College football realignment: FSU president John Thrasher does not want Florida State to be ‘left behind’ https://t.co/iiJgMAjyvm via @247sports
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"I just want us to be prepared" Thrasher said, via the Democrat. "My point to [FSU director of athletics] David Coburn and to [new ACC commissioner] Jim Phillips is I don't want Florida State to be left behind. I consider us part of the ACC, but I also know that we have a marquee name, Clemson has a marquee name. I think there might be people coming after us, I don't know, but we've got to be prepared no matter what the options are."
Thrasher went on to acknowledge the financial gains involved in realignment, as well as the red tape standing in the way of any moves.
"At the end of the day, it's all about money," Thrasher said. "It's all about TV revenue, contracts. Nobody can leave a conference without a significant buyout penalty, including us, so it would have to be something very special for us to leave.
"On the other hand, that doesn't mean we can't attract some other people. I think the ACC, when you put the academic side of what it's about today against any of the other conferences, we're head and shoulders above, I think. That, to me, is attractive to some of the universities out there. Preparation, options, all that's on the table. We're getting prepared for whatever happens.
"The Oklahoma, Texas thing, in my opinion, is the tip of the iceberg. It's there, but it's certainly going to be much broader than that when it's said and done."