Notre Dame Announces It Will Join The Big Ten(?)

[A-Wild]

According to ESPN, ND's AD is quoted as saying that ND could well loss it's independence in football with all the possible conference expansion. If the AD's if hinting this, then you know sh*ts getting serious.

Check this out
From the PG
Notre Dame considering its options

Tuesday, 3:15 p.m.

Big Ten expansion took on a whole new meaning today when Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick indicated the Irish are considering a conference affiliation.

Notre Dame would be the first choice of every conference in the country, but it is a near-perfect geographical fit for the Big Ten and has several long-time rivals in the conference. The Big Ten has publicly announced it is considering expansion. p*tt is believed to be among the leading candidates.

While at the Big East basketball tournament in New York City, Swarbrick said, ``I believe we are at a point right now where the changes could be relatively small, or they could be seismic. What I have to do along with [university president John] Jenkins is figure out where the pieces are falling."

Additionally, here's a link to the Chicago Tribune story of last week, which states the Big Ten commissioned a report to determine if five different schools would add enough revenue to justify expanding. The schools, all of which passed the test, were p*tt, Notre Dame, Missouri, Syracuse and Rutgers.

Here’s the story out of New York today from Stewart Mandel of SI.com. -- Bob Smizik

[A-Wild]

From Mandel....

NEW YORK -- Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said Tuesday it remains the school's "clear preference" to maintain its football independence, but that the possibility of impending Big Ten expansion and other conference realignment may ultimately impact the school's status.

"I believe we are at a point right now where the changes could be relatively small, or they could be seismic," said Swarbrick. "What I have to do along with [university president John] Jenkins is figure out where the pieces are falling."

In town to attend the Big East basketball tournament, Swarbrick and new football coach Brian Kelly met with a small group of reporters Tuesday morning. Calling the current college landscape "as unstable as I've seen it" in 29 years as a sports executive, Swarbrick said, "You could each invent a scenario that would force our hand."

The Big Ten, to which Notre Dame turned down an invitation in 1999, announced last December that it would actively begin exploring expansion. Commissioner Jim Delany has said the league will know better by this summer whether to proceed with the process. Last week, the Chicago Tribune reported that an investment firm commissioned by the conference investigated the financial merits of five schools -- Notre Dame, Missouri, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Rutgers -- and confirmed that the league's existing schools would gain revenue were the Big Ten to undergo expansion.

Numerous reports have indicated the league is exploring the possibility of adding more than one team.

Meanwhile, Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott said last month that his league is looking "very seriously" at potential expansion in advance of negotiations over its television contracts, which expire next year.

"You have two conferences [the Big Ten and SEC] that have separated themselves economically and you've got all the other conferences lined up for their [upcoming television] renegotiations," said Swarbrick. "The bar has been set so high, and the [current] media market is so tepid, that it creates a lot of tension."

Asked why current realignment possibilities would affect the Irish more so than other shakeups that have taken place over the past 20 years, Swarbrick mentioned several hypothetical scenarios.

"What if realignment impacted the shape of the BCS?" he said. "Also, the Big East has been a great home for us [in other sports], but if there are fundamental changes to the Big East as a result of realignment, what does that do? What if a few conferences further distinguish themselves from the field? What are the competitive ramifications of that?

"... That's why I'm spending 50 percent of my time right now talking to people [about this]."

Kelly, who came to Notre Dame from Cincinnati last December, said he appreciates Notre Dame's independence, but that he isn't well-versed on the full ramifications.

"I can tell you that it is great when you look at a schedule where you're playing teams from all over the country," he said. "But I know that we have to drill a lot deeper than that."

On Monday, Notre Dame announced the latest of several upcoming neutral-site games, a 2011 game against Maryland at FedEx Field. Last season the Irish played Washington State in San Antonio, and this fall they will face Army at Yankee Stadium. The initiative to play more "barnstorming" games began under former athletic director Kevin White (now at Duke), who lamented in 2006 that, "Over time, we've really begun to behave like a wannabe conference member. I think it was real important for us to go back to our roots and behave more like an independent."

Swarbrick reiterated Tuesday that, "while we're paying attention [to realignment], we're trying like heck to maintain our football independence. It's good for college football and it's great for Notre Dame. That's our goal."



Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/football/ncaa/03/09/notre-dame-expansion/index.html#ixzz0hkR4LBTG
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[EERCrazy]

The best and only scenario for us that leaves the Big East intact is for the Mushroom Domers to go to the Big 10....they get 12 teams, we get rid of them in the other sports, and then the Big East can expand...

[eerfrombirth]

   This is really starting to pick up steam, and I mean a sh it ton of steam, I think, Spitt, Mizzo, Buttgers, Cuse have all been placed on the will call you if this doesn't work out list now. Its looking more like the mushroom domers may be B10 bound.

[EERCrazy]

   This is really starting to pick up steam, and I mean a sh it ton of steam, I think, Spitt, Mizzo, Buttgers, Cuse have all been placed on the will call you if this doesn't work out list now. Its looking more like the mushroom domers may be B10 bound.

 

[WVUgirl67]

I agree that would be the best case scenario for us based on some points made earlier in this thread.

[eerfrombirth]

NL's AD has been quoted as saying the writing is on the wall, and it may be time to join a conference ect. I dont know, but to me that is a good sign for sure. 

[Deepthroat]

Apparently, the Big Ten has taken an old saying -- you know, "Fool me once, shame on me.  Fool me twice, FU.  Now beg" -- very deeply to heart.

Just one day after Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick seemingly opened the door just a wee bit for the Irish to be a part of an expanded Big Ten, a report has emerged that the conference is still feeling the sting from being jilted by the school years ago.

The Chicago Tribune, citing a source within the Big Ten, is reporting that, given how the conference was snubbed last decade by the Golden Domers, "the only way they will be offered is if they first accept. The Big Ten went down that road and got burned. Fool me once, fool me twice."

That would roughly translate into the Big Ten not wanting to be blue-balled by the Irish yet again.

If the Tribune's source is indeed correct, the conference's stance makes complete sense.  They simply can't chase after Notre Dame yet again without some type of guarantee that a happy ending will be the end result of the pursuit.

Then again, we get the feeling that all of this bluster would become meaningless the second the Irish batted it's green eyes at the conference.

[eerfrombirth]

Apparently, the Big Ten has taken an old saying -- you know, "Fool me once, shame on me. Foil me twice, FU.  Now beg" -- very deeply to heart.

Just one day after Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick seemingly opened the door just a wee bit for the Irish to be a part of an expanded Big Ten, a report has emerged that the conference is still feeling the sting from being jilted by the school years ago.

The Chicago Tribune, citing a source within the Big Ten, is reporting that, given how the conference was snubbed last decade by the Golden Domers, "the only way they will be offered is if they first accept. The Big Ten went down that road and got burned. Fool me once, fool me twice."

That would roughly translate into the Big Ten not wanting to be blue-balled by the Irish yet again.

If the Tribune's source is indeed correct, the conference's stance makes complete sense.  They simply can't chase after Notre Dame yet again without some type of guarantee that a happy ending will be the end result of the pursuit.

Then again, we get the feeling that all of this bluster would become meaningless the second the Irish batted it's green eyes at the conference.

 And anyone that believes that I got some ocean front property here in good ole Boone County West Virginia for ya. All that is,is posturing.

[marcolian]

...that a happy ending will be the end result of the pursuit.

  Nope, way too easy.

[A-Wild]

Why is ND more likely to join the Big Ten? Geography? Ok that is in their favor.
But ND in my mind has to be eyeing the competitive situation and frankly they have a better chance if they join the BE than the B10. Once a playoff is in place, (only a matter of time), ND has a much clearer path in the BE.

Since this is now a very real possibility, I hope the BE is beating on their door. BTW who do you think Kelley would rather play, BE or B10?

[WVUgirl2003]

you know a-wild. you might have a point there....
at least if ND came it wouldn't hurt as bad when p*tt or cuse left in their place to the big 10.

[A-Wild]

If ND comes, p*tt and Cuse aren't going anywhere.  Because at that moment, like ND or not, the BE becomes a better league and the basketball forces at both schools will be able to point to that improvement and say why leave?

ND to me is the key to the BE keeping its members and expanding.  Without that, the BE is just along for the ride and will have to pick up the pieces.  I know people say it can't be done, but I say it can with the right mix of incentives and a strong plan to expand.

[EERCrazy]

I respectfully disagree a-wild....Once ND joins the Big 10 and they have 12 teams the raiding of the Big East will come to a crashing halt. People will stop looking to take away schools from the Big East and allow the conference to develop itself and even take on expansion....Right now why does the Big Ten want to expand?...Money....So they can get a championship game...They really do not care if they get schools like p*tt, Cuse, or Rutgers...they don't really want more teams or competition, they want more money which the addition of ND gives them...

So ND to the Big Ten is a win-win for both conferences and actually a win-win-win for the BE, Big Ten, and Big Twelve so noone has to shuffle...We finally open up at least one spot for another 2 sport team, we don't have to account for them anymore in the other sports and they can't poach our bowl games anymore....The Big East also doesn't have the money to pay ND the kind of money it would take to keep them there...We don't NEED ND, the league is fine without them and them going to an expanded Big 10 will finally end this BS shuffling around on the Eastern Front so we can stop worrying about losing our BCS bid every off-season and start developing the conference....

Truthfully, I'd love to see WVU go the Big 10, but since it isn't gonna happen and noone else wants us we're stuck in the Big East, the ND to the Big 10 would be best for EVERYONE involved...

[Ironoak]

Basketball announcers were talking about this during the game last night - metioned something about ND going to the Big 10 (if you remember/recall exactly what was said, chime in - it was some time in the second half).

I agree with EerCrazy - if ND goes to B-10, the Big East will remain intact and look to add teams to get to 12.  12 or 14 are the most natural numbers for a conference championship game. That would put SEC, Big 12, ACC, and Big 10 with conf. championships.  Everyone knows the Big 10 has been completely overshadowed and almost forgotten about after the Mich./OSU game concludes the Big 10 regular season.  They'd love to have 12 teams so their conference is not irrelevant at the end of the year while everyone is watching the SEC, ACC, Big 12 championship games.  That would be one hell of a football day/weekend.

The BE and Pac 10 would really have to look to add teams.  If the BE and Pac 10 added teams and all of these major conferences had championship games, it would look A LOT more like a playoff system for football.