But the ACC had this behavior for 4+ weeks prior to the final seeding. Before Alabama had been shown to all but have a predetermined place set. Miami can do what it wants and how it wants. It earned that right by beating ND. The ACC chose to single out ND only, and in nearly every comparison it released when attempting to earn it's spot in the 12.
Why not compare Miami to Alabama? Or Oklahoma? Why not release something showing how well ND had done since it's premier member (Miami this year) beat them on opening day to strengthen the optics of their win? Why join the chorus of those focusing the light on ND as undeserving while the political maneuvering of the powerbrokers was occurring? Again, this is a business partner yes?
Imagine we run companies and enter an agreement that confers a mutual benefit. Obviously, your company doesn't take out ads to undercut/malign or injure my business and in turn, my company returns the favor. Our sales/purchasing power is improved by our agreement as we're not attempting to undercut one another, etc. But then you decide that you really need to pump up one of your brands for sales and a recent consumer report documents it won in head to head testing based on point totals.
Instead of simply runnings ads promoting where you shine, you repeatedly point out how my product is inferior because of testing and how yours is the same price or cheaper. Now, you've changed the dynamics of our relationship. I call you up and ask, "why are you targeting me all of a sudden?" You apologize and say, "it's just business. I've got a product that I need to sell while the market is hungry for it and I have stakeholders telling me they want to see increased profits."
Ok, fine. Those are the dynamics. The relationship has been fundamentally altered. We started at one place, now we're at another.
