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
Junior Samples
September 12th, 2012
3:42 pm
looks like notre dame was calling the shots; the commish should have said all or nothing; none of this evereything but football bs
Johnny Robinson
September 12th, 2012
3:43 pm
There was a comment earlier frfom someone who said they were too young to remember when Notre Dame was good in football.
Years ago, during the days of unlimited scholarships for a school, there were 9 teams: Oklahoma,Nebraska, Michigan, Ohio State, Southern California, Penn State,Texas, Alabama, and Notre Dame. These schools dominated football. They were known as the Gashouse 9. When these teams played it was must see TV. Oklahoma vs Nebraska, Oklahoma vs Texas, Michigan vs Notre Dame, Southern California vs Notre Dame, Notre Dame vs Mivhigan. Ahhhh, it gives me goosebumps thinking about thoses classic games these schools played. Will football ever get back to that quality. Doubtful.
My point is these schools have tradition. Expectations are for them to continue living up to those traditions. Mediocrity will never be accepted for these programs. There is a lesson to be learned here. Mediocrity should not be accepted in life.
Long live the Gashouse 9. Thanks for the memories.
Vulture
September 12th, 2012
3:43 pm
Anybody that does not understand why ND and the ACC both benefit, either don’t want to or can’t.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
3:45 pm
FYI, Notre Dame is not in South Bend. It is its own municipality. A lot more midwestern eyes on the ACC for ratings and recruiting.
Tide Pride
September 12th, 2012
3:48 pm
GTBob – you are correct – Notre Dame will play all ACC schools in a 3 year rotation. I stand corrected.
And GTBOB – regarding strength of schedule – Notre Dame has made a living on only playing a few powerhouses each year – and filling their schedule of midlevel teams so it appears they are accomplishing something.
Notre Dames main rivals over the years are Navy, So Cal, Purdue, Pitt, Mich. State, Army/Air Force rotate, Northwestern, – and have picked up Stanford and Boston College as regulars the last couple of decades. They do play Michigan on and off. Not exactly chopped liver – but not as tough as everyone gives them credit either.
Interestingly, Georgia Tech has played Notre Dame 34 times (5 less times than Michigan) and I welcome the renewal of these two great academic schools squaring off.
Not disputing Notre Dames rightful place in college football history – they are tradition rich but unfortunately have been in a lull for decades. They deserve respect for their academics and what they have accomplished.
I DO NOT not like the independent deal that favors them over other independents like BYU or Army and the automatic payout they get – even if they are not bowl eligible. That’s major Bull Shoot right there. Rules should apply to all in terms of bowl eligibility and qualifications to play in BCS or furture playoff system. ……. just saying.
Anyway – thank you for correcting my mistake.
dawgfan
September 12th, 2012
3:49 pm
“Anybody that does not understand why ND and the ACC both benefit, either don’t want to or can’t.”
Or maybe they just don’t give a flying crap. Put me in that camp. This is all much ado about absolutely nothing. Notre Dame will not help the ACC win BCS bowl games or (try and keep a straight face) national titles. It will not help Tech beat UGA. The ACC still has to produce on the field if it ever wants to get the respect it so desperately seeks. That’s the bottom line. This Notre Dame deal is just a marketing gimmick, a publicity stunt, something to get the talking heads talking about the ACC for once. That is all. It will quickly be forgotten as the SEC continues to dominate the BCS and Notre Dames loses to teams like South Florida.
Class dismissed.
Time
September 12th, 2012
3:52 pm
LOL, dawfan just took the nerds to school.
Rick James
September 12th, 2012
3:52 pm
@GTBob
You do know that the SEC is not the top conference in TV revenue don’t you?
———————————————————————————————————
I said nothing about television revenue.I said that each conference member got revenue share checks for 19 million dollars which is overall revenue.I hate it when you pretend to be stupid Bob.
Rick James
September 12th, 2012
3:57 pm
@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
—————————————————————————————————————————
Why dont you educate the box of rocks and explain to us why we should stop laughing at this deal.
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
3:57 pm
Or maybe they just don’t give a flying crap.
I think that falls into the don’t want to understand category. Good job proving his point. Although i’m pretty sure you fall into the can’t understand category as well. You are one of the rare ones that can be both.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:01 pm
No Easy Schedule
Navy (Dublin)
Purdue
Mich. St. (away)
Michigan
Miami (Chicago)
Stanford
BYU
Oklahoma (away)
Boston College (away)
Wake Forest
USC (away)
Notice:
No FCS patsy
No Florida whoever-Lafitte FBS patsy
GTBob
September 12th, 2012
4:01 pm
I said nothing about television revenue.I said that each conference member got revenue share checks for 19 million dollars which is overall revenue.
Yes, and 17.1 million of that 19 million was TV revenue. Even if you want to use the amazing 19 million number, you are still behind other conferences.
It won’t be long until Notre Dame is playing ACC football, too | Mark Bradley
September 12th, 2012
4:02 pm
[...] big news Wednesday was that Notre Dame will join the ACC in every league sport except football. The news someday soon will be that Notre Dame has decided to remove the qualifier from its new [...]
juice sourcer
September 12th, 2012
4:02 pm
Big Crimson 75 should be banned for making such a stupid comment.
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:04 pm
Glad to see Bradley does NOT think the A She She has become a better conference than the SEC. Adding Notre Dame to the record of the A She She in the BCS bowl games would be a laugher. Well at least ND has won a bowl game lately (just broke a losing streak) so they are better off than the trade school.
sec chokes
September 12th, 2012
4:07 pm
notre dame>>>>>>>> missouri>>>>>> texas am
point acc
lmao.
missouri was so good that a short handed dog team went to their place and put a can of whoop- ass on em.
and here we have all these sec types trolling about notre dame.
the big bad sec is what the big ten used to be the big two and everybody else. michigan and osu = bama and lsu…. without all the cheating going on of course.
take the tide and lsu out of the sec and what have you got?
the best next 2 teams are the game crocks who finally won their first bowl game EVER
…and the dwags who win the fulmer cup most years and has a really really REALLY CLASSY fan base. their last glory days were 32 years ago. LETS NOT FORGET THAT THE DWAGS got hammered at their place by boise state a bunch of 3 star white boys and ucf. lmao,. UC fn F. lmao. roll dwags roll.
arkansas who just lost to la state at home. need i say more? u of fla who is a has been and auburn who has a losing record since cam left are part of tier 3…. i would put them on par with ncstate
than you have the rest of the sec … kentucky… vanderbuilt… mississippi… missiisspi state….texas mnm…ten or cee and missiouri who can give wake forrest a run for their money on most saturdays. lmao.
so out of 14 teams you have 7 that are on par with duke and wake forest and boston college. way to go sec. you be bad to da bone.
now that cam newton is gone awburn has a losing record and has lost twice to clumpsin and it should have been 3 times in a row.
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:09 pm
Delbert:
The whole little 10 is a patsy….as well as those A She She powerhouses of BC, Weak Forest and The U (beatdown by Kansas State, Really??). They do get points for playing USC (which is overrated by the way).
ACC_meh
September 12th, 2012
4:10 pm
ND’s version of “just the tip”?
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:10 pm
Oh, yeah; forgot Pitt.
Box of Rocks
September 12th, 2012
4:12 pm
No, I do not understand how money comes into the conversation. I live in a trailer. The SEC is the best. We would never want Notre Dame in the SEC.
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:12 pm
sec chokes not too up to date on the gamecocks…..they beat those might suckeyes before. not sure where this clown has been hiding……UF won 2 out of last 6 MNC’s so not sure what he thinks they are doing…..btw they also beat down the suckeyes…..sec chokes is just green with envy
killerj
September 12th, 2012
4:13 pm
What do you mean M>B>,in academics or sports who is better? please clarify?,let me help dumb @#$%^&.
ylojkt
September 12th, 2012
4:15 pm
dwagfan – I think you meant losing to Central Florida. Oh wait, you were talking about Notre Dame and not UGA.
LOL – O’leary owns you dwags!
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:15 pm
A Big Ten “Patsy” beat Georgia in OT last year. They apparently are playing without a quarterback this year, though based on what I say in their opening game. Every team needs a quarterback, I think.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
4:16 pm
Btw, Rick James & dawgfan — I assure you both & any other regular on these blogs, I do not in any way concede to bob this is a good deal!!
Sometimes, as y’all know, you have to throw a dog a bone!!
The ACC & Swofford in particular got played. Bob & the rest of their minions are celebrating a deal, that really isn’t a deal!!
We all know who ND is, excuse me WAS.
For Swofford to accept these terms is hilarious.
No one cares about ND football anymore.
Their dinosaurs.
Anyone remember how the NBC contract was going to make it un-fair for the rest of college football?
How’d that turn out for the Irish?
Simply put, ND has 3 years to test the strength of the ACC.
Once they see what everyone in the South already knows,
They’ll bounce outta Dixie quicker than Reconstruction!!
Old Dawg
September 12th, 2012
4:17 pm
From the perspective of television exposure, this is huge for the ACC. Yes, ND isn’t what it used to be. At the same time, you have to respect a media buy that goes into 40 million Roman Catholic homes.
I remember when Georgia played Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl after the 1980 season, I’d never seen my Catholic friends so conflicted. Priests were torn, nuns were crying and Sonny Seiler had to hide UGA from the IRA (kidding).
The NYC market is huge for ND. Expect to see season-opening contests between ACC schools and ND in the Big Apple on a regular basis. ACC hoops tournaments there as well.
Slick move to be sure!
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:19 pm
Beating UGA does not make them more than a patsy….come on Delbert. The little 10 got beat down last week when they played out of conference……and Michigan was shown the door in a hurry against Bammer.
dawgfan
September 12th, 2012
4:21 pm
“I think that falls into the don’t want to understand category.”
Yes Bob, it most certainly does. What part of the word “irrelevant” do you not understand? I’m sure the digestive system of a donkey is completey fascinating to some, but I have no interest in understanding it because it is irrelevant to my life. Same goes with medicore ACC football. Its just irrelevant so I could care less. Adding Notre Dame doesn’t change that. You nerds are getting way too geeked up over this (pun very much intended). You criticize the SEC for being too hyped up but then get all excited when Notre Dame plays 5 ACC games a year like this somehow validates your pathetic little football league. It does not. Notre Dame can’t even beat South Florida.
Thanks.
James
September 12th, 2012
4:23 pm
What a prestigious move for the ACC, or BCS Ivy as they are calling themselves. There will be some very exciting games, with high TV pricetags. GT vs Notre Dame, FSU vs ND, Miami vs ND, Clemson vs Notre Dame, VT vs Notre Dame, etc..
You have to give it to the ACC, they are making big moves in expansion palooza.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:26 pm
@Big Crimson 75 – There is absolutely nothing for you to be concerned about. They aren’t and haven’t been playing SEC teams, so no reputations will be tarnished by a mere visit from The Golden Domers.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:29 pm
@Honeycomb – I agree. Georgia would make the BCS championship game for sure with ND’s schedule. Nobody on the order of a South Carolina on that list.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:30 pm
No Buffalo or Florida Atlantic, either. I guess Pitt and Navy would maybe be the equivalents?
Box of Rocks
September 12th, 2012
4:32 pm
dwagfan you sure know a lot about “irrelevant” “irrelevant to my life” stuff.
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
Bobby — how can you, a so called Tech supporter, stroke ND over & over then face yourself in the mirror?!
ND made Tech look like amateurs with the whole George O’Leary debacle, and you know this!!
The fact is several ND boosters, including Regis, got wet-feet over hiring O’Leary.
They forced that poor old man to take a fall to appease the liberal faction that wanted Ty Willingham.
Resume-Gate was an embarrassment to O’Leary as well as to Georgia’s Institute of Technology!!
Now you wanna kiss the behind of the school that purposely embarrassed a good Man.
That’s shameful Bob.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:33 pm
Not a decent substitute for Ga. Southern, though on the ND schedule that Georgia would play to get to the BCSCG. Although, Miami played a bit like an FCS team last week.
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:36 pm
Easy now, Delbert. The Blue Hose of Presbyterian and MTSU Lightning are also not on the schedule but they might be equal to Purdue and BC.
i think i prefer to
September 12th, 2012
4:37 pm
see my team playing in a toned down honeycomb helmet that actually has a connection to your nicname
over the dwags playing and losing while dressed in ninja turtle power rangers uniforms.
than again we are talking about a fan base that is not welcomed to tail gate in st simons because of this …..
Michael Adams, UGA President:
There was urination, there was defecation, there were 70 tons of trash. Buildings like the Law School or the library, we’ve had to close because when we left them open the destruction was too significant.
Augusta Chronicle – (UGA) has to close the library on game days because … “people were peeing in the stacks, vomiting in the stairwell and getting into fights in the lobby that the people who worked (there) got fed up with all the abuse.”
SORRY DWAGS THERE NOTHING THAT YOU DWAGS CAN DO TO TRASH TALK YOUR WAY OUT OF THE EMBARRASSMENTS.ABOVE AND YOUR YEARLY CONTENTION FOR THE FULMER CUP.
NOTHING!
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
Good point on Miami, Delbert. However the Hawgs of Arkansas did not exactly look like a powerhouse in the SEC. If not qb for the pigs this weekend they will be beaten like a rented mule.
i think i prefer to
September 12th, 2012
4:38 pm
Michael Adams, UGA President:
There was urination, there was defecation, there were 70 tons of trash. Buildings like the Law School or the library, we’ve had to close because when we left them open the destruction was too significant.
Augusta Chronicle – (UGA) has to close the library on game days because … “people were peeing in the stacks, vomiting in the stairwell and getting into fights in the lobby that the people who worked (there) got fed up with all the abuse.”
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:39 pm
should have been no qb vs. not qb….fingers got happy
St Simons..
September 12th, 2012
4:40 pm
asks the dwags to tailgate elsewhere.
how embarrassing.
i think i prefer to 2 (Starbury)
September 12th, 2012
4:41 pm
Students being robben in dorm rooms….cars routinely stolen from campus but APD will increase patrols in the ‘hood around the University of Georgia Tech
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:42 pm
Wait, the O’Leary debacle happened after he left. In that way, like the ongoing Donnan debacle which, is a bit embarrassing, to say the least. Who would hire a person with those moral standards? Yeah, “Innocent until proven blah-blah..” That thinking is for jurors. If the cops and prosecutors had to think that way, they couldn’t ever arrest anybody.
i think i prefer to 2 (Starbury)
September 12th, 2012
4:42 pm
pocket protectors littering the parking lot….slide rules left unattended in the men’s bathroom….falafel vendors in the stands receiving verbal abuse….
Box of Rocks
September 12th, 2012
4:43 pm
75 doesn’t ever let facts get in his way. A newspaper writing a feature article on O’Leary discovered the
inaccuracies after Notre Dame hired O’Leary.
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/15/sports/notre-dame-coach-resigns-after-5-days-and-a-few-lies.html?pagewanted=all
Honeycomb Uniforms
September 12th, 2012
4:46 pm
We all have ‘ol crazy uncle Ronnie somewhere in our associations….so be careful when impugning others.
Delbert D.
September 12th, 2012
4:46 pm
@Honeycomb – Pres-be-y-terian (as Jeff Foxworthy called them) achieved something this year that had never been done by them in their history. They scored on Georgia Tech, ending the two half-centuries drought.
ylojkt
September 12th, 2012
4:47 pm
Just for fun
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYs6ClbRi60
Big Crimson 75
September 12th, 2012
4:48 pm
Delbert — negative.
O’Leary was hired by ND – fact.
Many in the media questioned the hiring – fact.
ND backed out of the hiring following pressure from alum – fact.
O’Leary took the fall -fact.
ND football would not have lost their place among the Nations elite had they not back-tracked on O’Leary – fact.
Box of Rocks
September 12th, 2012
4:49 pm
The Blue Hose play Vanderbilt Saturday.