Transmogrified Tiger wrote:ndistops wrote:ND hasn't played Air Force in 3 years, their schedule last year was ranked 32nd in the country at the end of the season, and this is where I exit the debate because as usual when the topic is ND words like "clueless" and "hubris" are tossed around and respectful discussion is impossible.
Again, the point is in being pro-active. Notre Dame is fine to stay independent in this landscape, but if you think Big 10 expansion is going to lead to consolidation and a longer conference season, it could be very hard to remain relevant as an independent.
More conference games means fewer opportunities for quality opponents. A good reason to give up the 19/20th Century "Independent" thinking.
A 6 to 8 win ND team as an independent isn't going to keep decent TV revenue for very long. 6 to 8 win B-10 teams don't have that problem. If/when that TV revenue dries up, ND becomes Fordham West during football season.
While I like the B-12 and Missouri's place in it, Mizzou moving to the B-10 would not be the end of the world. Lots of interesting rivalries in the B-12 and the football in the league is entertaining stuff. Mizzou/Illinois and Mizzou/Iowa should be rather interesting.
Pinkel will make that work for him just as he used the B-12 to his advantage in working Texas. Sure, the Orange Cows get who they want, but there is a lot left after they're done. Several of those guys have done pretty well. GP will likely do similar things with a good B-10 based foothold in Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc.