The time has come for two great ollege athletic conferences to put an end to public acrimony and to join together to restore the collegial and cooperative relationship that has existed between them for decades. The Big East and the ACC have a great history of cooperation. Bob James, Gene Corrigan and their colleagues were generous with their advice and counsel as we formed the Big East, and both conferences have been strengthened over the years by such cooperation. Later, both conferences were at the core of the formation of what has now become the bowl championship series.

I believe the solution to the current controversy is clear: The ACC should agree to expand only by accepting the University of Miami and otherwise leaving the Big East intact. The Big East and the ACC should agree to collaborate on ideas to strengthen both conferences, including the idea of an inter-conference championship game and other forms of confederation. There can be no question that college athletics will be better off if two vibrant, competitive conferences can thrive together along America’s eastern seaboard. There is ample evidence that these types of collegial relationshipsamong Big East and ACC university presidents, conference officials and athletic directorscan only serve to enhance and improve the athletic programs of all member schools.

Far more is at stake than the particular composition of any one conference. If intercollegiate athletics are to remain an important part of American higher education, we must never lose sight of the greater public interest we are obligated to serve.