Duke AD Kevin White is "unabashedly bullish on the oft-discussed potential" of a cable TV channel dedicated to ACC sports in '16, according to David Teel of the Hampton Roads DAILY PRESS. White said, "Should we realize the channel objective, we’re going to be in an incredibly strong position for the next 15-20 years. In my opinion, I think it will happen, and I think it will be wildly successful." White of the conference's appeal said, "We have an interesting mix of schools academically and athletically. A bunch of institutions that are highly aspirational with a terrific following." He said the Big Ten "clearly became McDonald’s in our industry, and anyone that would argue with that doesn’t know what they’re talking about." He added, "I think unfortunately there was a time 3-4 years ago where, I don’t know who we were. We weren’t Whataburger, but we were between Whataburger and Wendy’s. ... And I think the SEC was clearly Burger King." White: "It’s amazing how quickly we’ve regained what had been our historic position. We were in a bit of a free fall, but we’re right back, and … I attribute all of it and more to [ACC Commissioner John Swofford's] leadership." White of the state of the ACC said, "There’s enough empirical evidence to suggest that we kind of lost a little bit of our juice, and boy, we came roaring back. Now we are emerging." He said of the ACC's football uptick this season, "Invaluable. I really thought it could happen. I’d bet my life that it would happen, that we would cycle back. But then to see it happen takes all emotion to yet another level" (DAILYPRESS.com, 11/21).
