[NU Sports] EXPANSION

[SjT (Stephen J. Truog)]

> Having followed this discussion for a
> while my observation is that an  
> announcement from the Big Ten confirming Notre Dame's
> decision to join the  
> conference is all we need. Then if we don't get Texas it

For a minute there, I thought you were pulling a "West Wing" and proposing we make an announcement on them joining before they actually do to "flush out" their intentions to deny or accept. :)

> It doesn't matter if you like ND or not.  They will
> increase the brand  of 
> the conference more than the addition of any other 4 teams
> (even Texas)  

Well, I think Texas trumps ND these days -- they're equal academically and Texas brings more in new markets and overall sports ... but yes, those are the two big fish out there.

> combined.  We don't like Ohio State.  But does
> anyone want them to  leave the 
> conference?  We want Ohio State in the conference

... hmm, tempting.:)

> Get ND.  For me, that's the ball game.   

Yup -- we're at the point now where the Pac 10's move makes it imperative for Delaney to sign at least one of the two big fish. Getting nothing while they become the Pac 16 with Texas would be a blow.

So play some hardball. Rumors are already swirling how the Pac 16 would affect Notre Dame's long-running SC/Stanford series where they get a west coast game at the end of the year ... pull their high-profile Big Ten games early in the year and force their hand.

I think we're pretty much going to have to take Mizzou and UNL once that Big XII deadline passes, so ND would make 14, which also works.

> Get the Irish.  Make draw them a picture..make them an
> offer they  can't  refuse.

I agree to a point - no special deals. Simply tell them to join or we will take away the Michigan, MSU and Purdue games that make up most of their major TV draws for NBC and they will be left playing Washington State in San Antonio or UConn in the Meadowlands. But we need to move THEIR timetable up as well so we have an answer before Texas jumps, the other rubble clears out and we're left with Rutgers, Mizzou and Nebraska.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT