What About ND to Big East?!

[IrishAddiction]

We are already there for the most part.....

I, like many longtime ND fans, wish that ND could keep its football independence and remain a player in the changing landscape of college football. We can wait and see what happens, but how long until we are going to have to throw our hat into the ring?

If we must join a conference, joining the big east makes the most sense. ND would make that conference legit, even though it truly is already (Sagarin ranked the Big East #2 last season.... Big10 was ranked 6th.) We are already in the conference for nearly all of our other sports.

We save the Big East from getting thrown under the bus, we are truly the big fish in a little pond, and can continue to have MOST of our traditional rivalry games without playing a killer schedule to do it. Hell I have said before Notre Dame has too many rivalries. Keep USC, BC, Navy. Screw UM and Purdue... the big ten refs ripped us so bad last year they do not deserve the right to play us.

We are regionalized if we join the big10, but can stay more nationalized if we join the big east. This will help recruiting very much so by continuing to make us recruiting players in California, NJ, Florida, and Big12 country (Big12 is splitting across the country, so location isn’t going to play as huge of a role in family seeing games as before.) We can continue to play for national championships while the super conferences learn that the only way they can go undefeated is to schedule pansy nonconference games, which most do already (See Penn St, Florida, OSU for further details… DII anyone?).

The ACC tried expansion years ago, and look where it got them. The only reason the big10 and pac10 are doing this is for money, not for the power of their conferences. Fans and recruits are not all dumb, and they will start to realize that. Recruits want to play on a national level, and we can continue to provide that, and possibly be the most nationalized team in the country.

The BIG EAST saved many of our sports 14 years ago by letting us join the conference… we can now return the favor and live up to ND values. ND can keep going with the wait and see attitude that is has now, or can act and change the whole landscape of college football for the better. Do we let a conference that has been so welcoming to Notre Dame get destroyed by money and greed like the big12 has already, or do we step in and act?

We keep from being regionalized, we continue to compete on a national level, and we return one favor for another. ND has the opportunity to be the biggest leader in this changing landscape. May we be the ones who truly save the Big East and college football for that matter. The Big East will remain BCS legit, and we will remain a national program. I only pray that the Big East waits for Notre Dame to make a move, and not the other way around.

Here is the article that truly made me start seriously thinking about the BIG EAST as a possibility. Hopefully some of you feel the same. Link below.

BlueandGold.com // Head East, Good Sir

 

[calvegas04]

anywhere but there

 

[irishmarine]

I'd still rather wait and see befor we go jumping into someone elses conference.

 

[Rocket89]

The main reason (and really the only reason) to join a conference would be because the rules of college football change so drastically that Notre Dame cannot compete for a national title.

The two most obvious examples would the formation of 4 super conferences who make their own playoff tournamnet. Or, the possibility that an independent Notre Dame schedule is no longer strong enough to merit a BCS title game.

The former situation would basically mean Notre Dame is kicked out of participation (still don't think this is likely) and the latter would mean Notre Dame would get snubbed for a shot at a title with a 11-1 or 12-0 record (more likely than the previous scenario).

Joining the Big East for football wouldn't help in either scenario, and in many ways, would be a step backwards for Notre Dame football.

And that's assuming the Big East doesn't lose quality teams like Pitt or West Virginia or collapse all together.

Just think of what a 2012 schedule would look like in the Big East:

Navy
Purdue
Michigan
UConn
Louisville
Cincinnati
South Florida
Pitt
Rutgers
West Virginia
Syracuse
USC

Honestly, that's not a terrible schedule, but is it enough to get Notre Dame respect in the face of four super conferences? I don't think so. Odds are programs like Cincy, UConn, Louisville and Rutgers will struggle mightily if outside the super conference sphere of influence and they could all easily be 4-8/type teams in the future.

Then look at the likely 2012 Notre Dame schedule as an indepenedent:

Navy
Purdue
MSU
Michigan
Stanford
Miami
Boston College
Pitt
Oklahoma
Army
Wake Forest
USC

This schedule is far better and one which Notre Dame will need to play if they want to stay independent. Four traditional powerhouses and anywhere from 4 to 8! ranked teams.

There's no need to join the Big East in football just so that we're in a conference like everybody else. It's counter-productive and won't help matters.

 

[TerryTate]

ACC > Big East

 

[IrishAddiction]

The main reason (and really the only reason) to join a conference would be because the rules of college football change so drastically that Notre Dame cannot compete for a national title.

And that's assuming the Big East doesn't lose quality teams like Pitt or West Virginia or collapse all together.

Just think of what a 2012 schedule would look like in the Big East:

Navy
Purdue
Michigan
UConn
Louisville
Cincinnati
South Florida
Pitt
Rutgers
West Virginia
Syracuse
USC

Honestly, that's not a terrible schedule, but is it enough to get Notre Dame respect in the face of four super conferences? I don't think so. Odds are programs like Cincy, UConn, Louisville and Rutgers will struggle mightily if outside the super conference sphere of influence and they could all easily be 4-8/type teams in the future.

1st, and the main reason for my post, was that what if we made a play before we let the Big East Fall apart with the loss of WV, Pitt, or South Florida... That would save the conference and make it a legit BCS contender.

2nd... your Big East schedule... drop Purdue and Michigan... this teams are quickly falling to the pits of big ten play, and after that rip off of a game against Michigan last season, they do not even deserve the right to have high profile games against us anymore. I know they are traditional rivalries, but we could bring on an up and coming Miami team from the ACC, another traditional rival and always legit BC team, or many other possabilities to increase our BCS points. The big ten says screw ND, ND should say screw the big ten.

Its not like Purdue or Michigan are going to win games in the Big10 that count and make us look good... OSU, Penn St, and Wisconsin will continue to be the Money Making Big Ten teams and will be given the favorable schedules.

I wish to stay independent as much as any ND fan out there, but when does it become to late and they MAKE us play our cards? When the big east falls apart? The Big12 is probably already caput, im just saying we could be a leader and not a follower that is last to react in this situation.

I trust swarbrick, he has shown that he is a very intelligent man who keeps things pretty close to the vest. I just hope that he doesnt wait until it is too late and we are forced to join a conference not of our choosing fellas. Independence would be ideal, but what if we wait to long and do not have a choice. Regionalized in the Big Ten, or nationalized in the Big East. Its ND's choice.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

A) Big East isn't a great academic conference, at least for the football schools. ACC and Big Ten are light years ahead.

B) Big East is barely a BCS conference right now. It's horrible.

C) The Big East will be destroyed even if Texas stops moving and just continue as a basketball conference.

 

[FrankMA]

I am for independence; however, the Big East would not be a bad option if we were to join any conference. It is a higher rated Football and basketball conference then the big 10 so I don't see how anyone would think the Big East would not be a BCS conference. It seems to me the ACC would be the one major conference to lose an automatic BCS bid before anyone else. In recent years their conference champion was sometimes not even in the top 15 in the BCS rankings. 1 SOUTHEASTERN (A) = 80.48 81.07 ( 1) 12 80.87 ( 1)
2 BIG EAST (A) = 77.33 76.97 ( 2) 8 77.06 ( 2)
3 PAC-10 (A) = 76.23 75.45 ( 5) 10 75.77 ( 4)
4 ATLANTIC COAST (A) = 76.04 75.90 ( 3) 12 75.92 ( 3)
5 BIG 12 (A) = 74.61 75.54 ( 4) 12 75.32 ( 5)
6 BIG TEN (A) = 73.74 74.49 ( 6) 11 74.30 ( 6)
7 I-A INDEPENDENTS (A) = 71.04 69.61 ( 8) 3 70.09 ( 8)
8 MOUNTAIN WEST (A) = 70.92 71.48 ( 7) 9 71.29 ( 7)
9 WESTERN ATHLETIC (A) = 65.46 66.03 ( 9) 9 65.52 ( 9)
10 CONFERENCE USA (A) = 64.92 64.50 ( 10) 12 64.58 ( 10)
11 MID-AMERICAN (A) = 59.74 59.88 ( 11) 13 59.84 ( 11)
12 COLONIAL (AA)= 59.08 59.16 ( 12) 12 59.13 ( 12)
13 SUN BELT (A) = 58.20 58.29 ( 13) 9 58.28 ( 13)

Notice-Big East is number 2 behind SEC. The Big 10 is 6th.
USATODAY.com

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

CINNCY GOES TO BCS

CINNCY GOES TO BCS

A) Big East isn't a great academic conference, at least for the football schools. ACC and Big Ten are light years ahead.

B) Big East is barely a BCS conference right now. It's horrible.

C) The Big East will be destroyed even if Texas stops moving and just continue as a basketball conference.

they still are putting a team in every year

 

[IrishAddiction]

A) Big East isn't a great academic conference, at least for the football schools. ACC and Big Ten are light years ahead.

B) Big East is barely a BCS conference right now. It's horrible.

C) The Big East will be destroyed even if Texas stops moving and just continue as a basketball conference.

A. So we are the best academic football school in the conference... and thats a bad thing how? And as far as basketball goes, they have the best academic rating of any conference in the nation with more private catholic schools than any other conference in the US.

B. RIGHT NOW.... but they are a BCS conference. Like Georgia Domer said, they are putting a team in it every year... missed out on the NC game by inches a few times in the past 5 years. ND makes them an even more legit BCS conference. We actually hurt the big ten with this move, which is the conference that started all this greedy bullshit in the first place. Im all for it. We could make moves for other schools to join as well, or have Nova, the reigning D2 champ, join to play football. Ohio State, Florida, and Penn State love them D2 schools, why not make ours a legit d2 school?

C. It will have stability if ND joins and not fall apart. Texas moving is going to create super conferences, which if you check the ACC, really doesnt work out that well in the long run. Like Frank said, many times over the past 6-7 years their champ isnt even in the top 15.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

A. So we are the best academic football school in the conference... and thats a bad thing how? And as far as basketball goes, they have the best academic rating of any conference in the nation with more private catholic schools than any other conference in the US.

B. RIGHT NOW.... but they are a BCS conference. Like Georgia Domer said, they are putting a team in it every year... missed out on the NC game by inches a few times in the past 5 years. ND makes them an even more legit BCS conference. We actually hurt the big ten with this move, which is the conference that started all this greedy bullshit in the first place. Im all for it. We could make moves for other schools to join as well, or have Nova, the reigning D2 champ, join to play football. Ohio State, Florida, and Penn State love them D2 schools, why not make ours a legit d2 school?

C. It will have stability if ND joins and not fall apart. Texas moving is going to create super conferences, which if you check the ACC, really doesnt work out that well in the long run. Like Frank said, many times over the past 6-7 years their champ isnt even in the top 15.

It's bad because we don't get the research from the Big Ten.

Also I doubt the Big East would make us more money than the NBC deal anyways. Big East is going to die and be absorbed by the ACC.

 

[Irish4Life09]

We are already there for the most part.....

I, like many longtime ND fans, wish that ND could keep its football independence and remain a player in the changing landscape of college football. We can wait and see what happens, but how long until we are going to have to throw our hat into the ring?

If we must join a conference, joining the big east makes the most sense. ND would make that conference legit, even though it truly is already (Sagarin ranked the Big East #2 last season.... Big10 was ranked 6th.) We are already in the conference for nearly all of our other sports.

We save the Big East from getting thrown under the bus, we are truly the big fish in a little pond, and can continue to have MOST of our traditional rivalry games without playing a killer schedule to do it. Hell I have said before Notre Dame has too many rivalries. Keep USC, BC, Navy. Screw UM and Purdue... the big ten refs ripped us so bad last year they do not deserve the right to play us.

We are regionalized if we join the big10, but can stay more nationalized if we join the big east. This will help recruiting very much so by continuing to make us recruiting players in California, NJ, Florida, and Big12 country (Big12 is splitting across the country, so location isn’t going to play as huge of a role in family seeing games as before.) We can continue to play for national championships while the super conferences learn that the only way they can go undefeated is to schedule pansy nonconference games, which most do already (See Penn St, Florida, OSU for further details… DII anyone?).

The ACC tried expansion years ago, and look where it got them. The only reason the big10 and pac10 are doing this is for money, not for the power of their conferences. Fans and recruits are not all dumb, and they will start to realize that. Recruits want to play on a national level, and we can continue to provide that, and possibly be the most nationalized team in the country.

The BIG EAST saved many of our sports 14 years ago by letting us join the conference… we can now return the favor and live up to ND values. ND can keep going with the wait and see attitude that is has now, or can act and change the whole landscape of college football for the better. Do we let a conference that has been so welcoming to Notre Dame get destroyed by money and greed like the big12 has already, or do we step in and act?

We keep from being regionalized, we continue to compete on a national level, and we return one favor for another. ND has the opportunity to be the biggest leader in this changing landscape. May we be the ones who truly save the Big East and college football for that matter. The Big East will remain BCS legit, and we will remain a national program. I only pray that the Big East waits for Notre Dame to make a move, and not the other way around.

Here is the article that truly made me start seriously thinking about the BIG EAST as a possibility. Hopefully some of you feel the same. Link below.

BlueandGold.com // Head East, Good Sir

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[johnnykillz]

It's bad because we don't get the research from the Big Ten.

Also I doubt the Big East would make us more money than the NBC deal anyways. Big East is going to die and be absorbed by the ACC.

What research do you speak of, Spock?

 

[FrankMA]

It's bad because we don't get the research from the Big Ten.

Also I doubt the Big East would make us more money than the NBC deal anyways. Big East is going to die and be absorbed by the ACC.

We don't get any research from them now and we have done all right academically, so what difference does that make for football.

 

[IrishMoore1]

The Big East would water down our schedule even further. I'd rather wait till the last possible second before committing to a conference. If they're smart, they will wait.

 

[johnnykillz]

New flash for all of you Tom Brokaw(s):

Notre Dame isn't going anywhere. Write that down...

 

[TerryTate]

All is right in the world. The big 10 homers that came out of the woodwork the past two weeks can now go back to silently reading the forum.

 

[johnnykillz]

All is right in the world. The big 10 homers that came out of the woodwork the past two weeks can now go back to silently reading the forum.

And thinking about what could have and might have been; if only to have Notre Dame under their thumbs...

 

[alaskandomer]

All is right in the world. The big 10 homers that came out of the woodwork the past two weeks can now go back to silently reading the forum.

God's in His heaven. All is indeed right with the world.