Notre Dame and The Big Ten: Some Ideas Die Hard

In the "news that should surprise nobody" category, The Big Ten expansion committee floated word Monday that it would extend invitations to Rutgers, Nebraska, Missouri, and Notre Dame.

There has been no official announcement from the conference or any of the rumored inductees, but sports radio in the potentially affected areas are a buzz chatter.

The University of Nebraska's Chancellor Harvey Perlman, along with Notre Dame President John Jenkins, have each denied receiving invitations.

Sportstalk 810 of Kansas City reports that the Big Ten is counting on 3 of the 4 invitees accepting the offer increasing the conference to 14 teams. Should all four accept, another round of invitations would probably be sent out in hopes of evening up the league at 16 teams..

According to Sportstalk 810, sources close to the governing body say the Big Ten has told officials that Mizzou could add $1.3 million per month in revenue to the lucrative Big Ten Television Network. 

The Big Ten Network is currently offered on basic cable to very few of over 7 million residents living in Missouri television markets and adding it throughout the state will be a windfall for the conference.

The Missouri Board of Regents must agree to the move, and must be persuaded to allow the Tigers to break their contract with the Big 12. The Big Ten feels that the prospect of a cash windfall will make a compelling enough argument.

The Big Ten may have higher numbers to throw at Rutgers and Notre Dame. The Scarlet Knights would bring the Big Ten network to the New York media market's roughly 19 million residents. The Irish represent a national following and could widely expand the Big Ten Network's footprint.

Still, with Nebraska, Missouri, and Rutgers there is a clear mutual benefit. A bigger slice of a bigger pie, better athletic competitive balance, and (with the exception of Rutgers) a better geographical fit.

Without the Big Ten's feared pillaging of the Big East, it is hard to see Notre Dame's benefit in joining.

Had the Big Ten decided to court Pittsburgh, West Virginia, and Rutgers along with the Irish, Notre Dame's hand may have been forced. Rumor out of the Big East office was that to force the hand and prevent the total destruction of their conference the Big East would have given the Irish an ultimatum.

Join the conference in football or find another conference for all your other sports.

Force Notre Dame to join the Big Ten and the new emerging "super-conference" may be satisfied or turn it's growth in other directions.

With the Big East still allowing an Independent Notre Dame football program, plus encouraging it's teams to schedule the Irish while facilitating the rest of the University's programs there is no competitive need to jump ship.

The Irish have a very comfortable deal with NBC/Universal/Comcast, as well as it's own licensing agreements that earn it more than enough cash to not feel the need to jump at the Big Ten's offer.

The Irish also have an assured spot in the BCS should they meet certain (albeit strict) parameters.

Most importantly the Irish recruit well outside the Big Ten footprint.

They schedule opponents from all across the country.

For Notre Dame to join a conference would change the way the program operates in every way.

From a rivalry perspective, Notre Dame in one way does fit the Big Ten.

Playing annually against Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue while also being within 200 miles of Indiana, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Illinois makes them an ideal fit.

Where the problem arises is in Notre Dame's other regular rivals. How would annual tilts against USC and Navy fit? Regular contests against Pittsburgh and Boston College?

While Ohio State's four non-conference games are against MAC schools Ohio and Eastern Michigan, Conference USA's Marshall, and the University of Miami (an unusual year not including a Division 1 FCS team) the Irish would probably schedule Navy, Pittsburgh, Boston College, and USC.

Some other Big Ten non-conference opponents for 2010: Western Kentucky, U Mass, Towson, Arkansas State, Akron, Eastern Illinois, Ball State, Florida Atlantic, Northern Colorado, South Dakota, Middle Tennessee State, Youngstown State, Temple, Western Illinois, and Austin Peay.

Of the four schools offered inclusion into the Big Ten, only Notre Dame has nothing to gain.

They are financially secure. They play a schedule comparable in strength to every other major football program. They have a national following and a national television deal. They have independently licensed merchandise. They have in the Big East a partner that allows inclusion for all their other sports as well as opponents to fill the football schedule.

Most importantly they have identity, an identity that is lost if they join a conference.

Everyone expected an offer to be made to Notre Dame, and everyone should expect that offer to be respectfully declined.