Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="orangecuse, post: 4176875, member: 668"] I appreciate your reply. I find it interesting, and somewhat remarkable that the specific Michigan/Big Ten occurrence dating back to the turn of the 20th century can still carry any true significance today. Two World Wars occurred after such a time. I mean, if the United States and Japan can today be allies after what transpired in their history, etc., it’s really quite foolish that something so trivial as being blackballed in playing a game against each other by UM/the Western Conference/B1G isn’t water under the bridge at this point. If the weight of those hurt ‘[I]feelings’[/I] from over a century ago were still honestly relevant today, ND would simply choose not to play Michigan, or any of those other B1G teams that “wronged” them so back in the day, at least not during the regular season where they control the scheduling. [I]Pride[/I] is the original of the seven deadly sins, and also labelled the ‘father’ of all sins. As you mentioned, ND was independent in basketball dating back to 1896, similar to the same time frame of its football independence. There were many independent schools at one time, it wasn’t a unique thing at all, and either was ND in that regard. However, as the football landscape began to change, where conferences started to expand, etc., it became rather apparent that one needed a seat at the table to maintain their status quo level. As phases of expansion continued, and these television contracts became far more lucrative, it became even more critical of inclusion, or risk falling into the abyss. Especially, if you are a relatively small private school (such as SU) that plays the college game at the highest level. However, even with the good fortune of inclusion, reaping the benefits of those TV contracts, etc., small P5 privates (which have much smaller alumni bases, revenue streams, etc.) more than ever have significant disadvantages in comparison to its member affiliated state flagship school types. Notre Dame is the exception to that standard. Why, especially as a small private Catholic school? What separates Notre Dame from its other P5 level playing privates? Follow the money back to 1991 and prior to the expansion/realignment conference craze. That’s when ND inked its first exclusive deal with NBC; 38 million for 5 years. It’s this exclusive TV rights deal that separates ND from their other P5 level privates. That is the sole luxury that today affords their football “independence” moniker, enabling them to pitch, publicize, recruit players, etc. Call it ND’s brand, “front porch” or whatever you wish, but make no mistake, independence is only because of its exclusive TV deal. If that exclusive TV football deal didn’t exist, or ceases to exist in the future, ND the institution, wouldn’t care a wink about that denomination it claims is so important. It’s merely a masquerade, proven by the fact that all of its other sports teams with the university’s same name written across it is in conferences. As you mentioned, “football generates lots of money” and “football is independent because it can.” Those words are unequivocally true. And, because of same, ND can play the game it does, that being, a halfway, one foot in one foot out partner of any enabling conference that bites, fueled by the aforementioned NBC exclusive contract. If not for that, ND undoubtedly would be in a conference as a [I]full time[/I] member, again, just as its other sports teams. That’s where the [I]apples to oranges[/I] true difference is. The sole/dedicated lucrative revenue stream that fronts the alleged importance of football independence. And, with same, enabling ND to keep its status quo, which provides them relative noteworthiness in the football landscape, an illusion and mystique of being more significant than what they truly are today. Which is (if a full time football conference member) a good/very good member, but nothing exceptional, and one that hasn’t really challenged, let alone won a national championship in decades. Ultimately, as long as Notre Dame is granted the luxury that an exclusive television contract provides, I completely agree with you that ‘independence’ makes good business sense relative to ND’s own self interests. Notre Dame doesn’t need the “money grab” that full conference affiliation affords because they can keep their own [I]money grab[/I] 100% to themselves. That’s what I am referring to in regards to sanctity. It’s not independence in and of itself that is of true importance/value that ND portrays, but rather, moreover, the fact that there’s an enabling entity that provides them with all that exclusive coin, without having to share a dime with anyone. else. Honestly, it’s not about ND joining the ACC so that Syracuse and the like can get more money. I couldn’t care less about Notre Dame, or whatever its fans, alumni of, etc. believe that their brand allegedly portrays. It’s a small private religious/Catholic niche type school in our present day culture. I simply despise the fact that they’re able to rather incredulously latch on and find a very convenient and comfortable conference home for all of its other sports teams, and not sacrifice a thing in return, actually benefit. The best of both worlds is what irks me most and our conference enabling leadership licensing them to get away with it. [/QUOTE]

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