Brian Hamilton article on the future of ND and the playoffs

[NDSMC78]

Despite last night's disappointment, all indications are that ND is not going to made any major changes. This should be mandatory reading for those who believe ND should join a conference. Swarbrick quote below:

Jack Swarbrick, one of those people actually in charge of the program, tends to think of it that way. “I know there have been some people who have speculated that this is creating pressure on us to give up independence,” the Notre Dame athletic director told Sports Illustrated as he stood on the sideline before Saturday’s game. “Nothing could be farther from the truth. We are as comfortable with the benefits for the university of independence as we have ever been.”



http://www.si.com/college-football/...hting-irish-college-football-playoff-stanford

 

[chaseball]

Honestly, I'd love to stay an independent, BUT we need to figure out a way to eliminate the conference championship argument that the P5 has over us every year -- and I don't see how w/o joining a conference.

a 12-1 ND team with a P5 conference championship under their belt is ALWAYS going to have a better resume than an 11-1 ND team when it comes to the final 4 selection by the "playoff committee"

For example, even if ND beat Stanford last night, in a close victory, ND still needed a ton of things to fall right to get back in the top 4. Had ND been in the ACC though, they would have been able to control their destiny by winning the ACC championship game over Clemson.

I have a feeling this is going to cost the team/program in a big way down the road ...

 

[pumpbeef]

If ND had not lost any games they would be in the final 4 conference or no conference. I have talked to Jack about this and he feels the same way...at least right now.....

 

[chaseball]

ND has two 12-0 seasons in the last 30 some years...

and less than 10 undefeated seasons in their 127 year history ...

with these odds, i'll likely be dead before ND goes 12-0 again/makes the final 4 playoff.

 

[justacollegefan]

Honestly, I'd love to stay an independent, BUT we need to figure out a way to eliminate the conference championship argument that the P5 has over us every year -- and I don't see how w/o joining a conference.

a 12-1 ND team with a P5 conference championship under their belt is ALWAYS going to have a better resume than an 11-1 ND team when it comes to the final 4 selection by the "playoff committee"

For example, even if ND beat Stanford last night, in a close victory, ND still needed a ton of things to fall right to get back in the top 4. Had ND been in the ACC though, they would have been able to control their destiny by winning the ACC championship game over Clemson.

I have a feeling this is going to cost the team/program in a big way down the road ...

I agree with you from a fan point of view but the university will not join a conference and give up money.

 

[NDSMC78]

I agree with you from a fan point of view but the university will not join a conference and give up money.

Decision is not based on money. ND would make more money as a member of the Big 10.

 

[BigFellaFan]

Never join a conference and get away from the ACC in other sports as soon as possible.

 

[IrishBlessings]

if we had been in the ACC conf. this season - our loss to Clemson would of eliminated us from the ACC conf. championship game after that game - our chance for a final 4 spot would of basically been done after week 7 (?).

As an Independent - we were in the hunt for a final 4 spot up until the last week of the season.

Also, when the big 12 had their conference championships during the BCS era - that championship game cost them a shot a the NT or BCS title games as more times that it actually helped them get in.

Those that think we need to be in a conference to better help us get to the final 4 are badly misguided and mistaken.

 

[mbd11]

if we had been in the ACC conf. this season - our loss to Clemson would of eliminated us from the ACC conf. championship game after that game - our chance for a final 4 spot would of basically been done after week 7 (?).

As an Independent - we were in the hunt for a final 4 spot up until the last week of the season.

Also, when the big 12 had their conference championships during the BCS era - that championship game cost them a shot a the NT or BCS title games as more times that it actually helped them get in.

Those that think we need to be in a conference to better help us get to the final 4 are badly misguided and mistaken.

I disagree. If we joined the ACC, they'd almost certainly put us in the division opposite FSU and Clemson. So we'd still have beeen eligible for a rematch with Clemson, if we'd beaten UNC, of course.

I'm in favor of joining the ACC. Unfortunately, indies are at a huge disadvantage for making the playoff nowadays. This isn't the 1970s or 80s anymore. The landscape has changed.

 

[Irish Grandeur]

The playoff selection committee needs to start penalizing teams teams for playing FCS schools, IMO. How can anyone say a P-5 team played 13 games when their OOC games include FCS schools? And, if I am not mistaken, FCS stats do not even factor into SoS or count against a team unless they lose the game.

 

[IrishBlessings]

I disagree. If we joined the ACC, they'd almost certainly put us in the division opposite FSU and Clemson. So we'd still have beeen eligible for a rematch with Clemson, if we'd beaten UNC, of course.

I'm in favor of joining the ACC. Unfortunately, indies are at a huge disadvantage for making the playoff nowadays. This isn't the 1970s or 80s anymore. The landscape has changed.

How can you arbitrarily assume both FSU and Clemson would of been on the opposite side ? - are you shortsighted enough to actually think all the ACC teams would of allowed that to happen ?

And what about all the Pac 12 conference teams - having a conf championship game w/ NO HOPE for a CFP berth ? When the Big 12 had their conf championship games - it actually knocked out their teams for the BCS championship more times than it helped ! because the team that would of gone if they had won that game - LOST IT. ND is quite fine w/ being Independent. There are only 8 teams out of 128 who play a 13 game. ND does not need to be in a conference.

 

[IrishBlessings]

How can you arbitrarily assume both FSU and Clemson would of been on the opposite side ? - are you shortsighted enough to actually think all the ACC teams would of allowed that to happen ?

And what about all the Pac 12 conference teams - having a conf championship game w/ NO HOPE for a CFP berth ? When the Big 12 had their conf championship games - it actually knocked out their teams for the BCS championship more times than it helped ! because the team that would of gone if they had won that game - LOST IT. ND is quite fine w/ being Independent. There are only 8 teams out of 128 who play a 13 game. ND does not need to be in a conference.

And when the CFP finally expands to 8 teams - which it will - soon enough - they really wont have to be in a conference. Also, FYI = the Stanford / ND game was the highest rated CFB game on TV for FOX all season. ND is quite healthy and fine as a independent. ND is the biggest draw in all of CFB. They will be in the playoffs when they earn it on the field and the committee will have very large pressures from the Bean counters at the TV net works to make sure they are in a CFP playoff when their wins and season merit it.

 

[twalsh]

I agree with you from a fan point of view but the university will not join a conference and give up money.

It's been well documented that we'd make MORE money in the Big 10 than we do now. It has nothing to do with money.

 

[AuthorJoe]

It's been well documented that we'd make MORE money in the Big 10 than we do now. It has nothing to do with money.

Can you provide a link to back this up. I don't doubt it or you would just like to be able to cite a source.

 

[mbd11]

How can you arbitrarily assume both FSU and Clemson would of been on the opposite side ? - are you shortsighted enough to actually think all the ACC teams would of allowed that to happen ?

And what about all the Pac 12 conference teams - having a conf championship game w/ NO HOPE for a CFP berth ? When the Big 12 had their conf championship games - it actually knocked out their teams for the BCS championship more times than it helped ! because the team that would of gone if they had won that game - LOST IT. ND is quite fine w/ being Independent. There are only 8 teams out of 128 who play a 13 game. ND does not need to be in a conference.

Ohio State only made it in last year because of their CG. Without that big win over Wisconsin, they'd have been watching the playoff on TV, like the rest of us.

And we would've been left out this year even with a win over Stanford, most likely.

Like I said, the CFB landscape has changed. This isn't 1977 or 1988 anymore, when being an independent was helpful towards winning the NC.

 

[onlyonenow]

it seems obvious that there will be at least 6 and probably 8 playoff spots in a year or two. So the gomers arguements are as stupid as they are as regards joining a conference. If we had been edged out despite beating Stanford it would have been very close and that is with 4 spots. so all you morons bleating about joining a conference can stick it where the sun don't shine

 

[justacollegefan]

It's been well documented that we'd make MORE money in the Big 10 than we do now. It has nothing to do with money.

Yes please send a link because that is the first time I have ever heard this and I can't see this school not being in the Big10 now if it were true!