I hear you, but I feel dirty just reading those names.The ACC should move first and go big or go home. I'd put out feelers to Kentucky and/or Texas, Penn State
unfortunately no chance with those except possibly Texas. They are number 1 by a wide margin on my list.The ACC should move first and go big or go home. I'd put out feelers to Kentucky and/or Texas, Penn State
Let me put this as nicely, but as succinctly as I can...How about we steal Maryland back? They left for money, let's sweeten the pot.
No expansion unless ND becomes a full member and then let them pick the 16th team.
Last time we reached out to Penn State the B1G got so ticked they stole Maryland. That can't happen now but we do need to tread lightly with them. The B1G is Machiavellian
Texas and OU would be a nice expansion. Neither is as tied to "little brother" as many on the interwebs believe.
ND stays indy as long as possible. They like their schedule, exposure (they need the wide open schedule as they recruit their student population from across the U.S.). Maybe if the season was 16 games they could join, but even then, I doubt the moneyed supporters would support that move, at least until some die off and the younger people move into the roles of big time supporters.
Go away until ND joins for football, too.How do you know that younger ND fans are not as pro-independence as their elders?
Because their elders always played for a "mythical national title" and ND always had an inside track because it was ND. If ND is kept out of the playoffs (i.e. the playoff only allowing conference champions to participate), nearly all of the younger generation of ND fans will want to be in a conference. The older ND fans, in that scenario, may still want independence even if it meant no chance at the playoffs. I say this as a lifetime ND fan. I do agree that as long as there is a chance to make the playoffs, most ND fans (old and young) will prefer independence.How do you know that younger ND fans are not as pro-independence as their elders?
Freezing an eligible and worthy Notre Dame team out of the playoffs would push them to choose a conference, most likely the ACC. Delaney will never let that happen.Because their elders always played for a "mythical national title" and ND always had an inside track because it was ND. If ND is kept out of the playoffs (i.e. the playoff only allowing conference champions to participate), nearly all of the younger generation of ND fans will want to be in a conference. The older ND fans, in that scenario, may still want independence even if it meant no chance at the playoffs. I say this as a lifetime ND fan. I do agree that as long as there is a chance to make the playoffs, most ND fans (old and young) will prefer independence.
Because their elders always played for a "mythical national title" and ND always had an inside track because it was ND. If ND is kept out of the playoffs (i.e. the playoff only allowing conference champions to participate), nearly all of the younger generation of ND fans will want to be in a conference. The older ND fans, in that scenario, may still want independence even if it meant no chance at the playoffs. I say this as a lifetime ND fan. I do agree that as long as there is a chance to make the playoffs, most ND fans (old and young) will prefer independence.
We don't know either way. But currently there is extremely little chance of ND joining ACC football. Time always makes things possible because people, circumstances and attitudes change, so there is some chance tha the younger ND supporters may be wiling to join the ACC.How do you know that younger ND fans are not as pro-independence as their elders?
The only way the ND joins a conference is if by rule only conference champions are allowed to play for the national championship. Until 2036, if ND joins a conference for football it has to be the ACC.Freezing an eligible and worthy Notre Dame team out of the playoffs would push them to choose a conference, most likely the ACC. Delaney will never let that happen.
Trade WF for Vanderbilt for starters.
Sure, but what are the chances of a P4 conference champs only playoff? Slim? Guaranteed?
When does the current playoff contract run out? Will there be a Big 12 then? Nobody really knows.
I agree that ND will join the ACC for football five minutes after that legislation passes.
If no such legislation, there is very little leverage to move ND football into a conference. ND will take its chances as an independent with a tougher route to the playoffs, as long as it is not legally eliminated by rule.
The whole independence thing seems kind of contrived at this point. Consider:
-ND is playing several games a year against the ACC by agreement with the ACC (like all other fb teams)
-ND is in the ACC for all other sports (aside for hockey and maybe another anomaly that I'm not picking up). This isn't definitive in and of itself, but a reflection that ND is and has been part of a conference in some fashion for a number of years.
-ND cannot join any other conference for 20 years
-ND is a part of the TV contract (via the ACC arrangement and save the NBC component)
Semantic aside and given you can't play for the ACC title, IMO, it seems like ND is more a partial member (by choice, of course) than anything coming close to an independent.
Edit: I'm not trying to antagonize you in any manner (I appreciate your posts here and elsewhere).
Not a problem. We can call it "status quo" instead of "independence" if you'd like.
My take on the new ESPN, GOR and Network deals signed by the ACC is this:
The ACC just signed a contract that says for the next 20 years, ND football is not required to join the conference.
ND just got a stable home for its other sports, plus a little cash from the Network, without having to increase its football commitment, not even for one additional game.
I would think that the ACC and ESPN had to have put the full court press on ND to increase its commitment to try to get these deals done. But, ND apparently said no.
That leads me to believe that the chances of ND football joining a conference just went down, not up.
when the bevo goes to 14 and all P5 teams have a Champion...nd is O-U-T.Not a problem. We can call it "status quo" instead of "independence" if you'd like.
My take on the new ESPN, GOR and Network deals signed by the ACC is this:
The ACC just signed a contract that says for the next 20 years, ND football is not required to join the conference.
ND just got a stable home for its other sports, plus a little cash from the Network, without having to increase its football commitment, not even for one additional game.
I would think that the ACC and ESPN had to have put the full court press on ND to increase its commitment to try to get these deals done. But, ND apparently said no.
That leads me to believe that the chances of ND football joining a conference just went down, not up.