You knew Cowboys owner Jerry Jones couldn't see a lot of news reports in Texas without his name being thrown around in there.
Jones, according to a source familiar with his thinking, wants his alma mater to play in a league with former Southwest Conference rivals Texas and Texas A&M. A visionary, Jones sees the Big 12 expanding with Arkansas and Notre Dame. Such a conference alignment turns on TV sets across America and sends cash gushing out of Big 12 faucets everywhere.
By calling him a "visionary", I think Lawrence Journal-World's Tom Keegan has insinuated (at least in my eyes) that this is coming from Jones' camp -- and not anyone affiliated with the NCAA, so that's something to keep in mind.
Notre Dame, to date, hasn't fallen for overtures from BCS conferences that have pursued them. There's no reason to think Jones would change that.
How much influence can Jones have on the Big 12? Keegan apparently thinks a lot calling him a "big-time power broker in the world of professional and now college athletics."
What Jones wants and what he gets are two different things. This will be an interesting scenario to track.
2 comments
1
Jun 21
1
Jun 18
Comments
There would be at least 2 things Notre Dame would like about the Big 12
The Irish would be part of a 12 team conference (assuming Arkansas came over) that would have a TON of national appeal with football ($$$$), and…
how shall I say this?…
The Big 12 is not the Big Ten. Everything I’ve read indicates the old feud with Michigan still raises some hackles on the necks of the Irish.
"So let us not talk falsely now, the hour is getting late."
by LTCUSARet on Jun 17, 2010 1:00 AM CDT reply actions
Notre Dame is the ONLY team we should base a 2-team expansion around.
Because it’s the only one that brings in enough revenue to offset the fact that there’s 2 extra mouths to feed.
If the Irish ever do decide to join a conference for prestige reasons, then they’ll most likely join the Big Ten.
But if they ever decide to join a conference for the only reason that really matters — money — then the Big 12 offers several attractive aspects:
1. As LTCUSARet said, splitting the money with 12 teams is infinitely preferable to doing it with 16.
2. In the Big 12, Notre Dame would get an unequal revenue share roughly similar to Texas’. You can’t get that deal in the Big Ten — you’ll get just as much as Northwestern.
3. Notre Dame would be allowed to create its own TV channel, just like Texas. Definitely can’t do that in the Big Ten.
4. Notre Dame most likely would be placed in the weaker North Division, providing the Irish with a pretty clear path to the Big 12 Championship in most years. Even if Oklahoma is moved North for balancing reasons, it still would be an easier division than the one with Texas.
5. A conference with both Notre Dame and Texas probably would become one of the most powerful, if not the most powerful. It’s a game-changer for prestige and media attention.
Do I think attracting Notre Dame in near future is likely? Hell no. But the Big 12 officials need to making this sales pitch as soon as they can. It’s the only smart expansion plan available to us.
by BracketCat on Jun 17, 2010 4:43 PM CDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed