Does anyone else feel that if we joined a conference(such as the big 10) we would make out better than being an independent? i think we would get more consistent officiating, better recruits and would be taken more seriously.. Hell we play half of the big 10 already.. i would trade USC/navy for Penn State/Ohio state...
Any thoughts?
The posters who have already responded hold widely divergent views on coaches, play calling, scheduling and host of other aspects of ND football you've managed to unify them with a resounding "NO!"
For someone expressing a long time interest in ND football you seem to have little understanding of the significance of the USC and Navy rivalries. You would take ND from a National program to Regional one. ND's recruiting base would then be Indiana, the smallest recruiing pool in the Big 10. Forget Florida, California, and Texas recruiting as ND would not be making trips into those regions on a regular basis nor going to the New York area. ND games would go on the Big 10+2 Network impacting recruiting and the nationwide fanbase. ND would still have its academics restrictions impacting recruits but would have an even smaller recruiting pool to draw from.
ND doesn't play half of the Big 11, ND plays 3 teams. The Big 10+2 would split into the 2 divisions ala the SEC and Big 12. The Conference would dictate that ND dummy down their schedule adding Division AA teams to bolster the Conference Out of Conference record just like the SEC has done for more than 15 years. Do you remember PSU canceling series with ND and Alabama after they joined the Big 10. Check their past schedules. Joe Pa kept Temple but ND and Bama no longer "fit on the schedule". The Conference would also see to it that ND would not play UM, OSU, and PSU in a given year and vice versa just like the SEC does, to minimize intraconference losses again bolstering the conference teams in the polls.
This topic has been discussed ad nauseum over the years. The ND Administration desires to keep football independent and it wll stay that way.
I'm with jason, THIS THREAD IS CLOSED.
Bring it up again in the off season if the Administration shows any sign of interest but don't hold your breath waiting.