Big 12 football: No Notre Dame

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick reiterated his school’s commitment to independence Monday, telling the Austin American-Statesman that the Irish’s priority is committed to staying in the Big East for other sports and going at it alone in football.

during second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010. Michigan defeated Notre Dame 28-24. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Some thought the Big 12 would at least have a sales pitch for Notre Dame, and the truth is, the Big 12 does have a sales pitch for the Irish, and Arkansas, and BYU. Come to our league, make a lot of money with the new television contracts and you can have an avenue to success by being placed in the North Division. The easiest way to the BCS for Notre Dame, Arkansas and BYU is clearly the Big 12.

The benefits of the Big 12 are not the problem. Stability is the problem. How could the Big 12 sell Notre Dame or Arkansas on stability? How could the Irish or Razorbacks be convinced that the Big 12 has long-term viability? Maybe the league will disprove the doubters, but who on Earth could have faith the Big 12 will be here in five years?

Notre Dame isn’t going to walk away from more than a century of independence by joining a league that could crumble. If Notre Dame wanted to join a league, it has options. Starting with the Big East, a league of which it already is a member. Or the Big Ten, which for decades has been pining for Notre Dame. Heck, you could see Notre Dame joining the Pac-12 before the Big 12. The Irish already play Pac-12 schools regularly; if the Pac-12 was going to expand to Oklahoma and Texas, it’s not any kookier to keep going to South Bend, Ind., especially to land Notre Dame. You could call it the Trans-Pacific 16.

Same with Arkansas. Even if the Hogs could be convinced that the Big 12 was the better situation – close enough in money, better for competition — only an irresponsible administration would OK a move to an unstable conference.

That’s why Brigham Young is the focal point of Big 12 expansion. The Cougars, who just left a dysfunctional Mountain West Conference, have little to lose. BYU is independent this season; a move to the Big 12 wouldn’t harm BYU’s legacy or pocketbook, no matter when the Big 12 might dissolve. If BYU joined the Big 12 for two seasons, then the league went bye-bye, what would BYU have lost? Nothing.

But Arkansas and Notre Dame would have lost much. The Hogs, a spot in the premier football conference in America. Notre Dame, its identity.

Sources told me that Big 12 inquiries have at least been met with courtesy. That Arkansas and Notre Dame haven’t told the Big 12 to get lost. They’ve kept dialogue open. But good luck, Big 12, with talking Arkansas and Notre Dame into joining.

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The following comments are archived from the original publication of this post

loanman on Aug 31, 2011 @ 5:18 pm

The only way BYU joins the Big 12 is as a football only program. Their no Sunday play rule would be too much for the conference to adjust to in all other sports. I can see BYU with a nice invite for football; they keep all the TV benefits and keep playing other sports with the WCC. That conference was very accomodating to BYU and I just don't see them telling the WCC to shove it.
Mike Struiksma on Aug 31, 2011 @ 3:37 pm

I can think of about a billion ($) reasons why the Big 12 will need to immediately have someone that can be embraced into their league and have some media credibility. I can't imagine that ESPN or any other network will just let them lose TA&M and and not get a replacement with some drawing power. It may be bumpy for BYU to withdraw from the WCC after just 1 year. However, if they don't take the invite now, when the super conference cataclysm comes they well could be left on the outside looking at everyone else. What will that do for "exposure?"
Lynn1 on Aug 31, 2011 @ 1:33 am

Sure thing, Texas baseball in the MWC ??? Hahahaha, they love their baseball too much to allow that to happen. And Texas hoops is also much bigger than the MWC. UT is not going indy.
Bobhenstra on Aug 30, 2011 @ 11:27 pm

BYU isn't about to drop it's ESPN contract, it's nation wide and world wide BYUtv audience, plus BYUtvsports and Sirius radio, drop all that sports programming, no Sunday play for a little nook in the Big 12. Forget it! If the Big 12 wants BYU, they take BYU as it is, not as the Big 12 may want BYU to become. I highly suspect the Big 12 will be the little 12 very soon. Texas going indie in football will happen before BYU gives up what they have. All of the Texas non revenue sports could find a happy home in the mwc. Bob
BuzzCut on Aug 30, 2011 @ 11:04 pm

Big12= the most unstable conference in the country. Ok & OkSt. need to explore other options now. Time to move on.
BuzzCut on Aug 30, 2011 @ 11:02 pm

What is wrong with high schools sized gyms in the WCC? Duke plays in a small gym, don't see posters complaining about that.
JQ on Aug 30, 2011 @ 10:44 pm

BYU fans want an invitation, just so they can say "we were wanted by a BCS league." Utah going to the Pac-12 is an unhealing sore spot with them. Look at BYU's November schedule in their first year of independence: open date Idaho New Mexico State open date To say BYU wouldn't lose anything if the Big 12 crumbled is wrong. They'd have to start independence all over again, and end up with a schedule like that.
Imran B on Aug 30, 2011 @ 10:13 pm

I have read MANY articles, posts and blogs about the pros and cons of BYU joining the Big-12. And of all of them, I found the posts above by Brian and Pam the MOST informative, in that they go into detail regarding the specifics of what might hold up a deal (rather than this superficial "they can keep their network and join" line that we are hearing almost everywhere else). For example, I had not thought about the "content of the broadcast issues" on the BYU network that would make joining the Big-12 less palatable for BYU. I suppose this is because everyone has been trying to blame Texas A&M's and its "envy" of the LHN, rather than point out the Aggies' legitimate concerns about the content broadcast thereon. Nor had I thought through the long-term effects of cancelling contracts just signed because of going independent, and then deciding that "we can simply go independent again if it doesn't work out" line. Considering how cautious and deliberate the BYU administration has been with nearly everything they have done in the past, these issues will be FULLY vetted. I do not see BYU in the the Big-12 anytime soon.
Ken B on Aug 30, 2011 @ 9:10 pm

Brad, You have got quite a list there....it would be thrilling wouldn't it to see Conference USA schools join into the Big XII....oh, and please don't leave out UTEP, I know they are way out in El Paso but they would have to want to jump in too and create a new "Southwest Conference"!
Jeff Leatherock on Aug 30, 2011 @ 6:21 pm

I may be crazy, but I think the NCAA enforcement train is going to go through the SEC in the next couple years, much like it did the SWC 25 years ago. The reports that the Auburn investigation isn't finished make me think that the NCAA is being very methodical and making sure everything is verified without reproach. My point being that the SEC is a corrupt cesspool of recruiting violations, Arkansas is probably one of the cleanest of the bunch, and it is in their best interest to look at the Big XII.
Brad on Aug 30, 2011 @ 6:11 pm

I almost forgot, Tulsa.
Brad on Aug 30, 2011 @ 6:09 pm

Big 12 needs a reboot. BYU, TCU, SMU, Houston, Louisiana-Lafayette, Southern Miss, Air Force. Seems like those would all be good expansion targets for a Big 14.
Pam on Aug 30, 2011 @ 6:06 pm

See David this was one of only 10,000 similar issues that would have to be resolved. Like i said I am not against going to the Big 12. I just don't see it happening with all the issues that would need to be taken care of to make it worth the effort for BYU
Earwig on Aug 30, 2011 @ 6:05 pm

Thank goodness BYU does not come accross as "desperate" as poor David does. BYU is not desperate, for them it's all about Exposure. Money is not an issue at BYU. If the new model of conference affiliation being displayed in the Big 12, is applied to BYU, whereby BYU can keep it's ESPN deal, have same day re-broadcast rights, no Sunday play, and obviously maintain their own Network, then BYU should listen. But only then. The WCC is a great fit for BYU's non revenue Olympic sports. Perhaps BYU joins as Football only, that would be the Ideal, especially considering travel time and costs. West coast affiliation is better suited for the non revenue sports. What I like about the Big 12 is their apparent ability to think outside the box, this is critical for their survival. We'll see if Bebee dithers again, as he did last year, or gets busy, adds 3 teams and stays aggressive, as he did when investigating SMU decades ago. BYU, Air Force, and maybe Houston or Louisville, gets the Big 12 back in the game, and maintains a contiguous footprint with 3 new markets.
Pam on Aug 30, 2011 @ 6:04 pm

David, As you may have noticed several Big 12 members have serious issues with the Longhorn Network. In fact you may have heard that one member is going to leave the conference this week. There were two major issues why this occured. (1) The Longhorn Networks intent to show High School games/highlights (2) The Longhorn Network intended to show CONFERENCE games on the network. The Big 12 voted that such games could only be shown if all Big 12 members (or a majority) approved of such a game (1) above is not a problem for BYU or BYUtv. (2) Is a BIG loss of freedom. BYU would have to seek league approval (that may or may not be given) anytime it wanted to show a conference football or basketball game even if that game were not going to be aired on any other network. This was a BIG reason that BYU was dissatisfied with the MWC TV deal. Make no mistake the Big 12 members would likely not approve such a game. If they have issues with Texas doing it on their in-state network that no one can actually get you can bet they would have an issue with it going out to 60 million people in the US on a BYU platform.
Mark on Aug 30, 2011 @ 5:57 pm

David:"The administration can be blinded by pride, arrogance, and other politics," And you, yourself are immune to such things? Wow. I wish I could say that about myself. How very fortunate you are to be so very blessed. Personally, I'm very grateful that the BYU administration and BOT have been around the block enough times that they are far more likely to make a cool-headed decision based on facts and due diligence, and not just jump at the first seemingly attractive offer that comes their way. Their decision will be based upon what is best for the university in the long term.
David on Aug 30, 2011 @ 5:44 pm
Pam in your initial comment, you used the following as one of the things BYU has to lose: "(3) BYU has their own HD Network available in 60 million homes and growing (Dish, Direct TV, and cable basic tiers) and also a worldwide network in all of South America and many other nations.

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BY BERRY TRAMEL

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Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant...

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Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist.

Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman, the Oklahoma City Times, the Norman Transcript and the Oklahoma Journal — and entered the newspaper business at the age of 17, with the Transcript in 1978. His first game assignment was the Lexington-Elmore City high school football game, and he has enjoyed the journey ever since, from high school wrestling duals and regional track meets to Orange Bowls and the NBA playoffs.

Tramel was born and raised in Norman, Okla. He and his wife, Tricia, were married in 1980 and live in Norman near their daughter, son-in-law and three granddaughters.

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