I’ll give Phillips credit for going to the sources of the issue - the presidents. We have had our own tension with them over the years, so we know it’s an issue. This is also the biggest positive change for GT - Pres. Cabrera (God bless his soul).
The schools the ACC have added since 2004 have (mostly) all been smaller, more academic oriented or basketball-first schools. My sense is they were chosen for their cultural fit. *But it’s the culture that needs to change.*
Neither Louisville nor VPI are know. For academic rigor, but Louisville was/is a big basketball brand. VPI may be the most non-academic/basketball school the ACC has chosen, but they did have a good football program (so did Miami, but they also have some academics). So, it’s not like they haven’t tried, but every step has failed. FSU finally slipped. Clemson seems to be leveling out. Miami has never lived up to its expectations. VPI finally waned. Syracuse and BC never really clicked in football other than a season or two. Oddly, Louisville, it can be argued, has the most long-term success across all three major sports.
Meanwhile, GT, UVA, UNC, NCSU, Wake, and Duke have all continued doing the ACC thing.
But UK, USCe, Arky, Mizzou, and MSU, and even UF and AU, all seem to be floundering in the SEC. That’s half that conference, too. But their top brands are performing and that’s the difference, IMPO.