ND/Big 12 Nonsense Rumors

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

So, this nonsense is starting up again....

Big 12 targeting Notre Dame, BYU? - College Football - College Basketball - Rumors - FanNation

 

[IrishSteelhead]

like any program would be stupid enough to jump on a sinking ship

If it ever happens, it better be the big ten

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Big XII doesn't have academics. Big Ten is an academic fit at least.

 

[mgriff]

It will be the Big Ten if this keeps going and alters the entire landscape. ND is huge on academic integrity, and the only conference who can offer top notch athletics, as well as a commitment to academic excellence is the Big Ten. So, really, no matter what anyone says, ND will be in the Big Ten superconference when the time comes.

 

[GreatGolson]

please change the title of this thread, my heart skipped a beat when i saw it

 

[IrishLax]

PAC12 is a much better academic fit. Big East is a natural fit because we already have a relationship with them. Big Ten is probably the best overall fit/fiscal fit.

Big XII is no fit. I don't doubt that the Big XII could continue to exist (but be one REALLY weak league) by adding Houston. They wish TCU would come home and play nice right about now.

 

[HoosierIrish]

I just like how people say we are irrelevant, but after reading all of the comments by big XII people, we're being put right up there with OU and Texas.

 

[phork]

In relevancy I would put Texas and ND way ahead of OU. Once Stoops bolts Norman OU will fade back into nothingness again. Any one of us could be the head coach at Texas, there is just too much in state talent to not be competitive. And ND is ND..

 

[GowerND11]

I love the comments saying ND would be an academic upgrade over A&M, but not a competetive one.....

 

[NDinL.A.]

please change the title of this thread, my heart skipped a beat when i saw it

Done.

 

[Buster Bluth]

In relevancy I would put Texas and ND way ahead of OU. Once Stoops bolts Norman OU will fade back into nothingness again. Any one of us could be the head coach at Texas, there is just too much in state talent to not be competitive. And ND is ND..

Oklahoma is one of the college football elites. 811 wins is more than just Bob Stoops. They had a rough 90's, but so did Texas, USC, Notre Dame, etc.

 

[johnnykillz]

I agree that for once, the Big X is a better fit, although I favor the Big East.

I will be morbidly depressed if we lose independence: Fear, yes. But fear of the unknown, not from conference schedules.

We have one, if not the toughest schedules this year and certainly next year. I just hate to think a "conference commissioner" has say over our direction more than our people. Who, by the way, have our university's best interests at heart...

 

[Dizzyphil]

I believe the Irish are in the Captain’s chair right now. There are a lot of re-alignment of conferences going on and will be for the next three or four years. If you really look at these re-alignments and who is going where, it looks like super-conferences are being created. And if this is the case, there could be some type of +1 playoff system coming up (I would assume not real soon but sooner than some might expect). The one thing I do think will happen is Notre Dame will set the final tone for a playoff system. When the Irish join a conference, you better bet your arse there is a playoff system in the works.
Diz

 

[DuffHouse12]

notre dame will never join a conference in football no matter what. they would have already.

 

[Buster Bluth]

notre dame will never join a conference in football no matter what. they would have already.

Never say never.

And please please please make this your avatar:

or at least your signature.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Never say never.

And please please please make this your avatar:


or at least your signature.

I have learned this signature statement for as long as I have been an Irish fan!!!

Diz

 

[Riddickulous]

notre dame will never join a conference in football no matter what. they would have already.

If there were a scenario in which Notre Dame's independent status would prohibit them from competing for national championships, they would join a conference.

Michigan wants a break from our series because they are worried about their strength of schedule. Every two years they have to go to Ohio State, Nebraska, and Notre Dame in the same season.

Now imagine if there were four 16-team superconferences. There will be even more competition in-conference than there already is. Imagine playing in a juiced SEC and having to compete with Bama, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and maybe teams like TAMU, FSU, and Clemson. Not to mention the "weaker" teams like MSU and Ole Miss.

Who the hell is going to want to schedule a tough OOC opponent like the Irish when they have that kind of in-conference slate? It would make it even tougher to have a successful season.

Assume Notre Dame can't schedule legitimate opponents and becomes like Boise State is today, basically having 10-11 scrubs and only having one or two semi-legitimate opponents on their schedule. Lose one of those games and they're suddenly out of BCS bowl contention.

There's a scenario for ya.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

If there were a scenario in which Notre Dame's independent status would prohibit them from competing for national championships, they would join a conference.

Michigan wants a break from our series because they are worried about their strength of schedule. Every two years they have to go to Ohio State, Nebraska, and Notre Dame in the same season.

Now imagine if there were four 16-team superconferences. There will be even more competition in-conference than there already is. Imagine playing in a juiced SEC and having to compete with Bama, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and maybe teams like TAMU, FSU, and Clemson. Not to mention the "weaker" teams like MSU and Ole Miss.

Who the hell is going to want to schedule a tough OOC opponent like the Irish when they have that kind of in-conference slate? It would make it even tougher to have a successful season.

Assume Notre Dame can't schedule legitimate opponents and becomes like Boise State is today, basically having 10-11 scrubs and only having one or two semi-legitimate opponents on their schedule. Lose one of those games and they're suddenly out of BCS bowl contention.

There's a scenario for ya.

That about freaking sums it up... Well done.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Now Mandel is commenting on the realignment thing. F'ing Texas started this -bastards. Things would have been fine if they wouldn't have overreached on their "network". I have a bad feeling about this.


SEC expansion seems inevitable amid Texas A&M, Florida State rumors - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

 

[irishtrain]

No to the Big Ten or whatever they are called

No to the Big Ten or whatever they are called

Here's my 2 cents, if Notre Dame has to join a conference I hope its not the Big Ten. I am on record to remain independent but I am not stupid and Jack will do whats best for Notre Dame. Big East or Big 8 or any new conference that comes together if we have to to survive. Just not the Big Ten. I dont like the refs/policy and the fact that Notre Dame would be absorbed into such a group. If Notre Dame has to ever do something let them be in more of a lead/spotlight/power/prestiage situation. Texas may be a cutting edge help here and a good partner in something. Just not the damn Big Ten-let'em pound salt!!!!! I understand what his may well mean for independence-but do not go to that conference ( Big Ten ) start your own or consolidate with another conference.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Now Mandel is commenting on the realignment thing. F'ing Texas started this -bastards. Things would have been fine if they wouldn't have overreached on their "network". I have a bad feeling about this.


SEC expansion seems inevitable amid Texas A&M, Florida State rumors - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

EXACTLY!!! You hit the nail right on the head brother!!!!

Diz

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Here's my 2 cents, if Notre Dame has to join a conference I hope its not the Big Ten. I am on record to remain independent but I am not stupid and Jack will do whats best for Notre Dame. Big East or Big 8 or any new conference that comes together if we have to to survive. Just not the Big Ten. I dont like the refs/policy and the fact that Notre Dame would be absorbed into such a group. If Notre Dame has to ever do something let them be in more of a lead/spotlight/power/prestiage situation. Texas may be a cutting edge help here and a good partner in something. Just not the damn Big Ten-let'em pound salt!!!!!

Agreed. My personal preference would be Big XII or Big East with TCU coming in and maybe moving in Va. Tech amongst others.

 

[Riddickulous]

Now Mandel is commenting on the realignment thing. F'ing Texas started this -bastards. Things would have been fine if they wouldn't have overreached on their "network". I have a bad feeling about this.


SEC expansion seems inevitable amid Texas A&M, Florida State rumors - Stewart Mandel - SI.com

I wouldn't be devastated if Notre Dame joined a conference. Times change. You have to adapt.

Notre Dame used the "box" formation well into the 1940's. It was becoming obsolete, so Frank Leahy scrapped it and installed the "T" formation. Just one example of Notre Dame adapting to a changing college football landscape.

I think the Big 10 makes the most sense geographically. Personally, I think that if FSU and Clemson join the SEC that the upper echelon schools in the ACC will merge with the Big East. The Big East would give us recruiting exposure on the east coast. Lots of pros and cons for each conference.

 

[IrishLax]

Agreed. My personal preference would be Big XII or Big East with TCU coming in and maybe moving in Va. Tech amongst others.

Agreed as well. I'd love to see us in a beefed up Big East OR brand new conference. The Big East is an absolutely amazing conference for all sports except football. It has overtaken the ACC for basketball and is just a really great, diversified league that lacks a lot of the pretentiousness of other leagues.

The Big East already has the second (or first) best team in Texas in TCU. On top of that they have another 8 teams in very good markets... which with adding Notre Dame to that mix would give a healthy league of 10 teams and that would allow the Big East to choose whatever remaining remnants of the ACC it wants.

Duke/UNC/Virginia/Virginia Tech/Miami/Boston College. If you added those 6 teams to the Big East it would be an incredible conference... with also some great academic institutions. Duke, UNC, Virginia and BC are all very highly regarded schools... and Miami/Tech are no slouches. You could divide into divisions as such:
NORTH: Notre Dame, Pitt, Cinci, Syracuse, WVU, UCONN, BC, Rutgers
SOUTH: TCU, Miami, UNC, Duke, Virginia, VT, USF, Louisville

ND could probably win that North division 3 out of every 4 years and play TCU/Miami/Tech in a championship game. How freaking fun would that be?

 

[Buster Bluth]

Just keep in mind that Big Ten membership comes with CIC membership too.

I wonder what the Notre Dame brass think about CIC membership.

 

[BGIF]

Oklahoma is one of the college football elites. 811 wins is more than just Bob Stoops. They had a rough 90's, but so did Texas, USC, Notre Dame, etc.

You can't say Top 10 without OU.

And add Alabama to that list that ran through troubles.

 

[BGIF]

If there were a scenario in which Notre Dame's independent status would prohibit them from competing for national championships, they would join a conference.

Michigan wants a break from our series because they are worried about their strength of schedule. Every two years they have to go to Ohio State, Nebraska, and Notre Dame in the same season.

Now imagine if there were four 16-team superconferences. There will be even more competition in-conference than there already is. Imagine playing in a juiced SEC and having to compete with Bama, LSU, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and maybe teams like TAMU, FSU, and Clemson. Not to mention the "weaker" teams like MSU and Ole Miss.

Who the hell is going to want to schedule a tough OOC opponent like the Irish when they have that kind of in-conference slate? It would make it even tougher to have a successful season.

Assume Notre Dame can't schedule legitimate opponents and becomes like Boise State is today, basically having 10-11 scrubs and only having one or two semi-legitimate opponents on their schedule. Lose one of those games and they're suddenly out of BCS bowl contention.

There's a scenario for ya.

If ND joins the Big 10, they will become another Northwestern. Another academic school among the kinesiology factories. Michigan has a fine academic reputation IF you're not football player. Ask Harbaugh! ND doesn't have a student body of 40,000 with cake majors to hide the academically challenged. ND football players compete in the classroom with rest of the student body (and their 1450 2 part SAT scores).

ND has a national following and recruits nationally if ND isn't playing in California, Texas, Florida, etc that national fan base dwindles. The recruiting base dwindles. Why would ND stop playing USC? Hey it's your scenario. If UM wouldn't play an independent ND because of a tough superconference schedule why would ND chose, or the Big 10 commisioner allow ND, to play a USC, or UTX, MIA, or SU? Navy could stay but the West Coast trips, playing in the Southeast would be gone. Forget Vandy, the SEC wouldn't allow that matchup anymore. Hello Memphis, Ohio, The Citadel.


I usually pick on Boise's schedule because they claim it's tough when it's not AND that's by design. BUT from a BCS standpoint it's working!

Weis would have had multiple 10 wins with BSU's schedule. Kelly would lock down the BCS annually.

 

[BGIF]

Just keep in mind that Big Ten membership comes with CIC membership too.

I wonder what the Notre Dame brass think about CIC membership.

During the last Big 10 membership drive, Monk Malloy and a portion of the faculty touted the Consortium benefits. Thankfully there's a new administration at ND.

 

[Ricochet]

The Mega Conferences are coming whether we like it or not and it's going to cause a lot of hell in the process from conferences more or less dispersing to new and one's that are revamped by merging with others that have been picked apart buy what we know as the 3 conference we know now that are active trying to make these mega conference is the next few years and they the SEC, Big Ten and the Pac12 .

The big 2 get's believed to be out there are Texas and ND. The Big Ten is confident that the Irish will stay independent or eventually join the Big Ten hence why the focus is on Texas because were they end up is going to have a ripple effect.

With Texas it's more or less 4 options because the Big 12 is barely holding on as it is and there options are going to be go independent, join the Big Ten, the SEC or the PAC12.

The SEC is the most aggressive at this time about adding new schools and they are the one's who's going to do the most damage to other conferences if they get there own way as they want the southern most ACC schools who already have SEC rivals and to get the 2 other traditional Florida powers.

This is all about football and money and games they know are cashcows for them hence if they get there way they would take FSU, Miami, Clemson and GT from the ACC.

The SEC is going after A&M to get Texas as they know they there history is tied up in one another and they want to keep it that way.

The PAC12 seems to be interested in absorbing half of the big 12 with or without Texas but ideally with.

The Big Ten is mostly focused on Texas and ND but would have interest in A&M, Missouri, OU and OSU and maybe some of the other Universities of the Big 12.

It's going to happen it's just when at what's going to be the fallout? There is going to be a serious fallout as teams get added to a conference others are going to want out and some could essentially get pushed out.

If the SEC carves up the ACC expect a merger of sorts with the east coast football schools of the fledgeling Big East. Such a move could see Pitt stay or move the Big Ten or PSU leaving to join a true East or Atlantic conference.

The point is that it's going to be a mess and there are going to be a lot of changes but it all starts with what Texas does but IMO it's just a matter of when ND joins the Big Ten.

I know it's not going to be popular but it's going to happen as the dynamic will have changed in the era of the Mega Conferences and the money in the end will be more as a whole.

Times are a changing and the Big Conferences of today are going to look very different in the near future.

As most of us know plans never go as planned but I expect ND to join the Big Ten and the Big Ten will lose some of it's current members but in the end pick up at least one big east school that's not in the east and one SEC school that will get pushed out in there process of it's expansion and some Big 12 schools.

 

[IrishAlum1997]

I like the idea of the Big 12 with Texas and OU still in the picture. Opens up the recruiting pipeline into Texas while maintaining our geographical relevance to the midwest. IMHO, the Big East is an awful idea, and I'm sick of the Big Ten. Keep USC and Navy and Muck Fichigan. Pick up a Sisters of the Poor game in week 1.