Arizona State AD Takes Shot at Temple over Notre Dame's Schedule

Share

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program will give up some of its independence in 2014, when it becomes a pseudo-member of the ACC.

Last September, ND announced it was moving its athletic programs from the Big East to the ACC, but as part of the deal, the Irish are now contracted to play five ACC opponents each year. That scheduling change obviously presents a problem considering that Notre Dame, as an independent, books its opponents well in advance.

And since the Irish now have control over only seven of their games each season, as opposed to 12, that means some schools are going to have to get crossed off the list.

Enter Arizona State and its athletic director, Steve Patterson. ASU is one of the schools that's been slighted by ND's scheduling change. Though the Sun Devils will still play Notre Dame this year -- Oct. 5 at Cowboys Stadium -- they were bumped from ND's 2014 schedule to make room for Florida State.

Of course, Patterson's been claiming he has a valid contract, which led to these comments, from ArizonaSports.com, on Wednesday:

"Talking to them as recently as two hours ago, we're still in discussions," ASU athletic director Steve Patterson told Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf Tuesday afternoon.

"I think they're excited about their new TV contract with the ACC, so they think it's probably not as beneficial to come to Tempe and take on Todd's team," Patterson said. "I think they've got a football coach who would prefer to play Rice and Temple.

"But we'll keep talking and see where we can get."

Well, calling out Brian Kelly is a little better than referring to those "damned Catholics," right?

Temple opens its season in South Bend on Aug. 31 and will host Notre Dame in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 11, 2014. The Owls wrap up their three-game agreement, originally announced in 2011, with a return visit to South Bend in 2017.

Arizona State, by the way, kicks off its 2013 season against Sacramento State and its 2014 campaign vs. Weber State. You know, some coaches just prefer...

Contact Us