Big 10 or else

[onenybrother]

It's time for us Damer to start looking at the Big 10 picture. With the Schedule we play, it's gonna be very hard for us to even consider a National Championship. But to get in the Big 10 now we talking domiance. Penn State, Purdue ,Michigan ,MichiganSt thats 4 teams in the conference anyway. Then You Talking North Carolina, Geogia Tech, UC.L.A. and the always tough U.S.C. It's getting its just getting to tough. Yes i no the money we get from N.B.C. is crazy. And the tradition of being independant is just alot for some of us Damer to give up. But enough is enough, with recruiting getting tough and with the academic requirement we have so tough. It's just time for us to way all the option and stop feeling so elist. N.B.C. will still want us on there telecast and yes we will have to share money with the Conference . I see Notre Dame have no problem with that when basketball is concern in the Big East. It's the Conn, Syracuse, Louisville and in this area St.Johns that's keep that conference going. So let's not get on so much of a high horse and think about dominating College Football not just winning a championship.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

lol, this is a bad time to bring it up, particularly when we are many people's predicted national title winner.

I don't think the schedule is too hard. If you follow ND's recruiting compared to the teams they play in their regular schedule, ND is in very good shape.

But the thing of the matter is that Notre Dame is Notre Dame. Notre Dame doesn't need a conference, but rather, certain conferences like the Big East need Notre Dame. ND has a unique and independent spirit. Turning to a conference would be inviting a regulator to control the university. It will never happen, not while I'm around.

Regardless, the Big 10 didn't wasn't interested in Notre Dame in its early years particularly because of its Catholic background, so why shouldn't we return the favor now that it has come crawling back?

That said, I think one of Charlie Weis' legacies if he is successful will be that he saved us from entering a conference.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

lol @ BigTen

We need a conference like we need a hole in the head...

Seriously, there is simple no justification for putting ourselves in a conference...

 

[KMac151993]

We don't need a any affiliation with a conference....bottom line, case closed.

 

[jiggafini19]

When it comes to ND Football being in a conference, Big Ten or otherwise, I quote Burgess Meredith from "Grumpy Old Men."

"You can wish in one hand and crap in the other, and see which one fills up first."

Not going to happen.

 

[A2McGowan]

THE tradition of Notre Dame is to play anyone......anywhere. Imagine some of those cross-country train rides in the early part of the century just for a football game. Should not happen and won't.

 

[BestBIrish47]

Joining a conference is like joining a credit union..... it is a great move if you want to establish yourself, and begin to save............but we are Notre Dame, we own the damn biggest Bank in the city!!!!!! The only reason to join is out of need, and their isn't a need. Other teams will always schedule us because of fan draw.... no matter what the network... GO IRISH!!!

 

[scooper]

No

 

[ND4life]

Lol^

 

[ZIBBY49]

Are my eyes decieving me, did a supposed Irish fan just suggest that we actually join the big ten, the very home of some of our mortal enemies. The thought of joining that or any other conference sickens me, to join would be to forfiet the very principles that Fighting Irish football was built on. The anyone, anytime, anywhere mindset would be lost in the fact that despite playing a couple of non conference opponents we would be stuck in an almost never changing conference schedule every year. No sir, the Fighting Irish will never join a conference, not if the mighty Irish Nation with all its loyal fans have anything to say about it. Not to mention the very pursuasive alumni who would never tolerate such a move. I tell you the very thought of it makes me just want to step on someone. All the tradition, all the prestige, all that is Notre Dame would be gone. Think of the money we would lose, think of our established relationship with NBC that would surley be strained,and give it up for what, just to say that we belong to the conference that we beat up on every year, Me thinks not my friends. No we have made it this far without anyone, and we will make it a lot farther. For every season Irish Nation grows stronger. More and more fans continue to join us in our cheers. Join a conference, heh, can't you see, we are a conference.Someday they will beg to join with us. Long live Irish Nation, and god bless Notre Dame

 

[Folsteam_Ahead]

right on zibby. this is just a silly thread. we'd lose most of our national rivalries and be a mich and msu rival. boring.

 

[leppycole]

Joining the Big 10 would be a BIG Mistake!!!! Actually it would be Moronic!!!

 

[Guest]

no reason to join the Big Ten....Besides if we joined the Big Ten our schedule would become too easy.

Not to mention it would hurt our recruiting because it would make us more of a regional school. ND can recruit nationally better than anyone else, and thats because we're independent and play a national schedule.

 

[scooper]

The Big Ten is a tough conference. The competition would be fierce. But we are a national program, with national fans and a national recruiting base. If we limited our exposure to Indiana, Ohio, etc. plus Navy and USC our exposure would take a hit. Big State U is safe with a local recruiting base. If we relied on the midwest, our talent might dry up.

 

[LOVEMYIRISH]

Are my eyes decieving me, did a supposed Irish fan just suggest that we actually join the big ten, the very home of some of our mortal enemies.

Sometimes people drink too much of the BigTen KoolAid

 

[Vince Young]

We don't need a conference right now. I think last year and the current offseason has shown that ND is still very-much relevant as an independent.

However... just for the sake of discussion... IF Notre Dame were ever to join a conference, which one would be the best? The two most likely would be the Big Televen and the Big East, and I'd have to vote for the Big Televen myself since we're already strong rivals with Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Penn State anyway.

But just for a dark horse... how about the Big 12? It's a stretch, but not that much of one.

Again, this is just IF we were to ever join a conference. I think we can safely assume most people on here oppose that, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun discussing a most-unlikely scenario just for kicks.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

Big 12? Interesting we have those games scheduled in a few years with OU anyways! could be a good fit! Travel to Lincoln every other year, not a bad match up.

I think with the new teams we added to the schedule (Nevada, San Diego St) even though they may not be traditional they are different and more "National" per say, More exposure all over the country.

 

[rattfink]

We don't need a conference right now. I think last year and the current offseason has shown that ND is still very-much relevant as an independent.

However... just for the sake of discussion... IF Notre Dame were ever to join a conference, which one would be the best? The two most likely would be the Big Televen and the Big East, and I'd have to vote for the Big Televen myself since we're already strong rivals with Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Penn State anyway.

But just for a dark horse... how about the Big 12? It's a stretch, but not that much of one.

Again, this is just IF we were to ever join a conference. I think we can safely assume most people on here oppose that, but that doesn't mean we can't have fun discussing a most-unlikely scenario just for kicks.

ND will not join a conference as long as they have an exclusive TV deal with a major network. I doubt NBC will end this relationship in the near future. And even if they did I believe one of the other bigs (CBS or FOX) would pick it up in a heartbeat. And if they weren't picked up I think there would be a very reasonable possibility of ND creating its own network.

With that said, let us say the ND does lose its exclusive TV deal and decides to join a conference for financial reasons. Of course the geographical logical choice would be the Big11 but I agree that this would just make ND a regional school.

The Big East makes some sense since ND is already in the conference for other sports and would make ND the flagship school for the start. A ND/Louisville rivalary might develop over time.

I don't see the logic in the Big12 at all. The travel isn't great and I don't think the current Big12 schools' academic reputation matches that of ND.

The ACC supposedly has already courted the Irish. It would make the Irish/BC rivalary permanent. Also I believe the most of the ACC schools academic reputation is similar to ND's. It would also help keep/develop the recruiting trails to the southeast, especially Florida.

But if joining a conference is mearly a financial decision I believe the choice could well be the SEC. It is the most profitable of the college conferences. Arguably it is the best football conference in the nation year in and year out. The geography isn't as unreasonable as say the Big East and the Big12. Adding ND could give the SEC a more northern presence and make it that much more marketable and perhaps profitable. The recruiting pipeline would be cemented into the Deep South. I really don't see many downsides to the SEC.

Once again this is just discussion in the event of losing a exclusive TV deal.

 

[Vince Young]

I really don't see many downsides to the SEC.

I do. 6 downsides, actually... Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Auburn, year after year after year. Owch!

But then there'd be Vanderbilt and Kentucky every year too, so maybe that's not so bad.

That said, I don't see the SEC happening. But then again I'm the guy who brought up the Big 12, so take that for whatever it's worth.

 

[NDgettysburg]

We don't need a any affiliation with a conference....bottom line, case closed.

You got it KMac....screw the conferences.

We weren't good enough for them then, they're not good enough for us now

(that should be on a bumper sticker)

 

[KMac151993]

Plus I see no reason or any facts to prove it would make sense and be a smart move....if someone has a better case to go against mine of we just don't need it please step forward.

 

[rontdtarchala]

Not a chance...don't need it...don't want it...not gonna have it!!!! Period!!!

 

[Vince Young]

I agree with ya KMac, just thought it might be fun to discuss.

 

[rattfink]

I do. 6 downsides, actually... Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, LSU, Auburn, year after year after year. Owch!

But then there'd be Vanderbilt and Kentucky every year too, so maybe that's not so bad.

That said, I don't see the SEC happening. But then again I'm the guy who brought up the Big 12, so take that for whatever it's worth.

Actually I see the competition as a strength. Nearly every week would be a huge game and I believe that would help smooth over the move from independent. And with the division format ND would not play every great school, every year.

There has been rumors for sometime now that Arkansas would like to jump into the Big12 due to regional/travel interests. There has also been rumors of the SEC courting Texas to join. I would not be completely suprised if these 2 things happen. And whenever there is one conference move there will be many.

 

[KMac151993]

Actually I see the competition as a strength. Nearly every week would be a huge game and I believe that would help smooth over the move from independent. And with the division format ND would not play every great school, every year.

There has been rumors for sometime now that Arkansas would like to jump into the Big12 due to regional/travel interests. There has also been rumors of the SEC courting Texas to join. I would not be completely suprised if these 2 things happen. And whenever there is one conference move there will be many.

Why would Texas leave the Big 12?

 

[rattfink]

Why would Texas leave the Big 12?

1. Money. The SEC is far and away the most profitable conference in the nation.

2. Competition. The SEC is arguably the best conference in the nation year in and year out.

3. TV. The SEC game of the week is on CBS every Saturday afternoon nationally. Plus being the only Texas school in the conference could bring a large TV audience from throughout the state. I know that most Texans have a devote affliation to only 1 of the Texas schools, but the simple fact that a Texas school is on TV can be a marketable item.

4. Money. Did I mention this already?

 

[Dannyboy Ayers]

while the conference teams are worried about a conference title we the Notre Dame faithful will worry about the National Title.