Connecticut Newspaper: ACC Would Want UConn As Part of a 16 ...

It’s pretty clear that conference realignment will never truly be done until Notre Dame is in a conference.  The Big 10 wants Notre Dame.  The ACC wants Notre Dame.  The Big XII wants Notre Dame.  The Big East… nevermind.  But it is not the least bit surprising that a Connecticut newspaper would suggest that the ACC would want UConn as part of a 16-team league along with Notre Dame.

Indeed, the Hartford Courant reported as follows:

Sources told The Courant recently that the ACC has a 16-team model in place with its first choices being Notre Dame and UConn, but with Notre Dame maintaining its independent position there is no rush to go to 16. If the ACC can’t convince Notre Dame, Rutgers could get the call with UConn, but sources say there is no rush there, either.

Really, this is not even news.  If Notre Dame called up the ACC and said it was ready to join, there is little doubt that UConn would be the choice.  They have a basketball pedigree that fits the ACC and more BCS bowl appearances than Rutgers.  Assuming Boston College was OK with the move, this would be a no brainer.

To be sure, the Confidential always hoped for a West Virginia-Notre Dame pairing.  That would fuse together the teams with Northeastern roots.  Notre Dame’s academic prowess would offset any concern about West Virginia.

But that ship has probably sailed.  And so UConn is the likely beneficiary if Notre Dame decides to join the ACC.

The amusing thing is that if Notre Dame joined the Big 10, it would likely be accompanied by Rutgers.  Rutgers as an institution fits in with the Big 10 model of a large public university with ample research and academic reputation.  It would provide a partner for Penn State.  So, depending on what Notre Dame does, that would impact who between Rutgers and UConn is saved.  As if Notre Dame didn’t need more reasons to stall.

In any event, the Confidential thinks it more likely the world will end in December 2012 than Notre Dame will join a conference.  So being the likely partner in a Notre Dame move is little consolation for the indefinite future.

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