Bill Hancock clarifies 'so-called Power 5 conference' statement made in reference to ACC
Bill Hancock ruffled some feathers when he referred to the ACC as a “so-called Power 5 conference” in a response to Rick Scott on Friday, amid the Florida senator’s request for transparency from the College Football Playoff committee after Florida State was left out of the Top 4.
Florida State — and ACC — fans felt that the “so-called Power 5” comment was salt in the wound from the CFP’s executive director as it was perceived as a clear shot at the conference. On Saturday, though, Hancock clarified his comments in a corresponsence with ESPN’s Andrea Adelson, stating that his intention “was not meant to offense or disrespect ANY conference”.
“It is important to know that [the] CFP doesn’t use the term ‘Power-5’ or ‘P-5’,” Hancock said. “While the media and others use the term P5 to refer to the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC, we use the term ‘A-5’ or ‘Autonomy-5′ instead.”
While Hancock is on the record in saying that he wasn’t insulting the ACC with his statement, Florida State fans probably won’t be in a forgiving mood for a while following the Seminoles’ omission from the Top 4. Scott certainly wasn’t satisfied with Hancock’s initial comments.
“More excuses and still NO TRANSPARENCY,” he posted on X on Friday.