Independence

[notredomer23]

You know what, you are 100% about the downvotes. It's "NDependent" downvoting on autopilot (attached) and I thought it was you and blamed you.

I am genuinely sorry for thinking it was you.

For the sake of no more derailment.

 

[NDpendent]

You know what, you are 100% about the downvotes. It's "NDependent" downvoting on autopilot (attached) and I thought it was you.

I am genuinely sorry for thinking it was you.

I'm over here trying so very hard for you to notice me. I was getting to the point that I didn't think you ever would. Thank you!

 

[stlnd01]

The biggest advantages to independence that I see are:

1: Our own TV contract.
2: Somewhat more schedule flexibility than we would have with nine conference games.
3: Not having to play a CCG.

1 ain’t worth what it used to be, relatively speaking.
2 is a pretty modest benefit if we continue to play USC, Navy, Stanford and five ACC teams annually.
3 is a very mixed bag as it also denies us the chance for a marquee win the day before playoff spots are decided.

That’s about it.

Thought of one more.

Our current ACC setup gets us a fair bit of exposure in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Multiple games usually - three this year - and that, from a recruiting perspective, is probably more valuable than the annual trip to California. It’d be hard to replicate that in the Big Ten.

Still, personally, I think the link between where you play occasional road games and who you land in recruiting is tenuous at best. Trips to NC State and Georgia Tech are not sufficient reason to maintain our quasi-indy/ACC deal.

 

[NDRock]

The biggest advantages to independence that I see are:

1: Our own TV contract.
2: Somewhat more schedule flexibility than we would have with nine conference games.
3: Not having to play a CCG.

1 ain’t worth what it used to be, relatively speaking.
2 is a pretty modest benefit if we continue to play USC, Navy, Stanford and five ACC teams annually.
3 is a very mixed bag as it also denies us the chance for a marquee win the day before playoff spots are decided.

That’s about it.

Agree that there may not be a huge advantage in remaining Independent but I also don’t see much of a benefit. I’m actually glad we’ve not tied ourselves to a conference with all the turmoil that has gone on. Maybe once everything settles down with realignment the choice will be clearer.

I do enjoy that it pisses everyone else off, especially the SEC fans in my life. I just tell them we are for independence and freedom, unlike their socialist conferences.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Thought of one more.

Our current ACC setup gets us a fair bit of exposure in the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Multiple games usually - three this year - and that, from a recruiting perspective, is probably more valuable than the annual trip to California. It’d be hard to replicate that in the Big Ten.

Still, personally, I think the link between where you play occasional road games and who you land in recruiting is tenuous at best. Trips to NC State and Georgia Tech are not sufficient reason to maintain our quasi-indy/ACC deal.

Waiting with anticipation to find out what Lberry has to say in response.

What I mean to say is, thank you for your insightful response. I think it was well reasoned and I largely agree with your thoughts.

 

[Giddyup]

Lberry going at it all day. Isn’t it milk time at the nursing home yet?

 

[stlnd01]

Agree that there may not be a huge advantage in remaining Independent but I also don’t see much of a benefit. I’m actually glad we’ve not tied ourselves to a conference with all the turmoil that has gone on. Maybe once everything settles down with realignment the choice will be clearer.

I do enjoy that it pisses everyone else off, especially the SEC fans in my life. I just tell them we are for independence and freedom, unlike their socialist conferences.

A factor not to be underappreciated.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Conference schedules being easier is only relative to what ND feels like scheduling for themselves. There's nothing stopping us from softening our schedule. With the playoffs expanding to 12 teams the emphasis on SoS will be reduced further that it already was.

Yes I would sign up for C because A also carries the possibility of losing and being eliminated anyways. A really needs to be split into:

Win the CCG and get a bye
Win the CCG and don't get a bye
Lose the CCG and play round 1
Lose the CCG and be eliminated

I just don't see the possibility of a bye being worth more than a winnable playoff game. Even with the bye you've played the same amount of games you would have otherwise. First round playoff games will be easier than a conference championship game. And they can be at home. Give me a playoff game in ND stadium vs Tulane over a CCG vs OSU in Indy.

Totally on the same page in bold. A massive assumption I’m making in all of this (I think it’s a fair one) is that ND will continue to schedule in a similar manner if we remain independent. Our leadership can be slow to react to the changing cfb landscape, and even if SoS gets further de-emphasized, it wouldn’t at all surprise me to see us continue to brand ourselves and form the best schedule we possibly can.

In that sense, I’d rather be in the Big 10 West and be dealing with Iowa/Wisconsin/etc on a yearly basis than the schedules we typically form. I just really feel like, more often than not, it would put us in a position to win ourselves into a BYE than lose ourselves out of the playoffs. If that’s the case, then the extra game is a freebie where at worst, we still have to go 3-0 in the playoffs, and at best, we can save ourselves a game in the playoffs.

So italics just must be where we disagree. Agree to disagree.

 

[calvegas04]

If we join a conference we will have 2 or 3 games a year on some weird B10 channel or ESPN+

Ohio St has had one game on peacock and one on the BTN

Cheating michigan has had 2 BTN and 1 peacock games

 

[Lberry]

If we join a conference we will have 2 or 3 games a year on some weird B10 channel or ESPN+

Ohio St has had one game on peacock and one on the BTN

Cheating michigan has had 2 BTN and 1 peacock games

Whats weird about the Big 10 channel? It's broadcast is better than NBC, and you dont have to download an app and pay like peacock.

 

[BilboBaggins]

The biggest advantages to independence that I see are:

1: Our own TV contract.
2: Somewhat more schedule flexibility than we would have with nine conference games.
3: Not having to play a CCG.

1 ain’t worth what it used to be, relatively speaking.
2 is a pretty modest benefit if we continue to play USC, Navy, Stanford and five ACC teams annually.
3 is a very mixed bag as it also denies us the chance for a marquee win the day before playoff spots are decided.

That’s about it.

Every elite program is on TV all the time. It's not 1995.

Scheduling is arguably hardest as more teams are locked into mega conference schedules.

In 2020 Irish fans loved being in the ACC Championship.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Any way we can add a function where we can like a thumbs down? Mods?

 

[317Irish]

Every elite program is on TV all the time. It's not 1995.

Scheduling is arguably hardest as more teams are locked into mega conference schedules.

In 2020 Irish fans loved being in the ACC Championship.

For me at least part of the excitement was the thought of spending exactly one year in the ACC and possibly winning it. Mic drop and we’re out type situation.

 

[NorthDakota]

Every elite program is on TV all the time. It's not 1995.

Scheduling is arguably hardest as more teams are locked into mega conference schedules.

In 2020 Irish fans loved being in the ACC Championship.

The advantages of independence have certainly been curtailed. I think there is still a good argument to be made for it...it certainly makes ND unique. I'm just not sure the juice is worth the squeeze in the approaching coast to coast conference world.

The Big Ten is about to stretch from sea to shining sea. I'm not an alum. I have no skin in the game other than chewing my nails every Saturday. But I think it may make sense to join a conference at this point.

 

[calvegas04]

Whats weird about the Big 10 channel? It's broadcast is better than NBC, and you dont have to download an app and pay like peacock.

Regional sports channel that needs to be added on extra to cable packages