Florida State University's Board of Trustees, led by Peter Collins, has decided to challenge the grant of rights agreement with the ACC, citing severe withdrawal penalties and a widening revenue gap with other leagues. David Ashburn highlights anti-trust rules and an unenforceable penalty. The ACC's commissioner, Jim Phillips, asserts the enforceability of the grant of rights. FSU President Richard McCullough expresses reluctance but acknowledges the exhaustion of options, leading to a unanimous vote to sue the ACC. The lawsuit, spanning 38 pages, is filed, marking a significant legal battle that could impact the stability of college football.
Florida State is suing the ACC to get out of the grant of rights, and the ACC is suing to say FSU can't challenge the GOR. What to know from a wild day: https://t.co/tPRMBBKGCo https://t.co/tPRMBBKGCo
FSU v ACC. Or ACC v FSU. Two filings in two courts in two states with only half a billion dollars and the stability of the entire college football landscape at stake. Updated story: https://t.co/h5ulezfvTY
In the 70-year history of the ACC this was a day to remember. Florida State sued the league. The league, it turned out, had already sued FSU. What's at stake? Only the ACC's entire future. On everything to know about dueling lawsuits and legal fight ahead: https://t.co/Jgauh9KArB
The ACC folding if FSU leaves should tell you everything you need to know about why FSU wants to leave the ACC.
Inside the legal strategy to extricate Florida State from ACC 'barbed wire fence' https://t.co/ppfsy1aZc8
Here’s a copy of Florida State’s lawsuit. 38 pages worth Florida State University Board of Trustees v. Atlantic Coast Conference. FSU opens as a 3-point favorite https://t.co/AoKOcuBYRL
Statement from ACC commissioner Jim Phillips: "All ACC members, including Florida State, willingly and knowingly re-signed the current Grant of Rights in 2016, which is wholly enforceable and binding through 2036." https://t.co/3hoP7goa8p
And that's that. A unanimous vote to file a seven-count lawsuit: Florida State University vs. ACC https://t.co/zVbqaqzdzT
Florida State is done with the saber rattling and will now sue the ACC over contracts they themselves signed and policies they had the chance to influence and vote on. The lawyers will argue and the Courts will settle all this, but this is yet another sad day for college sports.
FSU President Richard McCullough: "This is certainly not where I would prefer to have ended up. I think that I would prefer a different pathway but I feel that we have in many ways exhausted all our options"
David Ashburn telling the FSU BoT that the ACC's GoR penalty is a violation of Florida law and unenforceable.
We're starting to see the base of FSU's legal case against the ACC/Grant of Rights. David Ashburn brings up anti-trust rules and mentions an unenforceable penalty. "You can’t put in place a penalty that bears no relationship to the harm caused."
Peter Collins calls the ACC's severe withdrawal penalties "draconian" which he says he doesn't use flippantly. He adds the FSU board is left with no choice but to challenge the grant of rights agreement.
Peter Collins: "Today, we've reached a crossroads in our relationship with the ACC."
Board of Trustees Chair Peter Collins says FSU can't sit idly by as revenue gap between ACC and other leagues (SEC, Big Ten) widens. "Today we reach a crossroads in our relationship with the ACC," Collins says.
Peter Collins: "Today, we've reach a crossroads in our relationship with the ACC."
Peter Collins: "Today, we reach a crossroads with the ACC."