React Online letters: Conference Affiliation, Page 4, Winter 2003-04, Notre Dame Magazine Online

Recently I read all the responses to John Heisler's article and I agree with John Gaski's perspectives (see Page 2 of react online letters). Notre Dame is a special place and special people have left its campus influenced forever by the experience. They have and will continue to make their marks on communities far and wide. It is what differentiates ND from football schools. A review of the awards made at the Monogram Club show what these former athletes have done not in the arena of competition but in the communities where they live and work. Notre Dame tradition without independence is no longer tradition.

Jim Roolf '73
(Football and Baseball)

I am not an alum but I am a longtime Irish fan. There is one aspect of this conference-affiliation-in-football that continues to puzzle me.

Why is it soooooooo important to remain independent in football? The rationales that have been stated in the editorials posted in Notre Dame Magazine defy logic. To cite our best interests or our role as a national university or our tradition does not provide a reason. Such non-reasons serve only to evade the question.

I understand that full membership in a premier conference will further Notre Dame's stature as a research university and will also enhance academic collaboration and diversity as a member of an interactive consortium. But I do not understand why membership in a football conference would be detrimental. Can anyone provide a valid reason to shun full conference membership?

Gordon Hines
Rochester Hills, Michigan

Through the ND Magazine web page I have just read several pages of letters from alums and non-alums on the "conference" issue. I have to side with the respondents who point out that the real issue is the mediocrity to which ND football has fallen. I would not be upset if ND joined a conference. I would not be upset if ND stayed independent. I am very upset at the embarrassing performance of our team over the last few years.....and unfortunately 2003 was the most embarrassing of all. What has Father Malloy and Dr. White done to our team? Is there a sinister plot afoot or has it just been bad luck. Conference vs. non-conference is not the issue! Leadership and a dedication to success is the issue. I live in Michigan and watch as year after year after year Michigan has a successful football program. Michigan is a pretty darned good acedemic school as well! Michigan has now passed ND as the leader is victories over the years. Makes me kind of "sick."

I am not a large contributor to the annual fund but do faithfully contribute each year plus get a match from my former employer (I am now retired). I was so disgusted with our football program in 2003 that I seriously considered holding back this year. Eventually I sent a check, but about half I would have otherwise. Hopefully many alumni are thinking this way as this may be the only way to bring about the changes needed to a successful program.

Jim Sak '64

Please add my name to those opposed to Big 10 membership. As a ND grad living in Pennsylvania, I have had the opportunity to see the devastation that Big 10 membership had brought to the Penn State football and basketball programs. Penn State is a large
public land grant school which has much more in common with the Big 10 then ND, and they have struggled since they joined the Big 10. ND must preserve its true identity as a premier independent school. Please remember the anti-Catholic and anti-ND bigotry of Michigan coaches Fielding Yost and F. Chrisler. The athletic department and coaches must do a better job. That is the bottom line. We must never forget that ND is a national school and will follow the Rockne philosophy of playing anyone-anywhere. That is how ND's reputation was built nationally. Otherwise we a just another Michigan or Indiana.

Mark W. Morava '74
Moon Township, Pennsylvania

(January 2004)