Phillips Rips Clemson and FSU

CHARLOTTE – As the 2024 ACC Football Kickoff got underway in Charlotte on Monday, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips addressed Clemson’s and Florida State’s pending lawsuits against the conference.

“With multiple ongoing legal cases, there are limits to what I can say,” Phillips said. “But I can state that we will fight to protect the ACC and our members for as long as it takes. We are confident in this league and that it will remain a premier conference in college athletics for the long-term future.”

Phillips continued and proceeded to rip Clemson and FSU for what he described as “disputes” that “continue to be extremely damaging, disruptive and incredibly harmful to the league, as well as overshadowing our student-athletes and the incredible successes taking place on the field and within the conference.”

“People feel passionate about athletics, and they feel particularly passionate about college athletics at their respective schools,” Phillips said. “This passion is what makes college athletics so special. But this passion can also lead to personal attacks.”

The Seminoles filed their lawsuit last December in hopes to get out of the league’s stringent exit fee and Grant of Rights (GOR) Agreement, while Clemson did the same on March 19. The ACC in turn counter sued, saying both are going against the GOR Agreement they agreed to back in 2016.

“The fact is that every member of this conference willingly signed the Grant of Rights and unanimously – and quite frankly, eagerly – agreed to our current television contract and the launch of the ACC Network,” Phillips said. “The ACC, our collective membership and conference office deserves better. The support for our student-athletes, coaches and programs is extraordinary, and that will continue despite these disruptions.”

Time will tell whether Clemson and FSU ultimately win their cases or settle with the ACC so they can explore other options in the ever-changing college landscape. As it stands now, Phillips reiterated his intent to fight for and protect the ACC as a whole.

“We intend to continue to fight every day for the ACC and its members, and to do so in a way that I hope makes our membership proud,” he said. “Where there are disagreements or disputes, I intend to continue to deal with them in a respectful and honorable fashion. The ACC deserves nothing less. The ACC will remain a healthy and vibrant conference that competes at the highest level.”

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