Social media reacts: Florida State votes to sue the ACC over Grant of Rights deal
In the wild world of college football, change is a constant pursuit, and the Florida State football program is actively navigating the currents to expedite transformative measures.
The deliberations of Florida State’s Board of Trustees unfolded post-10 a.m. on Friday, honing in on the program’s future trajectory. A focal point of discussion centered around strategizing an exit from the ACC’s Grant of Rights deal with ESPN. ESPN currently wields the rights to ACC home TV privileges for all conference programs until 2036—a considerable span.
Amidst deliberations, it has surfaced that FSU is poised to initiate legal proceedings against the conference, challenging the binding Grant of Rights agreement and the accompanying $130 million withdrawal fee. Speculations suggest that disentangling from the ACC would come with a hefty price tag of $572 million for the program—underscoring the financial complexities at play.
This is huge news and people are reacting. Here is a look at how social media has reacted to Florida State’s decision.
Sources: Florida State is entering the transfer portal
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2023
Florida State trying to raise $572 million pic.twitter.com/ECZzy8xgnP
— Pregame Empire (@PregameEmpire) December 22, 2023
Florida State Board of Trustees approves FSU to take legal action vs. ACC & its Grant of Rights. The 1st step for FSU to exit ACC. To quote Taylor Swift: "We are never, ever, getting back together"
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2023
Cal & Stanford: “We can keep the ACC together!”
Florida State: pic.twitter.com/otuNc8eRDx
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) December 22, 2023
Let’s ride, @FloridaState 🫡 pic.twitter.com/SemdCV0IA8
— TJ Pittinger (@TJ_Pittinger) December 22, 2023
From the FSU Board of Trustees' presentation — Florida State believes it would cost $572M to get out of the ACC right now: pic.twitter.com/3bymUfi4ub
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 22, 2023
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 favoritehttps://t.co/AoKOcuBYRL
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2023
Florida State to the ACC and commissioner Jim Phillips. #Noles pic.twitter.com/58ondQEJa5
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) December 22, 2023
It’s official: the Florida State Board of Trustees is filing a lawsuit challenging the ACC Grant of Rights
More conference realignment! pic.twitter.com/xYW2zXwEL0
— Unnecessary Roughness (@UnnecRoughness) December 22, 2023
Statement from the ACC re: Florida State pic.twitter.com/Xyc9bM8BX0
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 22, 2023
Florida State leadership has also published this letter, addressed to the FSU community: pic.twitter.com/jEkUbOkV0N
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) December 22, 2023
Florida State has filed its suit in Leon County Circuit Court against the ACC, accusing the league "of restraint of trade, breach of contract and a failure to perform. It also challenges the legality of its withdrawal penalties," the school says. pic.twitter.com/krcgGpE82b
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) December 22, 2023
As long as Florida State notifies ACC it is leaving league before this August – it has not done this yet – the earliest Seminoles could leave ACC would be June 30, 2025 & join a new league on July 1, 2025
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2023
$700M for Shohei Ohtani
$572M for Florida State
$325M for Yoshi Yamamoto
$136.5M for Tyler Glasnow
$325M for Mookie Betts
$165M for Freddie FreemanThe Dodgers are truly unmatched
— Molly (@FSUmollz) December 22, 2023
Florida State to the ACC pic.twitter.com/SF2HshChzj
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) December 22, 2023
Statement from ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D., and Jim Ryan, Chair of the ACC Board of Directors, on Florida State’s Board of Trustees Meeting
“Florida State’s decision to file action against the Conference is in direct conflict with their longstanding obligations and is a…
— David Hood (@MDavidHood) December 22, 2023
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips releases statement following FSU decision to file complaint, in part:
"Florida State’s decision to file action against the Conference is in direct conflict with their longstanding obligations and is a clear violation of their legal commitments to… pic.twitter.com/Wn1m84UFH0
— Warchant.com (@Warchant) December 22, 2023
Florida State is claiming the ACC just isn't the same league due to injury (the Grant of Rights).
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) December 22, 2023
Florida State's only copies of unexecuted ACC's Grant of Rights from 2013 & 2016 they found "on the internet." 🤣
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2023
At its emergency board of trustees meeting, Florida State says it would cost $572 million to leave the ACC. pic.twitter.com/VextCzwDzx
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) December 22, 2023
Florida State has entered the transfer portal. 🖕🏻
— Chad Reidlinger (@ChadReidlinger) December 22, 2023
🚨 It's official. Florida State is suing the ACC and has permission from its Board of Trustees to move forward. 🚨
— TJ Pittinger (@TJ_Pittinger) December 22, 2023
Florida State's Board of Trustees unanimously approves motion to file lawsuit against the ACC challenging the Grant of Rights. The university's counsel will file the lawsuit in Tallahassee Circuit Court today.
The wheels are in motion as FSU tries to leave the conference.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 22, 2023
If yall thought ESPN hated Florida State before, it’s about to get a whole lot worse
— Austin Veazey (@EasyVeazeyNG) December 22, 2023
Florida State's legal counsel says in 2010, there was no exit fee to leave ACC. Now, it's $572 million. Inflation?
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2023
Florida State mentions Maryland's exit of ACC as having relevant info that could help FSU. In 2012, Maryland said it was leaving ACC & found a way to negotiate what the ACC said was a $52.2 million exit fee down to $31.3 million. Typically, schools, like Maryland did w/ACC, pay…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 22, 2023
