This is the scary part: Irish Olympic Sports just wouldn't be able to exist at their current level if we didn't have a conference affiliation. If the Big East goes down, then there are few options available to ND, some have suggested an All Catholic Non-Football conference. It could include Marquette, Xavier, St. Joes, Seton Hall, Providence, DePaul, Dayton, St. Johns, and Georgetown along with Notre Dame, and maybe some others that I can't think of right now. That would be a dandy of a Basketball conference, but most of those schools do not have high level olympic sports, baseball, etc. That would be bad for ND. For the Big East to collapse though the Big 10 would have to raid for Syr, Pitt and Rutgers at least. If they also took Neb and Missouri then they'd be done and ND couldn't get in unless the B10 were to backout with one of the Big East teams. If that happened and the ACC decided to expand some more then the Irish could be a part of ACC expansion. Here's something to also consider. What happens to Kansas? They are an elite Basketball school and a so so school in everything else. If the B12 falls apart with the Texas/Texas A&M/OU/OKState going to the SEC who would take Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech? I guess they would have to move to the Mountain West who might be losing BYU/Utah to the Pac 10. It could get real messy fast. It's almost like there needs to be a summit and the College Presidents and the Commissioners of the various leagues need to get a road map of conference realignment, rather than just let is happen willy nilly.
Terry, if I were a Big 10 fan I don't think I would be all that excited about sharing all that money with Rutgers, Syracuse and Pitt. Maybe Pitt, but it sort of boggles my mind about Syracuse and Rutgers becoming part of the Big 10.
I wonder if those who fear the collapse of the Big East have considered that outside of football, the BE consists of 16 teams. They could lose a few of those teams and still retain a viable conference except for football. Heck, what's wrong with having a non-football conference? Nothing at all. My point is that IMO if ND foregoes its independence, it will not be because of the defection of a few BE schools.
Bill Both Syracuse and Rutgers are followed by fans in the northeast especially the NY metro area. The increase in exposure and TV ratings generated in that area might more than pay for itself.
I'm sure you are right gipper, it just seems that they are adding some weak teams. Oh well for any conference it's about money so I don't have a complaint.
Bill, I was responding to your post about the BT sharing revenue with Rutgers and Syc. You didn't mention thier standing in the power ratings.
I understand gippper, I was also thinking about the power ratings but didn't say it. That would no doubt be a great tv market for the Big 10 and not be much threat to the strong teams in the Big 10 right now.
Bill NJ does have some good players. If Rutgers could defend their home turf, they could be a strong team.
Rutgers has made good progress in recent years but I have a tough time believing they can challenge Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan on a regular basis. However the tv market is a strong argument. If it happens I am hoping the SEC picks up Texas.
Re: the relative strength (?) of the BE football programs: When the B10 and ND did their mating dance several years ago, the emphasis was firmly on the academic fit and far, far behind - at least in public statements - was the athletic aspect. If that still is the case with the B10, there would be no problem finding a suitable academic fit in the BE schools being mentioned here. Of course, back then there was no B10 network and no millions of $ in athletically generated revenue to consider. Gip's analysis of the contribution of the east coast market to the revenue pot certainly makes sense, and it also makes sense that it would figure into the B10's thinking. Uh, yeah.....academic fit. No problem. :wink: