Big East notebook: Luck of the Irish could rub off

[Cubanbull]

ND has their football contract with a network,NBC. No other school can pull that off. So joining the BE will not bring them more TV money etc. I do agree and hope that if a split happens the football schools would tell ND to join or stick with the catholic schools which would not be as appelaing to the Irish

[Guest S.  Bien]

Actually, if ND ever joined a conference for football I believe it would be the Big East for a myriad of reasons.

First, the Big East would be the only one that wouldn't force them to drop their network contract with NBC, or share it, at least not share massive amounts.  ACC, and B10 both wanted to cut it up and ND would never go for that.

Notre Dame has a rich history against Big East teams as much as against B10 teams.  ND's been playing Rutgers for almost 80 years, the same with Syracuse- granted the removal of BC changes it a bit, but I believe that ND could get PSU to come back to the fold if they really asked.

In the end, the reason ND doesn't join football is because of their alum base likes to keep that perception of an 'us against the world' mentality.  Independent and willing to contend against all takers.  They are so adament about not joining a conference for football that any AD that tried to presuade otherwise would be fired.   It would probably take a decade of records and football similar to Army before ND would acquiesce.

Although, if ND was part of a conference of their own creation that could alter the perception, and possibly make the alumni base agreeable.  For example, in say 2009 if the Big East football splittered off, brought in Notre Dame, BC, Army, Navy, and PSU that could be enough to convince them to switch.  The argument would be half their annual schedule is already located in the conference.  Still highly doubtful.