My only surprise about the recent ND-UConn game leak is that the series is that long. 10 games? That's quite a commitment. This game has been talked about for much of the last year. It's going to happen, just a matter of the details.
Ohh, the details.
If this is the first you are hearing about the game then it looks like a raw deal for the Huskies. I think it is somewhere in between (this is after months of thoughts).
I don't think a game at the Rent was ever in play. Notre Dame doesn't do games like that anymore. Every game Notre Dame plays has a strategic purpose. I don't think the Huskies could turn down the exposure. Whenever and whomever Notre Dame plays is an event. The Navy-Notre Dame game was front page material besides the fact both teams weren't any good.
There is a lot of griping about it, but Foxborough and Giants Stadium aren't that far away. They really aren't. For Fairfield County fans, Giants Stadium is closer (especially with the proposed train station going in). Foxborough is about 75 minutes from Storrs (yes, I am driving) and college football is made for TV anyway. 20,000 fans have to travel over an hour to the game, the other 2 million Huskies fans will have the same seat on the couch they have every week. If you are not at the game, what's the difference between Foxborough and East Hartford?
I understand the griping, but you either play ND on their terms or not at all. And this is about money and media markets. I would like to have seen one ND game at the Rent (just one?) but, it looks like ND is done playing in small stadiums. It's like a franchise fee. If you aren't a longtime rival, you have to play the game in an NFL stadium near a major media market.
Everyone wants to play Notre Dame. If it wasn't UConn, it could easily be Boston College, Syracuse or Temple. Rutgers is tentatively on the schedule and I imagine that game is going to be at the new Giants Stadium too.
Notre Dame wants to play in those metro Northeast markets. Connecticut isn't big enough. All the complaints about the series are right. Yes, ND is too powerful, too arrogant, and is in control of the Big East despite not playing football in it.
It is like being the best friend of a super model that you dream about dating but in reality you have no chance. In the end, you are just happy that you can call her a close friend.
Here is the crux of the matter:
In the end, is it still a good deal for UConn or not? What does UConn gain by telling ND to take a hike?
These aren't great terms, but they are better than no terms. does your pride take a hit? Yes. Is it groveling? Yes. You know what you can do about it? --- Beat them on the field.
Or you can stick up for your principles and pride and go schedule another MAC team.
Don't worry, there is always immortal Buffalo coming to the Rent.
1 comment:
I don't know why anyone is complaining. Everyone has been fed up with the UConn schedules...now we get Notre Dame...and everyone still complains. Washington State is playing ND in San Antonio! We just have to drive an hour or two...I've made the drive to see my Jets play, it's not the end of the world.
UConn is such an infant in the college football world that this deal is the best thing that has ever happened to the program. 10 games...10 nationally televised games most likely...against the most talked about team in the sport. Uhh, yeah, that's a good deal.
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