GunnerFan Wrote:omnicarrier Wrote:But when the SEC and B10 teams do this, they are still playing to capacity crowds in their home stadiums. And the games are not usually televised nationally.
ND, imho, was better off keeping the balance 7 home and 5 away when Navy is at home, and 6 home, 5 away, and 1 neutral when Navy is technically 'away' then this.
Or, if they are going to do this, do it with established programs that they can't otherwise do 1-and-1 withs.
Apparently this type of game is worth more to ND than any away game.
- NBC will air it as per usual ND home game, so exposure isn't an issue;
- ND will control gate receipts and pay nominal fee to opponent, presumably $1M or a tad more;
- It allows ND to avoid, if they choose, tougher opponents and those that would only do 1-and-1 set ups.
I really feel that avoiding another road game is key, here. How many programs have played/will play 8 home games simply because of money and chances to win? A good number. Irish have difficulty in scheduling late season games, however, because most teams are then embroiled in conference schedules. Add in that many other big names are also loathe to have a 5th road game, let alone a possible 6th, and this is one way ND can make a successful compromise.
Understood.
But how much value will NBC put into ND playing Washington State at the Alamo, Baylor at the Cotton (another rumored proposal), or let's say Duke or Wake or Army at the Citrus? Somehow, I don't think that was what NBC thought was going to happen with these. But perhaps they did. Maybe the edict came from NBC to add the additional games that they would broadcast? Who knows?
Still, a bad national TV match-up is a bad national TV match-up - no matter where it is played or whatever the reasons.
And on top of these match-ups, they are adding the likes of San Diego State and Nevada as the one-and-done home games.
NBC is used to getting a schedule like -
Michigan State, Tennessee, BYU, Pitt, Navy, and USC or
Stanford, Michigan, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, and North Carolina.
It will be interesting to see IF the Irish keeps those type of teams on the schedule while simply adding the cupcake home game and the cupcake 'neutral site' game or if the new agreement with the Big East and these latter two lead to less marquee match-ups.
Quote:Irish have difficulty in scheduling late season games, however, because most teams are then embroiled in conference schedules.
That's the price they pay for independence. I wonder if the lack of truly quality opponents from late October through November might not be a reason for their failures come bowl time?
Of course, I haven't really researched that in comparison with other BCS Bowl teams. Do teams in conferences play more than 1 tough opponent in that time frame? Or is that really a misconception perpetuated by the Big Ten and the SEC?
Cheers,
Neil
