I do not see the status quo changing for the moment and do not think there is anything serious pushing the Irish into football membership right now. The ACC has no leverage to, the other big conferences have no desire to see the Irish strengthen the ACC, the alumni would revolt if the school took football membership over a similar type offer from the Big 12 (and again the ACC cannot force a move there), and I do not think the Notre Dame administration sees recruiting or other type of advantages from joining a conference (I do not either, Notre Dame's uniqueness I think actually helps).

I think they are set until such a time that we have a major organizational change and I do not see any push for one right now. With time, in tough economic times (coming, but none of the powers that be ever seem to see), we might aee a merger of conferences into a single organization (to give them maximium power in neogications, but this will be a desperation move by the bigger powers) and then there might be no choice, but for now i see them safe as independent.