The decision to move to the Big Ten conference today brought with it both outrage and support from University of Maryland alumni and current players dealing with the choice to leave behind 59 years in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

With the athletic department struggling financially, Maryland hopes a bigger market and influx of profits from new television deals will help provide some stability and help bring back some of the seven sports teams cut this year.

Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith and current Maryland defensive lineman A.J. Francis expressed disapproval of the move, the latter going so far as to promise not to donate anything to the school.

Others were more optimistic about the change. College Park hero Greivis Vasquez, former Maryland running back Davin Meggett and top recruit Stefon Diggs all supported the university in the move even though it will change the entire landscape of Maryland athletics.

One of the reasons for leaving the ACC was the addition of Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. The expansion would have prevented Maryland from playing two games per season against rivals Duke and North Carolina and drastically changed the landscape of the conference.

Despite the objections, the University of Maryland will move to the Big Ten in July of 2014. A new era has begun for Maryland athletics.