A lot of talk lately about college football conference expansion, specifically regarding Notre Dame and the Big Ten. The main argument I keep hearing for Notre Dame needing to join a conference is "to remain competitive". Why must Notre Dame join a conference in order to remain competitive? Is Indiana competitive? Is Syracuse competitive? Is Washington State or California (after their inevitable top-5 ranking to begin every season before collapsing) competitive? Is Colorado or Baylor competitive? Is Vanderbilt or Kentucky or Mississippi State competitive? You know who is definitely competitive? Boise State. And I don't have a clue about their conference affiliation, besides the fact that they are in one (and I think even South Bend has the upper hand on Boise, ID).
It's one thing if the argument is that the BCS may block out Notre Dame should they remain independent, but that's being made as a separate reason apart from "remaining competitive" (and I won't even go into how far-fetched that is, or how it would make Notre Dame a sympathetic figure with fans and AP voters).
So can somebody please tell me the rationale behind this statement? How will Notre Dame cease to be competitive if they remain independent?
5 comments:
From what I've read, I think "remaining competitive" refers more to money than anything. I know Notre Dame makes an assload of money ($9 million from NBC) but the Big Ten Network makes even more. I've been following this conference realignment talk pretty closely and from what I've read, each Big Ten member receives $22 million from the network. If Notre Dame joined, I'm sure the network money would only increase. If the Big Ten gets to 12 teams (or 14 or 16), then they'll have a conference title game which will bring in even more money. Just remember, money is not the root of all evil, the LOVE of money is.
Both good points.
On the money issue, Notre Dame has more money than they know what to do with - which is why the damn campus has been under construction for like 20 straight years. I can see how they might not be able to keep up with the Joneses of the Mega Conferences, but ND spends if and when they need to spend. And when they do, they spend wisely (see The Gug).
As for recruiting, another good argument. I suppose if the Mega Conferences covered a broad enough expanse it could make recruiting difficult for ND, i.e. if every area is owned by a conference, where does ND recruit? But I think this would actually hurt current elite schools worse. Texas does not recruit. They just assume every good football player in the state will want to play there. If they actually had to work, they'd be dead. Same could be said to varying degrees for Florida, Southern Cal, and most of the other big state schools.
Both valid points, but both very easy to shoot down. There must be more here, or am I giving too much credit to the "pundits"?
The comments from Rhett and Kevin are on target - it's all about money and exposure. You need exposure to get the quality recruits, and you need money to pay for them (in terms of facilities, scholarships, and "quality of campus life.") As long as ND has the NBC contract, they have money and exposure, and I believe they can survive as an independent. Without NBC or something equivalent, ND becomes Syracuse and, as they said in Tron, End of Line.
I've also heard that the ultimate plan is to create 4 "super conferences" of 16 teams each which will then break from the NCAA and run their own show, keeping all the money. These 64 teams would then hold their own championships, etc. You'd think Notre Dame would have to be included in that group.
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