SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame has been an independent in football for all of its 121 seasons.
That stance may be in jeopardy as the Big Ten considers expansion. Athletic director Jack Swarbrick has said Notre Dame might be forced to make a move if there are sweeping changes in college football. And the school president says the Fighting Irish don’t want to be left out in the game of musical chairs.
Gene Corrigan was Notre Dame’s athletic director from 1981-87. He says any conference would want Notre Dame because of its vast fan base and strong academics. Yet at least twice since 1999 the Irish have backed away from joining the Big Ten.
For his part, new football coach Brian Kelly says he likes being an independent “able to play coast to coast.”
