Superconferences & Realignment

[DuffHouse12]

i think i brought this up in either this thread or another thread on the same subject.

the NCAA will have a remarkably difficult time requiring that a team be in a conference in order to compete for a national championship, for example a football playoff with ONLY conference champions. in addition, an increased season length is routinely voted down by the school presidents, which makes a At-Large inclusive playoff structure decidedly less likely.

there for - money is the main reason for joining a super conference. of course, Notre Dame has no financial incentive to join a conference.

last fall there was discussion of the super-conferences actually LEAVING the NCAA and competing for a football championship on their own. this is where congress would step in due to exemptions of anti-trust laws being provided to the NCAA.

i see the movement gaining momentum in the media, but i don't see any of the obstacles being lessened.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

For those that missed it yesterday, I saw it was already buried on Page 12 so I figured I would repost it:

Notre Dame should jump to the ACC ... and fast - College Football - Rivals.com

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I don't think the anti-trust implications have any legs. The pro-competitive justifications for 4 superconferences and a playoff are as obvious and compelling as they are for the NFL and the NBA. Hell, the congressional investigation into the BCS started because Orrin Hatch is a Utah fan, and he was sick of seeing them go undefeated without a shot at the BCS. The Utes are now in the Pac-12, and I don't think Boise State and TCU have the political patronage to make any noise at that level.

The only way I could even see it happening is if there are several very powerful independents-- ND + Texas, etc.-- that end up using the threat of legal pressure to force concessions. But even then, it's an extremely risky strategy, because you're essentially betting your football program's continued existence/ relevance on the whims of a federal judge.

I simply don't see Swarbrick and Dodds taking that risk. Superconferences are happening, and both ND and Texas will have chairs when the music stops. Some will certainly be left out, but none are powerful enough to stop the process.

 

[beryirish]

ESPN

The Lead:

Texas, Oklahoma presidents given authority to take realignment action

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I posted this earlier, but I though Texas was going to be Notre Dame partner in this mess.

 

[beryirish]

I posted this earlier, but I though Texas was going to be Notre Dame partner in this mess.

damnit sherm!!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I posted this earlier, but I though Texas was going to be Notre Dame partner in this mess.

I'm sure Swarbrick and Dodds are at least consulting with each other. ND and Texas together would have a lot more leverage negotiating for entry into the ACC than ND alone. Whether Texas believes the ACC is a better option than the Pac-X... who can say?

 

[D-BOE34]

Lets strap these boys up and move them down to the SEC. Lets get this over with. Screw the ACC!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm sure Swarbrick and Dodds are at least consulting with each other. ND and Texas together would have a lot more leverage negotiating for entry into the ACC than ND alone. Whether Texas believes the ACC is a better option than the Pac-X... who can say?

From everything i've read recently it seems Texas is looking more at the PACx.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

From everything i've read recently it seems Texas is looking more at the PACx.

I could be wrong, but much of that seems to be ESPN attempting to influence reality with its "reporting". The ACC would arguably be a better fit.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I could be wrong, but much of that seems to be ESPN attempting to influence reality with its "reporting". The ACC would arguably be a better fit.

hmm...You are probably right. ESPN sucks!

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

ESPN is sucking the ACCs taint right now.. wow. Whatever, I don't care where we go.. Let's just get the best deal we can.

 

[meowmix]

The ACC is a decent fit but I don't buy the academically similar argument. Big Ten has Northwestern, ACC has Duke. Those are the only schools in either conference on ND's level. On the second tier, Big Ten has Purdue, Michigan, OSU, and PSU. ACC has BC, Clemson, Wake, UNC, and UVA. While the Big Ten has much larger, research-oriented schools, more of our rivals are in that conference. The Big Ten also has infinitely more football tradition, making it a better fit for ND. Big Ten is the only conference with a prestige level adequate for ND.

 

[koonja]

Michigan has OSU, Alabama has LSU, Texas has Oklahoma, etc...

Who's going to be our big rivalry in the ACC? Florida State? Aren't they headed to the SEC?

I'd love for it to play out so that Texas and ND become 'that game'.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Michigan has OSU, Alabama has LSU, Texas has Oklahoma, etc...

Who's going to be our big rivalry in the ACC? Florida State? Aren't they headed to the SEC?

I'd love for it to play out so that Texas and ND become 'that game'.

Miami, possibly. Or FSU. I think if ND went to the ACC and the conference added one more to get full (UConn or Rutgers, probably), nobody would leave. They'd be full and in good shape for the two major sports and there would be no motivation for those Florida schools to leave (and supposedly U of Florida is opposed to them coming to the SEC, anyway). Once they get to 16, they'll vote to increase the buyout to $30M or something to keep everyone in the fold.

 

[Irish Fam]

We have had some awesome games against FSU in the past. They could be a big time rival. And we all know our history with Miami...

 

[koonja]

Florida state vs ND sounds good to me. I grew up watching those games in the early 90's.

 

[FLDomer]

The Big Ten also has infinitely more football tradition, making it a better fit for ND. Big Ten is the only conference with a prestige level adequate for ND.

I am all about tradition but at the same time we need to look to the future. I would be happy to infuse the ACC with some REAL football tradition, and at the same time maintain a nationwide schedule and keep or foot in the recruiting door in the South. How ofter do we here of the Big Ten being too slow and getting hammered but southern schools? I for one am tired of being slow and the southern and west coast kids are where the speed is at (Lynch, Tuitt, Nix...). What Big Ten school consistantly pulls recruits out of Florida?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

The ACC is a decent fit but I don't buy the academically similar argument. Big Ten has Northwestern, ACC has Duke. Those are the only schools in either conference on ND's level. On the second tier, Big Ten has Purdue, Michigan, OSU, and PSU. ACC has BC, Clemson, Wake, UNC, and UVA. While the Big Ten has much larger, research-oriented schools, more of our rivals are in that conference. The Big Ten also has infinitely more football tradition, making it a better fit for ND. Big Ten is the only conference with a prestige level adequate for ND.

So what if the Big Ten has more research schools, ND isn't a research school. We would still rotate games with UM, MSU, and Purdue. The exact things you mentioned are the reasons why we should join the ACC.

1. Stand out academics wise.
2. Better recruiting.
3. One of the better gameday experiences.
4. Best tradition in the conference.

What would be the value of the "prestige level" of the Big Ten?

 

[Grahambo]

As much as I want to remain Independent, I really just want what's the best interest for the school. I really want ND to be placed in the best possible situation recruiting, revenue, and TV wise.

A potential Nebraska vs ND matchup would be great in the B1G and of course ND vs FSU would be just as great in the ACC.

 

[FLDomer]

I would love to play VaTech, along with FSU, Miami. We already play BC. Hell I wouldnt even mind playing teams like Clemson and UNC every year too

 

[koonja]

So what if the Big Ten has more research schools, ND isn't a research school. We would still rotate games with UM, MSU, and Purdue. The exact things you mentioned are the reasons why we should join the ACC.

1. Stand out academics wise.
2. Better recruiting.
3. One of the better gameday experiences.
4. Best tradition in the conference.

What would be the value of the "prestige level" of the Big Ten?

I feel like playing OSU, Michigan, and Nebraska sounds WAY better than playing the best the ACC has to offer.

OSU, Michigan, and Nebraska are always at the top of their game and will draw huge crowds rather than playing a bunch of teams who have scandals, penalties, and sanctions all of the time.

The big 10 is a clean conference. I don't want to be guilty by association (Miami, North Carolina, etc.)

 

[Grahambo]

@McMurphyCBS Brett McMurphy

Multiple Big East sources said they have been told by WVU officials that WVU rejected by ACC & SEC

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I feel like playing OSU, Michigan, and Nebraska sounds WAY better than playing the best the ACC has to offer.

OSU, Michigan, and Nebraska are always at the top of their game and will draw huge crowds rather than playing a bunch of teams who have scandals, penalties, and sanctions all of the time.

The big 10 is a clean conference. I don't want to be guilty by association (Miami, North Carolina, etc.)

Umm last I checked the Big Ten isn't clean either. Are you forgetting what just happened at O$U?

We would still play Michigan.

The talent we need resides in the South.

 

[koonja]

Umm last I checked the Big Ten isn't clean either. Are you forgetting what just happened at O$U?

We would still play Michigan.

The talent we need resides in the South.

OSU is one example. Don't make the exception the rule.

We want to be grouped with teams like Florida State, North Carolina, Miami, etc?

 

[Rocket89]

Don't forget joining the ACC would be awesome for basketball. And many other sports like baseball and soccer.

The B1G offers great football tradition, but can't match the ACC in other sports.

How many ND fans really want to go to the B1G who live outside of the Midwest?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

OSU is one example. Don't make the exception the rule.

We want to be grouped with teams like Florida State, North Carolina, Miami, etc?

Do people associate BC with scandals because they play in the ACC? What about Va Tech? Virginia? Vanderbilt must be dirty too right because they play in the SEC?

Who is making the exception the rule?

 

[koonja]

Do people associate BC with scandals because they play in the ACC? What about Va Tech? Virginia? Vanderbilt must be dirty too right because they play in the SEC?

Who is making the exception the rule?

I said that the Big 10 is a cleaner conference and you brought up OSU's recent debacle to prove that it wasn't. Exceptionmust=rule for you to have an argument there, unless you can name some other big 10 schools that have faced sanctions recently?

 

[koonja]

Do people associate BC with scandals because they play in the ACC? What about Va Tech? Virginia? Vanderbilt must be dirty too right because they play in the SEC?

Who is making the exception the rule?

Nobody really cares about BC, Virginia, or Vanderbilt. People across the country care about ND. I just personally don't want to be playing in a conference that has had so many NCAA issues when the big 10 seems like such a perfect fit.

And Rocket, yes, I live in Wisconsin so I am bias about this!

 

[nd1]

I will be at every ND-GT game in Atlanta. You can bet on that.

i would be right there too.

on cowherd he said if teams went to these conference that no one would want to shedule a good independant. that there would be no upside to it and I kind of think he's right.