UConn's Randy Edsall Right: Big East Must Give Notre Dame an Ultimatum

University of Connecticut Football Coach Randy Edsall has been pushing for the Big East Conference to give Notre Dame an unltimatum—either join as a football member or leave the conference.

This is something Big East fans have been clamoring for, but it's the first time anyone officially connected with the conference has brought up the subject.

Last week Edsall claimed that some Big East football coaches have asked the Big East to let Notre Dame know that they want the Irish to get his message loud and clear.

Ultimatum's don't usually work.  It's practically inconceivably to think that Notre Dame would consider joining the Big East in football, but this ultimatum wouldn't be designed with this as its goal.  It's more of an attempt to scare the Irish into joining that other conference.

Edsall, in what appears to be a desire to keep the Big East intact, thinks putting pressure on the Irish to vacate, might revive the Big Ten's effort to make them their 12th team.  He feels that such a scenario might hold off Big Ten expansion, and consequently hold off an expected Big Ten raid of the Big East Conference.

Is it a stretch?  Maybe, but at this point the Big East doesn't seem to have too many real answers for what might be its second raid in seven years.  In 2003 the Atlantic Coast Conference persuaded Miami, Virginia Tech, and Boston College to leave the Big East.

Since 2003 the Big East has rebuilt well.  They remarkably came off the ICU, all the way back to being a credible BCS football conference.

Two Things an Ultimatum Does

The ultimatum to Notre Dame would do two things:  First, there is always a chance the Irish would join the Big East.  Bigger long shots have crossed the finish line! It's said that Mark Twain was born and died the same day Halley's Comet appeared.  I can't think of any others at the moment.

Second, if the Big East stuck to their guns and evicted the Irish, this would open up a new chapter in the philosophy of Big Ten expansion.  Edsall feels that the Big Ten would acquire leverage in their endless courtship with Notre Dame. 

Notre Dame, if presented with the option of reverting back to its days of independent status in almost every sport (especially basketball), might let their guard down and consider joining the Big Ten.

It should be noted that in 2003 the Irish almost joined the Big Ten.  It's not something they haven't thought about in depth.   With the large revenue the Big Ten Network is providing its members, money could be an extra incentive.

Would an Ultimatium Include Future Scheduling?

Asking Notre Dame to leave the Big East Conference could temporarily set back their basketball program.  The exposure from being a member of the Big East seems to have worked.  Competing in a conference tournament has provided their fans with some great moments, but Irish basketball once thrived as an independent.  It's likely it would again.

Because of football scheduling, the football program might find expulsion somewhat trickier.

If the Big East really got tough and, along with expulsion, encouraged its members to keep the Irish off their football schedules, Notre Dame might have a problem.

The last couple of years have not exactly been what one would call "typical Notre Dame football schedules."  They've clearly lacked the toughness that fans around the country became used to.

Having to replace two or three Big East teams each season won't be easy.  Back in the 1990's, when there were 30-40 college football independents, it wouln't be a problem.  Not now!

Are All Big East Coaches on Board?

Edsall spoke of some Big East coaches in line with him on issuing an ultimatum to Notre Dame.  It's quite clear that, on this subject, the Big East hasn't shown the solidarity that gets things done.  

It's easy to see why coaches representing schools that haven't been mentioned as strong candidates for Big Ten expansion, would be eager to join the Edsall plan.  USF, Cincinnati, Louisville, and West Virginia fall into this category.

Rutgers is the Big East program that has garnished most attention from the Big Ten.  The Chicago Herald's Teddy Greenstein, the foremost journalist in the nation on the subject of Big Ten expansion, is pretty certain Rutgers will get an invite.

It's hard to imagine Rutgers football coach Greg Schiano joining the Edsall bandwagon. Judging by his reaction to what former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said about a Rutgers-Minnesota game not being popular in Long Island, it seems that Schiano and Rutgers might currently be in the process of packing their bags.

But give Randy Edsall some respect—his Uconn Huskies have been mentioned regularly as a program the Big Ten wants but he's showing loyalty to the Big East Conference. Give him some respect for standing up to the Big Ten, and to Notre Dame.