WayzUp
07-27-2007, 08:09 AM
Props to the Domers for attacking head-on the stigma that Notre Dame plays too easy of a schedule every year. Their slate this year is the hardest I've seen them play since....well, since I can remember actually. But in 2012, they get tested in Texas by that powerhouse Baylor! :laugh:
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Baylor, Notre Dame to play in Arlington
2012 game headed for new Cowboys stadium
11:32 PM CDT on Thursday, July 26, 2007
By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News
brdavis@dallasnews.com
State Fair of Texas president Errol McKoy truly believed city officials could lure Notre Dame and Baylor to the Cotton Bowl in 2012.
No such luck o' the Irish.
Officials at both schools confirmed Thursday that their long-discussed game will indeed be played at the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington – not at the Cotton Bowl – on Oct. 6, 2012.
Notre Dame officials are finalizing the stadium contract with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, senior associate athletic director John Heisler said. It's a one-year contract, and the Fighting Irish will be the designated home team. The game probably will be broadcast on NBC.
"We think it's a great fit for Baylor and Notre Dame to be playing football in ... well honestly, I can't think of a better location and venue than the Cowboys stadium in Arlington," Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw said.
This was stunning news to McKoy, who said discussions with Notre Dame officials were going well. It's another blow to a city that's already lost the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and that's struggling to attract other events to Fair Park.
"We've asked them several times about whether a decision has been made and they said no," McKoy said. "Matter of fact, we just corresponded with them about a meeting in September to go up there and visit with them about our proposal."
McKoy said he still wants to visit South Bend, Ind., this fall to hear why Irish officials chose Arlington over Dallas. "We're going to ask for an audience," he said.
The news was just as devastating at city hall.
"Beyond a doubt this disappoints me," Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway said. "If Notre Dame is going to Arlington, we're going to have to do a better job attracting teams. Maybe our new mayor and council have to get more involved.
"Maybe we have to get on some planes ourselves and make some of these deals happen."
Heisler said the new venue was a big reason the Irish chose Arlington. He said school officials want to offer their athletes a great playing experience on Saturdays, whether that's in South Bend or somewhere else.
Notre Dame has already announced plans to play Washington State in San Antonio's Alamodome in 2009. The school is also scheduling games in Orlando, Fla., in 2011 and 2014.
"I would say as best we understand it, the facility that the Cowboys are building is close to a state-of-the-art facility," Heisler said. "The fact that the Super Bowl is going to Dallas gives you a pretty good idea of what people think it's going to be."
Dallas city officials believe all the planned renovations can make the 77-year-old Cotton Bowl vibrant and viable again. They've spent $20 million on renovations that are already underway. Another $30 million has been earmarked for more improvements.
New Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert couldn't be reached Thursday. But Leppert told The Dallas Morning News in April that he'd want the city to lure more games to the aging stadium before spending the extra money.
"That's just good business sense," Leppert said then. "That's common sense."
McKoy said he's still working on "12 different game combinations." No other announcements appear imminent, though.
The Cowboys are building their event schedule while the new stadium is still under construction.
TOM FOX / DMN
The Cowboys are building their event schedule while the new stadium is still under construction.
The Texas-Oklahoma game is signed to play in Dallas through 2015. The Grambling-Prairie View A&M game is expected to stay here as well. But AT&T Cotton Bowl officials announced in February they were moving the traditional Jan. 1 game to Arlington in 2010.
A proposed game between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State at the Cotton Bowl seemed close to being finalized in May. But Jones learned of the game and flew to Lubbock to lure Tech officials. In June, officials at both schools said Cotton Bowl talks had stalled, presumably so they could think about Arlington.
LSU and Arkansas are still possible candidates to play in Dallas. But at this point, who knows?
Said McKoy, "We're not discouraged."
LINKAGE (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/baylor/stories/072707dnspobaylorlede.b2408e4e.html)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baylor, Notre Dame to play in Arlington
2012 game headed for new Cowboys stadium
11:32 PM CDT on Thursday, July 26, 2007
By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News
brdavis@dallasnews.com
State Fair of Texas president Errol McKoy truly believed city officials could lure Notre Dame and Baylor to the Cotton Bowl in 2012.
No such luck o' the Irish.
Officials at both schools confirmed Thursday that their long-discussed game will indeed be played at the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington – not at the Cotton Bowl – on Oct. 6, 2012.
Notre Dame officials are finalizing the stadium contract with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, senior associate athletic director John Heisler said. It's a one-year contract, and the Fighting Irish will be the designated home team. The game probably will be broadcast on NBC.
"We think it's a great fit for Baylor and Notre Dame to be playing football in ... well honestly, I can't think of a better location and venue than the Cowboys stadium in Arlington," Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw said.
This was stunning news to McKoy, who said discussions with Notre Dame officials were going well. It's another blow to a city that's already lost the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic and that's struggling to attract other events to Fair Park.
"We've asked them several times about whether a decision has been made and they said no," McKoy said. "Matter of fact, we just corresponded with them about a meeting in September to go up there and visit with them about our proposal."
McKoy said he still wants to visit South Bend, Ind., this fall to hear why Irish officials chose Arlington over Dallas. "We're going to ask for an audience," he said.
The news was just as devastating at city hall.
"Beyond a doubt this disappoints me," Dallas Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway said. "If Notre Dame is going to Arlington, we're going to have to do a better job attracting teams. Maybe our new mayor and council have to get more involved.
"Maybe we have to get on some planes ourselves and make some of these deals happen."
Heisler said the new venue was a big reason the Irish chose Arlington. He said school officials want to offer their athletes a great playing experience on Saturdays, whether that's in South Bend or somewhere else.
Notre Dame has already announced plans to play Washington State in San Antonio's Alamodome in 2009. The school is also scheduling games in Orlando, Fla., in 2011 and 2014.
"I would say as best we understand it, the facility that the Cowboys are building is close to a state-of-the-art facility," Heisler said. "The fact that the Super Bowl is going to Dallas gives you a pretty good idea of what people think it's going to be."
Dallas city officials believe all the planned renovations can make the 77-year-old Cotton Bowl vibrant and viable again. They've spent $20 million on renovations that are already underway. Another $30 million has been earmarked for more improvements.
New Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert couldn't be reached Thursday. But Leppert told The Dallas Morning News in April that he'd want the city to lure more games to the aging stadium before spending the extra money.
"That's just good business sense," Leppert said then. "That's common sense."
McKoy said he's still working on "12 different game combinations." No other announcements appear imminent, though.
The Cowboys are building their event schedule while the new stadium is still under construction.
TOM FOX / DMN
The Cowboys are building their event schedule while the new stadium is still under construction.
The Texas-Oklahoma game is signed to play in Dallas through 2015. The Grambling-Prairie View A&M game is expected to stay here as well. But AT&T Cotton Bowl officials announced in February they were moving the traditional Jan. 1 game to Arlington in 2010.
A proposed game between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State at the Cotton Bowl seemed close to being finalized in May. But Jones learned of the game and flew to Lubbock to lure Tech officials. In June, officials at both schools said Cotton Bowl talks had stalled, presumably so they could think about Arlington.
LSU and Arkansas are still possible candidates to play in Dallas. But at this point, who knows?
Said McKoy, "We're not discouraged."
LINKAGE (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/baylor/stories/072707dnspobaylorlede.b2408e4e.html)