What the hell! Another Notre Dame thread? :@

This is a serious question though, because I think it speaks differently to Notre Dame fans and non-Notre Dame fans. To Notre Dame fans: would you want to see Notre Dame lose its unique independent schedule and play the likes of Indiana, Minnesota, and Northwestern every season? To non-Notre Dame fans: do you think Notre Dame would be a solid addition to the Big Ten?

Now, Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame’s Athletic Director, has said “Maintaining our independence is a real priority for us. That’s out plan going forward.” That essentially translates to “I doubt it. But I won’t say ‘under no circumstances will Notre Dame join the Big Ten.’”

That said, I think it’s possible. So what do you think?

For what it’s worth, here are the records for members of the Big Ten, and Notre Dame, since the Big Ten expanded to eleven teams in 1993:

Ohio State: 169-43-1
Michigan: 146-64
Penn State: 146-62
Wisconsin: 143-66-4
Notre Dame: 125-80-1
Iowa: 118-86-1
Michigan State: 106-96-1
Purdue: 104-98-3
Northwestern: 96-105-1
Minnesota: 96-110
Illinois: 75-121-1
Indiana: 68-127


Now, I’m particularly uninterested in seeing these responses (so spare us):
“Will Notre Dame ever win a bowl game against a team better than a hapless 6-6 Hawai’i team?”
“Notre Dame hasn’t beaten Ohio State since the 1930s, they’d lose every season.”
“They had nine bowl losses in a row, the Big Ten should look elsewhere.”

Imagine this setup:

Big Ten Division One
Indiana
Iowa
Minnesota
Northwestern
Penn State
Wisconsin

Big Ten Division Two
Illinois
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Purdue

I prefer Missouri and Pittsburgh to Notre Dame. But they would be my 3rd choice after those two.

I think they should stay independent, though.

sjmvsfscs08 wrote: Imagine this setup:

Big Ten Division One
Indiana
Iowa
Minnesota
Northwestern
Penn State
Wisconsin

Big Ten Division Two
Illinois
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Purdue

Why is Penn State in the division with all the teams farthest west when they are the easternmost school in the conference? I would switch them and Illinois.

Would not like to see Notre Dame in the Big 10 as a Notre Dame fan.

Nah, the Big Ten needs to get stronger.. This would be a bad move...

I want Pitt or Missouri, for rivalry purposes...

Pitt would be my #1 choice though.

By the way, I'm kidding about my opening line.

dtdtim wrote: Why is Penn State in the division with all the teams farthest west when they are the easternmost school in the conference? I would switch them and Illinois.

Well that alignment was done in about fifty seconds, so I didn't put too much thought in it. I basically wanted to even out the perennial powerhouses in the conference. Plus the rivalries need to stay somewhat intact. I imagine it would be five conference games against teams in your division, and three against the other division. Of those three games, one would be with a rival that would be played every year, and the other two would rotate. I don't know, it's just what I conjured up in the midst of writing this Political Science final.... :s

I would rather have Pitt. But ND would be my second choice.

Although it's been said many times many ways.....Notre Dame is probably the most logical in terms of geography, tradition, CFB history, relationship to the Big 10 over the years, and - I suppose - "academic standards.

But I don't want to see it. Pitt, West Virginia, or Missouri.........

Big Ten Division One

Penn State
Pitt
Ohio State
Indiana
Purdue
Michigan State

Big Ten Division Two

Michigan
Iowa
Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Illinois

hell yes!!!

believer wrote: Although it's been said many times many ways.....Notre Dame is probably the most logical in terms of geography, tradition, CFB history, relationship to the Big 10 over the years, and - I suppose - "academic standards.

But I don't want to see it. Pitt, West Virginia, or Missouri.........

Big Ten Division One

Penn State
Pitt
Ohio State
Indiana
Purdue
Michigan State

Big Ten Division Two

Michigan
Iowa
Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Illinois

There is absolutely no way OSU and Michigan should be in separate divisions.. They could play twice a year and that's just not right...

Swap out Indiana and Purdue for Michigan and Illinois..

As an ND fan.....I wouldn't mind it a bit.

Lemon.

Doesnt' matter to me who joins, I just think the Big10 needs to be proactive and expand in such a way to match what the SEC and the Big 12 have done. It's all about revenue and those championship games generate mucho dinero.

Would I like to see it?

Not necessarily.

Would I mind it?

Not really.

No.

Gymshoe wrote: Doesnt' matter to me who joins, I just think the Big10 needs to be proactive and expand in such a way to match what the SEC and the Big 12 have done. It's all about revenue and those championship games generate mucho dinero.

Seems to me with the Big 10 getting 2 BCS teams every year adding the conference championship would probably end up costing the conference revenue and a second BCS game.

Curious how this subject would come up at a time when the Big 10's national reputation is floundering in the National Media though I don't think any of the options really helps that much with that. At least Notre Dame if they would join would try to be a top notch program unlike most of the rest of the Big 10 schools who don't seem to want to improve their teams.

First of all I am a huge Notre Dame hater, but Notre Dame would easily be the best choice to add to the Big Ten. They are the only team mentioned that has the tradition, stadium size, national recognition, academics and natural rivalries to match Big Ten schools and geographically it just makes sense. Pitt is a who cares game for everyone but Penn State and Possibly Ohio State as is Missouri for Everyone but Illinois.

Bring on the Irish!

As a Notre Dame fan....no.

A few reasons:

I like the independence.
Prefer to see Pitt and PSU play again.
As Woody Hayes once said, the rivalry with ND and OSU would be so big that he felt it would take away from the Michigan game.

No.

ND could not handle the continued embarresment!!! They would be in the bottom of the league every year in football as well as basketball.

Keep their independence and tradition - pleeease.

basketball really? they play in the best basketball conference in the nation and hold their own pretty well. as for football they would be towards the top every year with penn state, ohio state and in a couple years michigan

also where would you think the big ten title game would be played at? Lucas oil?

Crimson_Streak wrote: basketball really? they play in the best basketball conference in the nation and hold their own pretty well. as for football they would be towards the top every year with penn state, ohio state and in a couple years michigan

Football in the top LMAO, week in and week out would have problem with Illinois, Iowa, etc. let alone OSU and PSU. Just cause they get by MSU and the hapless Wolverines lately dont act like they would even been close to the top of the conference.
I didnt realize they played bball in the big 10 already or the ACC.