So we've got word of their home-and-home with the Ohio State. They've recently had agreements with Texas and Georgia, plus games with Michigan State in the future.

Let's play who they schedule next. Assume they continue with USC, Stanford and Navy, plus the 5 games/yr ACC agreement. So those choices are out.

My pick is on Oregon.

Notre Dame doesn't line up well against Oregon. For the life of me I don't know why they don't sign with LSU. LSU plays a game much easier for Notre Dame to line up against. The State of Louisiana is Very Catholic friendly. That is a State that Notre Dame needs to push into.

My money is on LSU.

(09-04-2014 07:27 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  Notre Dame doesn't line up well against Oregon. For the life of me I don't know why they don't sign with LSU. LSU plays a game much easier for Notre Dame to line up against. The State of Louisiana is Very Catholic friendly. That is a State that Notre Dame needs to push into.

My money is on LSU.

I was thinking the same thing. LSU is a win-win.

Georgia made no sense to me - they already play Georgia Tech and there's almost no Catholics in Georgia anyways (particularly outside of Atlanta).

If I was ND, I'd schedule Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and UTEP. The only real growth market left for football in the USA is going to be 2nd generation Mexican-Americans who want to have a "home" team in the great American sport. A large chunk of them might choose to support a Catholic school rather than their local school, but only if they're able to see them play (and beat) the local Anglo teams.

Army

Texas A&M continues the trend of playing games in Texas. They already have California and Florida covered.

(09-04-2014 09:45 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  If I was ND, I'd schedule Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and UTEP. The only real growth market left for football in the USA is going to be 2nd generation Mexican-Americans who want to have a "home" team in the great American sport.

ND gets more exposure in that demographic by playing USC every year than they could ever get by playing those four schools. There are more than 20 million people living in southern California. There are more than 10 million in LA County alone, more than in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas combined.

(09-05-2014 11:30 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-04-2014 09:45 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  If I was ND, I'd schedule Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and UTEP. The only real growth market left for football in the USA is going to be 2nd generation Mexican-Americans who want to have a "home" team in the great American sport.

ND gets more exposure in that demographic by playing USC every year than they could ever get by playing those four schools. There are more than 20 million people living in southern California. There are more than 10 million in LA County alone, more than in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas combined.

Very true that LA covers the majority of the Mexican-American population.

But there's still about 5 million Mexican-Americans in AZ, NM, and West Texas. Most of them are not football fans - yet. But like every group of immigrants before them, their kids will become (and are becoming) Americanized. They're looking for a football team to root for. Who are they going to choose?

With only 1 NFL franchise in the region and no local CFB team going to BCS bowls, most of them will probably pick a random national CFB power - and Notre Dame is a prime candidate. Playing games in the region frequently would cement ND's advantage.

Where else in the country can you find 5 million people who lack a current rooting interest and who are looking for a winner to support?

(09-05-2014 04:15 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  

(09-05-2014 11:30 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-04-2014 09:45 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  If I was ND, I'd schedule Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and UTEP. The only real growth market left for football in the USA is going to be 2nd generation Mexican-Americans who want to have a "home" team in the great American sport.

ND gets more exposure in that demographic by playing USC every year than they could ever get by playing those four schools. There are more than 20 million people living in southern California. There are more than 10 million in LA County alone, more than in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas combined.

Very true that LA covers the majority of the Mexican-American population.

But there's still about 5 million Mexican-Americans in AZ, NM, and West Texas. Most of them are not football fans - yet. But like every group of immigrants before them, their kids will become (and are becoming) Americanized. They're looking for a football team to root for. Who are they going to choose?

With only 1 NFL franchise in the region and no local CFB team going to BCS bowls, most of them will probably pick a random national CFB power - and Notre Dame is a prime candidate. Playing games in the region frequently would cement ND's advantage.

Where else in the country can you find 5 million people who lack a current rooting interest and who are looking for a winner to support?

ND is playing at Arizona State this year, BTW. I doubt very much that ND would play at UNM or UTEP, but they'd probably be willing to write a check to them to play a money game in South Bend as they do for one or two G5 teams in most years.

Also, ND already plays 2 Pac-12 teams every year. It's possible that when their current contract with Stanford ends, they'll do what they did with Michigan State and play Stanford frequently but not every year, and fill in the openings on their future schedules with other Pac-12 teams. But then again, maybe not -- if population base is a factor, the Bay Area is the Pac-12's 2nd largest TV market by a wide margin. It has more people than the entire state of Washington or Arizona or any other state in the west. And, for Notre Dame's consideration, California is also 30% Catholic, so just the number of Catholics in California (about 10 million) exceeds the total population of any other western state.

(09-05-2014 11:30 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-04-2014 09:45 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  If I was ND, I'd schedule Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and UTEP. The only real growth market left for football in the USA is going to be 2nd generation Mexican-Americans who want to have a "home" team in the great American sport.

ND gets more exposure in that demographic by playing USC every year than they could ever get by playing those four schools. There are more than 20 million people living in southern California. There are more than 10 million in LA County alone, more than in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas combined.

Not to mention that Notre Dame tried to get out of their series with Arizona State but ASU said no way to being bought out of the series.

(09-04-2014 07:27 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  Notre Dame doesn't line up well against Oregon. For the life of me I don't know why they don't sign with LSU. LSU plays a game much easier for Notre Dame to line up against. The State of Louisiana is Very Catholic friendly. That is a State that Notre Dame needs to push into.

My money is on LSU.

Neat idea.

(09-05-2014 11:30 AM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-04-2014 09:45 PM)Captain Bearcat Wrote:  If I was ND, I'd schedule Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, and UTEP. The only real growth market left for football in the USA is going to be 2nd generation Mexican-Americans who want to have a "home" team in the great American sport.

ND gets more exposure in that demographic by playing USC every year than they could ever get by playing those four schools. There are more than 20 million people living in southern California. There are more than 10 million in LA County alone, more than in Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas combined.

Don't forget UTSA. That team is supported by all of San Antonio.

(09-04-2014 07:27 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  Notre Dame doesn't line up well against Oregon. For the life of me I don't know why they don't sign with LSU. LSU plays a game much easier for Notre Dame to line up against. The State of Louisiana is Very Catholic friendly. That is a State that Notre Dame needs to push into.

My money is on LSU.

Bingo