Superconferences & Realignment

[tadman95]

Did you read the article?

(1) The Big East is imploding, so ND needs a home for it's non-football sports; (2) the ACC is essentially holding a spot open for ND, but it won't wait forever; (3) the ACC won't agree to take all ND sports except football; and (4) there's a serious risk that if ND football isn't in a conference when the music stops, we could be frozen out of meaningful postseason play.

The dominos are falling as we speak. Sitting on our hands is becoming increasingly risky.

Yep!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Makes sense for all sports except...... Hockey.

They still haven't picked a conference yet correct?

No, probably because Swarbrick knows realignment is coming.

At work and on my phone so tough to read articles and such. I devote such time to IE.

Understandable. Read it when you get a chance.

 

[IrishLax]

What network holds ACC TV rights?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

What network holds ACC TV rights?

Looks like ESPN holds the national rights, and Fox has a regional ACC network.

 

[Grahambo]

No, probably because Swarbrick knows realignment is coming.



Understandable. Read it when you get a chance.

I will which is why my statement was more open ended then substantial.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel explains why ND should join the ACC immediately.

Good read. I'm inclined to agree with him.

I had a strong B1G lean, but this is a pretty compelling argument. The ACC is much more winnable than the B1G, as well. I'm really torn and really sad this is happening

 

[D-BOE34]

What is the chance ND can deal our sports, besides football, with a conf. and make that conf. agree that we will play 3 or so teams each year? Almost like being in the conference but not. Maybe even 4, 5 or 6 teams?

Example: We deal with B1G

All sports in conference besides football

We play NEB, OSU, MICH, MSU and ILL one year. Next season we play MSU, MICH, PUR, WIS, NW ... ???


We would be able to play a pretty damn good schedule if we can still mix in the USC rivalry (hoping they don't become pussies)

Throw in a TEXAS that will maybe see the same thing, work something along the same lines, but agree to play us every year. That would be a tough *** schedule with maybe mix in of a SDSU, USF, GT, BAYLOR level of teams scattered throughout the country to give us national coverage and some "Bigger Named" cupcakes on the list.

NBC still gets our home games, B1G gets teams national exposure with playing ND, they get our other sports, we get a strong IND schedule.

Does this make since to you guys?

If not then, well, my bad?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

“@NDatRivals: Irish players from ACC states: Tuitt, Lynch, Nix, Blanton, Gary Gray, Golson, Slaughter, TJ Jones, Shembo, Lo Wood. In total 22 guys.”

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I had a strong B1G lean, but this is a pretty compelling argument. The ACC is much more winnable than the B1G, as well. I'm really torn and really sad this is happening

Nobody's happy about it. I just pray we land on our feet when we inevitably get forced into a conference.

Does this make since to you guys?

I don't think we have the leverage to negotiate another Big East-type deal with one of the emerging super conferences. There's a serious danger that not having our football team in a superconference could freeze us out of meaningful postseason play. The conferences all know this, and so does Swarbrick. It's all in or all out this time.

“@NDatRivals: Irish players from ACC states: Tuitt, Lynch, Nix, Blanton, Gary Gray, Golson, Slaughter, TJ Jones, Shembo, Lo Wood. In total 22 guys.”

Jeebus. Over 1/4 of our scholarship players.

 

[phork]

I'm not upset; I just don't see how ND fits into that scheme.

One of the most attractive aspects of a playoff is the ability to do away with ranking/ popularity contests. Everything is decided by Ws and Ls. Thus, the best 8 teams are all playing in the conference championship games for a shot at the semi-finals.

Working ND into that format would require (1) maintaining an otherwise unnecessary ranking system; and/or (2) unnecessarily expanding the playoffs beyond the four conference champions. I just don't see the system evolving that way. Once the superconferences form, unless there are several very powerful independents, you're either in or you're out.

The best teams don't always win, see Week1 & Week2 ND games.

 

[Grahambo]

Great article. I understand more exposure to the southern states but 1/4 of our roster is from the South, doesn't seem to make that big a difference if we go ACC. Kids in the south want to stay down south though to be closer to home, no?

 

[NDPhilly]

Great article. I understand more exposure to the southern states but 1/4 of our roster is from the South, doesn't seem to make that big a difference if we go ACC. Kids in the south want to stay down south though to be closer to home, no?

The best players in the country are from the South why would you not want more of them?

 

[IrishLax]

Saw something similar to this on Twitter... hypothetical ACC schedule:

MAC, Navy, Michigan OR MSU OR Stanford, Virginia, Maryland, Pitt, UCONN, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Miami ("protected rival" like Big Ten... or maybe just random ACC game), Boston College, USC.

I would freaking love that schedule. Still get to play 2 big rivalry games that WON'T BE LIFE AND DEATH because we're in a conference, plus some in conference rivalry games with Miami and Boston College. Could still fit in Navy easily and also get inroads all over the east coast.

 

[BobD]

I haven't been able to comment on this thread, it's just seems so unreal that we could not be independent soon.

 

[NDPhilly]

Saw something similar to this on Twitter... hypothetical ACC schedule:

MAC, Navy, Michigan OR MSU OR Stanford, Virginia, Maryland, Pitt, UCONN, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Miami ("protected rival" like Big Ten... or maybe just random ACC game), Boston College, USC.

I would freaking love that schedule. Still get to play 2 big rivalry games that WON'T BE LIFE AND DEATH because we're in a conference, plus some in conference rivalry games with Miami and Boston College. Could still fit in Navy easily and also get inroads all over the east coast.

okay now after seeing that I wish we pick the ACC. Only problem for me is how hard bball will be.

 

[tadman95]

If ACC, there would be a 12 game schedule plus a championship game, ND would have 7 conference games plus two or so inter league games. That would leave 3 games each year for the USC, Michigan, MSU, NAVY, ARMY, Air Force, etc... I assume BC would be in the same conference division.

Not bad but not perfect by any means. I would hate for us to lose our independence. Don't see how we give up the USC game. Losing any of the Service Academies would suck. And we owe Michigan and MSU.

If OU, OSU, and Texas go to the PAC then we'll be forced to make a decision.

 

[irishff1014]

Big East, Big 12 talking possible merger, report says - ESPN

 

[TerryTate]

This is turning into a clusterf*ck.

 

[BGIF]

Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel explains why ND should join the ACC immediately.

Good read. I'm inclined to agree with him.

“Obviously they are the most attractive option out there,” one ACC athletic director told Yahoo! Sports on Monday, noting he had no knowledge of any discussions between the school and the league.

"The school and the league" do not need discusssions at this time. There's a "neutral party". Gene Corrigan was ND AD from '91-'87 when he left to become Commissioner of the ACC. He held that post until '97. Everybody's on speed dial.

Swarbrick's already dealt with the ADs from UMD, WF, BC, and MIA. ND's also had fairly recent dealings with UNC, GT, and Duke.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

ACC sounds really nice. The problem with North/South divisions is that we would not play in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia enough. Hopefully there could be a different way where we can be in a division with Miami, Georgia Tech, and Duke or something.

 

[IrishLax]

"The school and the league" do not need discusssions at this time. There's a "neutral party". Gene Corrigan was ND AD from '91-'87 when he left to become Commissioner of the ACC. He held that post until '97. Everybody's on speed dial.

Swarbrick's already dealt with the ADs from UMD, WF, BC, and MIA. ND's also had fairly recent dealings with UNC, GT, and Duke.

I can't believe it took me this long to realize Coach Corrigan's dad is the commissioner of the ACC. That whole family is Virginia/Duke/ACC people... can anyone tell me exactly how much play the commissioner has in making deals here? Does he have unilateral power, no power or some sort of mix with a board of ACC people?

Because I promise you if we get pushed towards super conferences and if Gene Corrigan has a lot of power this is going to be where we land. And it's going to be a good deal for ND. And one ridiculous lacrosse conference .

 

[BGIF]

I can't believe it took me this long to realize Coach Corrigan's dad is the commissioner of the ACC. That whole family is Virginia/Duke/ACC people... can anyone tell me exactly how much play the commissioner has in making deals here? Does he have unilateral power, no power or some sort of mix with a board of ACC people?

Because I promise you if we get pushed towards super conferences and if Gene Corrigan has a lot of power this is going to be where we land. And it's going to be a good deal for ND. And one ridiculous lacrosse conference .

Gene Corrigan WAS the ACC Commissioner until '97. He makes a perfect intermediary with complete deniability for either organization.

The Commissioner's clout varies for conference to conference but it's usually the schools (or more specifically a couple of the powerful ones) that make the call. A Commissioner like Roy Kramer, past SEC Comm, had clout. His replacement Slive doesn't carry the same stick.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

The only issue I have with the people that think it is inevitable/imperative that Notre Dame joins a conference is the seemingly unquestioned acceptance that a playoff will come from the superconference realignment. Unless I've completely missed something, isn't there NOT a playoff right now because the football factory schools and major conferences love money? Isn't money the reason that all of this superconference business is going down in the first place? I simply don't see the connection between superconferences and a playoff.

Unless joining a superconference is the only way to get into post-season play (very unlikely, IMO, at least for the next decade+), Notre Dame will remain independent. From all that I've read, there seems to be nothing to indicate that superconference scheduling will increase the number of intra-conference games or limit non-conference scheduling (the real key to ND's independence) in any way.

I, personally, like the option of having all sports except football join the Big Ten. The ACC is an interesting proposition, but it seems like they wouldn't take all of our athletic teams without getting the big football cash cow along with them.

 

[crzychris]

This is turning into a clusterf*ck.

This is an understatement.

 

[D-BOE34]

What is the chance ND can deal our sports, besides football, with a conf. and make that conf. agree that we will play 3 or so teams each year? Almost like being in the conference but not. Maybe even 4, 5 or 6 teams?

Example: We deal with B1G

All sports in conference besides football

We play NEB, OSU, MICH, MSU and ILL one year. Next season we play MSU, MICH, PUR, WIS, NW ... ???


We would be able to play a pretty damn good schedule if we can still mix in the USC rivalry (hoping they don't become pussies)

Throw in a TEXAS that will maybe see the same thing, work something along the same lines, but agree to play us every year. That would be a tough *** schedule with maybe mix in of a SDSU, USF, GT, BAYLOR level of teams scattered throughout the country to give us national coverage and some "Bigger Named" cupcakes on the list.

NBC still gets our home games, B1G gets teams national exposure with playing ND, they get our other sports, we get a strong IND schedule.

Does this make since to you guys?

If not then, well, my bad?

...this sucks doin this


Guys, is this even in the realm of a possibility? It sounded so good in my head and another guy that I work with is convinced im an idiot. Please tell me its a legit "train of thought" ... or at least tell me the truth. I take a good swift kick to the nuts!

 

[IrishLax]

Gene Corrigan WAS the ACC Commissioner until '97. He makes a perfect intermediary with complete deniability for either organization.

The Commissioner's clout varies for conference to conference but it's usually the schools (or more specifically a couple of the powerful ones) that make the call. A Commissioner like Roy Kramer, past SEC Comm, had clout. His replacement Slive doesn't carry the same stick.

Woups... I totally misread an article and thought it said he was the current commish. Makes so much more sense now how I would not know Gene Corrigan was the ACC commish.... because he isn't lol. Basically negates everything I said. Sigh.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

...this sucks doin this


Guys, is this even in the realm of a possibility? It sounded so good in my head and another guy that I work with is convinced im an idiot. Please tell me its a legit "train of thought" ... or at least tell me the truth. I take a good swift kick to the nuts!

It's going to be really tough to strong-arm conferences into doing exactly what Notre Dame wants. Either we are going to completely maintain our football independence without interference from any conference, super or otherwise, or we are going to be 100% in a conference.

 

[GBdomer]

If we go to Big Ten wouldnt be that excited.
If we stay independent i would really like that.
if we go to ACC i would love that.

 

[NDPhilly]

If we go to Big Ten wouldnt be that excited.
If we stay independent i would really like that.
if we go to ACC i would love that.

+1

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

If we go to Big Ten wouldnt be that excited.
If we stay independent i would really like that.
if we go to ACC i would love that.

yup...