  We present a phenomenological analysis of the strong couplings of the
negative-parity L=1 baryons from the perspective of the large-$N_c$ expansion.
In the large-$N_c$ limit the mass spectrum and mixing pattern of these states
are constrained in a very specific way. The mixing angles are completely
determined in this limit, with predictions in good agreement with experiment.
In the combined large-$N_c$ and SU(3) limits the pion couplings of the five
negative-parity octets to the ground state baryons are given in terms of only 3
independent couplings. The large-$N_c$ predictions for the ratios of strong
couplings are tested against experimental data.
