Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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conference commissioners, Notre Dame athletics direc- tor Jack Swarbrick and tele- vision executives convened April 23-25 in Hollywood, Fla., for the Football Bowl Association's annual meet- ings. The first order of busi- ness: agree on a revolutionary way of crowning a Football Bowl Subdivision national champion beginning in 2014 after the current (and widely criticized) system has run its course. It's not so much a meeting B owl Championship Series officials, major college football's 11 Is Irish Independence Safe For Now? FIGHTING WORDS WES MORGAN Notre Dame can still do that by winning 10 or more games in a season, which would give it a shot at a championship even in the new system. Theoretically, a four-team playoff would still give the primary players an equal shot and leave the lesser programs and conferences out in the cold. All the conference realign- ment that took place recently won't necessarily guarantee an easier road to a national title. A four-team playoff would of the minds as it is a gather- ing of folks with only money on their minds, thinly veiled by an attempt to appease the ticket— and Super Premium Ultra VIP Sports Insider Top Tier Cable Package — purchasing masses with something other than a computer- generated championship. Okay, so maybe a few of these people actually do care about the system as much as how many dollars the system can produce in the form of television rights. If only an example of something fair and successful in which to mimic was already out there. Let's see … oh, yes, every other level of organized football in this country. Cue the Jim Mora video: Playoffs? Okay, so the powers that be can't If a new playoff system places a premium on winning a conference cham- pionship in order to be in the national title hunt, then athletics director Jack Swarbrick may be forced to sacrifice Notre Dame's independence in football. standing bowls lobbied hard last week to be included. "The object is to make this as PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND simple as possible to understand," a BCS source told the Sporting News on April 23 following the first day of meetings. Of course it is, because that has always been a key tenant of the BCS. But it's a start. There are a number of logistical bring themselves to actually utter the word, but that's what they're talk- ing about down there in Hollywood. Only they, in typical let's-make-it- more-complicated-than-necessary fashion, have dubbed the proposal the "Four-Team Event," which would consist of the top four teams in the fi- nal standings (and how the rankings will be determined is unclear at this point) would meet in two semifinal games, with the winners squaring off for the crystal trophy. Whether or not the major bowls and financial concerns associated with this plan, to be sure. The goal is not to extend the season closer to February. In fact, most decision mak- ers agree that the national champi- onship game should be as close to New Year's Day as possible. Not to mention that, even though most fans want to see a playoff, they're not ea- ger to do away with the tradition and pageantry of the bowl games they grew up watching. How would this affect staunchly independent Notre Dame? In the present system, the Fighting ball]," Swarbrick said at the Notre Dame Monogram Club Annual Din- ner on April 21. "What the postsea- son becomes is the linchpin. There's still one chapter to come as far as conference realignment, and that will come after these BCS discussions. These are an important three and a half days [of meetings] next week in Florida. [The result] will have a significant impact on us one way or another." It will be up to university presi- likely curtail further mas- sive conference realignment, which is the best-case sce- nario for the Fighting Irish. "The goal and priority is to remain independent [in foot- dents to get whatever plan is agreed upon this month approved by a self- imposed deadline sometime in mid- summer. If any other proposals emerge, (Rose, Fiesta, Orange and Sugar) will be a part of the process is another question that will take time for the power brokers to answer. But you can bet that officials from those long- www.BLUEANDGOLD.com Irish must finish at least eighth in the final BCS poll to be guaranteed a spot in a BCS bowl, and 14th with a minimum of nine victories to qualify for it. But unless it's the BCS National Championship Game, who cares? A berth in any other BCS bowl does mean a higher payout than a lower postseason destination. But Irish in- dependence isn't about money; it's about standing out from the crowd. which in most cases place a premium on winning a conference champion- ship in order to be in the national title hunt, then Swarbrick needs to make a bold and quick maneuver, which many believe would involve joining the ACC or Big 12. For now, the surprising amount of common sense that emerged from the Florida summit has Notre Dame in a good spot to retain its cherished independence. Now, back to the quarterback battle. ✦ Assitant Editor Wes Morgan has been with Blue & Gold Illustrated since February 2011. He can be reached at wmorgan@blueandgold.com MAY 2012 5