The state of ND football.

[seofan_via_dublin]

The injuries have been tough.

[Omega]

Memo to ND and Michigan- uphold your lofty academic requirements and bcome Vanderbilt...or join the real world and take your place amongst the college football elite. Especially for Notre Dame..come down off your lofty pedastal and compete on even terms or just play Duke, Northwestern, and Vandy. Tough choice..simple solution.

I daresay a conference that included Notre Dame, Vandy, Duke, Army, Navy, Air Force,
Northwestern, and Rice would be an interesting proposition. The competition would be
relatively balanced, fan interest in these schools might improve, and you would return
to the novel concept of student athelete. Of course I will be feeling much better when
I get back on my meds!

[2trap_4ever]

Okay, I want to know why everyone thinks that the Irish should join The Ohio State and the everyone else conference. I honestly would stay independent then have to constantly play second banana to OSU every year.

I think Notre Dame should join the Big Ten for the following reasons:

1. Geography. Notre Dame is right smack in the middle of Big Ten Country. Instant rivalries with just about anyone, regardless of which Division the Fighting Irish would join.

2. Name Brand/National Following. True, ND is not the school it once was on the football field, but it is still a name brand with a national following that few other schools can match. A Notre Dame vs. Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, or Nebraska league game would generate lots of media talk, which helps improve the Big Ten image as compared to the SEC and would further seperate the Big Ten from the likes of the ACC and Pac 12.

3. Big Ten Revenue. And this is somewhat related to my second reason, but the Big Ten would gain more revenue from ND than from most other schools out there. Likewise, ND would gain far more revenue in the Big Ten than they would get remaining indy with an NBC contract.

About number 3, you might be right about the revenue but my only question is will they be on par with Ohio State with revenue or are they going to be a second class citizen.

[seofan_via_dublin]

The big ten shares the revenue equally.

[hdfatboy]

Dantonio is a product of the Big 10, he's done well because he has an understanding of Big 10 football, not because of his success at UC.

Patrino can call an air attack, but what else does he have. Middle of the pack SEC doesn't make you a success.

That said, those are the only two examples?
Case closed!

How many Big East coaches have actually left for other schools (in the current configuration of the Big East)? You discount two that don't fit your opinion - and then you base the rest of it on what? Rich Rod and Brian Kelly (who has all of half a year to determine if he is any good or not?). I guess you could throw in Walt Harris and John L. Smith - neither of whom did exceptionally bad or good at the schools they went to considering where those programs were when they went to them. There aren't other coaches who've left the Big East to go to other schools.

Otherwise there isn't much to talk about - a few Big East coaches have retired or been fired, but those above are the only one's who moved on to other schools.

Regarding Mark Dantonio, his best finish in the Big East was 4th. Granted, he didn't have a ton to work with, but I'd have thought his Big Ten background would've made him unbeatable in the Big East no matter what players he had to work with at UC.

Rich Rod isn't failing at Michigan because of his Big East experience - he is failing at Michigan because he is arrogant and struggles to admit his own failures and is generally incapable of adjusting when he needs to do so. Obviously, if he had any sense at all - he would not try to cram the 3-3-5 down Michigan's throat. I don't think he ever noticed at WVU that Casteel routinely put his D in a 5 or 4 man front the minute the 3-3-5 was failing...of course that would be altering the game plan and Rich doesn't think that way....it isn't "innovative" to do that. It was only a matter of time - particularly once Pat White/Steve Slaton/Owen Schmitt graduated - before Rich Rod was going to crash and burn whether at WVU or somewhere else due to his own personal fallibility.

The scary part is that people around here who are not football savvy actually want him back....

[MariettaPride21]

THE GREAT BIG TEN!

LOOK HOW MANY YEARS ND HAS BEAT PURDUE,MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN ST.

NOT SAYING THIS YEAR
BUT IN THE PAST THEY ARE ALWAYS GREAT GAMES!

OSU/BIG TEN FAN=ND HATER

I ALWAYS LOVE THOSE OSU FANS WHO GET BEHIND THE BIG BLUE IN A BOWL GAME!

[Hoggy]

THE GREAT BIG TEN!

LOOK HOW MANY YEARS ND HAS BEAT PURDUE,MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN ST.

NOT SAYING THIS YEAR
BUT IN THE PAST THEY ARE ALWAYS GREAT GAMES!

OSU/BIG TEN FAN=ND HATER

I ALWAYS LOVE THOSE OSU FANS WHO GET BEHIND THE BIG BLUE IN A BOWL GAME!

Since the 2002 season:

ND is 6-3 vs Purdue / 4-5 vs Michigan & 4-5 vs Michigan state

Total: 14-13 against the Big Ten Schools

In the last 5 Years:

ND is 4-1 vs Purdue / 1-4 vs Michigan & 2-3 vs Michigan state

Total: 7-8 against Big Ten Schools.

Really wouldn't call that total domination would you? Who do you get behind during the Bowl Games? You have to support someone, because ND doesn't play in very many bowl games (BCS Bowl games that is). How have they performed in the bowls by the way? If I am not mistaken, I believe they are 1-4 in their last five bowl appearances (2002 Gator Bowl - lost to NC State, 2004 Insight Bowl - lost to Oregon State, 2005 Fiesta Bowl - lost to The Ohio State Buckeyes, 2006 Sugar Bowl - lost to LSU & 2008 Hawaii Bowl - came away victorious against a dangerous and powerful Hawaii team.

I am a huge Buckeye fan and when it comes to bowl games....I root for all of the Big Ten Schools (Michigan included)! Who actually roots against their own conference? Hell, I even root for the Irish when they aren't playing against the Buckeyes.

[boilermaker]

ND is right where I want them ,,,,,below Michigan....LOL

[noreply66]

don't know if ND played that well Saturday or if Utah isn't really good

[fuzzhead]

I'd love to see them beat USC. Two sub-par programs: one that broke the rules to win championships getting beaten by a program that's been bad and come by it honestly.
Go Irish, beat the Trojans.