Lea: Phillips gained my trust to lead the ACC

By Chris Lea, WRAL Sports anchor/reporter

I was in 6th grade when I took a field trip with other classmates to the ACC Corporate offices in Greensboro. Growing up in Guilford County, that trip is like a rite of passage.

During the field trip, John Swofford took a moment to address our class and to show us a little bit about his job on a daily basis.

That was during Swofford's first year as ACC Commissioner.

Until this year, as a North Carolinian, a native of Greensboro and an ACC fan, Swofford is all I knew when thinking about the leadership of the conference. Seeing how he helped to raise the profile of the conference and expand it from 9 to 15 teams, while helping to rake in large sums of money along the way, painted him as the ultimate leader in my eyes. He's all I've ever known in the ACC!

Then he announced he would be retiring. Then the announcement came that Jim Phillips would be leaving Northwestern as their Athletics Director to succeed Swofford as Commissioner of the ACC. Growing up only knowing Swofford, there was some healthy speculation on how Phillips would be able to lead the conference I have the most emotional ties to.

Today for ACC Kickoff 2021, Phillips quieted my speculation.

As he started the two-day media event, he brought up the issues he'll have to guide the ACC through. A continuing pandemic, Name, Image and Likeness, among other issues.

Phillips seemed strong and balanced on his approach to those issues, showing he has a clear stance, but is also willing to listen to another opinion. Much like his stance on ACC football teams achieving the 85% vaccination threshold, saying,"I believe in being vaccinated. I have a family of healthcare workers that have been on the front lines. But it's about us educating our student-athletes. Again, I stand by my opening comments. It's such a personal decision. So student-athletes have to figure out what's best for them."

And on the transfer portal and freedom of movement of student athletes, "It's likened to a game of musical chairs. That's what worries me, the music stops, there's not enough chairs, seats, scholarships for those in the transfer portal. But the freedom of movement won out on that decision. I completely agree with that."

And on NIL, "I think there's incredible opportunities for our student-athletes coming. But we need a national standard. Everyone expects us to play a national competition schedule. We go all over the 50 states. Not having a national standard will cause major disruption."

I wasn't sure what I would get with Phillips, even though I was sure the ACC and Swofford wouldn't botch the job of finding a suitable Commissioner. But this morning gave me the confidence that his perspective and balance will allow the ACC to continue to thrive as college sports continues to evolve. And that he wouldn't slow the momentum that Swofford had going for 24 years in the ACC.

So far, Phillips has my trust to keep the ACC as one of the premier conferences in college sports.