Superconferences & Realignment

[btown35]

We need to join a conference for football or lighten up the schedule! You need weeks where is you don't play your best you can still win! With the exception of purdue we don't have that!

 

[MNIrish14]

I had the pleasure to chat with John Affleck-Graves (#2 guy at ND for those of you who don't know. He is the man under Father Jenkins). He says that obviously the goal is to stay independent to maintain our national exposure. However if the big east or bcs crumbles and our hand is forced we will be joining the ACC. He says that we "fit" better into the ACC than the big ten (school size and academic quality most importantly). He also says the the ACC has much better national exposure than the big ten (basically nobody cares about the big ten outside of the midwest). Finally, a significant part of our fans are on the east coast so the ACC makes the most sense. So yeah, just wanted to share that with you guys. It was cool hearing all the info from the guy that is actually going to make the decision.

 

[fitz_bu47]

I hope it is the ACC, if ND joins the Big 12 and has to play KU all the time, my head will explode.....At least if it happens, it won't include football hopefully.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I hope it's the ACC.


In other news, West Virginia to the Big XII. Big East is teetering on the brink here.

 

[anarin]

Last I read it wasn't official. But, the Big East losing WVU is crippling, they are the most consistent school in that conference.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I don't see how the Big East survives this.

 

[nd1]

No departure by Missouri Tigers at Big 12 meeting - ESPN

 

[anarin]

No departure by Missouri Tigers at Big 12 meeting - ESPN

WVU is thinking... WOW!! first the ACC, then the SEC and now possibly the Big 12??? Who do we gotta F around here to get ahead?

 

[Aerosmith777]

Notre Dame to Big 12 (in all but fb) makes sense - CBSSports.com

I never thought I would say this, but I actually agree with Dennis Dodd on something. I would much prefer this solution to going all-in in the Big Ten or the ACC. I was reading somewhere else that they would maintain their independece, but have a 6-game Big 12 schedule each year basically. By it's nature, that would dumb down their schedule a bit (since some of those games are bound to be against bottom-feeders, like any other conference schedule), but still leave another 6 games to play with and travel across the country. It would limit them a bit, but it would be a lot less than going all-in and having a full conference schedule. Plus, who knows? It may even help them open up more of a recruiting pipeline in the Holy Land....err, I mean Texas.

 

[BGIF]

I don't see how the Big East survives this.

One way is if ND bites the bullet and joins for football. That's not my wish just a thought.

The WVU to Big 12 describes the BE's plan.

Two days ago in Washington D.C., Big East commissioner John Marinatto met with officials from Boise State, Houston, SMU, UCF and Navy, but no official invitations were extended. Air Force did not attend the meeting. Representatives from other Big East schools also attended.

The Big East hopes to add those schools – along with Air Force – to get to a 12-team football league. Even if the Big East adds those schools, without West Virginia, they still would need another school.

The Western contingent of the Big East's possible future members - Boise State, Air Force, Houston and SMU - are pushing for the Big East to pursue BYU. It's unknown if the Cougars, who had talks with the Big 12, would be interested in joining a 12-team Big East.

If the Big East could land BYU - along with the other six new schools - it would have two divisions: West - BYU, Air Force, Houston, SMU, Boise State and Louisville and East - UConn, Rutgers, USF, Cincinnati, Navy and UCF that Big East officials are confident would be worthy of retaining its BCS automatic qualifying status.

Besides BYU, other possible candidates for the Big East's 12th member would be Temple or East Carolina.

 

[IrishLax]

So it's ACC for all sports or Big 12 for all sports but football? Would we play a minimum amount of games against Big 12 schools? Maybe Baylor, TCU, and Texas/Oklahoma? Or BYU if they join?

Very interesting. Would not mind going to the ACC at all at this point. Also wouldn't mind joining the Big East and just curb stomping that conference.

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

So it's ACC for all sports or Big 12 for all sports but football? Would we play a minimum amount of games against Big 12 schools? Maybe Baylor, TCU, and Texas/Oklahoma? Or BYU if they join?

Very interesting. Would not mind going to the ACC at all at this point. Also wouldn't mind joining the Big East and just curb stomping that conference.

After the trash I saw against USC, I'm starting to come around to your entire POV on this as well.

 

[nd1]

Source: Big East, Conference USA, Mountain West mulling single football league - ESPN

 

[laservet]

I never thought I would say this, but I actually agree with Dennis Dodd on something. I would much prefer this solution to going all-in in the Big Ten or the ACC. I was reading somewhere else that they would maintain their independece, but have a 6-game Big 12 schedule each year basically. By it's nature, that would dumb down their schedule a bit (since some of those games are bound to be against bottom-feeders, like any other conference schedule), but still leave another 6 games to play with and travel across the country. It would limit them a bit, but it would be a lot less than going all-in and having a full conference schedule. Plus, who knows? It may even help them open up more of a recruiting pipeline in the Holy Land....err, I mean Texas.

Not sure it makes sense for the B12. Built in inequity between members is what made their conference ripe for the picking in the first place, cutting a deal that favors one member seems short sighted on their part. Of course, they are fighting for their life so they may take a less than ideal deal, but they did that after Nebraska left and the whole thing fell apart in a year.

 

[HoosierMP33]

I was thinking this over....and I think all the chips are falling into place for certain things to happen....

N.D. joins the Big 12 for all non-football sports...Boise State joins Big 12 in just Football...Big 12 looks like this:

Texas
Baylor
Texas Tech
TCU
Oklahoma
W. Virginia
Oklahoma St.
Iowa St.
Kansas
Mizzou
Kansas State
Boise St.

I think the prospect of the non-football sports of ND will be enough to keep Mizzou interested...ND will fight tooth-n-nail to keep their independence...and Boise can only seriously offer football (which makes up for ND not offering football)....

Of course, going all in on the ACC is fin with me; only if the ACC offers UConn too...Sorry, but I would want ND to profit from being in the best basketball conf if that's the direction they go...

And I have no qualms with ND going all-in with the Big Ten, since that's where most of the ND rivalries are at, so long as they let ND keep their own independent TV deal/money and let us keep the USC and Stanford rivalry...

I prefer the Big 12 arrangement; it let's us keep our independence and makes sense for Boise St (sorry, I do have a heart for a little program that keeps winning, but also keeps getting jobbed over; they've proven they can play and deserve the chance to be with the big boys) and I wouldn't be opposed to seeing ND take Texas A&M's spot in Texas's annual Thanksgiving Day game....Would make for an instant intriguing and interesting new rivaly game that would be a boost to recruiting and be big $$....

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

West Virginia Mountaineers' move to Big 12 on hold, source says - ESPN

So, WV to the Big XII is "on hold" and Louisville is trying to get in instead of them...

This is all so damn weird.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Not sure it makes sense for the B12. Built in inequity between members is what made their conference ripe for the picking in the first place, cutting a deal that favors one member seems short sighted on their part. Of course, they are fighting for their life so they may take a less than ideal deal, but they did that after Nebraska left and the whole thing fell apart in a year.

Well, I dunno. It wouldn't be nearly as one-sided as the Big East deal they have now. 6 games guarunteed a year w/ ND, plus probably being able to use ND in their bowl affliation contracts, could do a lot for that conference. Especially if they can hold on to UT and OU.

I understand the Big Ten or the ACC would never go for this. But it could help the Big 12 right now.

 

[IrishLax]

Can we have a little mini discussion on ACC vs. Big 12? Clearly the choice is going to EVENTUALLY end up being Big 12 for all sports or ACC for all sports... because once moves start getting made the Big East dissolves and after a couple years (as few as maybe 2, as many as 10) you are going to have 5 "super" conference calling all of the shots. It makes sense because these conferences will all be 25% to 50% larger than they are now... with much more national exposure... and that will give them ridiculous power/leverage. ND won't be "needed" anymore. So while we've got some leverage, we're best to make a move. The only other option is to join the Big East for all sports and then try to resuscitate the damn thing.

So let's compare hypothetical long term Big 12 vs. ACC

SUPER ACC - 16 teams, 8 to 9 game conference schedule, 2 divisions. Would probably look something like:

NORTH SOUTH
Pitt Florida State
Syracuse Miami
Maryland Clemson
Boston College Duke
UCONN Wake Forest
Notre Dame NC State
Virginia North Carolina
Virginia Tech Georgia Tech

Pros: east coast exposure (for recruiting and other reasons), with a 9 game conference schedule we could probably get Miami as a "protected rival," maintains rivalry with BC, good academic fit, good fit for other sports, maintain some Big East rivalries, and the division we would play in wouldn't be world-beater. Could also probably maintain rivalry with USC and also fit Navy + Purdue and/or a regional warm-up into our schedule. Travel really wouldn't be any more difficult than current Big East arrangements.

Cons: Would almost surely lose rivalry with Michigan and Michigan State (is that really a con?)

SUPER BIG 12 - 12 to 14 teams, 8 to 9 game conference schedule, 1 or 2 divisions. Would probably look something like:

Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
TCU
Baylor
Kansas
Kansas State
Notre Dame
Iowa State
WVU (?)
BYU (?)
Louisville (?)
Cincinnati (?)
USF (?)
SMU (?)
Rice (?)
New Mexico (?)
UNLV (?)


Pros: Could preserve independence for awhile (hypothetically long enough for some sort of change to playoff hypothetically), exposure to Texas and we could probably keep rivalries with USC and maybe some other teams to stay national, the religious aspect of a lot of these schools, lots of big games.

Cons: A lot of damn good teams, tons of travel, regionalized to mid-america on many levels, not many rivalries preserved.

So yeah... when you add it all up... is it just me or is the ACC awesome and the Big 12 a little less awesome? Thoughts anyone?

 

[Cali_domer]

Can we have a little mini discussion on ACC vs. Big 12? Clearly the choice is going to EVENTUALLY end up being Big 12 for all sports or ACC for all sports... because once moves start getting made the Big East dissolves and after a couple years (as few as maybe 2, as many as 10) you are going to have 5 "super" conference calling all of the shots. It makes sense because these conferences will all be 25% to 50% larger than they are now... with much more national exposure... and that will give them ridiculous power/leverage. ND won't be "needed" anymore. So while we've got some leverage, we're best to make a move. The only other option is to join the Big East for all sports and then try to resuscitate the damn thing.

So let's compare hypothetical long term Big 12 vs. ACC

SUPER ACC - 16 teams, 8 to 9 game conference schedule, 2 divisions. Would probably look something like:

NORTH SOUTH
Pitt Florida State
Syracuse Miami
Maryland Clemson
Boston College Duke
UCONN Wake Forest
Notre Dame NC State
Virginia North Carolina
Virginia Tech Georgia Tech

Pros: east coast exposure (for recruiting and other reasons), with a 9 game conference schedule we could probably get Miami as a "protected rival," maintains rivalry with BC, good academic fit, good fit for other sports, maintain some Big East rivalries, and the division we would play in wouldn't be world-beater. Could also probably maintain rivalry with USC and also fit Navy + Purdue and/or a regional warm-up into our schedule. Travel really wouldn't be any more difficult than current Big East arrangements.

Cons: Would almost surely lose rivalry with Michigan and Michigan State (is that really a con?)

SUPER BIG 12 - 12 to 14 teams, 8 to 9 game conference schedule, 1 or 2 divisions. Would probably look something like:

Texas
Texas Tech
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
TCU
Baylor
Kansas
Kansas State
Notre Dame
Iowa State
WVU (?)
BYU (?)
Louisville (?)
Cincinnati (?)
USF (?)
SMU (?)
Rice (?)
New Mexico (?)
UNLV (?)


Pros: Could preserve independence for awhile (hypothetically long enough for some sort of change to playoff hypothetically), exposure to Texas and we could probably keep rivalries with USC and maybe some other teams to stay national, the religious aspect of a lot of these schools, lots of big games.

Cons: A lot of damn good teams, tons of travel, regionalized to mid-america on many levels, not many rivalries preserved.

So yeah... when you add it all up... is it just me or is the ACC awesome and the Big 12 a little less awesome? Thoughts anyone?

ACC all day.

 

[NDPhilly]

Looking at the ACC north we should go 6-1 at least every year

 

[Jerry]

I think a con for the ACC could be regionalizing recruiting because you probably start to lose out on TX, CA and other west coast recruits in the ACC.

 

[NDPhilly]

If we keep Stanford ands USC we should be ok. Stanford will be back down again within 5 years

 

[JoeyGetherall]

If we keep Stanford ands USC we should be ok. Stanford will be back down again within 5 years

5 years. How about next year... Unless Andrew Luck Jr. is on the roster.

 

[NDPhilly]

5 years. How about next year... Unless Andrew Luck Jr. is on the roster.

Theyve recruited well ecently which will keep them between 8-4 and 6-6 for a while

 

[JoeyGetherall]

Theyve recruited well ecently which will keep them between 8-4 and 6-6 for a while

Oh ok. Well then I agree. I wouldn't really consider that kind of record "up" at least compared to what they've done recently.

I would vote just to keep USC and Navy and forget the rest.

 

[jason_h537]

I think a con for the ACC could be regionalizing recruiting because you probably start to lose out on TX, CA and other west coast recruits in the ACC.

Why? ND already struggles in Texas and will keep USC on the schedule.

 

[Jerry]

If we keep Stanford ands USC we should be ok. Stanford will be back down again within 5 years

I wonder how tough it would be to schedule those teams in a conference? You know neither of them want anything to do with South Bend at the end of the season and they may not be up for early season scheduling (rather play cupcakes). Might be a challenge to keep both. Sorry Stanford....

Why? ND already struggles in Texas and will keep USC on the schedule.

If you look at ND's schedules they, for the most part, play a national schedule. Which they sell to florida, Texas and Cali, recruits as a pro to coming to ND over pretty much every other school that plays most their games regionally. If you join the ACC then you can kiss good bye the future Texas, Oklahoma, BYU, Utah, ASU, Washington, ect. type games every year. Then I think ND starts to lose it's edge on the West Coast and Texas IMO.

 

[wakeuptheechoes]

Texas and ND about to team up.

That would suit me fine! The two Universities that sell more Memorabilia and make more money than the others schools could start an elite conference. The could call it "The Elite 10" lol!!

My proposed list: Not necessarily in any order folks & this is only for laughs obviously.

Notre Dame
Texas
Alabama
Ohio State
USC
Oklahoma
Nebraska
LSU
Florida
Michigan

I wonder how many champions this conference could produce?

 

[tadman95]

That would suit me fine! The two Universities that sell more Memorabilia and make more money than the others schools could start an elite conference. The could call it "The Elite 10" lol!!

My proposed list: Not necessarily in any order folks & this is only for laughs obviously.

Notre Dame
Texas
Alabama
Ohio State
USC
Oklahoma
Nebraska
LSU
Florida
Michigan

I wonder how many champions this conference could produce?

All of them!

 

[IrishLax]

Teel Time: Notre Dame considering full conference membership, says former Irish AD, ACC commissioner Corrigan - dailypress.com

Best snippet:

A Duke graduate, Corrigan was Swofford’s direct predecessor and orchestrated the expansion that brought Florida State to the league in 1991 and elevated its football. He also served as athletic director at Virginia and Notre Dame.

But even in retirement Corrigan is connected. He wouldn’t reveal details of his conversations but said he speaks with Swofford and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick.

Moreover, Corrigan’s son Kevin coaches the Irish’s lacrosse team. Another son, Boo, was an associate athletic director at Notre Dame and is the AD at Army.

So if anyone knows the Irish way, the influence of the school’s governing body and its most well-heeled donors, it’s Corrigan.

“All the (other) sports the ACC is good at, lacrosse and tennis and soccer, Notre Dame is good at,” Corrigan said. “From a competitive standpoint, it couldn’t be better.”

Indeed, the Irish fit the ACC not only athletically but also academically and culturally. Pitt would be the only league school less than 500 miles (372, according to Mapquest) from Notre Dame, but when Boston College joined the ACC, the closest conference rival was Maryland at 433 miles.

Will it happen? Will the ACC and Notre Dame navigate the scheduling and contractual – the Irish’s TV deal with NBC runs through 2015 – minefield that their varying interests create.

Corrigan said he doesn’t know, but this much seems clear: What was once impossible is no longer.