SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The Big Ten, which has long coveted Notre Dame as a member, might be making another bid to bring the Irish into the fold.
A newspaper in Michigan reported Wednesday that commissioner Jim Delany and several Big Ten presidents have talked about making Notre Dame the 12th member of the conference. The Irish turned down an invitation to join the conference in 1993 and instead joined the Big East, remaining independent only in football, its biggest moneymaker.
Notre Dame officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday, although the Rev. E. William Beauchamp, Notre Dame’s executive vice president, released a statement saying the university is “very pleased with our athletic positioning, both as an independent in football and as a member of the Big East Conference in most other sports.”