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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More Georgia Tech-Notre Dame games? - City-Data Forum
September 12th, 2012
2:30 pm
[...] Georgia Tech-Notre Dame games? Notre Dame is moving to the ACC. Notre Dame to the ACC, but not in football? It’s still a big deal | Mark Bradley But not as a full member…but close. Notre Dame will play all sports but football. But in [...]
Habersham Dawg
September 12th, 2012
2:32 pm
Got to agree with GTBob here. Notre Dame is not irrelevant. They may be down in football right now, but with greater access to Georgia and Florida and their ability to recruit and show off the Notre Dame name and history, we could see a quick resurgence, and I’d hate to see that.
But having Notre Dame, even for 5 games a year, helps the ACC.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
2:33 pm
Millions of ND followers!!??
Are you kidding me?
Put the sauce down Bob, you’re embarrassing yourself!!
I can’t believe you’re gonna let Swofferd get away with this!!
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
2:35 pm
Slive would laugh at this “deal”.
Benjamin
September 12th, 2012
2:35 pm
Reality needs a heaping dose of his/her own screen name if they believe Georgia “struggled” to beat [a solid] Missouri team on the road.
Scoreboard says the Bulldogs won by three touchdowns, without four starters, including arguably their best two defensive players.
LawDawg
September 12th, 2012
2:35 pm
“Well, it’s official. The ACC is bigger than the SEC. (And a bowl full of rocks is bigger than a diamond…so what?)
OK, only by a margin of one. But you’d have to admit: In college football, Notre Dame is a pretty big one. (I believe you meant to say that Notre Dame USED to be a big one)”
LawDawg
September 12th, 2012
2:36 pm
Benjamin: I am a huge dawgs fan, but we objectively did struggle to beat Mizzou. If the fake punt had gone in their favor, they may have won. If Jarvis did not get that INT, that receiver was going to go a long, long way.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
2:37 pm
Note: GT/Clemson/ FSU have big time OOC games with instate rivals – they will not be in a rotation and will not play ND.
Just to add clarity this false statement also. When Notre Dame announced their move today they also said:
“that it will play five football games annually against the league’s programs, facing each ACC member at least once every three years.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gXAlMJ4ABBST5SWcgFWwll7vIvUw?docId=bd66b942fdbce7f6b2114bd2d8b32016
GT, Clemson, FSU, and every other ACC member will be playing Notre Dame.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
2:38 pm
If ga has 2 defensive players better than Jarvis Jones, their awfully good at hiding it!!
JoeFan
September 12th, 2012
2:39 pm
Expect Notre Dame to join the ACC in football after their existing contract with NBC expires. They can’t depend on being selected as a wildcard for the football playoff and need conference affiliation to give them a boost. This will also elevate the national perspetive of the ACC which could ultimately mean moving the ACC championship game to Atlanta which would mean moving the SEC championship to Birmingham or Dallas.
Benjamin
September 12th, 2012
2:39 pm
We can count the ifs all day long, but again, with the amount of defensive talent we had out of the game, going to Columbia, Mo in that amped environment and winning at all is a feat. I was legitimately concerned Georgia would lose Saturday.
Winning by three touchdowns? Let’s just say that I’ll take it…
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
Millions of ND followers!!??
Are you kidding me?
Put the sauce down Bob, you’re embarrassing yourself!!
Im sorry, you are right. Notre Dame is a small school from Indiana with no fans and generates no interest in college football at all. Thank you for correcting me.
Ted
September 12th, 2012
2:43 pm
Maybe today it’s not better but we all know these conference runs go in waves. I think the acc will win a couple of nc over the next 5 years.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
2:44 pm
JesusHMotherofMary — why in the hell would Atlanta consider giving up the SECCG for the ACC title game which draws 20k only when Clemson plays?
Oh the humanity of some people!!
shankit
September 12th, 2012
2:45 pm
Hypothetical Thought?
Say Clemson and Florida State go undefeated in regular season.
Notre Dame whips up on Pittsburgh, Duke, BC, Syracuse, Miami and one other ACC powerhouse.
Say either Clemson or FSU loses in conference playoff, finish with one loss.
Notre Dame finsihes undefeated or with no or one loss.
Got two teams undefeated and one with one loss.
Would both undefeated ACC teams qualify for BCS championship?
Old Boy
September 12th, 2012
2:48 pm
Once they get to 16 teams, isn’t it basically two conferences with an extra bowl game (the conference championship amounting to a bowl game with traditional tie-ins)? Will teams in one division ever play teams in the other?
Webster
September 12th, 2012
2:49 pm
Well, this is seems like a nose snub. ND will join the conference, except for football. I know the reason is money, but it still seems snobbish. But, GTBob thinks it’s a good idea, and he knows everything, so I guess it will be good. Kinda like dating a girl thats going to sleep with others, lol
Rick James
September 12th, 2012
2:49 pm
@GTBob
This deal had nothing to do with the SEC. Quit thinking the world revolves around you
——————————————————————————————————————–
The world does not revolve around the SEC but every conference in America would like to have its football revenue sharing.You now that so stop pretending.Do you really think that Texas A&M and Missouri were the only teams outside of the conference that knew each member school recieved checks for 19 million dollars last year? Notre Dame is in the ACC for one reason,to create larger revenue sharing checks so that schools wont be tempted to leave.If that wont happen the 50 million dollar exit fee will keep them in place.I guess if your wife doesnt love you either you pay her to stay or put handcuffs on her.
Mike S.
September 12th, 2012
2:50 pm
This is pretty laughable. ND will just camp out on the ACC like they did the Big East. Its essentially another basketball move, just like Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Big 12 must be grinning from ear to ear cause they know FSU and others will come calling soon.
2014 Big 12 after ACC football schools wise up and leave:
North: OU, OSU, K St, Kansas, Iowa St., WVU, Va Tech
South: Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, FSU, Clemson, Ga Tech
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
2:51 pm
Im sorry, you are right. Notre Dame is a small school from Indiana with no fans and generates no interest in college football at all. Thank you for correcting me.
—————
Bobby — wake up. We’re in the 21st Century.
robodawg
September 12th, 2012
2:51 pm
That’s pretty big for the ACC. But it’s probably not so good a move for Notre Dame. Wonder why they didn’t go the Big 10 route? In other sports now they’ll be flying to the Southeast all the time instead of the Midwest. And if they ever do go to a full conference football schedule, you’d have to be scratching your head why they’d let go of rivalry games with Michigan, Michigan State, and Purdue.
Vulture
September 12th, 2012
2:52 pm
“In fact, the Week 6 contest between Notre Dame and Air Force drew the lowest viewer rating in Notre Dame history, with only 1.5 million viewers.”
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1089982-notre-dame-football-why-nbcs-contract-with-nd-is-detrimental-to-both-sides
Ken Stallings
September 12th, 2012
2:53 pm
NBC’s contract with Notre Dame runs out in 2015 and all indications are that it will not be renewed. The only reason Notre Dame is keeping its football independent is because right now Notre Dame alone gets the money for that NBC contract.
UConn is more likely going to be the 16th and final team added to the ACC. That will put 8 teams in a northern bracket and 8 teams in a southern bracket.
The truly interesting fact is that all four North Carolina based teams can be in the southern bracket. Here is how it would look:
Southern Bracket: Miami, FSU, Georgia Tech, Clemson, UNC, Duke, Wake Forest, NC State
Northern Bracket: Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Connecticut, Boston College
come on
September 12th, 2012
2:53 pm
from abc “Notre Dame’s move would allow the ACC to begin renegotiating its TV deal, though Notre Dame would keep its football revenue from its partnership with NBC and wouldn’t receive TV revenue for other ACC football games.” just to shut uga fans up that notre dame will be taking money away from the acc deal. this gives the acc a chance to add to the 3.6 billion dollar deal they already have. notre dame’s home games vs acc will be on nbc so they get that money. the road games would fall under the acc’s contract and the acc keeps that money. both sides profit from the deal.
jeff g
September 12th, 2012
2:53 pm
i bet if nd goes 5-0 in acc games, they will wish they were in the conference to play in a champ game and possibly a nc. when that happens, that’s when they will say ok, let’s join.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
2:56 pm
Bobby — wake up. We’re in the 21st Century.
Have a look at this link Big Crimson:
http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2011/college-football-11_land.html
It lists the most valuable teams in college football. Notre Dame comes in second only behind Texas. Not bad for a team with no fans. It might kill the ACC to have a team that unpopular right?
ND Fan
September 12th, 2012
2:57 pm
I’m an ND fan, I’ll admit I’m biased. However, college football is about money – it’s a business and ND generates money. It has die hard fans that will stick with them through thick and thin. Just look at the 40,000 fans that flocked to Dublin, Ireland for the game. That event gave the Irish economy a $100M kick. Not many schools can motivate fans like that – even when they aren’t a top contender. The ACC has a financial interest and ND brings that in. I’m glad that they may be closer and I won’t have to go all the way to South Bend to see them play.
jeff g
September 12th, 2012
2:57 pm
ken lol aside from va and md, all the teams are from the old big east.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
2:59 pm
The world does not revolve around the SEC but every conference in America would like to have its football revenue sharing.
You do know that the SEC is not the top conference in TV revenue don’t you?
cmac22
September 12th, 2012
3:01 pm
Notre who?
Will
September 12th, 2012
3:02 pm
I guess Notre Dame grew tired of playing their usual rigorous schedule.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
3:06 pm
It lists the most valuable teams in college football. Notre Dame comes in second only behind Texas. Not bad for a team with no fans. It might kill the ACC to have a team that unpopular right?
———-
Thanks for once again making my point.
It might be good for the ACC had ND actually embraced the Conference, instead of the typical ND smug — we will join but not our Football Team.
How does it help the ACC to have a quasi member?
Slive never would have fallen for this charade.
ylojkt
September 12th, 2012
3:07 pm
Just a note for all the UGA fans coming on here trashing Tech, Notre Dame, and the ACC. If it wasn’t for Tech tying then #1 Notre Dame 3 – 3 in 1980, you wouldn’t have had a chance at your beloved and long, long gone by Natl. Championship. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!
For the rest of you being respectful, thank you for showing your other fans how a sports fan should act.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
3:11 pm
How does it help the ACC to have a quasi member?
It got the current members to raise the buyout to $50 million and solidifies the conference. It allows the ACC to renegotiate its TV deal with ESPN which is expected to increase revenue for all of the members. It adds high profile games to the ACC schedule. It adds a school that competes well in many sports and is solid academically. Doesn’t sound that bad to me.
they still play football??
September 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
I am soooo looking forward to the day the arrogance of Notre Dame bites them in their backside when they are left out of the playoff equation due to their independence. They aren’t relevant, haven’t been relevant in 2+ decades and their only chance of becoming relevant again is to get over their overblown ego’s and align with a conference. They don’t have the balls to join the SEC, never will.
Taxi Smith
September 12th, 2012
3:18 pm
Didn’t know the ACC played football. Learn something every day.
MR
September 12th, 2012
3:21 pm
Notre Dame football broadcasts is a great fast acting remedy for sleep deprivation.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
3:23 pm
I’m sold Bob!!
You win this round.
Just don’t come crying in 3 years when ND finds a better deal.
Slive would never have made this deal without a 100% commitment from ND football.
Btw, how’s that Julio trade working out for the Brownies?
You know the one you constantly chastised the Falcons for making!!
I’d certainly rather have a fat NT in Taylor, a non-explosive WR in Little & Brandon “4-int’s” Weeden!!
You’re we’re right about that Bob, the Falcons never should have made that trade.
Nativebird
September 12th, 2012
3:24 pm
This is why I hate Notre Dame. The most overrated football program in the last 30 years.
who's Notre Dame
September 12th, 2012
3:25 pm
Notre Dame…..they’re a joke….some idiot before said they were the elite of the elite. 25 years ago!!
ACC should be ashamed whoring themselves out like this. Either they come all in or they don’t come in at all. They proposed this to Slive, once he got through rolling around on the floor, would have dusted himself off and politely asked their cocky butts to get the hell out of the room.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
3:28 pm
Slive would never have made this deal without a 100% commitment from ND football.
Slive has more leverage then Swofford does and the overall goals of the SEC are not the same as the ACC. Not accepting Notre Dame without football wouldn’t even make sense for the SEC. It does make sense for the ACC.
You’re we’re right about that Bob, the Falcons never should have made that trade.
I have always said that Julio would be a great receiver but the trade was a horrible trade. I still stand by that.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
3:30 pm
Good move. Rotating out-of-division opponent for everybody. It means that the Coastal teams will play (fill in the blank – Wake Forest) less, and the Atlantic will play (fill in the blank – Duke) less. That’s a winning scenario, home and away.
Dale
September 12th, 2012
3:32 pm
Enter your comments here
Bobby
September 12th, 2012
3:33 pm
I did not know that South Bend, Indiana was on the Atlantic Coast? This makes no sense to me.
Jacket Man
September 12th, 2012
3:35 pm
Those who don’t think having Notre Dame coming to the ACC as a “full” member isn’t a great deal doesn’t understand the financial side of the equation…
There can now be another renegotiation with ESPN, etc over broadcasting rights now that Notre Dame will be joining the Conference, which will increase all of the member’s shares. Remember, they will be playing virtually every other sport that’s broadcasted, like men’s and women’s basketball, but also, there will be an opportunity to broadcast all of the Notre Dame/ACC games that aren’t played on their campus (not on NBC). This is a HUGE draw for ESPN and ABC, especially if they’re playing teams like FSU, Clemson, Miami, VA Tech, and even GA Tech with our offense and past history with them.
OldGold1964
September 12th, 2012
3:36 pm
Frank Lane said it: No big deal. As for my two cents woth – I just plain don’t like, don’t want it and given a chance, would have voted against it. They bring nothing to the conference other than an over inflated, and unjustified, ego. Send them back to the midwest and let them play Prairie View or Slippery Rock.
Vulture
September 12th, 2012
3:37 pm
“I did not know that South Bend, Indiana was on the Atlantic Coast? This makes no sense to me.”
Kinda like College Station, Texas being the southeast?
NoGaGator
September 12th, 2012
3:38 pm
Since ND has been better at Basketball than Football for the last 20 years, moving to the ACC is a good fit.
Their Football program has been irrevelant in the rankings the last 20 years but their fan base and NBC has continued to construe them to be better than they, in fact, are. Then again, they’ve at least won a National Title since UGA last did (1988).
NATS
September 12th, 2012
3:39 pm
Who cares? Just another set of arrogant fans like UGA. They both suck.
IL Jacket
September 12th, 2012
3:41 pm
GTBob, God bless you. You have more patience than I do bringing the truth to the box of rocks on this blog.