Are We All ND Football Fans Now?

[Tugg Speedman]

ND beat MSU yesterday.  If they can run the table and make  BCS bowl this year, it solidifies their intent to stay independent in football.  Then they would be more willing to come along in a basketball-centric conference with other catholic schools.

If they bomb out again, they might be willing to jump to a football conference and we lose them as part of a basketball-centric conference.

Anyone disagree with this reasoning?

[MUFC9295]

Why would ND share that NBC deal?  It's their most loyal fan.

[Abode4life]

Why would ND share that NBC deal?  It's their most loyal fan.

I don't think he is talking about sharing the NBC deal.  If ND succeeds in football, they will be able to keep the NBC contract all to themselves, thus not having to join a conference for football.  If they can stay independent in football they will be willing to keep their basketball and other sports in a basketball centric league. 

[MUBurrow]

I don't think we are. Both ND and NBC know that the results of the next two years are not concrete enough to hang conference affiliation/TV extension.  I think ND makes its call regardless of whether they win out this year, same with NBC.  I have no empirical ratings evidence to back this up, but I don't think ND's ratings vary drastically if they're 10-2 or 7-5. They'll always be in that neighborhood with the military academies, Purdue, Boston College, etc on the sched.  Plus, they get to dictate their schedule, largely in coordination with what it would take NBC to reextend their deal.  People still love them, people still love to hate them. Until they stop becoming bowl eligible, neither is going to change.

[Hards Alumni]

ND beat MSU yesterday.  If they can run the table and make  BCS bowl this year, it solidifies their intent to stay independent in football.  Then they would be more willing to come along in a basketball-centric conference with other catholic schools.

If they bomb out again, they might be willing to jump to a football conference and we lose them as part of a basketball-centric conference.

Anyone disagree with this reasoning?

I will never, ever be a ND fan.

[mikem91288]

Ugh, As much as I hate to say this (given I hate ND football). This is a legitimate point.

ND, Gtown, Nova, MU, then bring in the little brothers of the A-10 and BE without football, that will be our conference.

[forgetful]

We also have to hope that a team like Villanova doesn't get an invite to the ACC, long shot, but people on there boards seem to think it is almost a done deal.

[GOO]

ND will want a bigger conference/bigger schools for all there sports. I just hope it helps us out. From what I've heard, we owe them a tip of the hat for getting us in the BE.

[77ncaachamps]

I will never, ever be a ND fan AND A WISCONSIN FAN.

There. Now, I agree..

[Lighthouse 84]

No.  Hell no.

[4everwarriors]

If ND goes anywhere, it'll be the Big 10.

[Earl Tatum]

Everything about Notre Dame Sucks! Basketball, football or whatever. I'm catholic. No college team should have their network. Notre Dame and Texas come to mind. But the NCAA is chicken to step on their toes.

[warriorfred]

Never.  Don't ever suggest such a horrible idea.

[Norm]

I've always been an ND football fan and always will be. That's what happens when your dad graduated from there and he took you tons of football games in South Bend while you grow up. Since MU has no football team, I kept on rooting for them. I could also care less what they do in basketball.

If ND can stay independent, that could help MU in a new conference. I have no idea how all the conference realignment will shake out, but I hope it works out for the Warriors.