Notre Dame to ACC

[Benny B]

Is there any chance that we get invited to the ACC to round out the basketball/other sports.  We now have lacrosse and real good soccer program, two sports the ACC really likes.  My thought on Georgetown leaving is that Marland and even BC would try to block them.

My vote for redemption post of the year.

Edit:  The MD blocking of GTown part, not the MU to ACC part.

[LAZER]

I actually disagree.

I don't think it will happen tomorrow, but conferences are looking for revenue and content.

Big 10 is creating a hockey conference. Why? Content. They never wanted to do it 10 years ago. Now they have a network, now they need to create content.

When the dust settles on the football movement/vacuum, conferences are going to continue to look for more revenue streams (sponsorships, naming of buildings/arenas, etc. etc.). This isn't going to magically stop.

In 2-4 years, the Big10 might see that additional basketball-only schools provide content and revenue without watering down the brand. If that happens, they will add more teams. (likely MU and DePaul/Creighton).

I know, I know... it sounds nuts. But, 5 years ago, a lot of the stuff happening now seemed nuts.

This is where my head was at (that's why I included the praying part).  The ACC with a hypothetical Georgetown added, will dominate the entire college basketball landscape, maybe the Big Ten wont want to stand by watch it happen and feels that adding a Marquette and a Xavier could deepen their basketball league. Likely? Probably not, but who knows?

[Abode4life]

I actually disagree.

I don't think it will happen tomorrow, but conferences are looking for revenue and content.

Big 10 is creating a hockey conference. Why? Content. They never wanted to do it 10 years ago. Now they have a network, now they need to create content.

When the dust settles on the football movement/vacuum, conferences are going to continue to look for more revenue streams (sponsorships, naming of buildings/arenas, etc. etc.). This isn't going to magically stop.

In 2-4 years, the Big10 might see that additional basketball-only schools provide content and revenue without watering down the brand. If that happens, they will add more teams. (likely MU and DePaul/Creighton).

I know, I know... it sounds nuts. But, 5 years ago, a lot of the stuff happening now seemed nuts.

I don't disagree that eventually they are going to look to other streams of revenue, but my fear is these conferences are already getting so big, and that there is still room to move to 16-18 teams with football.  Are they really going to want to go to 20(+?) teams in a conference when looking to add basketball?  I don't know the answer but i would say no.  Granted, like you say, things happening now seemed nuts 5 years ago so that can change.  

My other fear is that all this change is happening, and lets say 5 years from now we are in C-USA v.2, then when conferences try to maximize other revenue sports we come to the table as an after thought and have to take whats given from big brother football schools.  If you strike now and create a really strong bball/other sports conference, you won't be left fighting for whatever scraps are left by football.  When tv comes calling to try and maximize revenue, i would rather be in a strong position teamed with other really good bball schools.  

[Groin_pull]

I thought only the Big East was pathetic enough to let ND get away with their "you get all our sports BUT football" bullsh*t.

I guess not.

[MerrittsMustache]

This is where my head was at (that's why I included the praying part).  The ACC with a hypothetical Georgetown added, will dominate the entire college basketball landscape, maybe the Big Ten wont want to stand by watch it happen and feels that adding a Marquette and a Xavier could deepen their basketball league. Likely? Probably not, but who knows?

The chances of MU going to the Big 10 are probably less than 1% (not to mention that Wisco would try to block it) but a few years ago what would the odds have been of Syracuse and Pitt leaving the Big East?

[Abode4life]

I thought only the Big East was pathetic enough to let ND get away with their "you get all our sports BUT football" bullsh*t.

I guess not.

Only time will tell.  The ACC at least got them to agree to play 5 ACC teams.  Granted it was to ND's benefit.  But if things change in 3-5 years and they need to join a league, they will be in a much better position to get ND to join with them than anyone else.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I don't disagree that eventually they are going to look to other streams of revenue, but my fear is these conferences are already getting so big, and that there is still room to move to 16-18 teams with football.  Are they really going to want to go to 20(+?) teams in a conference when looking to add basketball?  I don't know the answer but i would say no.  Granted, like you say, things happening now seemed nuts 5 years ago so that can change.  

My other fear is that all this change is happening, and lets say 5 years from now we are in C-USA v.2, then when conferences try to maximize other revenue sports we come to the table as an after thought and have to take whats given from big brother football schools.  If you strike now and create a really strong bball/other sports conference, you won't be left fighting for whatever scraps are left by football.  When tv comes calling to try and maximize revenue, i would rather be in a strong position teamed with other really good bball schools.  

Well, the flip-side to my scenario is equally possible:

These new conferences might already be bloated, and if/when revenue maxes out (and maybe dips?), the idea of traveling 500 miles for a women's field hockey game might not be that appealing to an athletic department.

There are some significant logistical costs to having huge conferences. Football and basketball are really the only sports that can overcome that. Everything else is going to be a challenge.

[GGGG]

You guys are in flippin' la-la land...

The Big Ten has no desire to do this.  None.  This is a conference that went to 11 members, and then sat on adding a 12th member for almost 20 years.  This is a conference that had ND on its backdoor and probably could have made this deal with them at anytime during this stretch.  But they didn't.

Why would they mess around with partial members?  To get a game or two more per week on the BTN???

[dgies9156]

I guess there are worse things than losing Notre Dame.

Our conference still has national basketball powers as follows:

Georgetown
UConn
Villanova
St. John's
Louisville
Cincinnati
Marquette
Memphis (coming soon)

We should be looking at raiding the Atlantic 10 for two or three teams -- notably Dayton -- and go from there. From our standpoint, as long as we have six to 10 good basketball powers and a national ESPN television contract, I'm OK.

[bilsu]

Unless you are going to create divisions and odd number of teams in basketball makes more sense. Even 3 divisions of 5 teams makes more sense than 2 divisions of 8. Five teams division would result in home and away games against reams in your division, which equals 8 games and one game against all the other teams not in your division which would get you to 18 conference games. Two 8 game divisions results in 14 home and home within your division with you playing only 4 of the other 8 teams. It does not make sense to try to expand to 16. I suspose you could go to 4 divisions of 4 teams and play 6 games wihin your division and each other team once for 18 games. In either case do you put Duke and North Carolina in the same division or do they only play once a year?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The chances of MU going to the Big 10 are probably less than 1% (not to mention that Wisco would try to block it) but a few years ago what would the odds have been of Syracuse and Pitt leaving the Big East?

1% might be accurate, but given the wild jumble currently occurring, that percentage could jump to 50%, or drop to 0% in a matter of a couple of years (or maybe even months).

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

You guys are in flippin' la-la land...

The Big Ten has no desire to do this.  None.  This is a conference that went to 11 members, and then sat on adding a 12th member for almost 20 years.  This is a conference that had ND on its backdoor and probably could have made this deal with them at anytime during this stretch.  But they didn't.

Why would they mess around with partial members?  To get a game or two more per week on the BTN???

You're right, it's a wild idea... but a lot of wild ideas come to fruition.

Syracuse to the ACC? That seems insane, right?

Big 10 never had any interest in Hockey... now they do. Why? for a handful of games per week? Nobody even follows college hockey outside of MN and NoDak. Turns out they see an opportunity.

The improbable happens... especially when $ is on the line.

Oh, and just to be clear, I don't think MU is going to end up in the Big10. I'm simply saying that turning a blind eye is silly. Everything is on the table right now. Keep every avenue open.

[bilsu]

The chances of MU going to the Big 10 are probably less than 1% (not to mention that Wisco would try to block it) but a few years ago what would the odds have been of Syracuse and Pitt leaving the Big East?

I would think there is no chance of MU going to Big 10. The Big 10 has it right in that there are not any non-football schools.  Now that Notre Dame is out of the picture there is no reason for the Big 10 to add anymore schools. I think the Notre Dame move actually stabilizes things.

[TallTitan34]

Statement from Commissioner Mike Aresco

"The University of the Notre Dame has informed us that it is joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in all sports other than football. Notre Dame has been a valued member of the BIG EAST Conference and we wish them success in the future.  However, Notre Dame's departure does not change our plans.  We have prestigious institutions that are excited to be a part of the BIG EAST.  We remain committed to making the BIG EAST stronger than it has ever been." 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Big 10 never had any interest in Hockey... now they do. Why? for a handful of games per week? Nobody even follows college hockey outside of MN and NoDak. Turns out they see an opportunity.

Not true.  College hockey is very big here in New England.  Good luck getting tickets to a Yale hockey game.  Even Quinnipiac hockey (same conference as Yale) is a huge draw.  (Yes, Quinnipiac......)
Same reason why UConn is joining Hockey East.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I would think there is no chance of MU going to Big 10. The Big 10 has it right in that there are not any non-football schools.  Now that Notre Dame is out of the picture there is no reason for the Big 10 to add anymore schools. I think the Notre Dame move actually stabilizes things.

You're right, but $ overcomes all rules.

The Big10 is a college athletic conference, but soon (and maybe even currently) decisions are made by the television network.

Again, odds are SUPER slim. But, don't make the mistake of getting caught up in rules and tradition. $$$ is driving the bus. $. $. $.

$.

[TallTitan34]

Can't hurt could help.

[nyg]

I really don't like ND, but I am hoping that the basketball rivalry will continue once they leave.  I presume MU-ND have played every year for the past, like 40 years and will miss it if it ends.  

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Not true.  College hockey is very big here in New England.  Good luck getting tickets to a Yale hockey game.  Even Quinnipiac hockey (same conference as Yale) is a huge draw.  (Yes, Quinnipiac......)
Same reason why UConn is joining Hockey East.

That's right, but in the Midwest, college hockey is primarily Madison, MN (5 D1 teams), Michigan, and Nodak.

Everyplace else (in the midwest), it has a cult following, but not a lot of mass appeal.

[TallTitan34]

Villanova message board thread:

http://villanova.rivals.com/showmsg.asp?fid=1159&tid=157767539&mid=157767539&sid=1000&style=2

[Dreadman24]

Good bye, Georgetown!

Marquette and Depaul makes the most sense to depart to the ACC.

[GGGG]

Not true.  College hockey is very big here in New England.  Good luck getting tickets to a Yale hockey game.  Even Quinnipiac hockey (same conference as Yale) is a huge draw.  (Yes, Quinnipiac......)
Same reason why UConn is joining Hockey East.

And the Big Ten had an interest in hockey but simply didn't have enough members playing it.  Notice that they *could* have added "hockey-only" members for years...but didn't.  They waited until a sixth member made a commitment to the sport.

[Pakuni]

That's right, but in the Midwest, college hockey is primarily Madison, MN (5 D1 teams), Michigan, and Nodak.

Everyplace else (in the midwest), it has a cult following, but not a lot of mass appeal.

The college hockey program with the fourth highest average attendance last year was Nebraska-Omaha. Also in the top 15 were Colorado College, University of Denver and Ohio State. Notre Dame comes in at #18.

[GGGG]

Per Andy Katz....ACC will *not* add a 16th member and is done with expansion.

"Andy KatzþESPNAndyKatz
Agree. RT mcmurphyespn: ACC will not go to 16 teams in hoops, sources tell espn. Notre Dame will be league's last addition."

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The college hockey program with the fourth highest average attendance last year was Nebraska-Omaha. Also in the top 15 were Colorado College, University of Denver and Ohio State. Notre Dame comes in at #18.

Yes, I'm sure Ohio St.'s 5K per game is really valuable to advertisers.

I love hockey, and I love college hockey... but it's a niche sport at best.