Big 12 setting up exploratory committee. You will laugh at the targets

[brett108]

Well, the major difference is that if ND and Texas form a new conference, it definitely won't have Tech, Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State or Iowa State in it. That's why its nothing like joining the Big 12.

You think it wouldn't have those Texas schools? The legislature still controls the funding. My bet is it would have Baylor and Tech.

 

[Lyddea]

Entirely wrong.

In a new Big 12 with a 7 game conference schedule and Air Force in the conference...ND could still play Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Stanford and a rotation of Purdue-Navy-Army....while playing the other Academy every year. So ND's rivalries will be intact. PLUS they get their own TV network....in other words, they get every benefit of Independence plus they can add Oklahoma and Texas to their schedule every year. AND...they would be the lead team in the NOrth...with a likely conference championship game most seasons.

Its all upside for ND...and most likely terrific payout when you include a Texas style ND network deal.

Well, the Big 12 is not going to a 7 game conference schedule. But in any case, lets look at the formula Notre Dame follows in its scheduling:
3 Midwestern teams
3 Eastern teams
2-3 Pacific coast teams
2 Service academies
1-2 Random others

Notre Dame's schedule in an expanded Big 12 (and I'll be nice and make it an 8 game conference schedule instead of 9):
8 Central corridor teams
1 Pacific team
1 Eastern team
1 Service academy (Navy for historical reasons)
1 Midwestern team

That is an evisceration of the identity of Notre Dame. They currently almost never play central corridor teams, because there is little interest in Notre Dame football in that part of the country. Virtually the only team they would want to play would be Texas, and they can schedule Texas now, or if they joined the Big Ten or Big East.

And here's the thing, they could come far closer to playing a Notre Dame schedule in either the Big Ten or the Big East, which is why, were they to join a conference, it would be one of those two. Joining the Big Ten they could keep Mich/MichSt/Purdue/Penn State on the schedule. Add their non-con games and they could end up with a schedule like the following:

7 Midwest
2 Eastern (inc Penn State)
1-2 Service academy
1-2 Pacific

Its still a big change, but not the end of their historical identity, and keeps them in the part of the country (the Midwest/Northeast) in which they are highly relevant.

Notre Dame wants to stay Notre Dame. That's why its not in a conference, but its also why it would never-ever-ever join the Big 12, and could - in extraordinary circumstances - join the Big Ten or Big East.

 

[Lyddea]

You think it wouldn't have those Texas schools? The legislature still controls the funding. My bet is it would have Baylor and Tech.

Well, we are speculating about a future in which the Big 12 is dissolved and Notre Dame and Texas have started a new conference. No, in that hypothetical future those schools already got screwed, and Texas would not be bringing them along and wouldn't be forced to.

If the legislature lets the Aggies walk out, they will have greatly weakened their ability to tie the other schools to just Texas after letting A&M off the hook.

 

[ShadasRevenge]

You guys read to many blogs by guys that live in their moms basement if you think Texas is going independent. Why go independent when they got the sweet deal that they do?

Yet you're here pimping that Notre Dame - if they join any conference - is 100x more likely to join the Texas League as opposed to the B1G.

Also, considering that every other sport that Notre Dame has is affiliated with the Big East, it's more likely to join that conference as opposed to one that is poised to fall apart at the seams.

Lastly, Notre Dame joining the Texas League is that last thing any ISU fan would want, as the Domers would just be another team that beats yours brains in every year.

 

[hawkdoctor]

Maybe Minnesota can keep their TV network revenue.

 

[Mesaclone]

Nobody wants Minnesota...especially not the Big 12.

 

[silvanthalas]

It's not a secret.

Somebody is ready for the rubber wallpaper.

 

[H8IAST8]

cyclownfanatic's Chris Williams is claiming ND would go to the BigXII over the B1G. These guys are delusional. Why would Notre Dame throw away money and tradition to play in the Texas Conference?

 

[DwayneTwill]

cyclownfanatic's Chris Williams is claiming ND would go to the BigXII over the B1G. These guys are delusional. Why would Notre Dame throw away money and tradition to play in the Texas Conference?

Chris Williams is a stupid jackhole.

 

[kicker22]

Wouldn't this exploratory committee be better off exploring the bigger question of what conferences would be willing to accept which schools once the Big 12 emplodes.

 

[PhoenixHawk]

ND to the B12 means them only having 3 noncon games a year to schedule their "traditional" opponents like USC, Navy, Boston, Stanford, Michigan, MSU, Purdue, and Indiana.

So basically they'd have to give up ever playing B10 teams again, since they'd try to somehow keep USC, etc. on the schedule. An there's really no way they'd agree to play 11-12 BCS teams year anyway.

ND says they won't join the B10 in order to keep their "traditions" intact, so sure, they'll go to the B12 to preserve them.