Until November, Notre Dame was scheduled to begin play full-time in the ACC (in all sports but football) by 2015. But then Rutgers announced it was leaving the Big East. That led to a breakaway by the “Catholic 7″ and even the loss of the Big East name altogether. As of today, Notre Dame has no home for the 2013-14 academic year.
It should come as no surprise, however, that sources tell ESPN the ACC would allow the Fighting Irish to join its ranks this summer, ahead of schedule if the school desires.
After losing Maryland to the Big Ten, John Swofford’s league is currently attempting to fend off further potential raids from the Big Ten (and maybe the SEC and the Big XII). Getting Notre Dame into the fold as soon as possible might not prevent future departures, but it can’t hurt.
Of course, nothing ever goes smoothly when it comes to schools switching conferences.
What’s left of the Big East — or whatever it will be called — apparently intends to make the Irish pay an exit fee before it can flee the shrinking league. “Nobody’s going to let Notre Dame just leave; it needs to be negotiated,” a Big East source told ESPN.
Anybody else sick of all this realignment/expansion/lawsuit/negotiations nonsense?
