I was a civil defense litigation attorney for 32 years. I know a bit about negotiations and "deal cutting".
I understand that it takes having two sides interested in a deal to even try to discuss one. ND has no such interest.
Just ask John Swofford:
"At the ACC Kickoff program, ACC Commissioner John Swofford was asked what the status of Notre Dame’s potential addition might be.
He shot down any potential rumors by stating that the current arrangement is being maintained.
However, he kept the door open for Notre Dame’s potential addition to the conference in the future. Speaking to
Sporting News, Swofford stated that if Notre Dame ever expressed interest in joining the ACC, they’d discuss the idea.
But Swofford made it clear that neither he nor the conference as a whole believes that will happen though. He went so far as to say he’s never even bought into the notion that it is a “matter of time” before the Fighting Irish join.
“If Notre Dame reached a point where they were interested to join in football, we would readily have that conversation…
I don’t expect that to happen. When we made the arrangement with Notre Dame, some people thought, ‘Well it’s just a matter of time in football.’ I’ve never really thought that.”
ND Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick has discussed independence quite a few times the past couple of years. He is adamant that ND will remain independent:
But, he acknowledges that ND loses money as an independent and has a tougher route to the playoffs. That is considered the cost of doing business as a football indy.
"
Most Power 5 conference programs rake in at least $20 million more than Notre Dame from their media rights deals. That Notre Dame takes that hit, that it willingly pays that penalty, may be what best explains the sacrosanctity of independence here.
“
There is no financial advantage to Notre Dame being independent in terms of operations,” Swarbrick said. “It costs us money. We would be much better off all in with the ACC or any Power 5 conference.
“But it is the broader value it produces. And this is the dynamic that’s always a bit hard to articulate and engage in for the fans just focused on whether you’re going to win the national championship. That is very important to all of us, but the decisions we make don’t just drive to that question.”
To understand why the university will fight to maintain its independence, that requires a comprehension of Notre Dame beyond media rights and conference championship games. And once the story drills that deep, to Rev. Edward Sorin founding Notre Dame in 1842, to anti-Catholic sentiments of the early 20th century, to Rev. Theodore Hesburgh’s backing the civil rights movement and later bucking the Vatican, Notre Dame’s independent spirit starts to show.
“It’s so much coded into the DNA of the place,” Swarbrick said. “It starts with the founder, who was remarkably independent in a host of ways. It starts with the early success of football right at a time where you couldn’t join club, because of the politics that have been chronicled about that period of time.
“This place is more distinct in the American college and university landscape today than it’s ever been. And (independence) is part of that.”
https://theathletic.com/1068782/2019/07/23/the-value-notre-dame-places-on-being-independent/
"The reason why Notre Dame has the flexibility to schedule such marquee matchups every year is because of its independent status.
Swarbrick doesn’t see the Irish joining a conference any time soon, even if it would make a path to the College Football Playoff easier.
“
We don’t choose independence because it helps the football program,” Swarbrick said. “We would have a potentially easier path to a championship in the current model if we were in a conference. We choose independence because of its benefit for the University and what football represents. It’s our ability to play in New York and California … the ACC lets us travel from Miami to Boston, we’ll play in iconic venues like Lambeau Field — that’s what we need to do. Don’t get me wrong, our focus has to be winning football games and competing for national championships, but we have this secondary obligation with the program to use it as a vehicle to promote the school, and we look for every opportunity to do that.
https://ndsmcobserver.com/2018/08/swarbrick-football-program-future/
Why has ND passed up the riches and other benefits of joining the Big Ten?
Why did ND negotiate a partial deal with first the Big East and then the ACC?
There is not one peep from any ND source about anyone at ND being interested in discussing full membership with the ACC...ever.
But for discussion purposes, please list what you think it would take for the ACC to snag ND football.
