Comments on: A Coffin of Thine Own Making: Swarbrick and False Choices

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:10:09 +0000

Wow, amazed at how many people think money is not greater than independence. Trust me, when we join a conference, it will only be about $$$$$. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but let's stop pretending that we are different.

College football is a business guys. The CEO has to run it as such. As soon as some of you nostalgic hanger-ons realize that, the better off you will be.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:52:21 +0000

I am trying to understand how being independent is a big benefit to the Irish and I do not see it.
Scheduling: This year's and next year's schedule are pathetic. I would rather see us play Minnesota and Iowa then San Diego State, Western Michigan, Tulsa or Conneticut. There would be no crime in playing 8 Big Ten teams and 4 non-conference games. We will play USC and Navy every year. I am sure that we could line up 2 quality games anywhere in the country.
Free to work with NBC: The NBC contract is an albatross. It made sense in the early 90s when many of the games were not on TV but makes none now. We will be on TV every week without NBC. Perhaps we could have games that did not last more than four hours.

Being unique? I do not think that being in a conference is going to change what makes ND unique. It is still a Catholic university that will stand by its principles. Being in a conference will not change how many National Championships and Heisman trophies ND won. Those things and being the only game on TV or radio made ND a national draw. Some things have changed but others never will. Are we compromised by being in the Big East in basketball? Is BYU no longer a Mormon school because it is in the Mountain West?

People need to take a chill pill and look at reality. We have not been good for nearly 20 years and being in a conference has some advantages. It would be nice to play for a conference title when we have no shot at a National title. Maybe we could get more Midwestern talent if we were in the Big 10 and did not have to recruit nationwide. In any event, the key to recruiting nationwide and national respect is winning. Look at what has happened at Alabama and Florida. Since the same approach has not worked in 20 years, maybe it is time to seriously think about a new approach.

By: John Corboy '07

John Corboy '07 — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:19:52 +0000

We don't need to join a conference to get more money, ND football already generates a ton of money. And if Kelly can turn the team around, the value of the football team will only increase. Forbes.com does an annual assessment of the most valuable college football teams and ND has been ranked #1, #1, and #2.

http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112007aag.html

http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/122309aab.html

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:05:31 +0000

Winning big again will definitively point to staying Independent in football. I wasn't fortunate enough to attend ND, but I sure do love what its accomplished and what it still stands for. I am also saddened by some of its recent decisions where ND is starting to bend to secular America. Keep doing that and you destroy ND's greatest. A greatness based first and foremost on a love of God which allows Providence to guide ND to the very greatness we strive for.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:50:27 +0000

Amen, no conference. End of story. What saddens me is how N.D. wants to portray an image of big time football in a small school setting only to go the corporate way. Money, money, money, greed, greed, greed. Play football or go ivy league.

By: Chilly Willy

Chilly Willy — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:47:18 +0000

I support the joint Big East/ACC idea. Everyone is saying that there will be 4 superconferences (Pac10, BigTeleven, Big12, SEC). What about the other 2 conferences?

Have the 2 conferences negotiate TV/Media contracts together. They have enough great football teams, the best basketball by a country mile, women's soccer, women's bball (though I find it horribly boring) and men's lacrosse. Ink a deal with CBS/CBSCSTV or NBC/USA or FOX/FoxSports.

Then have crossovers. Play 8 games in conference, 2 mandatory crossovers and 2 independent games. ND could act as a Big East member and get a partial schedule and help the conferences from a $ standpoint in negotiations.

I don't want to join a conference, but you can't deny we could be forced to because eveyrone else blocks us. The fact is that the Big East and ACC would love to have us help them negotiate.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:09:56 +0000

Bet the house….We will emerge in the next 5 years into our old form. Being independent, every major broadcasting company will be bidding against each other to have the most coveted contract in the history of sport. Or in un-Notre Dame like fashion, we can play it safe, join a conference and concede to all those who truly know the value of ND football. No one can force our hand. If we win, are they going to lock us out? I dont think so.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:13:07 +0000

Scott,

Interesting article. I agree with some of your points. However, while ND brings a lot to the table, I'm not sure that the major conferences won't engage in an unstated freeze out. Are you guessing or do you have proof regarding ND's ability to schedule better games by agreeing to home and home deals?

Thanks

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:20:29 +0000

Start winning football games regularly and there will be no problemo's.

By: Mike Coffey

Mike Coffey — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:00:06 +0000

The scheduling issues are of our own making, due to this ridiculous adherence to the 7-4-1 model. A 7-5 or 6-6 model would allow for plenty of teams who are interested in playing us but aren't interested in not getting any home games out of it.

And I really don't give a rip how many home games other teams play. Play 'em and beat 'em and let the chips fall where they may.