[NU Sports] EXPANSION

[Jonathan Hodges]

Probably the most direct way of forcing ND's hand:

1. Threaten to take Pitt, Rutgers, and Syracuse from the Big East (along
with Nebraska and Missouri from the Big XII).  These are all AAU members who
have competitive athletics (how much additional revenue is arguable, but
those 5 are nothing to laugh at, at least).

2. The Big East will be finished (as a BCS football conference) if 3 of its
8 football members are taken.  This will essentially force their hand to
pull out the stops and give their own ultimatum to ND to try and get them in
the fold to keep the conference alive (join the Big East in all sports,
including football, or else they'll get kicked out in everything).  There
aren't any really viable expansion targets for the Big East in their current
geography (although it is quite vast), so this may be their only option
outside of folding.

3. ND may be able to survive as a football independent, but they cannot
survive with all of their sports as independents today.  This would force
them into joining a conference in football and the choice between the Big
Ten and the Big East would be easy for them.  And even if they don't take
the Big East's ultimatum seriously, they know that their conference may very
well collapse if the Big Ten takes 3 of its members (the remaining 5 would
likely scramble for a place in another BCS conference, like the ACC or SEC).


This hinges on if the Big Ten is really willing to take those 5 schools,
including at least 3 Big East members, and if it is financially viable to do
so.  The additional revenue (in the form of a renegotiated ABC/ESPN
contract, additional subscriber and advertising revenue from the BTN, more
bowls, and maybe a championship game and TV deal) would have to be enough to
increase the current equal revenue sharing.  This would indicate that the
Big Ten is serious and the Big East & ND will be forced to do something.

I'd imagine that the Big Ten has some of that ammunition from their research
so far, and hopefully enough for them to make a decision to pull the trigger
soon since the Pac 10 seems intent on forcing the expansion issue within the
next few weeks.

Jonathan

On Mon, Jun 7, 2010 at 3:11 PM, <Martinitis at aol.com> wrote:

> 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 really doesn't
>  matter.
>
> 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)
> combined.  We don't like Ohio State.  But does anyone want them to  leave
> the
> conference?  We want Ohio State in the conference don't  we?  Good versus
> evil. And even if you don't like the Domers, you  can't quarrel with their
> academics. They are arrogant.....so we'll knock them  down a couple pegs
> with
> Fitz....and maybe even basketball :)
>
> Get ND.  For me, that's the ball game.    Their  membership in the
> Conference will give us the opportunity to meet, and  hopefully beat them,
> regularly.  And if two - 6 team divisions is all it  is,  I still see it as
> all good.
>  Two - 6 team divisions better our  chances for division titles in the
> future, as opposed to 7 or  8 team  divisions.  And we get more frequent
> games
> against ND....which I see as a  positive.
>
> We can take our time in getting another 2 or 4 teams later down the road if
>  economics so dictate.
>
> The powers that be have to convince the Irish that the 4 Super Conference
> set up is a foregone conclusion and their best place at the table is  with
> the Big 10. (Can you imagine them in the SEC? Even the Pac 10 makes  them
> look like an odd ball). And without Notre Dame.......WE are left  chasing
> Texas.  And they ain't coming.
>
> Get the Irish.  Make draw them a picture..make them an offer they  can't
> refuse.
>
> Lou
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>