Notre Dame’s landmark contract with NBC has been renewed once again making all Irish home games through 2015.
“We’re big believers in how Notre Dame time and time again over all these generations has maintained its strength,” he said. “I don’t see that going away.”
Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed, although Ebersol said the contract is a flat fee and not based on ratings. The current contract that expires in 2010 is reported to be worth $9 million a year.
Ebersol said the important thing for Notre Dame, which hasn’t won a national championship since 1988, is to be in the race to be a top 10 team in most years “for it to be a wildly successful arrangement.”
“We go into this thinking that if the vast majority of the years has Notre Dame competitive in that top 10 or for that top 10 through the majority of the season, then we’ll be very happy,” he said.
And a little more from the Chicago Trib:
“We are thrilled about this arrangement,” said Notre Dame’s president, Rev. John Jenkins.
But perhaps not as thrilled as NBC President Ken Schanzer, who spoke in comically glowing terms of the “elegance of the institution” and knowing that Irish officials will “comport themselves in ways that make you proud to be associated with them and allow you to live in the reflected glory of that nobility.”
“That nobility” produced just three victories last season, the fewest since 1963. But Ebersol said coach Charlie Weis didn’t have to sell NBC on Notre Dame’s prospects for improvement.
“What I would say to Charlie is that I think his charms are best spent on dealing with 18- and 19-year-old men or boys,” Ebersol said, “than they are being wasted on guys who are older than 60.”
Schanzer added: “Neither of whom can run very well.
I don’t care what anyone else thinks about this , I’m just jacked I’ll get to see my Irish play for years to come.
Mike Wilbon said it best a few days ago on PTI. SEC has CBS, PAC 10 Fox Sports, Big 1 LiL 10 Big Ten Network. I think NBC has no choice but to go with a big draw like ND. I hope we give them their moneys worth this year.
“Charms? Reflected Glory?” These experts are legends in their own minds.
Charlie will make them eat their smug comments. We have not seen this kind of four and five star recruiting since The Legendary Lou Holtz.
Further, since this is in fact a Lengendary football school, we need to bring back the LEGEND Lou Holtz as AD.
I give credit to Kevin on this one, it makes more sense the more you think about it. The man absolutely loves ND.