Notre Dame and ACC

Might play as a full member this year but looks like this year only.

Would seem to be a good temporary solution for both the ACC and Notre Dame.

 

I think it is the best case scenario for the Irish.

Still it is not especially well received by many, they feel that it was the lazy /easy solution that our Athletic Director took, he's not especially popular and many are critical of pretty much everything he does. The fear is that this will lead to us giving up on our independence, although due to TV contracts it might take a while. I think our NBC contract runs 4 or 5 more years.

 

I have thought for years that the Irish should join a conference.

 

I would much rather had Notre Dame join the BIG TEN than Rutgers! Time to move on as you can never look back very long or one gets lost in the shuffle.

 

The Independent tradition at Notre Dame for football is strong. More than a few fans say that they would stop watching or caring if we join a conference. Even our current agreement with the ACC to play 5 games a year is not especially popular.

I wouldn't stop watching or caring but I would be disappointed.

 

The folks who don't like our agreement with the ACC are either unrealistic or only think of football. Swarbrick has to consider the other sports as well as football and our agreement with the ACC is really good for our other sports. We're in the top BB and Lacrosse conferences and our other sports also have really solid conference play. Independence might be great for football but it's really difficult for the other teams. I think being ND AD is like being the Secy. of State, almost everyone doesn't like your decisions. I think Swarbrick is doing a great job considering the challenges he's had to face.

 

I agree with you Mike, the Irish stayed with independence in basketball too long and it hurt the program. They should have joined the Big East much sooner. As you noted you can't just make it as an independent in any other sport than football. The Big East was great for ND non-football sports and it was good for ND football since we didn't have to play any Big East football teams if we didn't want to play them. It's too bad that eventually Big East as a football conference just cratered.

The ACC has been a good home for the Irish, I wish we'd have been able to commit to fewer than 5 ACC football games, but it's not like we had leverage and options to press the point. The Big 10 was never going to allow partial membership and truthfully the history of the Big10/ND is such that I am happier in the ACC.

Those who despise Swarbrick basically also despise Kelly and since Swarbrick hired Kelly they are tied together at the hip.

 

If we are independent one loss can spell the end of the playoffs. Two losses and you are in a December bowl game in Biloxi. It is getting increasing difficult to get a good schedule without bottom feeding because the power teams don't want the risk when their conference schedules are usually tough enough.

 

So what are the chances that the Irish become permanent in the ACC?

 

In the short term pretty much zero Bill If the Power 5 breaks away from the NCAA then that changes things.