As it relates to 12 "quality" games, I certainly agree. No team among the so-called elite programs, conference or not, is able to find 12 "quality" opponents, nor do they want to. Having said that, as long as ND has some combination of USC, Michigan, BC, Pitt, Purdue, Michigan State, Air Force, etc., on its schedule, it will have a more than decent schedule. Programs ebb and flow in terms of successful seasons. Several of our traditional quality opponents are in down periods, as are we. That's no reason to criticize our schedule. Even conferences go through cycles. Currently the Big 10 is down, the SEC is up, and the Big 12 and Pac 10 are so-so. That can change and will change. The schedule quality argument is a straw man. You can't use the scheduling of Western Michigan, or even Tulsa, in 2010 to distract attention from the 8 quality opponents (7 traditional and Utah) on our schedule. I would put that schedule up against any conference schedule in the land. Its overall makeup is not going to change in the years to come.
I think you guys are at a crossroads. If Kelly takes you back up to 9+ wins consistently, all will be well - end of story. BUT... if the unthinkable happens, and you continue as you are... What happens if ND loses the NBC contract in a few years? And... my dream of a playoff comes true? If ND is still winning only 5-7 game a year, the "pull" you have with those making up the system will be minor, and I could see you really being left out. I understand why ND would not want to join a conference, and pretty much agree, but it isn't an easy thing to decide if you're in charge.
Good post Scott. 10 years ago with the newness of both the NBC contract and with ND mediocrity still being a pretty fresh experience I don't think the decision for ND management was all that tough to reject the Big 10. Now....looking back over the past 10 years and with a little uncertainty about the future they may consider joining more strongly.
Scott, I don't think we'll ever be "left out"....now we might be left out of the B10/11/12 if they take Mizzou, Syr,Rutgers, Pitt... But remember the Big East is currently only a 8 team league, and really there aren't many teams left that would move "up" to the Big East. I know UCF and East Carolina would love to move to the Big East, but that would only make it a 10 team league and even if the Irish settle into a 7 or 8 win mode for the forseeable future I think we'd still be more attractive than East Carolina or UCF.
I tend to agree with Sid's post. The problem we are currently experiencing with scheduling is probably related to our new policy of scheduling 7-4-1 with our having 8 home games (one on a neutral field.) Finding teams that don't want a return is difficult. I'm sure we could add an additional "big name" if we went to a 7-5 slate. I like games such as Army at Yankee Stadium and WSU in San Antonio but they have a downside ie. Western Mich. at ND. As far as the NBC contract is concerned I've mentioned it before, it allows NBC to continue to have a college football presence but at the same time it allows them flexibility to cover other major sporting events on Saturdays in the fall such as the Ryder Cup or the Breeders Cup. With the new schedule we have one additional home game to give to NBC which might have a different draw due to its location. I'm not sure if we did it just for NBC or just for the money. I'm leaning toward the latter possibility.
Also, I'm seeing people say that if we don't join the B10 now, that as a league they will boycott us and refuse to schedule us. My answer to that is 1. 20 year contract with UM (not that it couldn't be broken) 2. We are long time rivals with Purdue and MSU and they benefit from their relationship with ND. When they play us at ND it's a Nat'l TV Game, and a sellout crowd. I'm sure the paycheck from that game is bigger than their games with MAC teams. When we play them at their place it is not unusual for it to be a nat'l night game on ESPN or even ABC and they sellout their home stadium. Again a bigger payday for them than say a MAC team. So I don't see UM, Purdue and MSU deciding to punish us by not playing us. Also the B10 doesn't dictate non-conf scheduling. I don't really see the schedule as being a problem. If there is a problem it will be more towards how the schedule is balanced out between the top teams and the medium teams and the low end teams.
....every major...big-time program is now seeing the reality of that issue....hence Charleston Sou. at UF......App St at Michigan....Western Kentucky at Tenn., etc. As a season ticket holder I hate these games but I don't see a change coming anytime soon.
Terry, I meant left out if if ND were to remain independent when a playoff was designed. Obviously there would probably still be conferences interested in taking ND... heck the Big 10 might kick out whoever they take now to get ya! If you join one later, that would of course change the situation...
Yeah I guess if there was a playoff and the only participants could be conference champions, then we'd be SOL. But given that the non-BCS conf schools have all been given some criteria for participating in the BCS games, including ND, I couldn't see a playoff format that would exclude mid-major conferences or ND. Now of course if we are a 5-7 to 7-5 team like you mentioned it's a moot point as that won't cut it for any playoff system conference member or not.
Texas, after the break up of the SWC, made overtures to the B10 about joining it. Were it not for the geographical issues, they would be my first choice given its their prestigious sports programs and solid academic reputation ( plus all that TEXAS $$$$ funded by deep-pocket oilmen and dentist alumni). ND makes geographic sense but the B10 is also an academic consortium that includes the University of Chicago. My understanding is the faculty of ND was divided about joining, nearly all of the alumni against it, and that the BOT, which decided against joining, was concerned that a small, religious university becoming associated with large state, secular universities and two, small, private secular universities might present an inherent conflict with ND's reason for existence as a university, As a Big 10 fan, I think the addition of ND, from a sports standpoint, would greatly benefit the conference and would not compromise ND's unique status and relegate them to a role of one amongst many. When one thinks of the PAC 10, does one think of USC and Washington State in the same fashion? If ND chose another conference to join such as the Big East or ACC, I think they would benefit less than they would if they joined the Big 10. But, if they choose to stay independent, I understand the reasons for that choice. My guess is that either Pittsburgh or Rutgers will be the most likely addition since it seems the conference wants greater exposure to the East Coast TV market.
You surprise me George. I agree with you, but since I'm not a Notre Dame fan I kind of keep out of it. I remember a number of years ago when I thought I might like Florida to go independent. However the way things developed I am very glad we stayed in the SEC. From an outsider looking in though I think Notre Dame is a natural for the Big 10 and it would better them as a conference. But you all do what you think is best for you. :wink:
The Godfather is a top notch pragmatist, Bill. If he were doing the negotiations for ND re the B10, an offer one could not refuse would be made by him, a few B10 ADs would wake up with a pony's head in their beds, and badda bing, a deal would be done....
"Whatya gonna do? Nice college boy, eh? Don't wanna get mixed up in this Big Ten business? Now you wanna play Western Michigan because the Big Ten slapped you in the face a little bit 70 years ago, huh? Whataya think this is, the WAC, where nobody knows who you are? You gotta get up close like this... badaBING! you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. C'mere, Gipper... you're taking this very personal." and "Sid, you're my older SkyBox brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever." and "Certainly, the Big Ten can present a bill for such services. After all, we're not Communists. But the Big Ten must let us draw the water from the well."
8) 8) 8) 8) Just keep driving, there's more pie where that came from! :wink: :wink: I know everybody is dying to read some more about Texas Football and all the money that is around it, so for those of you who can't get enough here's a link to a WSJ ariticle about it. Texas Football Money
That's impressive. I thought we were talking revenue from sports. Hey, it sounds like Texas has enough money to finance the national debt.
Since the Irish are sitting this bowl season out I am switching allegiance to team 1A, the Ohio State Buckeyes. And in the spirit of the holidays...
That's all you got? The second from the right looks like she has stretch marks and the second from the left has a scar running up the center of her belly. I'll be back.