| 15 May 2010
One of the biggest stories in sports is playing out right now with the re-shuffling of the conferences. We saw a minor version of this a few years back when the SEC went to 12 teams with the addition of Arkansas and S.Carolina, and the expansion of the Big 8 into the Big 12. What is about to happen will rock college football line nothing since the decision to go to the 85 scholarship limit.
Yesterday on Bucknuts Fight Club I took the side of why Notre Dame should not join the Big Ten. I want Notre Dame to join as a Buckeye fan and someone who appreciates the tradition. I question whether it a smart move for Notre Dame.
Many argue that Penn State has not been the same since they joined the Big Ten. They were a national power when they came into the conference. Notre Dame is hurting right now. It is the most storied program in the history of the college game but it has been some time since Notre Dame was good. It suffers from the same problems that Nebraska does, it has no recruiting base and the tradition that guaranteed them quality recruits is fading. Most of us here have a sense of tradition. For most kids these days, last month is ancient, let alone 16 years. That is how long it has been since Notre Dame was the program that Rokne built. Under Holtz in 1993 and 1994 Notre Dame went back to back 10-1 and 11-1. Since then they are 114-79. That is a 59% winning percentage. In the 16 years since those back to back great years under Holtz, litterally a lifetime for the current high school kids who would rate Notre Dame offers, the Fightin' Irish have had 9 years with at least 5 loses. Now they are going to substitute Army, Navy and Air Force for Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin? How would they fare against Iowa every year? We may never "Wake Up the Echoes" again with the in conference schedule Notre Dame would face every year.
Let me add another school that it sounds like may see an invitation to the Big Ten. There is a report that Nebraska will get an initation. They are in the same boat as Notre Dame. I think there are more good players coming out of Indiana than Nebraska. There is no recruiting base whatsoever in Nebraska. It is a traditionally great program but not up there with Notre Dame, so it is even less likely to get out of a hole and become a winner again in the Big Ten. What do you have in the Big 12? Texas, Oklahoma,.......I am out of schools. Wait a minute. I forgot one. Missouri. Right now it is the one school doing the most talking about an invitation, and guess what? It is the best fit. Missouri is a better program than either Notre Dame or Nebraska right now and that is all that matters. There are a couple of other areas where Missouir stands out.
Someone asked me how the possible expansion impacts recruiting. That is where Missouri stands out. We are not goin to get much out of additional exposure to Nebraska high school athletes. We are already neck deep in Indiana. Missouri gives up a chance to get a foothold in Kansas City and St. Louis. I used to hear about Notre Dame recruiting the nation. Nebraska used to do well in Texas. If that were still the case those programs would be in better shape. The Big Ten Network having those big television markets in St. Louis and Missouri also means more exposure and an increase in revenues for all the programs in the Big Ten. Off the field Missouri is a member of the Association of American Universities. Notre Dame is not.
Notre Dames fading tradition does not outweigh the here and now that Missouri offers. I want Notre Dame because I love the tradition but Missouri is the better fit.
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