Letās talk Independence.Ā You donāt have to look far on message boards or in sports articles to see advice to Notre Dame to ājoin a conferenceāāusually without clear reasons and occasionally with disparaging comments about Irish football.
Notre Dame football has yet to sacrifice its independence or many of its longtime rivalriesāsomething many Americans still respect.Ā This independence has greater risk and more challenges in assuming duties conferences handle, but also has greater rewards and more freedom.
The achievement is a national university football program whose every game is televised, rivalries from coast to coast, and a national fan base.Ā
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The financial benefits of membership in a large conference, however, include a chance at a BCS bowl, a collection of secondary bowls for three-quarters of its teams, an eight-game conference schedule, share in a lucrative conference championship, and a division of all the bowl monies, plus a television package through the conference.
Major conferences generate a degree of market control, some pricing power, and a collective identity. Ā Fans debate which conferences have the better teams, the best defenses, or the harder schedules.
Conferences encompass some great traditional geographic rivalriesāOhio State-Michigan, Texas-Oklahoma, Alabama-Auburn, USC-UCLAāand the tension that goes with finding out who will be the conference champion.Ā
As an independent, Notre Dame must earn it alone.Ā Is there still a place in college football for the independentāthe equivalent of a successful family business in a corporate world?Ā Should Notre Dame join a conference?Ā
Notre Dameās āConferenceā of Opponents Compared - Longevity
For argumentās sake, weāll call the eight teams listed below Notre Dameās āconferenceāāthree Big Ten teams (Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue), two from the Pac-10 (Southern Cal, Stanford), one from the Big East (Pittsburgh), one from the ACC (Boston College) and one Independent (Navy).
Notre Dame is the major non-conference opponent for each of these teams.Ā Compared to most conferences' teams in longevity, Notre Dameās traditional rivalries are quite comparable, especially the top five teams.
Notre Dame Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā OklaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā USCĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā LSU
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (Big 12)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (Pac 10)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (SEC)
OpponentĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Yrs
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Played
NavyĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 81Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Okla StĀ Ā Ā Ā 102Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā CalĀ Ā Ā Ā 95Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Miss StĀ Ā 101
Southern
Ā Ā CalĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 79Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā TexasĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 102Ā Ā Ā Ā StanfordĀ 85Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā MissĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 96
PurdueĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 79Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā KansasĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 99Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā WashĀ Ā Ā 78Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā AlaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 71
Mich StĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 71Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā MoĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 93Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā UCLAĀ 77Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā KentĀ Ā Ā Ā 55
PittsburghĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 63Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā K-StateĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 89Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ore StĀ Ā 71Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā FlaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 54
MichiganĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 35Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā NebrĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 83Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Wash StĀ Ā 67Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ArkĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 53
StanfordĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 22Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ColoĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 58Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā OreĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 54Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā AubĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 42
BostonĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 17Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Tex A&MĀ Ā Ā 26Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ASUĀ Ā Ā Ā 33Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā VandĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 28
Ā Ā Ā College
Total YrsĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 447Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 652Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 560Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 500
Army (49 yrs) and Northwestern (47) have played the Irish more than Stanford or Boston College, but neither are on NDās future schedule except for one game against Army.Ā Stanford has played ND the last eleven years.Ā BC has played ND 14 out of the last 16 years.Ā Notre Dame has scheduled Stanford and MSU through 2011, Pitts and BC through 2012, and Michigan and Purdue through 2016.Ā
Southern Cal has played Notre Dame more than any of its conference opponents except Cal and Stanford.Ā
The Big 12, Pac-10, and SEC (above) have more history with their opponents than ND does, but the three conferences most mentioned as possibilities for Notre Dame football are the Big Ten, ACC, and Big East (below).Ā
Notre DameĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ohio StĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ClemsonĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā West Va
Opponent Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā YrsĀ Ā Ā Ā (Big Ten)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (ACC)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (Big East)
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Played
NavyĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 81Ā Ā Ā Ā MichĀ Ā Ā Ā 104Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā NC StĀ Ā 76Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā PittsĀ Ā Ā 100
Southern
Ā Ā Ā CalĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 79Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā llinoisĀ Ā Ā Ā 94Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā WakeĀ Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā SyracuseĀ Ā 55
PurdueĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 79Ā Ā Ā Ā WiscĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā GTechĀ 72Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā RutgersĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 35
Mich StĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 71Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā NWĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 73Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā MdĀ Ā Ā Ā 56Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā CincyĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 16
PittsburghĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 63Ā Ā Ā Ā PurdueĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā 50Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā NCĀ Ā Ā Ā 53Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā LouisvilleĀ Ā Ā Ā 9
MichiganĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 35Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā MinnĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 47Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā DukeĀ Ā Ā Ā 51Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ConnĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 4
StanfordĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 22Ā Ā Ā Ā Mich StĀ Ā Ā Ā 38Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā VaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 44Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā S. FlaĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 3
BostonĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 17Ā Ā Ā Ā Penn StĀ Ā Ā Ā 33Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā V-TechĀ Ā 30Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (None)
Ā Ā College
Total YrsĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 447Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 512Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 455Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 222Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Purdue and Michigan State have played Notre Dame much more than Ohio State. Ā
Again, the longevity of games with opponents is more than comparableāespecially when ND is compared to an ACC or Big East teamāeven allowing for the Big East only having eight teams.Ā
So, if Notre Dame joined a conference with a full eight game in-conference schedule, which four opponents should ND keep?Ā Southern Cal, Michigan, Navy, and Boston College?Ā Would it not be like Florida switching to the ACC and being told to choose which four SEC teams it wished to continue to play non-conference?Ā
Joining the Big Ten would allow Notre Dame to keep Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State.Ā The Irish might substitute non-conference Pittsburgh for Michigan, adding to USC, Boston College, and Navy.
That non-conference schedule would be tougher than the usual Big Ten or Big East teams's non-conference schedule.Ā Notre Dameās strength of schedule ranks traditionally in the top tenāseventh in the 2000s, eighth in the 1990-99 decade, and first in 1980-89āfor the past 30 years.
More on that comparison with my next article.Ā
Tradition mattersāfor Notre Dame and for its long-standing opponents.
(Thanks to Chestertonlep for permission to me to use this photo)
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