Big Ten Expansion

[Socnorb11]

Why would Missouri lose the Texas connection? It can't be because of TV exposure, surely. Missouri can't be getting a ton of TV exposure in Texas, are they?

[ndistops]

To go back to the discussion of ND competing with Big Ten schools for recruits, if ND joined the Big Ten, the days of them getting Californians or other Western states (Clausen and Te'o), Floridians and other great Southern talent (Armando Allen and Golden Tate) or, really, anyone outside the Midwest would essentially be dead. Maybe not right away. But within 10 years or so, they'd be just another Big Ten school.

Right now they're Notre Dame, which carries with it all sorts of connotations, good or bad depending on how you view them. If they join the Big Ten, they'll be Notre Dame, Big Ten school. Look at what happened to Penn State, once a great independent football power. They joined the Big Ten and they are now a regional school. It hasn't worked out that bad for them. But you can't be a national name in a regional conference. No one outside Big Ten country gives a crap about anyone in the Big Ten. Most people give a crap about Notre Dame one way or the other, and that will eventually die if they're in a conference.

[slide_into_first]

l.. No one outside Big Ten country gives a crap about anyone in the Big Ten. Most people give a crap about Notre Dame one way or the other, and that will eventually die if they're in a conference.

I live in California and I give a crap about the BigTen and when USC plays Notre Dame I take a nap.

[ndistops]

l.. No one outside Big Ten country gives a crap about anyone in the Big Ten. Most people give a crap about Notre Dame one way or the other, and that will eventually die if they're in a conference.

I live in California and I give a crap about the BigTen and when USC plays Notre Dame I take a nap.

Good for you.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

People will cease to give a crap about Notre Dame if the best opponent they play is Air Force.

[Radio_Bugtussle]

To go back to the discussion of ND competing with Big Ten schools for recruits, if ND joined the Big Ten, the days of them getting Californians or other Western states (Clausen and Te'o), Floridians and other great Southern talent (Armando Allen and Golden Tate) or, really, anyone outside the Midwest would essentially be dead. Maybe not right away. But within 10 years or so, they'd be just another Big Ten school.

Right now they're Notre Dame, which carries with it all sorts of connotations, good or bad depending on how you view them. If they join the Big Ten, they'll be Notre Dame, Big Ten school. Look at what happened to Penn State, once a great independent football power. They joined the Big Ten and they are now a regional school. It hasn't worked out that bad for them. But you can't be a national name in a regional conference. No one outside Big Ten country gives a crap about anyone in the Big Ten. Most people give a crap about Notre Dame one way or the other, and that will eventually die if they're in a conference.

Ignore the realities if you wish, but ND is no longer recruiting enough quality football players.

That pretty TV contract isn't going to last much longer if ND can put nothing more than a mediocre team on the field.

And Transmogrified Tiger is exactly right regarding the Zoomies.

[vinsanity]

To go back to the discussion of ND competing with Big Ten schools for recruits, if ND joined the Big Ten, the days of them getting Californians or other Western states (Clausen and Te'o), Floridians and other great Southern talent (Armando Allen and Golden Tate) or, really, anyone outside the Midwest would essentially be dead. Maybe not right away. But within 10 years or so, they'd be just another Big Ten school.

Why? (until you get to PSU in the next part) You don't mention any reasoning for this. Florida, USC, Texas aren't regional schools. I hear a crap load about Bama, Cal and UCLA. Recruiting has almost nothing to do with to TV exposure or Conference Region. It's all about how much time a head coach/assistant coach spends with a recruit and his family. It's about how well they can sell the school and the program to the kid depending on their interest, be it playing time, academics, winning, NFL Prospects etc etc. Someone mentioned Mizzou earlier as a good place for WR's and QB's, but look at Purdue. Drew Brees went to Purdue, as did Orton who started a few years in Chicago and Denver. You've got Curtis Painter's very public flubs as Peyton Mannings backup (Purdue is the Cradle of Quarterbacks) - but he's still in the NFL. Guys don't go to Notre Dame because it's an independent school. Most don't go because of NBC.

Look at what happened to Penn State, once a great independent football power. They joined the Big Ten and they are now a regional school. It hasn't worked out that bad for them. But you can't be a national name in a regional conference.

Unless you're Florida, Bama, Texas,Oklahoma, USC, UCLA, Cal, Ohio State, Michigan (I'd argue you're wrong on Penn State), Nebraska etc etc. Penn state is a staple of college football. Joe Pa gives the team instant national recognition. They recruit heavily out of the Northeast (NY/NJ) but aren't exactly neglecting areas like Texas and obviously heavily in PA, but again I don't think you can look at recruiting to determine if a school is 'regional'.

I just don't understand how joining the conference hurts Notre Dame, especially considering this extends beyond football.

[StL Dan]

Why would Missouri lose the Texas connection? It can't be because of TV exposure, surely. Missouri can't be getting a ton of TV exposure in Texas, are they?

Despite the horrendous Big8+4 TV contract, MU gets plenty of exposure when they play one of the four Texas schools and OU and OSU. Not to mention the occassional regionally televised games against NU or KU.

[Radio_Bugtussle]

I just don't understand how joining the conference hurts Notre Dame, especially considering this extends beyond football.

Big East basketball is up and down. Nails one year, not so hot the next despite all the propaganda spewed from a location near Bristol CT. The B-10 is more consistent.

Independent CFB is 19th and 20th Century thinking...

[vinsanity]

I just don't understand how joining the conference hurts Notre Dame, especially considering this extends beyond football.

Big East basketball is up and down. Nails one year, not so hot the next despite all the propaganda spewed from a location near Bristol CT. The B-10 is more consistent.

Independent CFB is 19th and 20th Century thinking...

Academics, non major sports, it gives the school consistent opponents in all sports (despite practically playing a B10 football schedule they are in the Big East for all other major sports).

I wasn't talking about just basketball.