Why Didn't the Big East/C7 Take Notre Dame?

[Eldon]

So the other thread on MU-ND's rivalry got me thinking.  Why did we not invite ND to the Big East?  If this was discussed on Scoop, then it must have been a very brief discussion because I don't remember this being brought up very much in our expansion talks.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9003784/notre-dame-athletic-director-jack-swarbrick-open-joining-catholic-7-league-one-season

I remember ND's AD publicly stating (see link) that he would be open to the possibility of joining the C7.

I mean this presupposes that expansion will happen.  Will expansion ever happen?  Well, it seems that Xavier's AD said so and the candidates were Dayton, SLU, VCU, and Richmond.  I don't want to start yet another thread on BE expansion, but I think one devoted solely to ND is worth having.

IMO, I like the 10-team conference.  But if musical chairs and the TV deal require us to go to 12, then I think SLU is a shoe-in.  And, IMO, Notre Dame would be *perfect* for the conference.  I mean, the benefits are numerous.  They have stellar academics, they are private, they were in the old Big East, they have an overall better bball program than any of the other potential candidates, they have instant name recognition, etc.

The only real drawback is that they have FBS football.  However, they are an FBS independent and seem intent on keeping it that way. 

Thoughts?

[JoBo2756]

They were already on there way to the ACC and said they would only join the new Big East for one year.

Sooo, that's why they weren't really a good target for the Big East.

[WarriorHal]

I think ND had already agreed a year earlier to join the ACC in basketball. So their decision about where to play was made well before the other Catholic schools split off to form the new BE. Also, ND football is still independent, but they agreed to play several ACC teams each season as part of their deal.

[Tugg Speedman]

ND is not part of the ACC for football.  The agreed to 5 games a year, leaving the 7 at large games every year.  This also means they get to keep their football money and not split it with the conference.

But to get this deal, all other ND sports had to join the ACC, which they did.

ND moved to the ACC, the C7 could not offer a good enough deal for them to stay (meaning they make more money in the ACC than we can offer in the NBE)

Side note, the B1G, the more natural place for ND would not offer them the football arrangement.  The B1G would have taken them if they would join as a full football member.  ND declined

[chapman]

ND was already committed to the ACC by then.  The AD stated that he would be open to joining not as a permanent member, but for one season - basically piggybacking on the C7 to avoid paying an exit fee for leaving the Big East and avoiding a season in the AAC which wasn't looking too hot at the time.  The C7 wasn't going to welcome them in as a one year pit stop before they departed, it would have hurt their leverage in the departure negotiations (less exit money incoming to the AAC teams), and as ND was expected to be pretty good this year it would have really hurt their image if ND spent one season in the Big East, won the conference, then bolted to the superior ACC and crapped out like they did this year.  In the end, ND negotiated an early exit with the AAC teams on their own. 

If they were ever serious about joining the Big East, we would certainly have interest.  But their membership pays more, currently involves football game commitments, is a better home for Olympic sports, and they'd now be stuck paying the ACC exit fees - so not happening anytime soon.

[muhoops1]

So the other thread on MU-ND's rivalry got me thinking.  Why did we not invite ND to the Big East?  If this was discussed on Scoop, then it must have been a very brief discussion because I don't remember this being brought up very much in our expansion talks.

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/_/id/9003784/notre-dame-athletic-director-jack-swarbrick-open-joining-catholic-7-league-one-season

I remember ND's AD publicly stating (see link) that he would be open to the possibility of joining the C7.

I mean this presupposes that expansion will happen.  Will expansion ever happen?  Well, it seems that Xavier's AD said so and the candidates were Dayton, SLU, VCU, and Richmond.  I don't want to start yet another thread on BE expansion, but I think one devoted solely to ND is worth having.

IMO, I like the 10-team conference.  But if musical chairs and the TV deal require us to go to 12, then I think SLU is a shoe-in.  And, IMO, Notre Dame would be *perfect* for the conference.  I mean, the benefits are numerous.  They have stellar academics, they are private, they were in the old Big East, they have an overall better bball program than any of the other potential candidates, they have instant name recognition, etc.

The only real drawback is that they have FBS football.  However, they are an FBS independent and seem intent on keeping it that way. 

Thoughts?

They have this stupid, annoying thing called football that earns a billion dollars a year.  Great post/thread.  Next up...why's the sky good?  Why are trees good?

[tweakers_suck]

football

[77ncaachamps]

Our league was too humble for their big ego.

Oh, and football.

[TealOnly]

Because they were too busy trying to lock down Dayton, to no avail.

[Dawson Rental]

Because they were too busy trying to lock down Dayton, to no avail.

I suspect you are Sarcasto in disguise!  Hey, and why use teal when you have the username that you do?

[TealOnly]

I suspect you are Sarcasto in disguise!  Hey, and why use teal when you have the username that you do?

The teal makes it more fun!

[savwa]

Football is king and $ talks.