Notre Dame Can't Afford To Join Big Ten as Full-Time Member

In the midst of the hoopla surrounding Big Ten expansion, it becomes evident that Notre Dame, while regarded as that conference's No. 1 prospect, simply can't afford to join as a full-time member.

With the success of the Big Ten Network and large television contracts, the Big Ten Conference was able to pay each member $22 million in shared revenue last year. They can promise big money to any newcomer.

Currently, Notre Dame's NBC television contract is in the area of $9 million yearly. They receive $2 million a year from Big East basketball, and if they go to a bowl, they keep the money. They don't have to share it with anyone.

If Notre Dame were to join the Big Ten, according to the Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein, they would probably add $5 million a year from television revenue and save a ton on travel expenses.

While Rutgers, Missouri, and Nebraska (the three teams mentioned in Kevin Keitzman's WHB blog) are lusting over the Big Ten's big money, Notre Dame is in a different position. They can't afford to give up their independent status at this time.

Notre Dame Risks Losing Money if They Join the Big Ten

For Notre Dame, the school with the 14th largest educational endowment in the country, and largest at a Catholic university, an extra $5 to 10 million a year in television revenue won't help their cause.

And it's really not about the size of their endowment—Michigan's is bigger and they're happy to receive $22 million a year from the Big Ten. It's where the money comes from.

If Notre Dame joins the Big Ten or any conference, a generous alumni might show its displeasure and become very frugal when it comes time to write the next donation check.

The Notre Dame Bleacher Report community reminds us every day just how unpopular joining a conference would be.

The Pressure of Winning in the Big Ten Might Be Overwhelming

Coaches at the glamour schools in the Big Ten don't stay around too long if they don't win conference titles regularly. Michigan and Ohio State fans have little patience when it comes to beating each other, and beating each other usually translates into a Big Ten Title.

The pressure on winning a Big Ten Championship for Notre Dame and coach Brian Kelly would be huge. 

Kelly has proved he can turn average teams into great ones, but he hasn't proved anything in South Bend yet.

Over the last 10 years, Notre Dame has gone 16-15 against Big Ten opposition. They don't play Wisconsin or Iowa. They've played Ohio State once during these years and lost 34-20 in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl.

Notre Dame's Schedule Would Become More Difficult

If Notre Dame joined the Big Ten, the days of the "7-4-1" would stop. Depending on how many conference games a 12, 14, or 16 Big Ten Conference would play, the Irish would have to play at least four road conference games each year.

If the conference expands, there's a chance that instead of eight conference games each season; they could go to nine or more.

Not all the mainstays on Notre Dame's schedule will require home and home series—USC and Stanford will.

Controlling the schedule will become more difficult. Scheduling "historically weaker" teams to help when times are rough may not be as easy as it is currently.

Fans contend that schedules are made up years in advance, and one can't tell who will be good or bad five years from now, but Army, Navy, and Air Force are usually about the same every year.

Jack Swarbrick Can't Afford It

While Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany works on his legacy, Jack Swarbrick is working on one also.

Delany will be remembered for adding Penn State, starting the Big Ten Network, and possibly creating the first super conference. Jack Swarbrick doesn't want to be the AD known for taking away Notre Dame's independent status.

Swarbrick is bouncing the numbers right now. Jeff Rabjohns of the Indianapolis Star writes that "Notre Dame has received information from the Big Ten about joining," but actually taking the next step is another story.

Swarbrick didn't create the mess—he inherited it. He might truly believe that joining the Big Ten is the best and fastest way for a Notre Dame football recovery. But does he really want to be the AD who ruined the legacy?

When New Jersey came to George Steinbrenner with an incredible deal to move to The Meadowlands, he knew it made sense financially. But he didn't want to be the owner to move the Yankees out of New York.

Notre Dame could write their own ticket. The Big Ten might even pay them to join, but Swarbrick can't afford it.