Notre Dame Plans to Stay In Neutral

Lots going on today with the start of football media days, starting with the Sun Belt Conference, which is conducting its media days via video teleconference.

This could be a move that you may see other conferences make to save some money. We’ll get back to the Sun Belt later today.

From Mr. College Football, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Tony Barnhart, who was just inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Ind., comes this story:

"Gary Stokan, the much traveled president of the Atlanta Sports Council, was here over the weekend talking to Notre Dame athletics director Jack Swarbrick. The subject? Trying to get the globetrotting Fighting Irish to consider Atlanta for one of their neutral site games.

"Notre Dame likes to play neutral site games in order to help recruiting. The Irish are playing Navy at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. in 2010, Baylor in New Orleans in 2012, and Arizona State in Arlington, Tex., in 2013. Today the school will announce that it will play Army at the new Yankee Stadium in 2010.

"Stokan made the pitch for Notre Dame to consider Atlanta for one of these trips. The word I got here is that the Irish might consider it for a chance to play a Georgia Tech or an Alabama.

“For what Notre Dame wants to do with its schedule, this just makes sense,” said Stokan."

Notre Dame also will play Washington State this Halloween in San Antonio, Texas, another home game for the Irish in one of the nation's most populated Catholic areas. The game also gives Notre Dame exposure to the rich Texas high school recruiting base.

Kind of interesting that the Irish already had a game against Navy in the New York area for next season and also will add the Army game at Yankee Stadium. You can probably bet the Irish will add future games at the new Giants Stadium.

Again I think Notre Dame is smart in making these neutral site games. Most big stadiums will bend over backward to accommodate Notre Dame, whose name still brings cache despite modest on-field success recently. 

Vote Now! - Author Poll

Who should Notre Dame play at the Georgia Dome?

Results - Author Poll

Who should Notre Dame play at the Georgia Dome?

• Alabama

  53.4%

• Georgia

  20.7%

• Georgia Tech

  12.1%

• Another team

  5.2%

• Stay in South Bend

  8.6%
• Total votes: 58

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