For those of you tired of Big Ten expansion talk and the idea of Notre Dame eventually joining the league, it doesn’t look like the chatter will cease any time soon. The latest to make his feelings known on the matter was Fighting Irish legend Paul Hornung, who told the Sporting News that the university is quite comfortable with its current existence in the college football world.
“Notre Dame doesn't want anyone dictating to them what they can and can't do,” Hornung says. “[The media] wouldn't even think of it if it weren't for a damn story. It's not even feasible. They're not going to change [expletive]. Why would you change when you're sitting on top of the world? They'll go backwards.”
It can be argued whether or not the Irish are sitting on top of the world, of course, but Notre Dame isn’t living a bad football life right now financially.
While the Irish could be in line for more money even with a departure from NBC because of a bigger television deal in the Big Ten, this is still the same team that doesn’t play home night games. Frankly, they are set in their ways.
Former Irish fullback Marc Edwards doesn’t see how entrance into the Big Ten makes sense, either, unless it’s a money issue — which it essentially is, of course.
“Notre Dame doesn't need the Big Ten Network or the Big Ten to be on television,” he says. “There's nothing in this deal for Notre Dame except money. And who knows how much, or little, that will end up being?”
Perhaps all the speculation about conference expansion and Notre Dame's future will finally end when the season kicks off Thursday, Sept. 2.
Of course it won’t, but it’s a nice thought, isn’t it?
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