Q: I’m curious as to why the Big East won’t stand up to Notre Dame and make them join the conference for football? They take away bowl games from more deserving Big East teams due to fan base (money). All their other sports have greatly benefited from being in the conference.

Robert Hall, McKeesport

ZEISE: Because having Notre Dame affiliated with the conference is a nice carrot to dangle to bowl games and it has helped the process along a lot more than it has hurt. And frankly, if you look at the number of times Notre Dame has actually taken a spot away from the Big East in the last 10 years it has been very few — 2002 was really probably the last time I can remember — and if you look ahead, ND can only take the Champs Bowl once in the next four years. So the benefits certainly do outweigh the negative of every so often losing the second best bowl game. Without Notre Dame in the mix, the Big East would have a harder time securing good bowl bids — at least until it rebuilds and shows it can bring fans and get people interested in watching on television.

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