http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story...NHeadlines

NEW YORK -- Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick says the possible expansion of the Big Ten could create changes in major college football that force the Fighting Irish to give up their football independence.

The Big Ten and Pac-10 have both said they are exploring the possibility of adding schools.

Swarbrick says that looming realignment changes could be "relatively small ... or they could be seismic."

While Notre Dame prefers to remain independent in football, Swarbrick says, he and university president Rev. John Jenkins will evaluate whatever changes occur and assess how they effect the Fighting Irish.

Swarbrick told reporters Tuesday morning: "You can each come up with a scenario that would force our hand."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

Not sure I get why it would force their hand.

Me neither, but the Notre Dame AD believes that we could think of a scenario which would force their hand.

The only one I can think of is if the Big East tells the Irish they have to go all in or get all out.

I don't see ND joining the Big East as being realistic. I bet they'd be able to find better offers from other conferences with more financial upside.

If the Big Ten would steal one of our teams, such as Syracuse or Pitt (which I don't expect), then the Big East might give Notre Dame an ultimatum to join in all sports or hit the road. That would affect ND's other sports. Because if the Big East has to seek out other schools to join, they may want to just replace ND for all sports.

If you add ND for football to the Big East the TV contract for FB is significantly improved.

I don't know what Swarbrick's angle is with that statement. I guess he could be headlining to their fanbase that they might have no choice but to join the Big East, but my best guess is that he's saying that to ward off being faced with a Big East ultimatum that they may have to give in to the Big 10.

Interesting.

It'd be good if they joined the big east, but my money would be on Big 10. If BE said "all in or all out" I think they bolt for Big 10.

I think the ND contract with NBC runs through the 2015 season. Doubt any conference could offer what that contract offers. ND must be getting word from NBC that there is little interest in renewing that contract and ND is concerned that by the time it expires, other conferences would have added teams and shut ND out.

The football tv contract for the Big East sucks compared to other BCS conferences. Basketball drives the ship for this conference at the expense of football.

I don't think the Big Ten is coming after a Big East team because none of the teams brings them money. The New York market isn't very valuable to the Big Ten, especially since they already have a foothold in it. My theory is that Notre Dame is going to get an offer that they can't refuse. And that the Big Ten is telling them that if they don't come then they're going after Nebraska or Texas. They probably showed Notre Dame the dollars that could be had with the Big Ten network, and what Notre Dame is up against (the SEC's multibillion dollar contract, and the struggles of other BCS conferences, such as the ACC, Pac-10, Big East and Big 12 as far as television contracts. Even Notre Dame's contract is a drop in the bucket in comparison.)

(03-09-2010 10:13 PM)CatsClaw Wrote:  I don't think the Big Ten is coming after a Big East team because none of the teams brings them money. The New York market isn't very valuable to the Big Ten, especially since they already have a foothold in it. My theory is that Notre Dame is going to get an offer that they can't refuse. And that the Big Ten is telling them that if they don't come then they're going after Nebraska or Texas. They probably showed Notre Dame the dollars that could be had with the Big Ten network, and what Notre Dame is up against (the SEC's multibillion dollar contract, and the struggles of other BCS conferences, such as the ACC, Pac-10, Big East and Big 12 as far as television contracts. Even Notre Dame's contract is a drop in the bucket in comparison.)

What is the foothold they already have in NYC? Would the situation improve (and I don't believe that PSU gives them a foothold) if they brought in Rutgers and the NJ area?

Perhaps you are correct about ND and an offer they can't refuse. I personally think ND would be a good fir there and probably should grab the silver ring while they have the chance.

Swarbrick: Expansion could force ND into move

Published - Mar 09 2010 03:28PM EST

By RALPH D. RUSSO - AP College Football Writer


(AP Photo/Joe Raymond, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2009, file photo, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick introduces new football coach Brian Kelly to the media at a news conference in South Bend, Ind. Swarbrick says the possible expansion of the Big Ten could create changes in major college football that force the Fighting Irish to give up their football independence. While Notre Dame prefers to remain independent in football, Swarbrick says, he and university president Rev. John Jenkins will evaluate whatever changes occur and assess how they effect the Fighting Irish.

NEW YORK— Notre Dame wants to remain independent in football, but that might not matter if the Big Ten and Pac-10 decide to expand and create sweeping changes to major college sports.

"Our preference is clear," Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said Tuesday. "I believe we're at a point right now where changes could be relatively small or they could be seismic."

Swarbrick said it will be up to him and university president Rev. John Jenkins to "evaluate the landscape" if realignment happens.

"You can each come up with a scenario that would force our hand," he told a small group of reporters at a Manhattan restaurant.

The Big Ten announced in December it will explore options for expansion in the next 12 to 18 months. Last month, the Pac-10 also made it known that it would be considering adding schools.

Notre Dame has had a non-football Big East membership since 1995.

Notre Dame to the Big Ten has been a constant source of speculation for years. Its South Bend, Ind., campus is located in the heart of Big Ten country and the Irish already have established rivalries with Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue.

The Fighting Irish rejected an offer to become the league's 12th member in 1999 and since then Notre Dame has gone about reaffirming and re-embracing it independent status in football.

Swarbrick has picked up where predecessor Kevin White left off, scheduling offsite and neutral site games around the country, a move that harkens back to Notre Dame's barnstorming golden age.

Last season, the Irish played Washington State in San Antonio, Texas. Next season, they'll play Army at Yankee Stadium and on Monday it was announced they would play Maryland at FedEx Field, the home of the Washington Redskins, in 2011.

New coach Brian Kelly said he likes the fact that Notre Dame plays games from coast to coast.

"It's great when you look at the schedule and see games all over; at Yankee Stadium, at USC," he said.

Notre Dame's long and lucrative relationship with NBC, which airs all Irish home games, has helped the storied program flourish on its own, despite not winning a national title since 1988. Notre Dame's current deal with NBC ends after the 2010 season and was reportedly worth $9 million per year. Another five-year deal is set to begin in 2011.

Notre Dame is also guaranteed to receive money from the BCS every year, no matter how the Irish play.

Of the 120 major college football teams, only Notre Dame, Army and Navy are not in a one of 11 conferences.

The Big Ten has given no hints about what schools it might want to add or how many, but speculation has been rampant. Texas and Missouri from the Big 12 and Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse from the Big East are names that have been thrown around by media and fans.

But if Notre Dame ever had a change of heart, the Big Ten would no doubt welcome the Irish.

Since the Pac-10 announced it was interested in expanding _ most likely adding two teams to reach the minimum 12 needed to hold a football championship game a la the SEC, Big 12 and ACC _ the speculation ramped up again. Colorado from the Big 12 and Utah, BYU and San Diego State from the Mountain West are some of the teams that have been mentioned as possible Pac-10 targets.

"I've been around this business for 29 years," Swarbrick said, "and this is as unstable as I've ever seen it."

So what could lead Notre Dame to consider giving up its independence?

"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?"

Unknowns aside _ and there are plenty more _ if Swarbrick had his way, he'd choose the status quo.

"We're trying like hell to maintain our football independence," Swarbrick said. "I think it's good for college football and it's good for Notre Dame."

http://www.rr.com/sports/topic/article/r...move/full/

I really think the Big East is good for Notre Dame as an all-sports participant. With only 8 other football playing schools, they could still schedule 4 non-league games per season, including some of their traditional non-conference rivals in alternate years, such as Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Southern Cal. Even Navy. Notre Dame has altered in scheduling philosophy by meeting teams like Washington State, Duke, UCONN, Nevada, Stanford, et al. When these games were scheduled, they certainly assumed that they would win all of these games.

The question is does ND think that UC, UofL, USF and WVU are below them? If they are forced to join a conference, would they rather play OSU, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Penn State, et al, or the Big East football schools. No doubt the Big Ten schedule would be more attractive for upper midwest ND fans, but it would be more difficult for them to be in contention for conference championships on a regular basis in the Big Ten as long as OSU and Michigan continue to dominate that conference. The Big East is more balanced than the Big Ten, but does not at this point have the cache of the Big Ten and the bowl tie-ins that the Big Ten enjoys.

(03-10-2010 12:31 AM)vabearcat Wrote:  I really think the Big East is good for Notre Dame as an all-sports participant. With only 8 other football playing schools, they could still schedule 4 non-league games per season, including some of their traditional non-conference rivals in alternate years, such as Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue and Southern Cal. Even Navy. Notre Dame has altered in scheduling philosophy by meeting teams like Washington State, Duke, UCONN, Nevada, Stanford, et al. When these games were scheduled, they certainly assumed that they would win all of these games.

The question is does ND think that UC, UofL, USF and WVU are below them? If they are forced to join a conference, would they rather play OSU, Michigan, Purdue, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Penn State, et al, or the Big East football schools. No doubt the Big Ten schedule would be more attractive for upper midwest ND fans, but it would be more difficult for them to be in contention for conference championships on a regular basis in the Big Ten as long as OSU and Michigan continue to dominate that conference. The Big East is more balanced than the Big Ten, but does not at this point have the cache of the Big Ten and the bowl tie-ins that the Big Ten enjoys.

Some really good questions but, I think the ND philosophy would be just like everyone else. Try to win every game you play and if you are the league champ, go to a BCS bowl game. Personally, top to bottom, I believe the Big East has been better than the Big Ten (11) the last two years. Could do worse.

My two cents:
The Big 11 adds three teams, Mizzou, Rutgers, and ND. The PAC 10 will also add 4 to 6 teams (MWC schools and Colorado). I hope the BE gets proactive before this all goes down, probably in '11. I'd hate to see UC on the outside looking in again.