Report: Notre Dame, Big East reach deal
by Nicole Auerbach, USA TODAY Sports
And the mad dash to escape the Big East continues.
Notre Dame is the latest program to get out of the league earlier than originally planned. Therefore, the Irish will not spend one season competing against any of the incoming Conference-USA members (Memphis, Houston, SMU and UCF).
Notre Dame and the Big East reached an agreement Tuesday morning that allows the Irish to leave the league early for $2.5 million, ESPN.com is reporting; Notre Dame will join the Atlantic Coast Conference effective July 1, 2013. SI.com first reported the news on Monday night.
It’s no surprise Notre Dame wanted to join the ACC early; that has been its desire for months. Men’s basketball coach Mike Brey said this weekend after what he expects was his final Big East regular-season game against Louisville, “I’m fully expecting to play in the ACC (next season).”
Next season, the ACC will have 15 basketball schools, including its three newcomers from the Big East: Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame. Maryland will leave the following season, which is when Louisville will join.
According to SI.com, Notre Dame’s departure fell under the same legal rubric as the Catholic 7′s, who announced their official split from the Big East on Friday. That also allows the Irish to keep their NCAA tournament units — like the Catholic 7 did — which affects NCAA tournament payouts.
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