Key tweets, and it's all gone to Hell.

[DarthGrumpy]

The identity cultivated is greed and self servitude. Our Lady of the Lake is all about independence for football because it doesn't want to share any of the money it derives from its football brand. Simultaneously, they're all about the conference for the sports they can't monetize. If Michigan, Alabama or Ohio State went "independent" they would collect a bigger paycheck, but they apply their identity in a more uniform way. Even UConn is taking it in the shorts for the good of the conference. Us average fans understand perfectly clear. . .

I somewhat agree though I would compare ND to U of M and Ohio State and not Alabama athletically. The Tide only supports 17 varsity sports it looks like - 7 men and 10 women's. One could argue that Alabama (and most of the SEC) first and only focus is football with some basic additional sports offered (basketball, baseball, and track) along with Title IX mandates. U of M sponsors 27 varsity sports - 13 men, 14 women. Ohio St offers 37 (holy shi!) - 18 men, 19 women. ND sponsors 24 - 12 men, 12 women. Those are football first schools, too; but, they do take other sports seriously and sponsor a true athletic department.

PS - UConn offers 22 varsity sports - 10 men, 12 women, which is comparable to the B1G and way out of alignment with the SEC along with XII and AAC.

 

[kyleslamb]

Interesting. Self reflection is always good. Do Big Ten folks realize this chalkboard thing when they incessantly brag about their TV contracts and BTN money, how smart Delany is, how they can pluck any school from anywhere, etc..etc...?

Another Big Ten quip, didn't see that coming so soon!

 

[kyleslamb]

I don't want to be seen as picking on Terry so let me say this: when Terry isn't predictably waxing about independence or obsessing about the Big Ten, I do value his posts. That may come across as backhanded, but it's really not. When Terry resists those two things, I enjoy reading his commentary and conversing with him.

To Billy Bud's comment earlier about detecting some anti-Notre Dame sentiment... you detect wrong. Other than being annoyed by exactly what I've stated, I don't really care one way or another about Notre Dame. Actually, I've been fond of Notre Dame's basketball program for a long time. While Mike Brey has been awful in the postseason, I like watching his teams play from a pure fundamentals/execution standpoint.

I think Dayooper said it best: The Big Ten, like all teams/leagues, has more than its share of arrogant fans. That's not in dispute.

 

[Fishy]

I don't know if this settles things, but on some level, I find that you're all insufferable ass holes.

 

[UConnfan4ever]

I don't know if this settles things, but on some level, I find that you're all insufferable ass holes.

Thank you

 

[Seaa Blue]

I don't know if this settles things, but on some level, I find that you're all insufferable ass holes.

I think he likes us. He really likes us!

 

[junglehusky]

That...is a key tweet.

The biggest issue with the Big 12, aside from its puny footprint, is that the conference's value is so heavily-weighted with so few schools.

And that Texas is sociopathic.

Let's join it!

 

[Dooley]

I don't know if this settles things, but on some level, I find that you're all insufferable ass holes.

I'm touched. This might be the sweetest thing you have ever written.

 

[NickyNewark]

I'm touched. This might be the sweetest thing you have ever written.

Thats what i love about Fishy....never at a loss for a loving comment or reply.

 

[UConnDan97]

I don't know if this settles things, but on some level, I find that you're all insufferable ass holes.

Are we ass holes? Yes.
Are we insufferable? No. You've been suffering us for years...

 

[itgoeslike]

I somewhat agree though I would compare ND to U of M and Ohio State and not Alabama athletically. The Tide only supports 17 varsity sports it looks like - 7 men and 10 women's. One could argue that Alabama (and most of the SEC) first and only focus is football with some basic additional sports offered (basketball, baseball, and track) along with Title IX mandates. U of M sponsors 27 varsity sports - 13 men, 14 women. Ohio St offers 37 (holy shi!) - 18 men, 19 women. ND sponsors 24 - 12 men, 12 women. Those are football first schools, too; but, they do take other sports seriously and sponsor a true athletic department.

PS - UConn offers 22 varsity sports - 10 men, 12 women, which is comparable to the B1G and way out of alignment with the SEC along with XII and AAC.

I don't necessarily disagree with anything you said, but I was referencing football independence for those three programs, and not comparing athletic programs.

Perhaps I was a little brash last night when I cracked open my laptop. Indeed, there is value in playing select schools in select regions to expand exposure, a la BYU. But, that's less of an issue today, and most likely isn't part of the mystical understanding that can only be unlocked by a ND fan.

 

[itgoeslike]

I don't know if this settles things, but on some level, I find that you're all insufferable ass holes.

But in a good way. . .

 

[B1GALUM]

Brett McMurphy ‏@McMurphyESPN 16h16 hours ago
Steve Sarkisian on @CFBPlayoff: “It’s a little funny, we have 4 spots for 5 (P5) leagues.” He says eventually we’ll have 4, 16-team leagues

 

[FDNY99]

Brett McMurphy ‏@McMurphyESPN 16h16 hours ago
Steve Sarkisian on @CFBPlayoff: “It’s a little funny, we have 4 spots for 5 (P5) leagues.” He says eventually we’ll have 4, 16-team leagues

IMHO; I think that is Sark's own personal opinion...

 

[Kolumbo]

Brett McMurphy ‏@McMurphyESPN 16h16 hours ago
Steve Sarkisian on @CFBPlayoff: “It’s a little funny, we have 4 spots for 5 (P5) leagues.” He says eventually we’ll have 4, 16-team leagues

when did he post this, 2 years ago?

 

[nd73]

Dan WolkenVerified account ‏@DanWolken

Scott: "When you go beyond 12, you’re going to dilute. You’re going to have more erratic schedules."

Dan Wolken ‏@DanWolken 25m25 minutes ago

Larry Scott: “I do not see us expanding for the foreseeable future."

 

[B1GALUM]

when did he post this, 2 years ago?

Posted within the last day from PAC-12 media day.

 

[CallMeBruce]

12 works well for schedule, but if you're in a league where teams only have a few real rivalries, I think 16 is better. In football, you have 3 teams you play every year, and you play everyone else every other year. In basketball, you play those same rivals twice and everyone else once. Seems pretty ideal to me.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

Hey, I wonder if anybody has thought of ND going to the Big10? Seems like a match made in heaven. Geography is right. Big10 has hockey and lacrosse. ND has hockey and lacrosse. Great traditional rivalries in Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and the ability to play in Chicago. Now that the Big10 has an East Coast presence, they can recruit their general student population from their home region. If I remember correctly, Maryland was started as a Catholic colony, so that has to help.

The only issue I see is the lack of AAU so it might be a stretch. I wonder if the Big10 presidents would overlook that. My guess is they might, so let's get this done. ND and UConn to the Big10!

Congratulations you have become one of the Few Boneyard guests posters to ever win an AZHuskiePop award
The above post is a marvelous achievement.
It's the First annual:
"Poking The Bear Award "

PS Is ND still Catholic, I thought they were excommunicated when Obama was asked to be a guest speaker. I could be wrong about that.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

12 works well for schedule, but if you're in a league where teams only have a few real rivalries, I think 16 is better. In football, you have 3 teams you play every year, and you play everyone else every other year. In basketball, you play those same rivals twice and everyone else once. Seems pretty ideal to me.

I agree that 12, 16, or 20 works and those in between does not with conferences for football going to 'pods' for 16 and 20 teams. For a 20 team football conference, there would be 4 pods of 5 teams each. Thoughts on this type of a schedule?

1 games against each pod member = 4 games
1 game against a team from the other three pods on a rotating basis = 3 games
2 playoff games - top 8 teams are seeded and play quarterfinal & semi-final games at home of higher seed, other 12 teams are 1 home & 1 away game during same period = 2 games
1 Conference championship game at a neutral site = 1 game (optional)
2 or 3 non-conference games scheduled by individual schools = 2 or 3
Total games = 11 to 13.

Having TBD games is somewhat of a hassle and potential a revenue concern for some schools; but, if a school plays well, it gets 2 home playoff games. NY State HS football does this and it seems to work well.

 

[1husky]

Let's join it!

Naaahhhh, let's just hold out hope your dream of Warde's secret discussions with the B1G come true sometime in the next 10 - 90 years. After all, the Big12 might implode and then where would we be? I just hope Warde is still alive to receive all the accolades he will no doubt get from you.

 

[B1GALUM]

I agree that 12, 16, or 20 works and those in between does not with conferences for football going to 'pods' for 16 and 20 teams. For a 20 team football conference, there would be 4 pods of 5 teams each. Thoughts on this type of a schedule?

1 games against each pod member = 4 games
1 game against a team from the other three pods on a rotating basis = 3 games
2 playoff games - top 8 teams are seeded and play quarterfinal & semi-final games at home of higher seed, other 12 teams are 1 home & 1 away game during same period = 2 games
1 Conference championship game at a neutral site = 1 game (optional)
2 or 3 non-conference games scheduled by individual schools = 2 or 3
Total games = 11 to 13.

Having TBD games is somewhat of a hassle and potential a revenue concern for some schools; but, if a school plays well, it gets 2 home playoff games. NY State HS football does this and it seems to work well.

The plan for the B1G is to eventually go to 9 conference games. If B1G expansion to 16 happens then with 16 teams you will have likely have 2 divisions of 8. You play the 7 teams in your division every year and then 2 from the other division rotating each year so you face each team in the other division once every 4 years. You then have the division winners face off in the B1G championship and then the championship winner hopefully off to the CFB playoff.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

The plan for the B1G is to eventually go to 9 conference games. If B1G expansion to 16 happens then with 16 teams you will have likely have 2 divisions of 8. You play the 7 teams in your division every year and then 2 from the other division rotating each year so you face each team in the other division once every 4 years. You then have the division winners face off in the B1G championship and then the championship winner hopefully off to the CFB playoff.

That was the plan in the beginning, pre-playoff. The playoff puts a premium on winning non-conference games against good competition, so I would not be shocked if the Big 10 never got to 9 conference games.

 

[B1GALUM]

That was the plan in the beginning, pre-playoff. The playoff puts a premium on winning non-conference games against good competition, so I would not be shocked if the Big 10 never got to 9 conference games.

Actually the B1G will start a 9 game schedule for the 2016 season and beyond as of now.

Here is the Ohio State schedule as an example.

2016
Sept. 3 Bowling Green
Sept. 10 Tulsa
Sept. 17 at Oklahoma
Sept. 24 Off
Oct. 1 Rutgers
Oct. 8 Indiana
Oct. 15 at Wisconsin
Oct. 22 at Penn State
Oct. 29 Northwestern
Nov. 5 Nebraska
Nov. 12 at Maryland
Nov. 19 at Michigan State
Nov. 26 Michigan

 

[junglehusky]

Naaahhhh, let's just hold out hope your dream of Warde's secret discussions with the B1G come true sometime in the next 10 - 90 years. After all, the Big12 might implode and then where would we be? I just hope Warde is still alive to receive all the accolades he will no doubt get from you.

Brother, if we get in the B1G, I won't be the only one.