Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="HtownOrange, post: 2373800, member: 622"] It's simple. Conference fans want ND in a conference just like their team. ND fans don't want a conference affiliation. ND is exercising their free choice to remain Indy. Collectivists (football, not political/economical) demand that every team be in the collective. As a Syracuse fan, I loved our old schedules when the Orangemen were an Indy. We could laugh at the B1G teams when they played Indiana, Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern and only UM and tOSU were respectable. Few teams played the likes of our schedules back then. I understand why ND fans want to remain Indy. They have their opponents they want to play (Navy, Stanford, USC) People need to get over the ACC tie-in. ND historically has averaged about 5 games along the east coast (sometimes more, sometimes less). As ND is a member in all other sports (hockey is excused because there is no conference supported hockey league), ND had no issue scheduling a deal with the ACC for five games annually. Plus, they still get Pitt every third year, same with BC (though not a real historical rivalry, still a popular game ). They also get the UM games back on the slate. Throw in other games against the remaining ACC and they get what they want - east coast exposure, solo TV deal, remain Indy, no more commitment than they were already averaging. The tie-in is a good deal for both sides. I would prefer ND in the conference, but it is a preference. I respect the fact that ND wants to remain an Indy. So long as ND does not care as much about championships as conference teams do, then they will remain Indy. ND gets in at 11-1. At 10-2, they are discussed as a playoff team, especially if the loss is to UM in a close game. Wiscy must run the table. Three tough games in four, not likely as they have not been fully tested an it is late in the season to recover from mistakes/losses. Auburn gets dropped from the discussion by season end as they will lose to Alabama (can any of us not be bigger Bama fans during that game?). Plus, I don't think they can beat Bama and Georgia in this season. Oklahoma is too weak defensively to win out in the playoffs. In their defense, they have played some high scoring potent defenses and they will score a lot of points, just not sure they can beat Clemson, Bama, ND, Miami or Georgia in the playoffs. They already did well enough against the B1G and would likely win against the PAC champ. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?