Some in the media just don't like ND and many of them have no idea about the blackballing by the Big-10 decades ago, so they think ND is "elitist" for not joining a conference. It is not, many of their fans are jerks but the university itself tries to do the right thing.
And when ND fired Willingham who was the WORST coach ND ever hired, they were CRUCIFIED. All because Willingham was black. You didn't hear the out cry when Michigan State fired Bobby Williams who is currently an Alabama coach. Or when Oklahoma fired coach John Blake, nary a whimper from the media. Look at Colorado they fired Embree after TWO years, NOTHING from the media. When ND fired Willighmam, it was non-stop attacks from ESPN ESPECIALLY the black commentators i.e. Saunders, the guy on PTI who I can't remember his name. Willighman almost destroyed the program beyond repair. And Willingham proved he was awful, he went to Washington and drove that program into the ground too.