A great turnout today for the chat. Thanks for stopping by. As always, you can re-live the fun in its entirety here.
Some highlights ...
Joe (Raleigh, N.C.): With 2 solid 8-5 seasons, why does everyone seem to be so pessimistic regarding Coach Kelly? Yeah, there are things that needs to improve such as turnovers, but again why does everyone have to be so negative.
Matt Fortuna (2:11 PM): For one, fan bases take on a dark mood when their teams struggle for so long. (Trust me, I grew up a Knicks fan.) To be more specific: The general feeling was last year's team had BCS potential and probably should have gone 10-2 or 11-1. Couple that with some big recruiting losses, a key transfer and a daunting 2012 schedule -- not to mention no QB answer -- and it's tough for many to see a big breakthrough in the near future.
Jeremy (Bloomington, Ind.): It seems to me the ACC sees the Irish as a means of survival, while the Big XII is interested in increasing their bottomline with Notre Dame's television appeal. While the same thing could be said about the Big Ten, I feel it is clear that that conference appreciates Notre Dame's history. If the Irish decide to join a conference, which one do you feel is the best fit?
Matt Fortuna (2:39 PM): I agree with you about halfway there, Jeremy. Let's not forget that Jack Swarbrick and Texas AD DeLoss Dodds talk often. And the conversations Dodds mentioned to CBSSports.com were about ND's Olympic sports, so it's not like the Irish football team would be playing more than maybe three Big 12 games a year. It's tough to say right now. Obviously the Big 12 looks more stable, but it's hard to see a move there not severely hurting ND's other sports, especially basketball. Not to mention that ND would always lose being the biggest voice in the room to Texas. If the ACC could find some more stability I think that presents an overall better option for the Irish.
Ryan (Chicago): Simple question: Why not Everett Golson?
Matt Fortuna (2:40 PM): You know, Ryan, you phrased that question as well as anyone I have talked to regarding the QB race. Why not, right?
Peyton (Rochester, Mich.): So if I am reading into the Big12 talks correctly, ND has an option to stay independent and join the B12 in their Olympic sports. I know the talks are early, but I am assuming that if the deal were made, we would have the B12 vs SEC bowl game tie-in. What is really stopping ND from making that move? I know the BigEast is a stronger overall athletic conference, but it would make more sense as we have actual rivals in the B12, Texas and IU. Is it that we don't want to seem desperate or let the moves of other universities have an effect on what our athletic department does. Or is this strictly our way of saying thank you to the BigEast for the unique contract that ND was award, considering some people blame ND for the recent BigEast troubles, cough cough Geno.
Matt Fortuna (2:57 PM): Peyton, good question about the Champions Bowl tie-in. I haven't seen that brought up yet and don't know how it would factor in, though I'd imagine ND would still be left out of that since it probably wouldn't be playing more than three Big 12 games. (The bowl, after all, is intended for the conference's champion.) As for why ND wouldn't do it? Again, it would strain the Olympic sports greatly. The men's hoops program as we know it would be done, lacrosse (which is in the final four this weekend for the second time in three years) would have to find a new conference ... there are just so many factors that get overlooked in conference realignment, not to mention the ridiculous travel costs and schedules these student-athletes would be going through while trying to study at a strong institution. The Big East has been great to ND in its other sports, and as long as the future of that conference is secure I see no reason ND should leave it.
Some highlights ...
Joe (Raleigh, N.C.): With 2 solid 8-5 seasons, why does everyone seem to be so pessimistic regarding Coach Kelly? Yeah, there are things that needs to improve such as turnovers, but again why does everyone have to be so negative.
Matt Fortuna (2:11 PM): For one, fan bases take on a dark mood when their teams struggle for so long. (Trust me, I grew up a Knicks fan.) To be more specific: The general feeling was last year's team had BCS potential and probably should have gone 10-2 or 11-1. Couple that with some big recruiting losses, a key transfer and a daunting 2012 schedule -- not to mention no QB answer -- and it's tough for many to see a big breakthrough in the near future.
Jeremy (Bloomington, Ind.): It seems to me the ACC sees the Irish as a means of survival, while the Big XII is interested in increasing their bottomline with Notre Dame's television appeal. While the same thing could be said about the Big Ten, I feel it is clear that that conference appreciates Notre Dame's history. If the Irish decide to join a conference, which one do you feel is the best fit?
Matt Fortuna (2:39 PM): I agree with you about halfway there, Jeremy. Let's not forget that Jack Swarbrick and Texas AD DeLoss Dodds talk often. And the conversations Dodds mentioned to CBSSports.com were about ND's Olympic sports, so it's not like the Irish football team would be playing more than maybe three Big 12 games a year. It's tough to say right now. Obviously the Big 12 looks more stable, but it's hard to see a move there not severely hurting ND's other sports, especially basketball. Not to mention that ND would always lose being the biggest voice in the room to Texas. If the ACC could find some more stability I think that presents an overall better option for the Irish.
Ryan (Chicago): Simple question: Why not Everett Golson?
Matt Fortuna (2:40 PM): You know, Ryan, you phrased that question as well as anyone I have talked to regarding the QB race. Why not, right?
Peyton (Rochester, Mich.): So if I am reading into the Big12 talks correctly, ND has an option to stay independent and join the B12 in their Olympic sports. I know the talks are early, but I am assuming that if the deal were made, we would have the B12 vs SEC bowl game tie-in. What is really stopping ND from making that move? I know the BigEast is a stronger overall athletic conference, but it would make more sense as we have actual rivals in the B12, Texas and IU. Is it that we don't want to seem desperate or let the moves of other universities have an effect on what our athletic department does. Or is this strictly our way of saying thank you to the BigEast for the unique contract that ND was award, considering some people blame ND for the recent BigEast troubles, cough cough Geno.
Matt Fortuna (2:57 PM): Peyton, good question about the Champions Bowl tie-in. I haven't seen that brought up yet and don't know how it would factor in, though I'd imagine ND would still be left out of that since it probably wouldn't be playing more than three Big 12 games. (The bowl, after all, is intended for the conference's champion.) As for why ND wouldn't do it? Again, it would strain the Olympic sports greatly. The men's hoops program as we know it would be done, lacrosse (which is in the final four this weekend for the second time in three years) would have to find a new conference ... there are just so many factors that get overlooked in conference realignment, not to mention the ridiculous travel costs and schedules these student-athletes would be going through while trying to study at a strong institution. The Big East has been great to ND in its other sports, and as long as the future of that conference is secure I see no reason ND should leave it.
Matt Fortuna | email
College Football- ESPN.com Notre Dame blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2011
- Wrote for Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Matt Fortuna
Fortuna joined ESPN.com in 2011 after working for MLB.com and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he covered college sports. He grew up in New York and is a Penn State graduate.
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