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GETTING INTO THE BIG TEN

For many Irish fans, the Irish and the Big Ten go together like... well the Irish and football success. Ever since joining the Big Ten with rival Michigan State in 1949, The Irish have continued to enjoy success on the field, as well as continuing to build rivalries with Michigan State, Michigan, and Purdue. However, it was something that almost never came to fruition due to prejudices of other conference members, as well as personal rivalries between coaches and administrators

Since the earliest days of Notre Dame football, the Irish had a desire to join what was then known as the Intercollegiate Conference of Faculty Representatives. At the time 8 schools (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Chicago, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, and Michigan were founding members. Other schools thought about joining including Iowa (though they remained tied to Iowa State and Nebraska, eventually founding the Missouri Valley Conference, and later the MVIAA or "Big 8") Notre Dame though, was considered too small, and due to the anticatholicism of the time, many of the larger, secular universities were against them as members.
That didn't prevent Notre Dame from trying though. They built up their football program, playing powers such as USC, Navy and Pittsburgh regularly, as well as playing other powerful teams, including many teams in the now Big 9. Knute Rockne was especially adamant about this, but at a track meet where Notre Dame was competing against Michigan, there was an argument between Rockne and Michigan football coach and AD Fielding Yost. Apparently Yost said he'd "never let the Irish into the Big 9".

In 1939 however, a window was opened. The University of Chicago, had just finished another losing campaign. MAny wondered what could be done to the program that once had been dominant under coach Amos Alonzo Stagg. Many fans didn't know. However Chicago's president, Robert Maynard Hutchins had decided to drop football in favor of putting emphasis back into academics. The Maroons later dropped all academics in 1946, and the search was on for new members. Throughout the late 40's a few schools would try and join the league now known as simply the "Western Conference" in order to avoid confusion with the Great Plains based Big 8 (officially known as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic association, not to be confused with the smaller Missouri Valley Conference including Creighton, Drake and Wichita State among its members)

At first, many candidates were suggested for expansion. Michigan State had tried to get in in 1924 but was rebuffed. However, MSU President John Hannah felt that this time his team was a shoe in. While other schools such as Iowa, Marquette, Penn STate, Pitt and the Irish were suggested, only Pittsburgh and Notre Dame would seriously look at joining Michigan State in their attempts to be the tenth member of the league. Due to league rules, the conference had to vote to accept members, and at least 6 votes out of 8 were needed. With Michigan State, only Michigan voted against their inclusion.
Notre Dame however would face a powerful challenge. Minnesota and Wisconsin had wanted Iowa, in spite of the Hawks reaffirming allegiance to the Big 8. Other members felt that Pittsburgh was the most logical choice though, due to its great academic and athletic standards, as well as giving the conference a doorway to the East. Michigan State though had made it known that they wanted Notre Dame in the League. The two schools had a long history together, and had recently renewed their rivalry at what was called the "spaghetti and meatballs conference" where they agreed to play each other again. Pittsburgh never put in an application though, preferring to play its eastern rivals such as Penn State, Syracuse, and Temple. The conference then put it up to a vote. Michigan voted no against the Irish, as did Northwestern (the wildcats, usually bottom feeders in football, did not want to play the powerful Irish every year at that time). Other members though ended up voting for the Irish. While the western schools had though Iowa would be convinced to leave, they felt Notre Dame might be a better conference member. As for Pitt, they withdrew their consideration because of their eastern rivals, though they would play Notre Dame throughout the 50's.
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