ACC Players Have Lack of Interest or Knowledge in Clemson, FSU Lawsuits

CHARLOTTE — Earlier this week, ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said the future of the league was healthy and it was in a good place.

However, in this world of college athletics that could change overnight, especially when the ACC is battling Clemson and Florida State in courtrooms. Clemson and FSU are fighting the league over their grant of rights and the exit feed should they want to leave the conference.

“It would be different for sure,” Wake Forest’s DeVonte Gordon said Wednesday from Day 3 of the ACC Football Kickoff at the Hilton. “Those are two programs that everybody in the conference loves to play because they have been great teams in the past and they have great environments to play in.

“Whatever their choice is, that’s their choice.”

Most of the players The Clemson Insider spoke to either did not want to say too much about the pending cases or they were unaware of those lawsuits.

“Are you saying Florida State and Clemson are wanting to leave the conference,” Louisville’s Quincy Riley asked. “I have not seen it, that is crazy. Good luck to those guys, though.”

Riley’s teammate, Ashton Gillotte, knew what was happening in the Florida State case, but he had no idea Clemson was suing the league, as well.

“It’s not my place to talk,” he said. “That is their decision. I am not an athletic director. I do not run that kind of stuff, so do whatever you think is better for your program. As for us, we are going to compete here.”

Wake Forest’s Jasheen Davis was aware of the lawsuits, but he has chosen to ignore them and instead concentrate on getting ready for the 2024 season. He said he really can’t say if Clemson and Florida State leaving the conference will be weird.

Clemson is one of the charter members of the ACC, which began in 1953, while FSU joined the league in 1992.

“In a way, it is already weird that we do not play Florida State this year,” Davis said. “In general, I have not been looking too much into that because I play for Wake Forest.”

Wake Forest wide receiver Taylor Morin had a different perspective than his teammate.

“It will definitely be a little unusual, I would think. But at the end of the day, if those guys are gone, those are opportunities for other teams to step up,” he said. “That is how I view it.

“It has been a tremendous experience playing against those teams that have obviously been very, very good. But if they are gone it leaves other opportunities for other teams. Whatever happens with that, I am sure it will all work itself out, but I am not necessarily concerned about it.”

–Jim Dedmon / USA TODAY Sports