BleedGopher
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per The Big Lead:
No one should be holding their breath on the Irish going against tradition and become like everyone else. They have their reasons and they’re good ones. They may outweigh the desire to win national championships in football. If they don’t, strong consideration should be given to calling an audible.
South Bend is right in the heart of the Big Ten footprint. Three of the Irish’s traditional rivals are within driving distance. The conference is in the midst of a resurgence thanks to Urban Meyer, Mark Dantonio and Jim Harbaugh. Some of the joking slights have lost their zing as the gulf between the top of the Big Ten and SEC has seemingly shrunk (at least at the top).
The timing is right for Notre Dame to finally do what many college football fans have wanted them to do.
It’s easy to see the football reasons for such a move. In addition to gaining the ability to add a conference crown to their resume, Notre Dame would get yearly matchups with Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. A static crossover game against Purdue would ensure the continuation of three rivalry games and provide flexibility for the nonconference schedule. Louisville could be added to even up the divisions.
Playing in the Big Ten East means a reliably strong strength of schedule, especially if Penn State finds a way to return to its former glory. Whomever emerges from this division will be playing for a surefire invite to the playoff in the conference championship every year. Escaping the gauntlet undefeated by afford the victor a spot in the final four even if they lose the title game to the Big Ten West representative.
There are off-field considerations. Notre Dame already competes in the ACC and the talent-rich states the conference covers. The ACC offers a title game with fewer traditional powers standing in the way every year. Adding a fourth power to the Big Ten East would put pressure to balance with a similar addition to the West. Luring Texas up north is a tall, perhaps impossible order.
Playing in the Big Ten would also erode and dull the unicorn’s horn. If for some reason Notre Dame was unable to compete for the conference crown for a prolonged period, it would be crushing to its public perception.
Notre Dame bleeds tradition. This would seem to be a solution that addresses a need while speaking to tradition. The university should ask itself if they’d gain more by this arrangement than they’d lose.
http://thebiglead.com/2016/09/19/joining-the-big-ten-would-fix-notre-dames-playoff-problem/
Go Gophers!!
No one should be holding their breath on the Irish going against tradition and become like everyone else. They have their reasons and they’re good ones. They may outweigh the desire to win national championships in football. If they don’t, strong consideration should be given to calling an audible.
South Bend is right in the heart of the Big Ten footprint. Three of the Irish’s traditional rivals are within driving distance. The conference is in the midst of a resurgence thanks to Urban Meyer, Mark Dantonio and Jim Harbaugh. Some of the joking slights have lost their zing as the gulf between the top of the Big Ten and SEC has seemingly shrunk (at least at the top).
The timing is right for Notre Dame to finally do what many college football fans have wanted them to do.
It’s easy to see the football reasons for such a move. In addition to gaining the ability to add a conference crown to their resume, Notre Dame would get yearly matchups with Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. A static crossover game against Purdue would ensure the continuation of three rivalry games and provide flexibility for the nonconference schedule. Louisville could be added to even up the divisions.
Playing in the Big Ten East means a reliably strong strength of schedule, especially if Penn State finds a way to return to its former glory. Whomever emerges from this division will be playing for a surefire invite to the playoff in the conference championship every year. Escaping the gauntlet undefeated by afford the victor a spot in the final four even if they lose the title game to the Big Ten West representative.
There are off-field considerations. Notre Dame already competes in the ACC and the talent-rich states the conference covers. The ACC offers a title game with fewer traditional powers standing in the way every year. Adding a fourth power to the Big Ten East would put pressure to balance with a similar addition to the West. Luring Texas up north is a tall, perhaps impossible order.
Playing in the Big Ten would also erode and dull the unicorn’s horn. If for some reason Notre Dame was unable to compete for the conference crown for a prolonged period, it would be crushing to its public perception.
Notre Dame bleeds tradition. This would seem to be a solution that addresses a need while speaking to tradition. The university should ask itself if they’d gain more by this arrangement than they’d lose.
http://thebiglead.com/2016/09/19/joining-the-big-ten-would-fix-notre-dames-playoff-problem/
Go Gophers!!
