1. Don't expand just because Notre Dame wants it. 2. Don't FAIL to expand just because Notre Dame wants it. 3. I don't think Phillips has any influence one way or another on Notre Dame joining, or anything else for that matter. 4. Not sure what you mean by "just let" the Mag 7 plus 1 leave. Who is going to be doing the "letting"? 2036 is a long time away and a lot can change in that time. I'm not saying it will be rosier; it might be worse. But there is a contract nonetheless. And those outside the Mag 7 plus 1 have an agreement and therefore the time to figure things out. Many on the board have been saying how expensive the FSU to buyout would be. Well, if we are talking about leaving too, we must be prepared to pay a similar amount. 5. Two things that I know, but I don't "get": Notre Dame's obsession with psedo-independence. And Notre Dame's hatred of the Big Ten.