ACC presidents issued a statement on Thursday declaring any speculation of realignment as 'totally false.' (US Presswire)

Like coaching searches, conference realignment will prompt statements from coaches and school officials to address or deny (usually the latter) some rumor regarding a potential move. Though we are in the middle of coaching silly season, realignment never takes a day off.

The ACC Council of Presidents issued a statement Thursday to address any rumors relating to a school following Maryland's lead out of the conference.

"We, the undersigned presidents of the Atlantic Coast Conference, wish to express our commitment to preserve and protect the future of our outstanding league, the statement read. "We want to be clear that the speculation about ACC schools in negotiations or considering alternatives to the ACC are totally false.

"The presidents of the ACC are united in our commitment to a strong and enduring conference. The ACC has long been a leader in intercollegiate athletics, both academically and athletically, and the constitution of our existing and future member schools will maintain the ACC’s position as one of the nation’s premier conferences."

The statement was signed by the 15 current and future members of the ACC -- Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Louisville and Notre Dame included -- and did not include Maryland president Wallace Loh.

One possible reason for the timing of this statement might have been Jim Delany's comments on Thursday about the Big Ten -- the future home of Maryland, a charter member of the ACC -- being "inactive, but alert" on the issue of realignment. Various message boards have connected the Big Ten to as many as five current ACC members, and some regarded Delany's comments as a possible warning about the jump to a 16-member conference.

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