(11-23-2014 10:27 PM)Maize Wrote: (11-23-2014 10:25 PM)7thHeaven Wrote: If and when ND is left out of a playoff situation, then and only then will they consider joining as full members.
Never say never but I kimd of doubt it...people been trying to get ND into a Conference for almost 40 years...JMO, as long as they have the NBC Deal or a Deal like that with another TV Network and they have a path to any Post Season Structure they will stay as is.
Maize, that has obviously been my mantra on these boards for years now.
There was a lot of talk about "forcing" ND to join the Big East back in 2003 and afterwards with some ultimatum of sorts.
Back around 2008-09, people speculated that NBC might not renew its contract with ND and that this would "force" ND into a football conference.
Lots of people thought that the playoffs would be champions only back in 2010-11 and that this would "force" ND into a football conference.
People also thought that the Big Ten would devour the ACC in 2012 and that this would "force" ND into joining the Big Ten full time.
After all of that, ND football is still not playing in a conference. I know that "never say never", but I don't see anything on the horizon that will cause ND to put its football program in any conference.
For the life of me, I don't see why it is such a big deal to other people. Each school should be able to decide its own direction. If being an independent in football is such an "unfair" advantage or position for ND, other schools are free to try to do it, too.