Another swing and a miss for college football in Jacksonville?

[pierre]

I had heard alot of chatter this week about Jacksonville possibly hosting a Notre Dame neutral site game, likely against Army or Navy. The Fighting Irish released their schedule today...and no Everbank Field trips to be found. There are neutral site trips to Indianapolis, New York, Boston, Washington DC, even San Antonio, Texas. But no Jacksonville. Hopefully another whiff wakes up city leadership.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/10171445/notre-dame-fighting-irish-visit-fenway-park-alamodome-future-shamrock-series-games

[FSBA]

I doubt Notre Dame will be scheduling any neutral site games in Florida for the forseeable future. With their arrangement with the ACC, they'll have regular games against Florida State and Miami. The neutral site games are part of a larger strategy for recruiting and to throw a bone to the national fanbase.

[I-10east]

I'm really sick of this gimmicky "playing football in a baseball venue" stuff. Half the time the baseball stadium field dimensions aren't appropriate for football (end zone too short etc). I remember one college football game some years ago played in Wrigley, and they could only play on one half of the field, like a half-court basketball game; Ridiculous. It works when hockey plays outdoors, because the rink dimensions aren't compromised, but this football on a baseball field needs to cease. Just because it's played in a historic baseball stadium, doesn't mean the 'appeal' makes it warranted. Just my two.

[copperfiend]

The ND-Navy game in 2016 has a set date but the venue is still listed as TBA.

[I-10east]

I doubt Notre Dame will be scheduling any neutral site games in Florida for the forseeable future. With their arrangement with the ACC, they'll have regular games against Florida State and Miami. The neutral site games are part of a larger strategy for recruiting and to throw a bone to the national fanbase.

Don't get me wrong, as I don't think that it's the end of the world for Jax collegiate sports just because ND aren't gonna be in some upcoming game here; I understand that that state of Mass isn't some hotbed of recruiting, but the Fighting Irish 'encroached' on Boston College's turf with the upcoming game in Fenway. All I'm saying is I wouldn't rule out a ND game in Jax because of Florida State and Miami.

[ProjectMaximus]

I doubt Notre Dame will be scheduling any neutral site games in Florida for the forseeable future. With their arrangement with the ACC, they'll have regular games against Florida State and Miami. The neutral site games are part of a larger strategy for recruiting and to throw a bone to the national fanbase.

Don't get me wrong, as I don't think that it's the end of the world for Jax collegiate sports just because ND aren't gonna be in some upcoming game here; I understand that that state of Mass isn't some hotbed of recruiting, but the Fighting Irish 'encroached' on Boston College's turf with the upcoming game in Fenway. All I'm saying is I wouldn't rule out a ND game in Jax because of Florida State and Miami.

It's not about encroaching on somebody else's turf...the point, which is valid, is that the games are to gain exposure in new markets (mostly for recruiting purposes) and the fact that both FSU and Miami are in the ACC means Notre Dame will have games in the state regardless of a neutral field matchup or not.

That said, the same argument can be made with Boston College...but I guess Fenway is a big enough deal to warrant the exposure.

[Coolyfett]

I don't care about Notre Dame, But an Annual Navy game would be great.

[I-10east]

It's not about encroaching on somebody else's turf...the point, which is valid, is that the games are to gain exposure in new markets (mostly for recruiting purposes) and the fact that both FSU and Miami are in the ACC means Notre Dame will have games in the state regardless of a neutral field matchup or not.

That said, the same argument can be made with Boston College...but I guess Fenway is a big enough deal to warrant the exposure.

So you're totally ruling out a Jax Notre Dame football game because of the sunshine state ACC teams? While some potential recruit might watch a game in their hometown, I doubt if those coaches are in full 'wheeling and dealing' mode luring recruits with a virtually nonexistent window of opportunity. You'll be surprised on how much time much time is spent on game prep, strategy etc. Now it's a totally different story with Bowl games. Mark Richt the coach of the Bulldogs was just on 1010XL talking about how they don't get to see the city of Jax during the GA/FL game, and the will have the opportunity at the Gator Bowl vs the Huskers. 

[tufsu1]

The ND-Navy game in 2016 has a set date but the venue is still listed as TBA.

and from what I've heard, that's the game and year they were talking about for Jax...would be a Navy home game

[ProjectMaximus]

It's not about encroaching on somebody else's turf...the point, which is valid, is that the games are to gain exposure in new markets (mostly for recruiting purposes) and the fact that both FSU and Miami are in the ACC means Notre Dame will have games in the state regardless of a neutral field matchup or not.

That said, the same argument can be made with Boston College...but I guess Fenway is a big enough deal to warrant the exposure.

So you're totally ruling out a Jax Notre Dame football game because of the sunshine state ACC teams? While some potential recruit might watch a game in their hometown, I doubt if those coaches are in full 'wheeling and dealing' mode luring recruits with a virtually nonexistent window of opportunity. You'll be surprised on how much time much time is spent on game prep, strategy etc. Now it's a totally different story with Bowl games. Mark Richt the coach of the Bulldogs was just on 1010XL talking about how they don't get to see the city of Jax during the GA/FL game, and the will have the opportunity with the Gator Bowl vs the Huskers.

No I wasn't ruling it out.  I was simply saying that it's true that a major purpose of Notre Dame's wide schedule footprint is for recruiting. So there is slightly less incentive if they already have games upcoming in the state. That is all.

Also, the idea isn't that the head coaches are actively recruiting during those games...the point is that they have increased exposure and can also show that "we're in your area and your family will get to see you play" etc. This was one reason why the SEC wanted to lure a school from Texas...so they can make inroads into the Texas recruiting pool. And yes, even during the season major colleges have scouts recruiting year round.

[I-10east]

No I wasn't ruling it out.  I was simply saying that it's true that a major purpose of Notre Dame's wide schedule footprint is for recruiting. So there is slightly less incentive if they already have games upcoming in the state. That is all.

Also, the idea isn't that the head coaches are actively recruiting during those games...the point is that they have increased exposure and can also show that "we're in your area and your family will get to see you play" etc. This was one reason why the SEC wanted to lure a school from Texas...so they can make inroads into the Texas recruiting pool. And yes, even during the season major colleges have scouts recruiting year round.

So it's all about recruiting, except for the game in Boston...IMO those cities that vied for the ND games put together good packages, that's why they're in those cities. I understand that it's a very competitive world out there, and Jax isn't gonna get the first slice of the pie with every single event. 

[FSBA]

Again, see what I said about throwing a bone to Notre Dame's fanbase. The Irish garner easily the best college football TV ratings in the Northeast every year. The game in Fenway will be a de facto Notre Dame home game.

[carpnter]

Again, see what I said about throwing a bone to Notre Dame's fanbase. The Irish garner easily the best college football TV ratings in the Northeast every year. The game in Fenway will be a de facto Notre Dame home game.

I'd love to see the city get the Army-Navy game one year, but I think the logistics of transporting all of the cadets and midshipmen to Jax would make it difficult to accomplish.

[tufsu1]

^ that probably won't be happening...that game is always between Washington/Baltimore (Navy), Philly (neutral) and New York City (Army)

[I-10east]

^^^I agree, I don't see that game being anywhere but Philly.