ND AD: Big 10/Pac 10 changes may "force our hand"

During an interview today the Notre Dame Athletic Director, Jack Swarbrick, was asked questions about the possible changes in the Big 10 / Pac 10. His response was:

Swarbrick says that looming realignment changes could be "relatively small ... or they could be seismic."

While Notre Dame prefers to remain independent in football, Swarbrick says, he and university president Rev. John Jenkins will evaluate whatever changes occur and assess how they affect the Fighting Irish.

Swarbrick told reporters Tuesday morning: "You can each come up with a scenario that would force our hand."

You can read the entire article at Cleveland.com.

Perhaps I've missed it but this seems to be the first time ND has acknowledged this. Possibly a trial ballon for fans?
If the Big 10/Pac 10/ACC/SEC form ironclad TV deals with their respective markets then the Irish would be locked out. The Big East and Big 12 are too weak to compete with these leagues and unless the NCAA or Congress stops it, everyone else will be shut out.
If things continue as they are I see 4 conferences with 12-16 teams in them. Those that don't join are going to be left out of the party. Notre Dame and Texas both have invites but their spots can't be held open forever. The people in the conferences will get the money and everyone else will be left out. Money drives the college sports and anyone that isn't bringing in TV money will slowly decline (which is why both Texas and Notre Dame won't let that happen).
Anyone that thinks Notre Dame has too much tradition to let that happen keep a few things in mind ...

1. Notre Dame is a relatively small school that relies on donations from boosters for football.
   
2. High school players have a memory of about 10 years back and the Irish haven't been good since the early 90s so it is going to be increasingly hard for them to compete unless they start winning again.
3. Army, Princeton, and Yale used to be national powerhouses until they lessened the focus on the football program and focused more on their academics -- sound familiar? (Not that this is a bad thing, but you can't do it alone and expect to be a national player in football -- with the CIC I think it is pretty safe to say the Big10 is the best in the country at combining athletics and academics).

I'm sure this won't be played out for at least another year but it is interesting to see Notre Dame comment right after the study was released.