• Facebook StumbleUpon
• Email

1. HoyaSooner said:

   March 9th, 2010 at 4:03 pm

   There we go. The Big 10 is starting to make its move, and the primary target is revealed.

   “What if realignment impacts the shape of the BCS?” Swarbrick said.

   “The Big East has been a great conference for us,” he said. “If there is a fundamental change to the Big East, what does that do?”

   Those are the words of the Notre Dame AD. They’re worried the Big 10 is going to annihilate the Big East, possibly causing ND to be shut out of the BCS. The threat of major change is finally getting Notre Dame off its ass. They’re getting ready to bolt, like a deer that hears a twig snap.

   I’d predict the Big 10 will start making gestures towards the Big East schools now. These aren’t serious offers, but threats. The Big 10 may be looking for a shotgun wedding on this one. I would anticipate that the Big 12 is safe, for now. Not that Texas or Missouri wouldn’t make a good addition, but the goal now appears to be to absolutely devastate the Big East. “What conference will you be in now, Notre Dame?” Looking at Texas and Missouri doesn’t threaten the Domers at all. But Pitt, Rutgers, and Syracuse does.

   Interesting. Very very interesting.

2. Craig Biggio's Dirty Uniform said:

   March 9th, 2010 at 5:40 pm

   “Now the biggest domino in the BCS is indicating that maybe they are ready to look to make a safe fall.”

   I disagree about ND- 10 years ago maybe. The one argument I agree with from all this re-alignment talk is that we are the biggest domino or prize out there that would make the greatest wave of BCS repercussions.

3. Major Cult said:

   March 9th, 2010 at 5:53 pm

   Texas and ND to the Big Ten would be over the top. Toss in Pitt, Syracuse and our ugly Aggy sister and call it a day. What would those divisions look like? East and West? North and South? I don’t care, but it sounds fun. ND as a conference rival. I guess the downside is that you wouldn’t get to face them for the national championship again unless we go to some sort of playoff system. It could happen.

4. Mysterious Package said:

   March 9th, 2010 at 6:02 pm

   No one has faced them in a national championship in quite some time though

5. Mysterious Package said:

   March 9th, 2010 at 6:03 pm

   BTW, that picture must be taken in August since i dont see any snow?

6. admin said:

   March 9th, 2010 at 6:37 pm

   Our Notre Dame man, Whiskey, hits it here:

   http://onefootdown.fantake.com/2010/03/09/jack-swarbrick-causes-server-meltdown/

7. ColoradoAg said:

   March 9th, 2010 at 7:03 pm

   ND isn’t joining a conference anytime soon. This is just offseason smoke.

8. VirginiaLonghorn said:

   March 10th, 2010 at 7:34 am

   Amazing that a school without football relevance for more than 20 years can command such attention. Frankly, why give a shit what ND does?

9. srr50 said:

   March 10th, 2010 at 8:25 am

   Amazing that a school without football relevance for more than 20 years can command such attention. Frankly, why give a shit what ND does?

   The networks give a shit.

   Notre Dame is still a draw. The Notre Dame-Michigan game was just behind Texas-OU in total viewers. ABC had very good ratings for both Irish games against Pitt and Stanford. They generate buzz — even if if it the kind to make you want to tune in and see them lose.

10. VirginiaLonghorn said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 9:03 am

    I got that srr50 … but, if Kelly doesn’t turn the corner and produce a contender, will ND still command the reverence at the end of the next network bargaining period? Even Army was a national power once upon a time …

    Sorry, if you think I’m being obtuse … I simply don’t understand how ND holds such power with nothing recent to show for it.

11. ColoradoAg said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 9:13 am

    Virginia, they’re controversial. They make you take a side: either you love them or you hate them. They’ll always have a vast following do to the Catholic church, tradition, etc. They are an extremely powerful brand and valuable sports commodity.

    TCU and Boise State have had more on-field success in the past decade, but no power conferences or TV networks are really beating down their doors.

12. spider said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 9:33 am

    From Whiskey’s article:

    That is the reason that there is no middle ground when it comes to how people feel about the Fighting Irish. There are Notre Dame fans and there are people that hate Notre Dame with every semblance of their being.

    Someone translate. I never really got that whole Trinity thing.

13. srr50 said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 9:35 am

    Sorry, if you think I’m being obtuse … I simply don’t understand how ND holds such power with nothing recent to show for it.

    Same reasons Texas bounced back after wandering through the desert of meidocrity for 15 years.

14. Bob in Houston said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 10:39 am

    It doesn’t matter if you think ND should be relevant. People still watch them.

15. raoulduke said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 12:34 pm

    They can be a football irrelevancy and a media relevancy. Two different things.

    Tyrone and Davey each took them to a BCS Bowl (and loss), right?

16. srr50 said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 1:08 pm

    Charlie Weis did as well.

17. Art Vandelay said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    I liked Notre Dame as young kid because they were always on TV, had cool uniforms and a great fight song. They also won a lot.

    I’ve never loved ND, nor do I hate ND. I just don’t care about them anymore. They have a lousy football program, but a great brand, but their brand has taken a hit as well (IMO).

    The lack of posts on this thread says a lot (no offense to Steve).

18. VirginiaLonghorn said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 5:50 pm

    … and isn’t ND’s BCS criteria a bit easier? If so, how is BCS an accurate barometer?

    Hard to believe one school has that much power … or that the other D1 schools are that spineless. Confusing …

19. MiamiWolv said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    Well..if the Big 10 adds two flagship Big East programs, that is curtains for the Big East.

    So pick up Syracuse, Pitt and ND. I think the Big 10 goes to 16 teams and adds Rutgers and Missouri…however, I’m sure there will be overtures to Texas and Texas A&M to see if they want to join as #15 and #16.

    I think Texas is happy in the Big 12, but they would certainly see the $$ in TV money if they signed up for a conference with ND, UM, OSU and PSU. The TV money would be astronomical.

    You would literally be talking about a national conference that spans from New York to Texas.

20. srr50 said:

    March 10th, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    and isn’t ND’s BCS criteria a bit easier? If so, how is BCS an accurate barometer?

    Because after the national championship game the BCS picks teams that move the needle — and all three times the an “irrelevant” Notre Dame was picked, they moved the needle.

    Art: Of course their brand has taken a hit, but it still registers, even when they are mediocre. People will tune in to watch them suffer.

Leave a Reply