The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will remain in the Big East Conference for the 2013-14 season, athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced on Monday (via ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy).
Notre Dame to stay in Big East for 2013-14 season
Notre Dame will have one “last hurrah” in the Big East next season, assuming the conference’s seven departing Catholic schools don’t form their own league before then.
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
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However, the school’s intention to stay next year doesn’t mask the fact that the Irish want out of the embattled league as soon as possible, according to Swarbrick:
“...with the announcement now that you’ve got 10 schools (giving) their intention to leave, I think it’s in everyone’s interest to make that as early as possible.”
Notre Dame decided to stick with the conference for one more season because the school does not believe that the seven departing Catholic institutions will be able to form a new league by then, per head basketball coach Mike Brey:
“...we feel that they’re going to be in there, we’re going to be in there, so the last hurrah is going to be next year, not this year.”
Swarbrick echoed Bray’s comments, but he said Notre Dame could change its mind if the other Big East Catholic schools end up beating the odds and creating their own conference by the time next season rolls around.
Notre Dame is set to join the ACC no later than July 1, 2015, but it appears the Irish will make the switch before that date, meaning the school will likely have to negotiate an exit fee with the Big East.
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