Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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UNDER THE DOME Notre Dame To Join Big Ten Hockey In 2017‑18 After years of speculation, rumors, debates and even some vitriol, the University of Notre Dame has finally joined the Big Ten — but only in hockey. On March 23, the school announced that the current six‑team hockey Big Ten Conference has welcomed the Fighting Irish into its league, beginning with the 2017‑18 season. Notre Dame completed its third season in the 12‑team Hockey East this year, improving from seventh to fifth to third place during that time. The 2016‑17 campaign will be its final one in the league. The three main reasons for the switch are more convenient and easier local travel overall, better expo‑ sure via the Big Ten Network and a greater traditional appeal of opponents/rivals from the more familiar geographic region. "While we have enjoyed our affiliation with Hockey East, the opportunity to participate in Big Ten hockey is a compelling one from the perspective of our student‑athletes," Notre Dame director of athletics and vice president Jack Swarbrick said. "The move will significantly reduce the time our team spends traveling, CHARTING THE IRISH LEARFIELD DIRECTORS' CUP STANDINGS With 594 points, Notre Dame checked in at fifth place in the April 14 release of the Learfield Directors' Cup standings — a program that honors colleges for achieved excellence in numer‑ ous sports. Colleges can be recognized for up to 20 sports, including 10 men's and 10 women's teams. Points are totaled differently depending on the sport. For example, in football points are allocated for finishing first through 25th in the final USA Today poll, followed by bowl winners not ranked in the poll and then unranked bowl losers. The highest earning sports for the Irish in the winter included fencing, which garnered 75 points with its fifth‑place finish at the NCAA Championships; women's indoor track and field, which notched 75 points for its fifth‑place showing at the NCAA Championships; and men's basketball, which received 73 points for advancing to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before falling to top‑seeded North Carolina. The winter results were finalized April 21, after the finish of women's gymnastics, men's gymnastics and women's bowling. The fifth‑place ranking through April 14 was an improvement from Notre Dame's final placement after the fall, when they were ninth with 275 points. Penn State 548.00 Virginia 583.75 Minnesota 586.00 Syracuse 586.50 Texas 589.00 Notre Dame 594.00 North Carolina 628.00 Michigan 690.75 Ohio State 736.50 Stanford 944.25