(09-04-2012 11:47 PM)nzmorange Wrote: (09-04-2012 09:56 PM)TerryD Wrote: Yes, I do think that ND will be ok with their TV money as long as it is able to keep its core identity as an independent, the national Catholic university.
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ND uses the football program as a marketing and recruiting arm of the entire university.
Independence is central to that role. It is a huge part of ND's identity.
1. Religion doesn't play as big a role as it used to. ND is nolonger the default dream college of all good catholic football players, and ND is nolonger the only coellge to recruit nationally. I think that identity is slipping away, and it will continue to slip away, no matter what ND does. Anyway, what happens when BC can pay for facilities that rival ND's? Sure, ND may be the big brother, but it will nolonger be the "national catholic university."
2. You are right that ND football is a marketing tool, but I don't think independence is central to that. I think being able to play a national schedule is central to that. If ND joined the ACC, they could still play away games from San Francisco to Miami, and from LA to Boston, while playing home games in South Bend, Indiana. THAT is a national schedule. Plus, they could concievably play 12 conference games, a division championship game, a conference championship game, and then a bowl game, or two (if they are one of the top 4 teams in the nation). That adds 2-3 games to their schedule, albiet one of them would be added anyway.
3. Don't get me wrong, ND is without a doubt a top 10 program, and it is likely a top 7 program, but 20-30 years ago it was a clear #1. In my opinion, the road that it is on ends.
Well, we just disagree. BC will never have the facilities that ND has. They cannot draw more than 30,000-35,000 to home games on a regular basis anyway.
You don't think that independence is central to ND. However, just about everyone at ND thinks differently than you.
Their opinion is the one that matters in this issue, not mine or yours.
ND is currently negotiating an extension with NBC. Why would they be doing that if they were trying to get into a conference?
If it were just about money, ND would already be in the Big Ten. Heck, the Big 12 will pay more TV money than the ACC.
Why isn't ND a current member of either (or any) conference?
If it were only about money, how much $$ do you think ND would make with selling the naming rights to the stadium, having advertisements all over the stadium and installing a big Jumbotron to blast advertising?
It is about more than money with ND. It is about its identity. It does not want to be in a football conference.
The national marketing that I am talking about has to do with general students, not football players.
ND uses its independence to market the university. That is very important to them.
If its identity slips away as an independent, so be it. At least ND would not have surrendered its legacy to outside forces which are antagonistic to ND by abandoning independence and joining a football conference.
Have you wondered why I am just about the only Notre Dame fan on these boards? Have you checked any/all of the numerous ND message boards?
There is little to no conference realignment talk there. That is because hardly anyone pays much attention to the subject and wants any change in ND's status.
That pro-independent stance and culture among ND boosters, alumni and fan base is very strong.
They view joining a conference as a sellout of ND's history and tradition and are very much opposed.
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How to land ND (I saw this on a SU fan forum)
