Superconferences & Realignment

[NDinPA51]

I don't want to see ND in the Big 10 because I feel it would keep us locked in the Mid-West geographically. In the ACC we would play schools up and down the east coast, we would still be a huge brand in the Big 10 because of our location, and I think ND would try to schedule USC and Stanford as our out of conference games to keep us plugged into the west coast. If our days as an independence really are done, I hope we go to the ACC.

 

[irishtrinity]

it's a better football conference... i'd love to see us in the big 10..

 

[NDinPA51]

I meant to say a huge brand in the Mid-West not Big 10

 

[irishtrinity]

who would we play in the acc? it would be a weak schedule.

 

[Grahambo]

I stated earlier that according to the Sagarin Rankings (not sure how many people follow it), it states that the ACC is a more powerful conference then the B1G.

If ND is to go to the ACC, there schedule would look something like this, assuming they would keep 3 of their rivals (Navy, USC, UM):

Florida State
Clemson
Va Tech
Ga Tech
UM
Navy
USC
Wake
Pitt
BC
Miami
Oklahoma (They are slated to play them next season)

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

Come on Swarbrick - let's get on board with the ACC already. Forget about basketball.

The one thing I'm worried about is losing all televised home games on NBC, but we can not get left behind as one of the members of the superconferences.

 

[NDinPA51]

I dont consider playing Miami, Florida State, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and an out of conference game against USC a weak schedule.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

I stated earlier that according to the Sagarin Rankings (not sure how many people follow it), it states that the ACC is a more powerful conference then the B1G.

If ND is to go to the ACC, there schedule would look something like this, assuming they would keep 3 of their rivals (Navy, USC, UM):

Florida State
Clemson
Va Tech
Ga Tech
UM
Navy
USC
Wake
Pitt
BC
Miami
Oklahoma (They are slated to play them next season)

That schedule is ri-god-dam-diculous!

 

[Grahambo]

Just saw on the bottom line on ESPNU that Oklahoma will consider remaining in the Big 12 if Dan Beebe is removed as commish and there are revised rules in regards to Longhorn Network.

 

[NDinPA51]

Anyone else hear about a possible Penn State move to the ACC. It was just pure speculation on ESPN's part, but the ACC would also be a nice fit for PSU academically and geographically.

 

[Grahambo]

That schedule is ri-god-dam-diculous!

Throw in UNC, NC State, Maryland, VA, and Duke and we can have some cupcakes but some serious play. We would also get more games in the south which would help with recruiting yet still have the midwest feel because we still have home games, all the while heading out west to USC and the occasional southwest (See Oklahoma).

Would make great basketball too.

 

[NDinPA51]

Throw in UNC, NC State, Maryland, VA, and Duke and we can have some cupcakes but some serious play. We would also get more games in the south which would help with recruiting yet still have the midwest feel because we still have home games, all the while heading out west to USC and the occasional southwest (See Oklahoma).

Would make great basketball too.

Agree 100%.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

who would we play in the acc? it would be a weak schedule.

I stated earlier that according to the Sagarin Rankings (not sure how many people follow it), it states that the ACC is a more powerful conference then the B1G.

2010 Sagarin average SoS rankings for each AQ conference:
ACC - 37.3
Big 12 - 38.3
Big 10 - 53.9
Big East - 60.5
Pac 10 - 5.5
SEC - 27.8

Only the Big Least produced a weaker average SoS than B1G in 2010, and it wasn't by much. The ACC is a much more competitive conference.

 

[NDinPA51]

Nothing would please me more than to see ND give the Big 10 the middle finger and join the ACC. I lied, being able to stay independent would please me more.

 

[Grahambo]

2010 Sagarin average SoS rankings for each AQ conference:
ACC - 37.3
Big 12 - 38.3
Big 10 - 53.9
Big East - 60.5
Pac 10 - 5.5
SEC - 27.8

Only the Big Least produced a weaker average SoS in 2010, and it wasn't by much. The ACC is a much more competitive conference.

Same thing for this year as well.

 

[FrankMA]

Anyone else hear about a possible Penn State move to the ACC. It was just pure speculation on ESPN's part, but the ACC would also be a nice fit for PSU academically and geographically.

PSU would be playing the team that should be their biggest rival, Pittsburgh, every year, along with Syracuse, who also should be a big PSU rival. They have no business being in the big 10.The big 10 has done nothing for them. It was a shame they were not invited to join the Big East from the start.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

PSU would be playing the team that should be their biggest rival, Pittsburgh, every year, along with Syracuse, who also should be a big PSU rival. They have no business being in the big 10.The big 10 has done nothing for them. It was a shame they were not invited to join the Big East from the start.

That'd be an interesting twist. ND and PSU to round out the ACC at 16. I'd rather have Texas than PSU, but PSU would be a great consolation prize.

And the best part... it's an extra F*CK YOU to B1G! #notB1GenoughforND

 

[cowme]

ND isn't counting on getting tons of new fans. It's about protecting the fans we already have. A huge number of them are located in New York, Phili, and D.C. The ACC protects those markets for us (with an opportunity to expand) while we lose them in the B1G.

I don't really follow, though. You are saying that people in these markets like ND despite location, but need to be in an East Coast conference to preserve these fans? Explain... Because I can't see how there would be any more or less fans in the B1G, Big East, or Even MWC for that matter

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I don't really follow, though. You are saying that people in these markets like ND despite location, but need to be in an East Coast conference to preserve these fans? Explain... Because I can't see how you would have any more or less fans in the B1G, Big East, or Even MWC for that matter

A huge number of ND fans (many of which are alumni) live in New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C. They currently watch ND home games on NBC, and most away games are also televised nationally. If ND joined the B1G, we would become regionalized as a midwest team, and it would be difficult for our fans in NY, Philie, Boston and D.C. to follow us. In other words, a huge blow to our brand strength.

If ND joins the ACC, all of those major markets are covered by the ACC TV deal with ESPN, and we'd be playing away games in those areas. Proximity alone allows us to maintain a strong presence in South Bend and Chicagoland, and the protected rivalry with USC maintains our footprint in the LA market. So we maintain or improve our presence in the most important markets, and get to expand/ recruit in the south as well.

 

[IrishLax]

I don't really follow, though. You are saying that people in these markets like ND despite location, but need to be in an East Coast conference to preserve these fans? Explain... Because I can't see how there would be any more or less fans in the B1G, Big East, or Even MWC for that matter

Why do you think we play teams all over the country every year as an independent? We'd lose that as a Big Ten team and we'd preserve it as an ACC team.

Although as a side note, it'd be really fun to beat the hell out of Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State year after year after year in lacrosse instead of having to play teams with talent.

 

[deacane]

Wake Forest alumnus with two graduate degrees from the University of Miami and a First Time Poster. I hope that the thoughts expressed here represent the thoughts of most Notre Dame alumni and fans. I would love to see Notre Dame in the ACC from the perspective of either of my schools. I agree with those posters that believe that Notre Dame will be treated with respect by fellow ACC members and disrespected by the B1G schools. The respect for academics is there. The argument that our school is bigger than your school is irrelevant in our conference. We represent a diverse group from Miami to Boston. It is not so much a southern conference, but an eastern conference. Clemson is the only true southern school. And I am sure that you are used to it, but we are hated by all the other conferences and sprotswriters, but as my mother told me when I was young, it is because they are jealous.

Good luck, and I hope that we will see an announcement "Notre Dame to the ACC." Don't make Penn State's mistake. Their fans want to jump to the ACC too (I was shocked), but they feel like they are now locked into a midwest conference that only benefits OSU and Michigan. Some of these sportswriters may actually stroke out upon hearing that news.

 

[Green Goblin]

ND to the ACC just makes so much sense.

Football:
Notre Dame
Florida State
Virginia Tech
Miami
Clemson
Pittsburgh
Penn State (maybe?)

Basketball:
Notre Dame
Syracuse
UNC
Duke
Pittsburgh
Maryland
UConn (maybe?)

Lacrosse:
Notre Dame
Syracuse
Duke
UNC
Maryland
Virginia

ACC really plays to Notre Dame's strengths and gives ND exposure outside of its usual B1G-area footprint.

 

[DeSero]

This thread is bringing all the first posters out. I've been following this subject since A&M announced it wanted out of the Big 12. My overall hope is that ND can stay independent, but I really don't see how that is going to happen. To repeat was already has been said 1,000 times so far, ACC is the best choice out of all of the conferences to keep Notre Dame relevant in the national CFB picture. However, will ND be able to keep a national TV deal with NBC since the ACC has their huge deal with ESPN?

 

[FrankMA]

A huge number of ND fans (many of which are alumni) live in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. They currently watch ND home games on NBC, and most away games are televised nationally also. If ND joined the B1G, we would become regionalized as a midwest team, and it would be difficult for our fans in NY, Philie, and D.C. to follow us. In other words, a huge blow to our brand strength.

If ND joins the ACC, all of those major markets are covered by the ACC TV deal with ESPN, and we'd be playing away games in those areas. Proximity alone allows us to maintain a strong presence in South Bend and Chicagoland, and the protected rivalry with USC maintains our footprint in the LA market. So we maintain or improve our presence in the most important markets, and get to expand/ recruit in the south as well.

Yes, and add all New England to that list also. Boston is a big ND market. It is important to keep the NBC contract.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yes, and add all New England to that list also. Boston is a big ND market.

Good catch.

It is important to keep the NBC contract.

I'm not sure why, but the ACC is alleged to have some flexibility with its TV contract. It'd be great to keep the NBC contract for home games, but I'm not sure it will be possible.

 

[Wolverine1997]

I'd love to see the matchups of ND-Ohio, ND-Nebraska, ND-Wisconsin. Michigan-ND could be moved to november. The more the superconference movement that rages on, the more diminished the Michigan-ohio game will be. I think that someday Michigan-Nebraska will be the new biggest rival to us. Just my opinion.

Hell, if you would've told Michigan fans in the 20s that Chicago would not be Michigan's biggest rival, and ohio would, they'd probably burst into tears laughing.

However if ND goes to the ACC, Catholics v Convicts.....

 

[IrishGiant]

This. I've heard many a person say that Notre Dame has more fans on Wall Street than in South Bend. The only people that don't understand Notre Dame being a "national" university are those that live in the Midwest. If you live on the east coast then you understand what kind of following ND has outside of middle America.

Notre Dame is the unofficial college football team of New York City. Many more ND fans here than any other team. Thats why we go nuts when they come east to play here.

 

[cowme]

Plus, look at all the fan support!

 

[Old Man Mike]

Lets play a "not quite there yet" game: What if?

1). The Pacific Coast League adds, fairly quickly, both Oklahomas, Texas, and Texas Tech. Now they've got their 16.

2). The SEC sees this, weighs it, and adds Missouri to pair up with Texas A&M. That's 14. Who are they now saving two spots for? Negotiations behind the scenes are hot [this is a theory] with two little ol' Florida schools in the ACC who never have really fit there. The U of Florida is becoming pressured to shut up and get out of the way. There becomes a silent commit to reach their 16. FSU and Miami don't sweat the $20 million buy-out cost, as membership in the SEC pays them $5 million more per year than in the ACC. They'll make it up quickly.

3). The famously pro-active ACC commissioner has seen the FSU/Miami situation as a mine-field all along, and his rapid pursuit of Pitt and Syracuse was meant to keep FSU/Miami in the best case scenario, but at least position the ACC favorably for other moves if they ultimately left. The Pitt/Syracuse move got him to 14, but the ultimate FSU/Miami defections will land him back at twelve. At the moment he is at 14, but he retains wiggle room by telling WVU "no".

4). Everyone is moving but the BIG. It sits there at 12, and asks itself "who, if anyone do we need"? They correctly believe that they're "in" the Dance whether they're at 12, 14, or 16. They meditate on it.


So, in the scenario, what's next?


5). It becomes obvious that FSU/Miami are moving. SEC now will be 16. The ACC countermoves to ask in Rutgers and Connecticut who desperately want to be there. They do this to shore up the entire East Coast market. They are at 14 again, and waiting.

6). In the "everybody's got 16" game, the BIG is four short, but may not really care. The ACC is two short, and has its eye on a certain midwestern university. Swarbrick still is holding out.

7). The so-called "leftovers" are coalescing around Boise. BSU reaches out to TCU, BYU, KU, KSU, ISU, Baylor, Air Force, SD State, Nevada, and maybe others to form a respectable ten+ team conference containing four currently ranked teams. They hope to impress enough to be conference #5.

8). Meanwhile, WVU, Cincinnati, USF and Louisville are in shock. WVU presses its application again to the ACC, and are told that they are being "considered". If we get a certain big fish, you might be the paired member.

9). The BIG stays scratching its head: do we need anyone except ND?

!0). and the football world waits......

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Plus, look at all the fan support!

Might have something to do with staging the game in Jacksontucky. Man, that place is a serious sh!ithole.