TCU to Big East: What This Means for Notre Dame

The Big East just got its ninth football team, and what a team it is! In a surprise move TCU accepted an invitation as an all-sports member to join the Big East Conference.  They will officially become a member in 2012.

If Oregon loses to in-state rival Oregon State, or if Auburn loses to South Carolina in the SEC Championship game, TCU will likely get to play in this year's BCS Championship Game. The Horned Frogs are currently 12-0 and ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings.

What does TCU's move to the Big East mean for Notre Dame?

For quite some time hard core Big East fans have gone so far as to suggest the conference big wigs issue Notre Dame an ultimatum—join as an all-sports member or leave the conference!

Whether or not fans suggested this out of frustration, or out of a dislike for the Irish, the need for any such ultimatum has passed. The Big East has filled its most pressing need— a ninth football team.

A ninth team provides the Big East football schools with an extra conference game and they will no longer have to struggle to find five non-conference games. Scheduling will become easier.

As most of us know, ultimatums usually don't work. It would be a bad move for Big East officials to think they can accomplish anything positive by issuing an ultimatum to Notre Dame.

Some will disagree and claim that with the addition of TCU, the Big East now has the leverage they need to put pressure on Notre Dame to join as an all-sports member.

TCU instantly gives the Big East more football credibility. They also become the first religious school to join the conference as an all-sports member. 

With the addition of TCU the Big East will now have 17 basketball teams. Sixteen is the right number for four-round conference tournaments and other scheduling considerations. Seventeen is not a good number —it may require some fuzzy math to make it work.

The big East will explore all options—one being to ask Notre Dame to leave. They could explain that they will not require any school with a FBS football team to join as an all-sports member, but once again, ultimatums are not a good idea.

If Notre Dame was asked to leave, it would be a risk. Would the Big East lose too much Midwest and national exposure with their departure? Would Depaul and Marquette be enough to maintain a solid presence in the Midwest?

If the Big East powers ask Notre Dame to leave, their is always the chance that Notre Dame may want in as an all-sports member.

The Irish may see TCU's move as another example the new game called "conference positioning".  They may see it as the strengthening of another BCS conference and be reminded that joining a conference may become inevitable.

It's hard to read the mind set of Notre Dame at this time—they've finish their season on a high (three straight wins) and the hopes of returning to the glory days have been reinforced.

Some will disagree. They will say that the team failed to reach the eight wins that Las Vegas set as the over-under total for them prior to the season. They might point to wins over a weak Army team, a floundering Utah team, and a USC team that is mired in NCAA probation.

It's always difficult to gauge how receptive the Irish will be to joining a conference.

Although this has been a down year for the Big East, the addition of TCU makes them a better football conference. If Notre Dame was concerned about joining a weak Big East football conference, even though they needed at win against Pitt this year to break a five game losing streak to Big East teams, they might look at Big East football with more respect.

Notre Dame may also look at TCU as a team they would like to play year in and year out to strengthen their exposure in the rich football state of Texas.

TCU's move to the Big East is no doubt going to make it easier for the Big East football conference to add a 10th, 11th, and 12th team.  Notre Dame want to get on the band wagon before there is no more room!