March 12, 2013: Every American becomes Irish for one day each year, St. Patrick’s Day. Green beer flows in rivers and bars across our land. This year is no different with one additional factor thrown in. The Big East Conference and Notre Dame today announced Notre Dame will be leaving their old conference and joining the ACC this summer, almost two years early. An agreement was reached yesterday between the two parties.
What does this early arrival mean for the ACC? Do other dominoes begin to fall? With the ACC soon to be 15 schools, is a 16th school far behind? If so, who might that school be? Notre Dame’s agreement with the ACC does not include football. However, with the new playoff system just over the horizon, it will be difficult for independents to be included in the playoffs. Is Irish football membership in the ACC far behind? All are simple questions. It’s the answers that are more complex and difficult.
Many feel the ACC will be the first “Super Conference.” This agreement today will only feed those rumors. However, the ACC will only consider a 16th member if Notre Dame agrees to be become the 15th football member. Let’s say the Irish at some point join as football members. When will that happen? Who would the conference consider as the 16th member. Some feel it will be a high academic institution. Others say it will be a school that brings a large TV market/audience. Still others will push for a geographically friendly school. Finally, some want the most competitive football program.
Will Notre Dame ever give up their independence? I believe they will and must join a conference. Why? First, the Irish will find it difficult, if not impossible, to win a national football championship without conference affiliation. Second, money and lots of it. Notre Dame’s exclusive TV contract with NBC runs out after 2014. There’s no guarantee of another big TV payday, especially for a school that will be on the outside looking in for a national championship. It makes sense for Notre Dame to join the ACC in football for the 2015 season.
IF the Irish join the ACC in football, who will be the 16th conference member? A high academic school might include Navy, which sits in the middle of the huge Baltimore-Washington area TV market. Navy is also a long-standing Notre Dame opponent. How about Cincinnati? If you’re looking for a large TV market, who might be candidates? UConn? Temple? Navy? Cincinnati? What about geographically friendly? The ACC’s strategy is to control the populous northeast. UConn and Navy fill the geographic gap in the ACC map. But what about a strong tradition as a football power? Hmmm. West Virginia? Yea, the Mountaineers are in the Big12. For now.
As you can see, the answers are tough. But one thing is for sure. Green beer this weekend!
Tex
What does this early arrival mean for the ACC? Do other dominoes begin to fall? With the ACC soon to be 15 schools, is a 16th school far behind? If so, who might that school be? Notre Dame’s agreement with the ACC does not include football. However, with the new playoff system just over the horizon, it will be difficult for independents to be included in the playoffs. Is Irish football membership in the ACC far behind? All are simple questions. It’s the answers that are more complex and difficult.
Many feel the ACC will be the first “Super Conference.” This agreement today will only feed those rumors. However, the ACC will only consider a 16th member if Notre Dame agrees to be become the 15th football member. Let’s say the Irish at some point join as football members. When will that happen? Who would the conference consider as the 16th member. Some feel it will be a high academic institution. Others say it will be a school that brings a large TV market/audience. Still others will push for a geographically friendly school. Finally, some want the most competitive football program.
Will Notre Dame ever give up their independence? I believe they will and must join a conference. Why? First, the Irish will find it difficult, if not impossible, to win a national football championship without conference affiliation. Second, money and lots of it. Notre Dame’s exclusive TV contract with NBC runs out after 2014. There’s no guarantee of another big TV payday, especially for a school that will be on the outside looking in for a national championship. It makes sense for Notre Dame to join the ACC in football for the 2015 season.
IF the Irish join the ACC in football, who will be the 16th conference member? A high academic school might include Navy, which sits in the middle of the huge Baltimore-Washington area TV market. Navy is also a long-standing Notre Dame opponent. How about Cincinnati? If you’re looking for a large TV market, who might be candidates? UConn? Temple? Navy? Cincinnati? What about geographically friendly? The ACC’s strategy is to control the populous northeast. UConn and Navy fill the geographic gap in the ACC map. But what about a strong tradition as a football power? Hmmm. West Virginia? Yea, the Mountaineers are in the Big12. For now.
As you can see, the answers are tough. But one thing is for sure. Green beer this weekend!
Tex
