Chip Brown's Latest on Realignment

[Harry]

Texas has been courting Notre Dame carefully since the summer of 2010. Will the Irish finally feel compelled to jump into the Big 12, which would require its own set of surgical tools (because Notre Dame's NBC contract doesn't expire until after the 2015 season)?

For Notre Dame to join the Big 12 in football any time before that, the Big 12 would have to create some unique revenue-sharing formula for one or two years that would allow Notre Dame to share in some of the Big 12's money, but not all of it, for Tier 1 and Tier 2 in football.

There would also have to be some caveat about what slot Notre Dame would qualify for in the postseason out of the Big 12, since the Irish's schedule would still be more of an independent's schedule. Would Notre Dame be able to qualify at no higher than the Big 12's No. 3 slot for a bowl game unless its BCS ranking put the Irish in the Top 4, thus qualifying ND for a proposed four-team playoff? And would Notre Dame even qualify for the new Big 12-SEC bowl game if its in the Big 12 in everything but football?

There's a lot of work that would need to get done to accommodate the Irish, who have some locks in its schedule (USC and Navy) that ND won't want to part with. (Other rivalries on their schedule are more expendable than you'd think.)

The Irish could be an equal partner in Tier 1 basketball if Notre Dame bolts the Big East in its non-football sports, sources said.

Still, there's been no consensus even in the Big 12 about how Notre Dame would be worked in - as a full football member or as a member in everything but football. All we know is that Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds has been courting Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick like a reluctant prom date for three years.

Read more: http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1367286

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Well, with just about as many teams moved as possible, DeLoss has now authorized Chip to wind up the Texas 12 propagandizing machine again.

Gee, Chip, where else would the Notre Damers go? Let's see, it's the Big Ten or Texas 12. This was real difficult to figure out.

Granted, Notre Dame would have to give up their monopoly of self and step down to join the monopoly of Texas and Big 8 rival-traitors Oklahoma. The Big Ten won't allow that, so...

...wowee, Chip,what a scoop. I think the Hardy Boys were on this one ages ago. If not, Nancy Drew certainly had it.

Next, puff of smoke from Chip - BYU: Pac-14...16...18 or Texas 12.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Thanks, DeLoss; like we need Notre Dame down here in Texas setting up a year round Texas HS recruiting office?

Man, the NCAA is inside out-outside in, all shook up or whatever the term is for all screwed up. Are the Big Boys that much in the red with their budgets

to want all this extra revenue?

When does DeLoss wave his magic wand and pronounce University of Alaska Big 12 worthy?

Funny part of all this is when DeLoss finally gets all he wants in the Big 12 then watch UT vault for another conference scenario like their country cousins down in College Station did. Don't for one minute think that Dodds is not going to keep his eyes on how TAMU does in the $EC because after all, the SEC still only has "1" Texas entry at this point in time.

GMG!

Edited May 21, 2012 by PlummMeanGreen

[Mark Gommesen]

It would not surprise me, and Notre Dame is seeking conference home in the near future. The changes in the national NCAA football championship playoff are directed towards conference champions; independents are at a disadvantage. It is no secret that NBC's ratings for for Notre Dame football games have been disappointing. NBC is under new ownership. It is expected that NBC/Comcast wants to become a greater player in college football. Notre Dame may no longer fit with and NBC future plans.

However, the big 12 does not appear to be good fit. Notre Dame has a longer tradition with Big Ten teams, and is geographically located within the Big Ten footprint. Also, Notre Dame's basketball and other sports are competing in the Big East. The big 12 has just finished the negotiating a huge TV contract. It is doubtful that the current members of the big 12 are looking to expand in the near future.

[untjim1995]

ONe thing you can be sure of about Chip (Mack) Brown--whatever he speculates, the exact opposite will occur. Never have I seen someone so wrong in my life about all things realignment. Some of Chimp's best work on the subject:

"Its a done deal. UT, Tech, OU, OSU, and A&M to the Pac-whatever" in summer of 2010.

"Absolutely no way the Aggies can leave Texas behind and go to the SEC. No way that ever happens." Last summer

"Texas, OU, Tech, and OSU to the Pac-16--the LHN will be used as a conference network." Last year

"Look for Notre Dame and Arkansas to join the Big XII soon...ok, maybe BYU...ok, maybe Louisville..." They got TCU and WVU

This guy absolutely is the anti-Nostradamus of Conference Realignment, but I gotta hand it to the guy--he's a volume poster and one of these days, whatever DeLoss tells him to throw out there will be right.

Edited May 24, 2012 by untjim1995

[oldschoollefty]

In that case, I'm hoping to hear his next pronouncement:

"No way, not ever, never will North Texas ever gain entry into the Big 12".

[GrayEagle]

Well, as we've seen geography has no bearing on conference membership. Therefore, when Notre Dame's TV contract runs out, even though it likely won't be renewed, it will still inflate the payout to whatever conference that they select. I can't see Texas or Oklahoma parting with major shares of the Big 12 contract. The Big 10 would be worth more dollars but again the Michigans, Ohio States, Penn States, and Nebraskas of that conference would take huge amounts so that might not be very lucrative also. Notre Dame still commands enough respect that they could make the ACC or the Big East a major player. Since there are less egos to stroke, the Irish could command a larger portion of the total package. In addition, they're more likely to gain a playoff spot from a weaker conference. They'll take the path that yields the most potential regardless of location.

[LongJim]

This guy absolutely is the anti-Nostradamus of Conference Realignment,

Compared to who?

[untjim1995]

Compared to who?

I don't have a name for you, but the fact that he has literally been wrong on everything related to realignment, yet continues to throw stuff out there like he has the answers, is just really annoying to me.

[Comet7745]

Yeah Chip Brown is pretty much the worst person to pay attention to when it comes to realignment. Brett McMurphy however, that guy has been dead on more often than not.