ACC commissioner and Board of Directors respond to Florida State lawsuit

ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and the chair of the board of directors called Florida State’s suit “unprecedented and overreaching.”

After Florida State announced its intention to leave the ACC and challenge the conference’s withdrawal penalties in court, the ACC commissioner and board of directors responded on Friday.

The Florida State Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to seek legal action against the conference after it was revealed the current Grant of Rights would charge the Seminoles with a $572 million withdrawal penalty.

“Florida State’s decision to file action against the Conference is in direct conflict with their longstanding obligations and is a clear violation of their legal commitments to the other members of the Conference,” ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and ACC Board of Directors chair Jim Ryan wrote in a joint statement.

“It is especially disappointing that FSU would choose to pursue this unprecedented and overreaching approach.”

The duo also reaffirmed their confidence that any legal look into the Grant of Rights would hold up in court and that the conference and its legal team would be able to enforce the agreement.

“Each university has benefited from this agreement, receiving millions of dollars in revenue and neither Florida State nor any other institution has ever challenged its legitimacy,” the statement read.