West Virginia’s decision to leave the Big East may trigger Notre Dame’s ouster from the league as well, the New York Post reported in Wednesday’s editions.
Notre Dame is currently independent in football, but houses all of its other sports in the Big East.
Now, the Irish may consider joining the Big Ten or the ACC in all sports or maintaining their independence while entering the Big 12 for all other sports, the Post reported.
“Each option has a strength and a weakness,” said a Post source. “The Big Ten keeps them a national program, but football will be hard-pressed to win the league and it hurts the basketball’s ability to recruit in the East.”
“The ACC offers them a better chance to win the league and helps the basketball program, but it hurts their standing as a national program,” the source added. “The Big 12 offers them a chance to keep their independence in football, but it’s a terrible cultural fit for Notre Dame.”
These comments echo what Notre Dame coach Mike Brey recently told SNY.tv.
Brey said he would prefer to see the Irish remain in the Big East, but that he could imagine the school in a number of leagues.
“Right now in the last month I’ve envisioned us as part of the Big East rebuilt, as part of the ACC, as part of the Big Ten and maybe as part of the Big 12,” Brey said. “I’ve gone through them all in my mind. And quite frankly about two days ago I came to the conclusion I’m driving myself crazy. And that’s what my AD [Jack Swarbrick] has been dealing with for two years so I feel for him.”
Brey added that Notre Dame needs an alternate plan if the Big East falls apart.
“We’ve got to have Plan B in order because there’s days…that this doesn’t look very good and we know that the rest of our [Big East] football programs are trying to get our right now,” he said. “If they can’t get out, then maybe we can keep this thing going. If they get out, though, then we gotta start looking at other options.”
Both Brey and Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino told SNY.tv they are in favor of adding both Temple and Memphis for basketball to enhance the league’s basketball side.
Having lost Pittsburgh, Syracuse, TCU and, now apparently West Virginia, the Big East is reportedly set to invite Houston, SMU and Central Florida for all sports and Air Force, Navy and Boise State for football only.
Invitations to all six schools are expected to go out Tuesday during the Big East’s annual presidents’ meeting, the Post and the New York Times both reported
