BleedGopher
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per Dennis Dodd:
Notre Dame has been losing ground for a while.
That conclusion has less to do with any criticism of its recruiting, talent or coaching; rather, it's referring to college football's evolving realization.
The sport has become bigger than what was once college football's flagship program. The implications, as you will see, are obvious. Start with a crying need for Notre Dame to join a conference sooner than later.
College football needed the clout of Notre Dame to from the old College Football Association in breaking away from the NCAA television monopoly in the 1980s. It needed Notre Dame to crown a legitimate champion when the Bowl Championship Series kicked off in 1998.
But by 2006, a conscious decision was made by the commissioners who ran the BCS to reduce Notre Dame's access from a top 12 finish to one in the top eight. They figured out that the BCS was more significant than Notre Dame's involvement in it. Special access began to erode.
But in a way, Notre Dame isn't in control of its future. The conferences basically rule the landscape with their major-bowl partnerships. Only the Big 12 doesn't play a conference championship game.In 2014, that extra game was the difference for Ohio State. The Buckeyes slipped into the top four on Pick ‘Em Day by clowning Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. This year, Notre Dame's season will have been over for eight days when the selection committee picks the field on Dec. 6.
After 127 seasons and 1,234 games, the next 12 games in Season No. 128 may leave the most lasting impression for the Irish.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...rol-of-own-future-should-join-conference-soon
Go Gophers!!
Notre Dame has been losing ground for a while.
That conclusion has less to do with any criticism of its recruiting, talent or coaching; rather, it's referring to college football's evolving realization.
The sport has become bigger than what was once college football's flagship program. The implications, as you will see, are obvious. Start with a crying need for Notre Dame to join a conference sooner than later.
College football needed the clout of Notre Dame to from the old College Football Association in breaking away from the NCAA television monopoly in the 1980s. It needed Notre Dame to crown a legitimate champion when the Bowl Championship Series kicked off in 1998.
But by 2006, a conscious decision was made by the commissioners who ran the BCS to reduce Notre Dame's access from a top 12 finish to one in the top eight. They figured out that the BCS was more significant than Notre Dame's involvement in it. Special access began to erode.
But in a way, Notre Dame isn't in control of its future. The conferences basically rule the landscape with their major-bowl partnerships. Only the Big 12 doesn't play a conference championship game.In 2014, that extra game was the difference for Ohio State. The Buckeyes slipped into the top four on Pick ‘Em Day by clowning Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. This year, Notre Dame's season will have been over for eight days when the selection committee picks the field on Dec. 6.
After 127 seasons and 1,234 games, the next 12 games in Season No. 128 may leave the most lasting impression for the Irish.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...rol-of-own-future-should-join-conference-soon
Go Gophers!!