Atlantic Coast Conference Information:
Headquarters: Greensboro, North Carolina
Commissioner: John Swofford
Schools: Boston College, Clemson University, Duke University, Florida State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Maryland, University of Miami, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University, University of Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Wake Forest University
Men’s Sports: baseball, basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, diving, tennis, volleyball and wrestling
Women’s Sports: basketball, cross country, field hockey, football, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, diving, tennis, volleyball and wrestling
Titles: 105 NCAA Championships
Bowl Games: Champs Sports Bowl, Chick-fil-A Bowl Emerald Bowl, Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, Meineke Car Care Bowl, MPC Computers Bowl, Toyota Gator Bowl.
The Atlantic Coast Conference, or ACC, was founded on May 8, 1953 with seven institutional members. A poll was held in the regional newspapers to solicit an appropriate name for the conference, but to no avail. Duke’s Eddie Cameron suggested the name should be Atlantic Coast Conference, and so it was formally adopted unanimously shortly thereafter.
The ACC is one of the most successful conferences in men’s basketball. Coaching legends Everett Case (North Carolina State) and Frank McGuire (North Carolina) are largely responsible for mobilizing the ACC into the men’s basketball spotlight. The ACC is also a very popular football conference, and within the Bowl Championship Series, the Orange Bowl is reserved for the ACC champion to play another BCS at-large selection.
Although the NCAA does not determine a national champion for Division I FBS football, several ACC schools have achieved a national championship through the Associated Press, United Press International, the Coaches Poll, or the BCS.
For example, in 1990, both Georgia Tech and Colorado were honored as national champions: The Associated Press gave the championship to Colorado while the United Press International gave the title to Georgia Tech.