diverse groups of people or money or both. What about part of an organization? Let's say, a conference. I remember as a child growing up in North Carolina that there was not and could never be anything greater than ACC Basketball. Not even the age-old and ever defiant Titan NASCAR, pulling it's golden chariot of revenue and popularity could dare challenge the might of deep seeded, passionate and undying support for what we know as the Atlantic Coast Conference. During the Winter months in the areas affected by this conference, the individual performances of players and teams are discussed as much as the predicted outcome; making almost everyone with an opinion a type of analyst.

I live and work in Charlotte, North Carolina. I recently moved to a new apartment a few blocks away from my previous one. As I met my neighbors and the maintenance staff, the ACC and some rivalries therein became the first topic of conversation on almost every occasion. In my opinion, this behavior is justified. Even though I did not attend any of the schools in the conference, even though I have lived all over the country and seen great college programs from other conferences and even though I believe that the passion of supporting a collegiate program can easily get out of hand, I agree with those who hold it in such high regard.

All Fan-bases and rivalries aside, the road to the NCAA championship seldom avoids the ACC. Much of this year we were told by the national press that "the ACC is having an off year" and "the teams in the ACC are struggling to compete with teams from other conferences". The Big Ten and the SEC for instance were heralded as the conferences to watch this season, with most writers and analysts using terms such as "power ratings" and "strength of schedule". However, looking at the all time statistics of the conference in general is staggering. The conference recruiting classes are always competitive and the television ratings are at or near the top.

The ACC is a type of creature. One that begins it's hibernation in March of every year and awakens every winter, encompassing all who are familiar with it and a great many who are not.