By Hank Kurz Jr.
The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Tech received a formal invitation to join the Atlantic Coast Conference on Friday and will accept, university president Charles M. Steger wrote in an open letter to alumni.

Calling the ACC "an organization of some of the nations most prestigious universities," Steger explained Tech's position throughout the ACC's six-week expansion process many have likened to a soap opera.

"We know that this affiliation will be good for our students, athletes, fans, and communities for many years to come," he concluded in the letter, which was made available to media covering the Hokies.

The letter detailed the school's actions throughout the process, with Steger telling alumni that he notified the Big East of the ACC's offer to begin discussions about joining last Tuesday night, the same night the offer was extended, and knows that Tech will be criticized for fighting both for the Big East and for inclusion in the ACC at the same time.

"At the end of the day, many will disagree with our decisions. They of course are free to do so," Steger wrote. "However, we have dealt as best we can with a very complex changing landscape of intercollegiate athletics to the best of our ability in difficult times."

Earlier Friday, athletic director Jim Weaver said he was unsure all the necessary paperwork has been completed to make the move official, but that any perceived delay does not mean the Hokies are unsure what to do.

The process of finalizing the Hokies' letter of agreement to join the ACC involves having it go through several administration offices, including Steger's, and the school's lawyers, he said.

When the letter completes its review and sign route through the offices, it will be signed, certainly by Monday morning, Weaver said.

"There's no issue of whether we will sign it," he said. "This isn't getting done by one person. ... A lot of people are involved."

Monday is the day Miami is expected to announce its decision on whether to accept its invitation from the ACC or remain in the Big East.

ACC spokesman Brian Morrison said Friday the conference is not commenting on either bid until it officially hears from the schools.

Miami and Virginia Tech must inform Big East officials by Monday if they decide to join the ACC, obligating each to pay a $1 million exit fee. If they wait until after Monday to leave, the fee doubles.

"We're not tied to each other, we've been told," Shalala said, echoing what Steger said he understood on the day the invitation first came.

Miami's stay-or-go decision appears far less clear cut.

Shalala has expressed disappointment that the deal no longer includes Boston College or Syracuse, schools that gave Miami a desired link to its northeast recruiting and alumni bases. Those two schools are also spearheading a counterproposal from the Big East to get Miami to stay.

Previously, when the ACC expansion process was just beginning, the conference offered Miami a guaranteed $45 million over five years to stay.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said there was no ruling Friday concerning the lawsuit filed by four Big East football schools accusing the ACC and Miami of conspiring to destroy the Big East.