this is an interesting excerpt about ND and their fight with the NCAA back in the early 50's when ND was looking to broadcast games nationally while the Big 10 and NCAA were looking to squash TV coverage of college football out of fears of hurting attendance.

It also shows the leadership and vision of Fr. Hesburgh when it came to college football and TV and how Fr. Cavanaugh tried to form ND's own super-conference to no avail to counter what the NCAA and the rest of the major conferences were planning.

http://books.google.com/books?id=qrBPX34U0hsC&lpg=RA1-PA256&ots=cDBAdZxRkC&...