There were 16 slots left in "the grand 64".

They are starting to fill up.

PAC could be full soon with OU, SOU, UT, TT
ACC just added Pitt, 'Cuse. Rumor has them considering Rutgers and UConn for the other 2.
SEC accepted TA&M, is likely talking to WVU and/or Louisville as we speak (type).
That leaves 2 in the SEC, and 4 in the B1G.

Notre Dame has been holding off for about 6 weeks now, in announcing their choice of a hockey conference.
This HAS to be related to anticipation that they may want to / have to soon agree to join the B1G for all sports (obvioulsy including the new Big Ten Hockey Conf.)

At this point, Swarbick needs to cut the best deal he can get, or risk football irrelevance.
(one would think that is a fate worse than losing one's independence).
It appears that anohter independent (BYU) is going to be on the outside looking in....

The way i see if Norte Damage don't join the big 10 they are looking at finding a new network because the big 10 games is fixing to be on NBC because comcast wants that contract bad.

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Article out of Owosso with "unconfirmed" report that Notre Dame has applied for all-sports Big Ten membership with possible Big 10 voting being held next week.Interesting to see if this story "gets legs or not".Link at http://www.argus-press.co.cc

freaked, I'm 99.9% sure this is a joke link ( a good one at that though). Saw it make the rounds yesterday morning via a WVU fan site twitter account. The Argus website is argus-press.com yet this link is .co.cc. And when you goto the real .com site, this article does not exist.

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I also question it.

It started off sounding somewhat credible.

Where it breaks down is references to:
rivalry games with service academies, such as COAST GUARD !
potentially joining the IVY LEAGUE !
the reaction of many students TO WHAT ??? THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANYTHING !

On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised it Notre Dame is feeling pressure to make such a move.
And the negotiations are going to be Uber-hush-hush.

Yeah, even before the Ivy League remark, it looked all bogus.

Notre Dame can't be happy. They showed their displeasure with Pitt and 'Cuse leaving for the ACC. Now, they are involved in the BE fb replacement scramble, of course knowing they will never offer up their own fb program for the BE.

If more BE all-sports schools leave, such as UCONN, WVU, L'ville, or Rutgers, then ND is left with a fiscally weaker and perhaps a lesser athletics conference that would be remnants of the BE.

I feel certain Notre Dame has explored bb-only stuff with the ACC and other high profile conferences.

Notre Dame's NBC fb contract has much the same general logic as the LHN of Texas. As many have noted, one big difference is that Texas is fine with conference play in fb, and has more of a tradition of regionally based rivalries. While the LHN has been a B12 uproar, they are still conferenced based for all-sports.

It may be wise, now, for ND to pursue the B10. ND's capacity for manipulation of the circumstances and opportunities they most prefer, have narrowed a bit. Their clout at the next BCS table may not be so unchallenged.

Blog article with "speculation" regarding "possibility" of ND eventually joining the Big Ten at http://thefatladyblog.com/2011/09/23/is ... -ten-bound

ESPN blog article with comments from Mike Tranghese who speculates that after the realignment dust settles ND "may" end up in the Big 10.Link at http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post/_/i ... big-winner

Remember former B12 Commish Beebe saying the B12 is open to Notre Dame joining without fb? Perhaps it was a ploy, but not so serious.

If Navy joins the BE for fb only, and BYU ends up in the B12, then ND and Army could be the only FBS independents remaining.

B12 conference will sustain itself. But if Mizzou departs and certain BE fb schools exit for the B12, the BE could go back to being a bb only conference.

Would ND stay in a bb only conference, or finally accept joining the B10. They have to be weighing their options as re-alignment unfolds.

Chicago Tribune article with comments from ND AD regarding continued viability of the BE.Does it sound like he has his fingers crossed for luck?Link at http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/co ... 9077.story

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah !
Of course none of this affects Notre Dame football ! They are independent in football, and no more concerned with BE football than they care about PAC-12 football....

If all the football teams leave the BE, Notre Dame could still choose to hang around the non-FB schools.
Maybe that's the plan.... Chase the remainging 7 FB schools out, and invite 2-4 more non-FB schools to the BE.

If just about all the FB schools are gone, what is the attraction to Temple, Army, Navy, Air Force, ECU, UCF, etc. ?
If htere is no BCS AQ, why wouldn't those schools stay where they are now ?

Right now, with the Big East down to 6 schools, I don't see any point of Air Force leaving the Mountain West. Unless AF and Boise leave to chase and uphold the Big East's AQ status. Then the addition of Navy helps due to their fball success.

Worth noting that Orangebloods is claiming Texas is pushing hard to get Notre Dame in for non-football sports if the Big East drops football and ND wants a better option.

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Worth noting that Orangebloods is claiming Texas is pushing hard to get Notre Dame in for non-football sports if the Big East drops football and ND wants a better option.

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Hearing rumors of ND for all sports and BYU for football only...

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Fan of the Big 12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference and...