Yes, Phil Knight and Nike have made Oregon relevant. Without those connections, Oregon would just be another school. No argument. Maybe if they had an entire religion backing them or a network that gave them a lifetime contract for gazillions airing their games even when they sucked for years they wouldn't need Phil Knight but they have him and boy has it been pretty nice.
Still think the AD of Penn State just sealed his fate. From bungling the Franklin situation to failing to land a new coach to trashing a program that beat them twice in two years, the guy is giant harvest load.
It isn't like there is only one Catholic school. There are reasons why it has become the Catholic institution in the US. But absolutely, being THE Catholic university among thousands is one of the many reasons that make ND different from any other school. And as I have discussed, no other school has the ability to get a media deal like ND had on it's own and that is largely because of the national following of ND as well as it's unique standing in college football. Your 'stabs' at ND are actually just further evidence of how unique and special ND is. Thank you. I appreciate that.
For Oregon, I am not attacking. I am just pointing out facts. Another example of how it is all about Phil Knight and his influence is among the "new blood" programs, there is only one that has never won a championship. Why would that school be considered a "new blood" when all the other "new blood's" have won Championships and makes it seemingly a basic attribute to be considered one? The answer is Phil Knight. Why would that be a negative? It is Oregon's special weapon that makes them different from the Washington, Cal, Oregon St, Stanford, etc schools. I don't see why that is something to get defensive about just as much I would not get defensive about ND being THE Catholic university and being able to obtain it's own media deals.
As for the AD of Penn State.... getting Matt Campbell will save him but even if it didn't, him losing his job would not be about bad mouthing another school but because of the absolute huge stumble after firing Franklin.