By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Syracuse University will join the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2013 after it reached an agreement with the Big East Conference to exit the league a year early in exchange for a payment of $7.5 million.

"The ACC looks forward to the arrival of Syracuse as a playing member on July 1, 2013,'' ACC commissioner John Swofford said in a statement.

"Syracuse will be an outstanding addition to the ACC. We've been preparing to welcome them into our membership and I'm pleased that Syracuse and the Big East were able to come to an agreement. As a league, we continue to be excited about our future," he added.

Earlier, Syracuse and Pittsburgh decided to join the ACC last September, but leaving the Big East required a 27-month notice.

But Syracuse had an agreement with Big East that provides an exit a year ahead of the 27-month waiting period. In exchange, Syracuse will pay $7.5 million to the Big East. That figure includes the Big East's $5 million, which is part of the conference's by-laws.

"Obviously, we have a great history in the Big East,'' Syracuse University athletic director Daryl Gross. "One we will always recognize and cherish.''

Syracuse's loss will be buffered by the Big East because the conference has already lined up eight schools that will join its fold in the coming years.

Temple will join the Big East for football this fall and for all sports in 2013. Meanwhile, Central Florida, Southern Methodist, Houston, Memphis will join the Big East as full members in 2013.

Also in 2013, Boise State and San Diego State will join for football. In 2015, Navy will join the Big East as a football-only member.

"This closes a chapter and opens a new one filled with exciting possibilities for the Big East's future,'' Big East interim commissioner Joe Bailey said in a release. "With the recent addition of eight schools to the Big East, the future for the Conference has never been brighter.''

Syracuse was a founding member of the Big East back in 1979. The upcoming year will be Syracuse's 34th year - and last - year in the Big East.

"We have tremendous memories in the Big East,'' Gross said. "Next year will be a year we know we'll reflect upon as we go through it.

"It's actually nice that we have this year to transition and still compete in the Big East with a lot of colleagues that we hope to play in the future in a non-conference sense," he added.

 

 

Syracuse to Join ACC Next Year