Is Big 10 better by adding ND or trying to accelerate their decline?

[Win5002]

In assessing ND's popularity their name resonates very strongly with 50+ people in this country, solidly to very good with 40+, but I would argue a mere shadow of what it once was with people in their 30's and less.

I'm not here to say ND is irrelevant or will be in the next decade, but if Brian Kelly cannot restore ND football to prominence in the next 5 yrs it becomes harder and harder to restore the greatness the program once had. They used to be associated in sports with the Yankees, Cowboys, Celtics/Lakers in terms of name appeal. It just is not the same and will decline further if it doesn't turn around in the next 5 yrs.

I think it is much safer to say the Brand name of the Big 10(or whatever we call it, lol) will be the premier college sports brand 20-30 yrs from now, I don't think you can say the same about ND. Again, not saying they would be irrelevant but definitely not having the cache they once did.

Successful orgainizations can and do change with time. If ND doesn't see the economic value of joining the Big 10 and jump aboard now, I wonder if the Big 10 should want to stick the knife in ND and try and accelerate that decline through various moves, increasing their own value even more?

 

[BA96MA99]

Accelerate their decline.

ND doesn't offer as much to the Big Ten as Rutgers, Nebraska, Maryland, or Boston College. The Value of Expansion Candidates to the Big Ten Network FRANK THE TANK’S SLANT

We don't need them, and we can do better.

 

[Win5002]

I think they offer more than that group currently does, but I don't know if they do 15-20 yrs from now even.

If all the members in the Big 10(now and the additional members) refused to play them can you imagine the effects of the recruits in the Big 10 area never seeing ND play a relevant regional power? Sure they schedule USC where they get beat year in and year out, what happens if they schedule the premier opponents the SEC? The same result. And kind imagine very many recruits in the Big 10 states getting excited about ND playing service academies.

Yes, they would still get some kids from these states but it becomes a lot harder.

 

[ssckelley]

You kidding me? I absolutely hate Notre Dame but if Iowa is not on I am watching them on Saturdays just to root for whoever they are playing. Notre Dame will bring quite a bit to the table as far as exposure for the BTN and its ratings. Notre Dame versus anyone will get TV sets all across the country tuning in to the BTN.

 

[KnightHawk9]

In assessing ND's popularity their name resonates very strongly with 50+ people in this country, solidly to very good with 40+, but I would argue a mere shadow of what it once was with people in their 30's and less.

I'm not here to say ND is irrelevant or will be in the next decade, but if Brian Kelly cannot restore ND football to prominence in the next 5 yrs it becomes harder and harder to restore the greatness the program once had. They used to be associated in sports with the Yankees, Cowboys, Celtics/Lakers in terms of name appeal. It just is not the same and will decline further if it doesn't turn around in the next 5 yrs.

I wish I could agree, but I don't think I can. Any other team with ND's record over the last 10 years would now be irrelevant, but look how much 18-year-old recruits still think of them. The ND name still has a lot of cache.

 

[bertram]

ND will never be irrelevant as long as they have such a loyal and large fan base. My wife is catholic and from a small farm community in Western Iowa. Her dad, who never went to college, listened to every ND game that was on the radio and his one dream in life was to go to South Bend and visit the ND campus. (I think it's in a catholic's DNA).

 

[loesshillshawk]

Why would you not want a team with the tradition and National following like Notre Dame to join the B10. The money they would generate would alone be a reason for wanting them. I would love to see Notre Dame coming to Iowa (like days of old) and me having a chance to go to Notre Dame and watch the Hawks. I think it is a no brainer....

 

[PlanoHawk]

Agree- ND will always have a very loyal base and I'd consider them a win for expansion because of their national prestige-even though it has declined as of late.

Also, I question the overall footprint impact with Rutgers even from that report. I just don't think the ENTIRE tri-state area would pick up the BTN standard just because the state university of New Jersey became a Big Ten member. I could be in the wrong, and I can see increased dollars for sure, but maybe I'm just more excited to add Nebraska and Missouri so they finally quit dodging the Hawks on the football schedule.

 

[BA96MA99]

Boston College + Rutgers + Maryland = BosWash megalopolis Northeast megalopolis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[doublehawkeye]

ND will never be irrelevant as long as they have such a loyal and large fan base. My wife is catholic and from a small farm community in Western Iowa. Her dad, who never went to college, listened to every ND game that was on the radio and his one dream in life was to go to South Bend and visit the ND campus. (I think it's in a catholic's DNA).

This.

 

[rodg12]

Their added revenue isn't as high as most people think...they don't really give the B10 access to any new markets. Frank the Tank has them 6th on the list behind Texas, Rutgers, Nebraska, Maryland and Boston College. Now, don't get me wrong, they'd be a very good add for the Big 10, but maybe not as good as it would appear at first blush.

 

[tm3308]

Their added revenue isn't as high as most people think...they don't really give the B10 access to any new markets. Frank the Tank has them 6th on the list behind Texas, Rutgers, Nebraska, Maryland and Boston College. Now, don't get me wrong, they'd be a very good add for the Big 10, but maybe not as good as it would appear at first blush.

Rutgers is bloated by the assumption that they would carry the NY market. As some have said here, NYC doesn't care much about college sports, and basketball comes first. Rutgers isn't good enough on the field to really garner that much interest in NYC. When OSU comes to Jersey, sure people will watch. But Indiana? Northwestern? Illinois? Iowa? Purdue? No way.

Syracuse is NY's college football team, not Rutgers.

 

[knighthawk13]

Their added revenue isn't as high as most people think...they don't really give the B10 access to any new markets. Frank the Tank has them 6th on the list behind Texas, Rutgers, Nebraska, Maryland and Boston College. Now, don't get me wrong, they'd be a very good add for the Big 10, but maybe not as good as it would appear at first blush.

ND's TV market is not just regional. They will bring TV sets across the country.

 

[GhostofBTT]

ND's TV market is not just regional. They will bring TV sets across the country.

Exactly. ND has more national appeal than any other Big 10 program. Demand for BTN would rise around the country, not just the upper midwest, if ND were on board.

Also, lol at "We are better off without ND" guy. ND has more national relevance than Iowa does, even when we are coming off a BCS win and they are coming of half a decade of ineptitude.

 

[jameskalina]

ND will never be irrelevant as long as they have such a loyal and large fan base. My wife is catholic and from a small farm community in Western Iowa. Her dad, who never went to college, listened to every ND game that was on the radio and his one dream in life was to go to South Bend and visit the ND campus. (I think it's in a catholic's DNA).

Not this Catholic's DNA. I assure you.

If ND never wins another football game for the rest of my life it would be just fine with me. If I never saw another ND football game that would also be fine with me.

 

[EMik21]

Not this Catholic's DNA. I assure you.

If ND never wins another football game for the rest of my life it would be just fine with me. If I never saw another ND football game that would also be fine with me.

I agree with this as well! I am Catholic and from small town Central Iowa and growing up an Iowa fan I could not stand the bandwagon ND fans. Maybe if you are Irish Catholic it is a dream to go there.

 

[ChocoLoco]

Send 'em spinning, trailing smoke, slamming into the ground!

 

[rodg12]

Rutgers is bloated by the assumption that they would carry the NY market. As some have said here, NYC doesn't care much about college sports, and basketball comes first. Rutgers isn't good enough on the field to really garner that much interest in NYC. When OSU comes to Jersey, sure people will watch. But Indiana? Northwestern? Illinois? Iowa? Purdue? No way.

Syracuse is NY's college football team, not Rutgers.

Fine, flip Syracuse and Rutgers on the list. The point still stands...