Why Not Notre Dame & UConn to the B1G?

[Dooley]

If this realignment is TRULY about adding TV marketshare, Notre Dame is the second most popular team in NYC (according to the demographics poll article in the NY Times) and UConn is fourth...ahead of Michigan, Syracuse, Miami, then Army. UConn and Notre Dame both also have a tremendous pull in Boston...a fact that many BC supporters are unwilling to admit. Why do you think rumors were swirling about a Notre Dame vs UCONN game at Fenway recently?? Notre Dame knows a game against UConn would carry much more national appeal and zest within Boston and the northeast. Pick up a copy of The Globe or turn NESN on your TV and you see UConn scores and news carried as often as Boston College. If the B1G wanted more of a northeast footprint for their TV network, it seems pretty obvious that ND and UConn would deliver the best.

Notre Dame would bring the football prestige and UConn would bring the basketball prestige. Both bring well respected academics. Both are not AAU members (neither was Nebraska) but are very highly ranked and respected.

Finally, I don't think people across the country realize the growth potential in UConn. Because of its location and being "the only show in town", all of its sports programs would explode if invited to the B1G. Similar to how UConn basketball became a national powerhouse program and UConn football has achieved early success since joining the Big East, a B1G invite would instantly expand Rentschler Field (which we all know was designed and built to accommodate very large expansions) and renovate the XL Center so that both programs can continue their unprecedented growth.

If conference expansion/re-alignment is truly about TV marketshare, academics and quality athletics, there really aren't two better options than Notre Dame and UConn. The B1G would be very smart and proactive to secure both to own majority marketshare in the highly coveted northeastern footprint.

 

[huskydave]

Geez, I wonder if anyone in the B1G offices has ever considered adding ND?

 

[Vowelguy]

For the 8,432,792nd time: Notre Dame is not joining a conference in football.

 

[Marty Jackson]

For the 8,432,792nd time: Notre Dame is not joining a conference in football.

not by choice and as long as they have a home for their other sports. Exit BE, Enter ACC.

 

[SubbaBub]

For the 8,432,792nd time: Notre Dame is not joining a conference in football.

...because they don't want to play a conference schedule and have a guaranteed and better access to the Playoff and Host Bowls in the New BCS system than they did under the current one.

Q: When will ND decide to join a conference?

A: The day they limit playoff access to the Big 4 conference champions and not a minute sooner.

The only chuckle I'm getting from this latest mess is from the ACC doom sayers thinking ND will save the ACC from further poaching by becoming a full member. As Bugs Bunny used to say, "It is to laugh."

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[phild]

Nebraska had AAU status when they joined the B1G. It was taken away afterwards, and they most likely wouldn't have been given the invite without it. The B1G would make an exception for ND, but there's no way any other school gets into the B1G (and therefore the CIC, their huge academic research consortium), without being an AAU member.

 

[1husky]

Delaney's one and only goal is to get Notre Dame into the B1G and the $$$ will blow up for all conference members. I believe taking MD and Rutgers was a warning to ND and the ACC. The B1G can and will take anyone they want and $50, $100, $150 million will not stop them. The ACC can give them ND and the B1G will then take UConn and the ACC can remain a viable conference and ND has a big increase in $$$, games with traditional Big10 rivals and access to east coast markets with Md, PSU, RU, and UConn. OR the B1G can take VA and UNC and watch the rest of the rats scramble for cover - VT and NC State to SEC, FSU, Clemson, GT, and Louisville to Big12. Now the vast majority of the conference market value is gone and ND is stuck with Pitt, BC, Duke, and WF. Maybe the B1G takes Cuse and UConn too just to wrap up NYC. Swofford and Delaney have a decision to make.

 

[Rondogg]

So far, this season, ND is showing why they don't need a conference. A win tonight and they are about to CASH IN. And they don't have to share it with anybody. A loss tonight and they are still going to a BCS Bowl where they will again, CASH IN. Brian Kelly is going to do for ND like he did for Cinn, this time with 4 and 5* recruits. Now that they aren't in the Big East, I hate them less.