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

Whats wrong with Indy? ND to good to play there?

A little Ohio State perspective on the issue.

http://www.theozone.net/misc/09GeneSmithonBTexpansion.htm

West

Illinois
Iowa
Northwestern
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin

East

Michigan
Notre Dame
Indiana
Purdue
Penn State
Ohio State

Split Michigan and Michigan State up unfortunately

Like fab1 posted earlier, wrestling is a big sport in the Big 10, and ND doesn't have it. I don't know if it would be a deciding factor, but I'm assuming they'll want to add a school that carries the same major sports as the rest of the conference.

why would you want to put the 4 top programs (historically) in the same division, unless you are a fan of one of the western schools and want a much easier road to the conference title game?

the division spit doesn't have to be geographical....and if it is, at least put ND in the west

NOL fan wrote: why would you want to put the 4 top programs (historically) in the same division, unless you are a fan of one of the western schools and want a much easier road to the conference title game?

the division spit doesn't have to be geographical....and if it is, at least put ND in the west

Who do you swap ND with? Michigan State? That's a pretty even trade right there anymore. Then you have 3 Indiana schools and 2 of them in the same conference and one not.

Unfortunately, they are going to have 1 strong division no matter how they split it up.

ND fits with the academic standards that the Big 10 has to offer, but I'd rather see Pitt or Missouri instead of the Irish, simply because they can win bowl games.

if you have to do it as east/west, then yes MSU

though I would drop the geographic notion. I would put OSU and UM in the same division, and then put ND and PSU in the other division, then balance things out by splitting everyone else up fairly evenly. Somethng like:

OSU
Michigan
Iowa
MSU
Illinois
Northwestern

ND
PSU
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Purdue
Indiana

sleeper wrote: ND fits with the academic standards that the Big 10 has to offer, but I'd rather see Pitt or Missouri instead of the Irish, simply because they can win bowl games.

lol

I would love to see ND in the Big Ten.
The Big Ten definitely needs another team so they can for two divisions and have a conference championship. The lack of a championship hurts all big ten teams. With twelve teams though, would it be called the Big Ten?

Absolutely. Easy win for most of the conference.

The article states ND $15 million annually from NBC and the Big Twen gets $19.27 million per school from ESPN/ABC. So I guess money is not the issue. Academically they are the best fit. Football wise they would be middle of the pack with Iowa and Michigan State most years, but Mizzo might be middle of the pack also. They already play UM, MSU and Purdue every year. Who else beyond Navy, USC and Boston College do they play every year?

I would LOVE to see Notre Dame in the Big Ten. It would add more credability and tradition to the conference, it expands the conferences appeal because Notre Dame is a national program, and it would be big money for the conference. I can't really see any drawbacks from this. I'd even be okay with ND keeping their NBC contract for home games and letting them keep all of the money from that, then still getting their split of the rest of the TV revenue for their games not on NBC as part of the Big Ten media deal.

^^Their series with Boston College is ending due to their move to the ACC.

Notre Dame would play eight Big Ten games, Southern Cal and Navy, and two randoms each year? Not too bad I suppose. Dropping Stanford and Boston College isn't the worst thing in the world.

Also I think it's important to note, and not to sound ultra-biased, but recent Notre Dame teams have been the worst in the program's history. What's to happen when they start getting better? I suppose it an "if/when," but seriously. I doubt they'd always be a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team.

without a doubt--with open arms!!!

I did not use the word always. They are not better in football year and year out than OSU, PSU or Wisconsin. They should always be better than Minn, NW and Indy. I do not understand the inability to be better than Purdue. They are usually on par with MSU and UM. I could see them make a run ever so often like Iowa does.

It would be great but they have time and again said "no way" ....brock brock broooock brock.

This topic may soon be very relevant to ND fans! It seems the hiring of Kelly has ruffled feathers in the Big East Conference! While ND football is still independant, the rest of ND athletics are in the Big East. The hiring of Kelly and discussions with UCONN coach Edsell are sure to be a hot topic at the next conference meeting. There are rules against hiring coaches from another team within your own conference and while ND football isn't technically in the conference you can imagine with the closeness of the rest of the athletic program this will be a serious talking point. It may come down to the Big East either forcing them all in or out, getting assurances their next hirings will not come from the Big East, or ND chosing to leave for another conference alltogether with the Big 10 being the only candidate!

Notre Dame is the only team I really want to join the Big Ten. When Michigan and Notre Dame get back to their usual standards, a conference with Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Iowa would be brutally tough.

Cleveland Buck wrote: When Michigan and Notre Dame get back to their usual standards, a conference with Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Iowa would be brutally tough.

This.

I think it would be great to see. But I think you would see the Big Ten mandate that they start a wrestling program, which I would LOVE to see. My cousin JD wrestled at Ohio State, he was a 3x All-American for the Buckeyes and is trying for a spot on the Olympic team in 2012. While growing up it was Notre Dame first and the Buckeyes close second for him. It's a damn shame Notre Dame doesn't have a wrestling program, I would've liked to have seen him wrestle there. That said, it's a damn shame many schools have given their wrestling program the axe in recent decades.

noquarter wrote: 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.

Talk about the blind leading the blind.........LMAO at this post!

Tiernan wrote: It would be great but they have time and again said "no way" ....brock brock broooock brock.

That's funny because ND was denied entry in to the Big 10 many moons ago due to their religious beliefs. I don't blame ND for saying no in more recent times.

rock_knutne wrote:

Tiernan wrote: It would be great but they have time and again said "no way" ....brock brock broooock brock.

That's funny because ND was denied entry in to the Big 10 many moons ago due to their religious beliefs. I don't blame ND for saying no in more recent times.

Ya for real.....you wanna know why ND isn't already in the Big 10? The hero of Michigan football himself.....Fielding Yost. Hero my ass, complete bigot is more like it.

bcubed wrote: This topic may soon be very relevant to ND fans! It seems the hiring of Kelly has ruffled feathers in the Big East Conference! While ND football is still independant, the rest of ND athletics are in the Big East. The hiring of Kelly and discussions with UCONN coach Edsell are sure to be a hot topic at the next conference meeting. There are rules against hiring coaches from another team within your own conference and while ND football isn't technically in the conference you can imagine with the closeness of the rest of the athletic program this will be a serious talking point. It may come down to the Big East either forcing them all in or out, getting assurances their next hirings will not come from the Big East, or ND chosing to leave for another conference alltogether with the Big 10 being the only candidate!

First, ND will not join ANY conference, let alone be forced to join the Big East in football just because they hired a coach from said conference. Facts are, ND playing in the Big East in all other sports is a convenience factor.........BUT.........ND did return the favor when they agreed to play three Big East schools a year in football. Trust me, ND doesn't need the Big East for their other sports programs to exist, the football program makes more than enough money to fund the schools other sports programs.

True but the automatic berth possibility for basketball is rather important, and played a roll in getting the Irish in the Big East.

....until you are cognizant of how many times they've actually achieved getting that berth. :s