ACC, FSU Ordered To Enter Mediation

That’s going to be one frustrated mediator.

Well here’s a twist to the ACC’s case vs. Florida State: a Tallahassee judge has ordered the parties into non-binding mediation.

According to ESPN, “Judge John C. Cooper technically approved the ACC’s motion to dismiss Monday but gave FSU seven days to amend its complaint because the university needs more specificity regarding key facts in a case he said ‘is worth up to half a billion dollars.’ The conference would have 20 days to respond afterward, and another hearing would be set.”

Since neither party has to agree to anything, it seems like it will become a delaying tactic in the end, although not necessarily by design. At least one party, perhaps both, will see it as a useful way to get more time because it’s hard to imagine that either side is seriously interested in mediation.

The part of this that’s interesting to us is that Florida State (and Clemson, also angling to get out of the ACC) agreed to give the grant of rights to the conference when John Swofford was the league’s commissioner. This was a voluntary act on the part of every conference member. In Clemson’s case, they’re calling it “an exorbitant $140 million” exit fee.

Basically, in plain English, no one forced them to do it and a deal’s a deal. That’s probably not going to be how it works out, but again, no one forced them to do anything. It was a voluntary arrangement that’s no longer convenient.