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Weeks ago, some Big East FB coached floated the idea that in order to protect its role as a BCS FB Conference, they should give ND an ultimatium: join us in FB or lose membership for all other sports, including BB. The idea is that ND independence dramatically increases the chances that the BE will be a target by the Big10/11 and ACC, if they and the SEC/Pac-10 super-size their conferences.

If ND is in, then BE has a better FB future. If the Irish leave, then the Big Ten/11 could stop at 12 and minimize the resulting chaos. If ND rejects an invitation, then the Big Ten/11 moves to a 14 or 16 team league. That will force Big XII, Pac10, SEC, and ACC to duplicate the move.

In a similar scenario, KU AD is hinted that Missouri will lose its rivalry (Border Wars) between the two. The Tigers should not assume that they can leave and still reliance on their 119 year athletic history between the two.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/20 ... valry.html

If I were the Big East FB coaches and the KU AD, these veiled threats makes sense. Each has the goal of minimizing the magnitude of Big Ten/11 invitations to XII and BE schools. The key? ND moves to the Big Ten and saves two conferences. Otherwise: nuclear winter.

Perhaps some Big Ten/11 members want the Irish and no more?

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/arti ... 019/SPORTS

There is a school of thought that Delaney's strategy and pressure is driven to add only one, ND, and he is recruiting the Big East and Big XII to drive the Irish into their arms. If ND doesn't, then all conferences will be effected. One and done?

Basketball as a factor, OCC Schedules and Notre Dame concern for all their sports may bring the Irish around:

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/ ... g_ten.html

Not sure that the non-football BE teams want to lose ND from their package if the football teams bolt. ESPECIALLY, since most of them are Catholic (Marquette, DePaul, Georgetown, St. Johns, Seton Hall)

View from Michigan, ND or nothing:

http://www.themorningsun.com/articles/2 ... 290187.txt

Big East marriage with ND is one sided. Irish get to cheat on their spouse, whenever they like:

http://www.nesn.com/2010/05/notre-dame- ... -east.html