Notre Dame to the ACC, but not in football? It’s still a big deal
ACC commish John Swofford: The man is earning his money, you'd have to say. (AP photo)
Well, it’s official. The ACC is bigger than the SEC.
OK, only by a margin of one. But you’d have to admit: In college football, Notre Dame is a pretty big one.
OK, so there’s an asterisk, and a pretty big one to boot: Notre Dame is joining the ACC in every conference sport except football. But the Irish have committed to playing five football games every season against ACC opposition, and that can’t help but heighten the profile of a league that, at least in football, could stand some heightening.
And you’ve have to think that Notre Dame agreeing to play five games against the ACC only clears the path for the Irish to commit to playing a full conference slate someday soon. (There are press conferences scheduled for later in the day, so maybe we’ll know more then.) As they say in England, and perhaps in Ireland: In for a penny, in for a pound.
Back in a bit with more. And before you get all a-dither: No, I do NOT think this means the ACC has become a better football league than the SEC. But I do think this is another good step by John Swofford and his crew, and it wasn’t so long ago that we wondered if Swofford’s league had any credibility left.
(Here, as threatened, is the longer take on Notre Dame and the ACC.)
By Mark Bradley
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335 comments Add your comment
Vulture
September 12th, 2012
11:57 am
“The ACC already has Duke, which competes in all sports but football. Why does it need Notre Dame?” When Franklin leaves, Vandy will again be a non-compete. I also want to know what bowl affiliation ND got.
James
September 12th, 2012
11:57 am
Maybe Penn State will come on boad also.
A weaken Penn State could rebound and compete in the ACC.
Reggie's Balls
September 12th, 2012
11:57 am
hotrod- “Come get some in Athens” ??
Get what? Some bail money, three hots and a cot, a breathalyzer test, a striped jumpsuit??
How many dogs are in the clink for this weeks game??
GTFan
September 12th, 2012
11:58 am
Ugh! No thank you, why?
Silly Bloggers
September 12th, 2012
11:58 am
I had high hopes for Vandy…then came the Northwestern game. I am a big SEC supporter (Go Dawgs), but I’m pretty sure Vandy would be in the lower half of their division as well. Vandy is at best the 10th best team in the SEC, at worst the 12th. I’d say 7th at best for the ACC.
Buzzzed
September 12th, 2012
11:59 am
Hope they are required to play a full slate of ACC games after the NBC contract is up. If not, this is a bad deal. Who’s next – Penn State or UConn?
Mike Bell 790
September 12th, 2012
12:01 pm
FIRST!!!
Damon Evans
September 12th, 2012
12:03 pm
A word or advise for all Tech Fans…”stay away from the white women if you want to keep your job.”
Jack in Macon
September 12th, 2012
12:04 pm
Who cares anyway?
Oh Please
September 12th, 2012
12:04 pm
Tech can’t stop RUDY…!!!!!!
JROLL1
September 12th, 2012
12:04 pm
NO IT ISN’T MARK! IF THEY’RE NOT BRINGING FOOTBALL….THEY AREN’T JOINING ANYTHING!
BobDawg
September 12th, 2012
12:07 pm
Yawn, Golic is crowing on the Mother Ship as his daughter gets to swim against ACC schools now. They get to get their cake and eat it too, basically staying an independent and playing whoever they want.
WhoCares?
September 12th, 2012
12:09 pm
Regrettable that the NCAA is making exceptions to allow ND to “partially” enter the ACC. It ought to be full-time or nothing. and it probably will be full-time in 3-4 years at most when that NBC contract runs out. In the meantime, it’s a boost for the ACC reputation, which can use it, without seriously altering the football power conference landscape. Eager to know who ND will ;play in football and will it be rotating teams to keep them way from a gimme package that includes only Duke, WF, etc….
Al
September 12th, 2012
12:10 pm
@Reggie
SEC = 6 straight NC’s…………………………..nuff said!
GT4Life
September 12th, 2012
12:10 pm
A lot of guys obviously forget that NDame was the Elite of the Elite. Around that same time they obviously do not remember just how bad the SEC was!! I remember the days of Ole Miss and Baylor( which at the time was weakest of the week ) coming to UGA and dominating. So be very careful what you say b/c it can all change in a couple of years. Look at Bama! Sucked for years before Saban!
Coming very soon to College Football is a new ruling on Acedemics. How is that going to effect the SEC? It will effect a lot of schools. Just saying!!
I love that ND has joined the ACC!! Great move for the Conference !! I also remember reading a lot of you saying that the ACC
is dead and would not be a Super Conference! So what now??
Good Luck to all!
jarvis
September 12th, 2012
12:12 pm
Academics…..only second to misspell in terms of wanting to spell correctly.
spider
September 12th, 2012
12:14 pm
im so sick of the rest of this country kissing NOTRE DAMES ass in football, this is not a good thing for ACC if they dont get the football program. why in the world the acc would agree to this is mind boggling.
Let's Laugh
September 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
hey GT4Life, ND, the elite of the elite, yeah when?
Notre Dame had 8 NC’s (AP, Coaches). 4 of those came in the 40’s….60-70 years ago.
Buzz
September 12th, 2012
12:15 pm
GT 4 Life, you are missing something very big here. In 2016 the NCAA is going to eliminate the academic exceptions. (For the record GT is allotted 4 for the entire roster, ugh is allowed 10 per recruiting class) The result of the elimination of the exceptions is the better schools will now sign the 3 and 4 star recruits and the rest of us will be suiting up 2 star recruits. It will simply be a elimination of most of the 4 and 5 star recruits from the pool.
cattledawg
September 12th, 2012
12:17 pm
This is the kiss of death for the acc just like it was to the big east many years ago. Cant believe the acc would be so desperate to bow down to notre dame like this. As a college football fan I would have loved to seen notre dame join as a full member.
Paddy
September 12th, 2012
12:17 pm
This is a big deal and will prove to be even a bigger deal as time moves on. Let it play out before you bash it. Nothing happens in a vacuum and this is a good case in point. It adds interest to a conf that really needs some good news!
Go Dawgs
Michael
September 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
ND needed an easier schedule to get into the “playoffs.”
Jacket Man
September 12th, 2012
12:20 pm
Anyone who was at historic Bobby Dodd Stadium on the day when highly ranked Notre Dame came to town and the Jackets beat them rushing the ball on every play, will probably look forward to having them come back to town, because the following year, when GA Tech went up to South Bend, when the Fighting Irish were up, I believe 62-7 with about 5 minutes left in the game, and the Jackets had all of their reserves in the game, they threw a pass for a touchdown rather than trying to run out some clock against us, just to rub our nose in it from the score from the previous season…at 69-7, GA Tech did score another TD, to make it 69-14 (I think), but they made their point.
The National Media had made fun of them the previous year because we beat them without gaining yards through the air; and they ran the score up on us so it would be plastered all over the sports boards the following year, in an effort to embarrass GA Tech.
There was a tremendous rivalry with Notre Dame more than once if I’m not mistaken, including wihen Bobby Dodd was our Head Coach, and then later when these “events” took place. Getting the Fight Irish back on the schedule should be a lot of fun for our fans.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
12:21 pm
This is a great move for the ACC. I can’t wait to watch the backlash though. If there is one thing people hate more than the ACC its Notre Dame.
JB
September 12th, 2012
12:23 pm
Thank you Mr. Slive for being the SEC Prez and making the SEC the envy of the NCAA food chain. Only someone like a struggling ACC would allow a new member to enter on THEIR terms with asterisk’s all over the deal.
Devil's Advocate
September 12th, 2012
12:24 pm
I used to think that Notre Dame should join the Big Ten and call it a day. Joining the ACC seems potentially the most damaging to them for football.
The Irish always seem to play Purdue, Michigan, and Michigan State from the Big Ten, then Stanford and USC from the PAC 12. They also always play Navy. The rest of their schedule is a nationwide tour of takers from the Big East, ACC, additional Pac 12, etc. I will give ND credit for having the most awesome schedule in college football considering how diverse it is with big name schools (only really missing the SEC as they have faced Big 12 schools like OU recently).
To give up that diversity for a potential ACC heavy conference schedule seems bad for the brand unless they are going all-in in hopes of it being an easier schedule than they typically face. That would translate to more wins and a quicker rise back to the top. That’s what makes this “5 game” deal strange to me. There doesn’t seem like much benefit versus going all in.
IL Jacket
September 12th, 2012
12:25 pm
Great news for the ACC and for ND as well. As I have said in the past, it really is the only choice for ND what with their emphasis on academics and the wide range of men’s and women’s sports they participate in. With five games a year in football, will provide enhanced interest in the ACC football programs. With the way the playoffs are going, probably only a matter of time before they become a full fledged football member.
Go Jackets!!!
lance manion
September 12th, 2012
12:25 pm
Great move for the ACC. Notre Dame will eventually move completely into the fold. ND is a great fit. ACC football as well as other sports just picked up a great new member. I know it kills the ACC haters, but too bad.
Dawg Bite
September 12th, 2012
12:26 pm
The big question would appear to be who are the 5 teams ND will play, and how are these games going to be treated? Will they count as conference games or not? Surely ND will not be able to “cherry pick” their opponents as they most likely would opt for the ones they think they could beat….did we hear Duke? Being an SEC fan in football, but an ACC fan in basketball, I cannot see how this benefits the ACC, unless ND becomes a full member down the road. They are a selfish bunch who” wants their cake and eat it too”!
JB
September 12th, 2012
12:27 pm
They way the Irish have played the last 10-15 years, they will fit right in.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
12:27 pm
Bob — You meant, If there is anything people laugh at more than the ACC, it’s ND.
lance manion
September 12th, 2012
12:27 pm
Paddy, great point. I agree
Biff
September 12th, 2012
12:28 pm
When is this going to happen? Next year? Years from now?
Silly Bloggers
September 12th, 2012
12:28 pm
Agreed spider. I would have been thrilled for the ACC if they got an all-in by Notre Dame. As things stand, they only just caused themselves a great deal of favortism not to mention a logistical nightmare on adding any more teams. As indicated earlier, you can’t have ND qualify for the ACC Championship game and you certainly can not credit a win or loss against them for your conference record…so, you would essentially need to bring in two more teams to have a “super” conference of 16 teams…with ND playing five conference games while everyone else plays nine or ten.
I’m certainly no insider, but I would put up my 100 to your 10 that ND would have gone to the B1G for the same deal. I just can’t believe the ACC would compromise on something like this. The ACC is certainly not a powerhouse, but they have done a lot to give themselves security the past 18-months. The ACC wasn’t going anywhere. This move was so far from necessary. If they had convinced ND to go all-in, the ACC could have potentially brought in another powerhouse, possibly from the Big 12, to give them 16 teams. Now their hands are tied.
Sorry if this is a repeat post…my posts seem to be getting stuck in blog purgatory.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
12:29 pm
I used to think that Notre Dame should join the Big Ten and call it a day. Joining the ACC seems potentially the most damaging to them for football.
The east coast dominates the footprint of Notre Dame’s alumni. They were probably never going to join the Big 10. The ACC made the most sense for them.
Devil's Advocate
September 12th, 2012
12:29 pm
Dawg Bite,
By definition those football games would not be conference games. ND football is not going to be part of the ACC, for now. They would just play 5 ACC teams. Lately they’ve been playing 2-3 ACC teams each year.
Born2Buzz
September 12th, 2012
12:29 pm
ND fits in the ACC. Student athletes not just athletes occasionally going to class. I suspect the deal evolves into full membership in football in the near future. Now the questions is who is the 16th team. I think a push to get Penn St out of the B10 may be in the works. PSU, the horrible Sandusky cloud notwithstanding, is a great institution that also fits with the ACC model. That is why UCONN (and WVU before they joined the B12) are not being considered. The ACC has the most members of the AAU of any conference. Academics is a big part of the ACC. And a lot of PSU folks wish they had joined the ACC before they went with the B10.
All you SEC homers don’t really understand what is happening here, so keep the silly comments coming.
JB
September 12th, 2012
12:31 pm
ND kinda of like the Varsity. I remember the good ole days when the fries were fresh cut and the pies had that Homemade real crust, unlike that cardboard crust now. Those were the days. This ND bunch, not so much now.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
12:31 pm
Yeah — their are loads of ND alumni strolling up & down Tobacco Rd.
The Hammer
September 12th, 2012
12:31 pm
The theory that the elimination of academic exceptions will simply move the more academically 3 and 4-star recruits into the “elite” programmes is absolutely unfounded.
If you are smart enough to be accepted to, say, Duke, you are smart enough to know that a career in the NFL is a) not likely, and b) dangerous to your long term health. On the other hand, selling insurance and fundraising, etc., can be very, very lucrative, especially in the long run, and especially considering your better health at the age of 50 versus even 5 years in the NFL.
With all that being said, if a university wants to continue to compete, they will need to improve the academics offered at their colleges, which is truly a win-win for everyone. Teams that are superbly coached and organised like Alabama will continue to win, due to not only their coaching, but also the good-enough academic reputation. Who will suffer the most are the most marginal of academic institutes, and they are generally not top-notch programmes today, anyway (mostly because of lack of booster funding – their alumni aren’t as rich, so they can’t give enough money).
As for Not our Shame half-way joining the ACC, I think it’s a good move, especially if GT can get a yearly game with them, like back in the “old days”.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
12:32 pm
The big question would appear to be who are the 5 teams ND will play, and how are these games going to be treated?
Reports are that ND has to play every team in the ACC every three years. Hopefully that is true. Also, there is no chance that ND games will count as conference games. That wouldn’t make any sense at all.
spider
September 12th, 2012
12:32 pm
i wonder how the people who say this is good for the acc will respond the 1st time their school football team loses out on a bowl game because notre dame gets invited over them? there isnt a bowl game that would not take notre dame over a a acc team, that is reality not my opinion and you know it.
JB
September 12th, 2012
12:33 pm
There is some big TV money lurking in the dark somewhere in this deal…….For the ACC benefit, not ND.
Devil's Advocate
September 12th, 2012
12:33 pm
GTBob,
The real question is what 5 games will ND give up? USC, Stanford, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, and Navy are staples of their schedule so would those remain plus the 5 ACC games and 1 additional team of choice? Possibly…
IronJacket
September 12th, 2012
12:35 pm
It is sad that when something positive happens to the ACC all the dwags start barking…. scared i presume.
JB
September 12th, 2012
12:35 pm
does this young Georgia Tech crowd know about pelting the Irish with fish when they take the field. Some traditions never die…LOL
Sundrop Kid
September 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
Major mistake by the ACC! There should be no preferential treatment for any college, and that’s what this is. It’s either in all the way or not at all. ND already is shown favoritism by the TV networks, especially NBC, and this only compounds it. Hope something happens in the very first year to create problems for the ACC, and they will see what a mistake they have made.
Born2Buzz
September 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
And ND already plays 4 (counting Pitt) ACC teams this year. Adding 1 more is not that big a change in their schedule. Going to 9 would be.
mreed14
September 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
Notre Dame plays 3 current and one future ACC team this year. It’s a joke to take them on if they are going to stay independent in football.
Silly Bloggers
September 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
Reports are that ND has to play every team in the ACC every three years. Hopefully that is true. Also, there is no chance that ND games will count as conference games. That wouldn’t make any sense at all.
Not sure how to italicize…but this is exactly the problem. You can count them as W’s or L’s…you can’t allow them into the Conference Championships, so you will still need 2 teams to expand to a super-conference of 16.