Big Ten Expansion. Getting close.

[Condem]

http://www.wndu.com/mobi?storyid=92447574 Nebraska, Mizzou, Syracuse, Rutgers and Pitt. Wow!

[madinmaryland]

1. Repeating Notre Dame claptrap here again??

** crickets **

[Condem]

2. Watch out, mad.

You might just get your wish. No ND. I'm strangely cool with those five teams. Very cool. Especially Big Red.

[madinmaryland]

4. Yes, you're correct. No ND.

One other team will join the Big 10. Pitt?

[El Supremo]

5. If a resurrection of the Southwest Conference would result...

then I'd be very happy.

[Condem]

6. No, El.

Texas, A&M, and Okie move to the SEC. Sorry, man.

[Capt. America]

3. You can keep Rutgers and Syracuse. Neb, Pitt and Mizzou are fine. 16 teams are too much.

14 is more reasonable.
By the way Notre Dame, you are a bunch of fools for not joining the Big 10. If we really do take those three teams, the Big (L)East will cease to exist.

[Condem]

7. Looks like it's going to happen, Capt.

A brave new world.

[era veteran]

8. Im posting this just to show some crazy shit UK / Big Ten, Everybody pukes

This is a crazy writer in our rag Big Blue to Big Ten? http://www.kentucky.com/college_football/index-p2.html

[Capt. America]

9. Not a good link. Did not talk of moving to Big 10. I don't think KY is good fit for Big 10.

[Condem]

10. I've seen a lot of teams mentioned.

Maryland, Virginia, BC, UCONN. Craziness.

[TZ]

11. Maryland and Virginia aren't leaving the ACC.

Maryland especially.

[Condem]

21. If they were asked they would, TZ.

Of this I can assure you. You people underestimate the power of $22 million plus dollars.

[TZ]

27. Nope they won't.

We went through this with the Big East. Maryland is a BASKETBALL school. No Fucking Way are they leaving the ACC.

[Condem]

28. And whole athletic departments are run by college football.

College football is the $$$ king. Look up the revenue for Maryland and UVA for each sport.

[era veteran]

12. We don't need to cross the Ohio River to play ball

I and many others were aghast at the idea of moving. The SEC is home and it's large enough too. Lots of talk of expansion. I could see the benefit to the Big Ten for adding some quality programs though. Edited; could not get right link up, A local writer had suggested it was a good fit.

[PRETZEL]

13. I'd be ok with this,

Revamping the Pitt/Penn State rivalry,

Pitt/OSU/Penn State all recruit a great many of the same players from that tri-state area. It'll be good for the conference.

I'm sure the same argument could be made for the other schools that are being considered.

[madinmaryland]

15. I think Pitt would be a great fit in the Big 10. It actually has

some natural rivalries as you pointed out. I'd rather have them, than the baggage that a ND would bring.

[PRETZEL]

16. Bringing West Virginia into the mix would really stir the pot,

wonder if they were approached.

[madinmaryland]

19. I've been saying all along that it would be one of those two. Though I think Pitt would be

a better fit than West Virginia.

[PRETZEL]

20. All around I don't disagree one bit

Pitt would fit in nicely.

[Redbear]

14. A little sound and fury signifying less.

Right now we are seeing feints and bluffs. All of the Mizzou to Big 10 talk comes from Columbia where they want to see some changes in the Big 12. Same with Nebraska who is unhappy with Texas being the unquestioned prince of the league.

But neither school actually wants to leave their traditional rivals. They just want the BIG 12 to get a bigger contract and disperse it more equally.

[LisaM]

17. This makes me feel sick to my stomach

Goodbye, tradition. Goodbye, nation's oldest sports conference.

Bleah.

It really does make me feel literally sick.

[madinmaryland]

18. I cannot see either 3 or 5 teams being added.

One is a good bet, just so that they can have a championship game in December.

[Condem]

22. Hey, geezer.

3-5 teams. It's coming. Don't get caught watching the paint dry.

[madinmaryland]

23. Please!! No more ND clap-trap!

Pitt or WVA.

[Condem]

25. mad. One mo' time.

West Virginia does NOT belong to the academia group that all the Big Ten teams have membership in. Meaning, the hillbillies are not wanted. Every one else under consideration is.

[madinmaryland]

30. OK, Condem, which is it? Money or Acedemia? Can't be both.

[jakefrep]

24. Me too. It will be an unmitigated disaster for the Big 10 and for college sports.

[Condem]

26. All right, mad. You talked me into it. Fuck Notre Dame.

If the Big Ten chooses one team....Big Red. http://www.omaha.com/article/20100501/SPORTS/705019719#shatel-big-ten-nu-would-be-good-fit

[madinmaryland]

29. Where do you find these bloggers?

:wtf:

Nebraska. No way.

[Condem]

31. Just think, mad.

Iowa-Nebraska. It'll become INSTANTLY, one of the best rivalries in the country. Me and happy...when I retire we're going to get a big motor home. Travel the country going to Hawkeye games. Like Steinbeck's 'Travels with Charley'. So, the more teams the merrier. Just think if we get the Terps. I'll come back to my old stomping grounds. You can be a Hawkeye for the day, mad. Drink some Old Style.

[Capt. America]

32. The thing that is truely amazing is that if all these teams go, the Big (L) East will

disinitigrate and the Big 12 will likely brake up because Pac-10 will want CU/UT/A&M/BYU/Boise to join. In response, the SEC will want to expand and the left over teams in the Big East will ask either to join SEC or ACC. Of course, Notre Dame will GO IT ALONE INTO OBSCURITY playing 3 service academies and East Carolina.

The Big 10 could set off bomb big enough to affect all of college football.

[madinmaryland]

33. I just don't see the reality of four mega conferences happening.

The Big Ten wants a championship game, which they cannot do right now. Add one team and they get that.

[Condem]

34. Well, mad. Go out on the proverbial limb. Who joins?

I say three, at the very least. Rutgers, Mizzou and Nebraska. Anybody else with srtong opinions with some predictions?

[madinmaryland]

37. Put down the spray paint! I have said who it will be multiple times!

Pitt.

[Capt. America]

48. I 100% agree. Bet the house on Pitt joining. It is a done deal.

1) PA will love the reconstituting of the Pitt-Penn State rivalry game (sorry Sparty, the Land Grant trophy "rivalry" game just was too forced).
2) Pitt fans will love being closer to Columbus, Ann Arbor(whore), State College, Bloomington, West Lafeyette, East Lansing.
3) Pittsburgh TV market.
4) Pitt gets out of the worthless Big East and makes a boatload more money in America's premier conference.
5) Academics
6) Pitt is a "Midwestern" school.

[Condem]

35. Just read the SI article today, Capt.

The only way ND joins is if the Big East disinigrates. Selfish fucks to the bitter end. I'd suggest reading it.

[JonLP24]

36. What will the Big 10 logo look like if it happens

I think it's a cool logo because in reality they have 11 teams and the logo reflects that. Look on each side of the 'T', you can see the 11.

[madinmaryland]

38. That's a good one, Jon!

[JonLP24]

39. I don't understand your response

I wasn't making a joke (if that's what you think--I can't tell based on the response).

I really do think the Big 10 logo is neat based on how they fit the 11 in there. I'm also curious what the logo would look like with extra teams. Possibly fit a 13 or 14 on each side of the T? :)

[Condem]

40. 14, Jon. Bet on it. mad doesn't know whether shit or wind his wristwatch.

Pitt. How the fuck can you say just Pitt??? What does that bring the Big Ten???? It'll still be the Big Ten. New logo. Incorporate the 8 states now represented by the current conference. Then add MO, NE and NJ.

[madinmaryland]

42. I think I finally have you figured out. Since you have said you are

really a Notre Dame fan, you want to see the Big Ten expand to 14 or 16 teams, and essential explode itself. Very diabolical, Condem. :tinfoilhat:

Now can you stop bogarting that can of spray paint!

[madinmaryland]

41. Oh shit, Jon. That was a good call. I had never noticed that,

though I'm sure my wife would have caught that one. I just don't pay that much attention to those kinds of things. Yeah, I thought it was humor.

But it is really cool how they adapted the "11" into the logo without giving up the "Big Ten". Not sure how they would integrate "12" into the Logo.

:shrug:

[JonLP24]

43. I learned about it

Researching Big 10 expansion. They changed the logo after Penn St was added because they wanted to keep the name but changed the logo to reflect the fact they have 11 teams.

Speaking of expansion if nothing has ever changed than the Big 10 today would be University of Chicago, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin. Everyone else was added later and in University of Chicago's case they left. Michigan State was added in 1950 so there's has always been some change in the Conference.

[madinmaryland]

44. I agree that expansion and changes have occurred in the Big 10 before,

as it has in most conferences. As I have posited many times before, I do think that the Big 10 will expand and will add one new team. I'm thinking it will be Pitt as they do provide a rivalry that already exists. OTOH, I see a 14/16 team league to be totally unworkable.

[Condem]

45. What rivalry?

They haven't played PSU in years. Here, mad. The whole key. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. Pitt brings NOTHING.

[madinmaryland]

46. Only a hundred years of a rivalry.

Sheesh!

[Condem]

47. Means nothing now.

TV sets. 3 teams. A mantra, mad. It's going to happen.

[Redbear]

49. My guess is that no one will be moving but Rutgers.

The reasons:

1. ND isn't giving up the fat TV contract which runs through 2015.
2. 12 is a workable number. Anything more gets unwieldy.
3. The Big 10 doesn't want to cause havoc, just expand.
3. Rutgers is the best fit from an academic perspective.
4. Rutgers is in the NY/NJ market. None of the other candidates are.
5. Moving South (Nebraska/Mizzou) doesn't help the conference nearly as much as moving East.

[madinmaryland]

50. Good points. The one I don't agree with is the New York Market.

Rutgers has no rivalries with any of the teams in the Big 10 and is essential geographically isolated from all of the Big 10 teams except for Penn State. If they are looking for ratings, Rutgers is not the team to go with, or any team from the NY metropolitan area.

[Condem]

51. Rutgers in 2006. The Empire State Building was lit up in scarlet.

New York TV ratings were through the roof. Rutgers is an improving entity.How many grads from the Big ten reside in the New York City area? A ton. It also opens up the fertile recruiting area in the NE. When Texas joined the Big 12, every team opened a pipeline to the Lone Star State.
Mizzou is a prime example. So, every Big Ten team will recruit heavily here. So many positives. Going after Mizzou and the Big Red is moving west. You get the STL and KC TV's. Nebraska you just get one of the best football programs in the nation. A no-brainer. Osborne has said he will listen. So has the Mizzou President and Governor.

[Redbear]

52. Thanks. My point with Rutgers is not that Rutgers themselves

is a huge draw (although they improved their bowls rating by 45% last year), but that all those millions of households in the NY/NJ market can be added to the BIG 10 Network.

[Condem]

53. The Big Ten Network is Jim Delaney's baby, redbear.

The success of it is what all this is about. Just adding ND would be the obvious answer. But ND has indicated it wants to retain its independence.
As a result, it won't be one team. It'll be three or five. The only question is how many from the east and how many from the west. By the way.
Us Iowans would love to see Nebraska join. A lot of respect between institutions. And Pellini is another Hayden Fry disciple. Mizzou..not as much. Rutgers- sure. Pitt- I'm not sure what they bring. Syracuse- ditto.

[PRETZEL]

54. ok i can see the rivalry with Iowa and Nebraska

Pitt not only brings a huge western PA rivalry (Penn State) but also a new rivalry in Pitt/Ohio State. These 3 schools heavily recruit the same kids.

Also, Pitt basketball would be a great addition to the Big Ten. The immediate impact of another top 25 school into the program would make the conference better than the Big East and on par with the ACC and SEC. That also can't be overlooked.

Academically, UPMC is one of the leading university hospitals on the East Coast. Add that to the academic achievements of the rest of the Big Ten schools academic achievements and that would allow for even more research dollars coming in.

It's not just about football.

[Condem]

55. Yeah, PRETZEL, but at the same time...

a lot are making the argument that NYC is a Pro town. What the hell is Pittsburgh??? What kind of ratings do the Panthers draw? As I recall, I don't believe they come close to filling the stadium each Saturday. I have no argument about athletics or acadamia. I do with the potential $$$ for the Big Ten. I recall seeing a list of what each school could bring the Big Ten in terms of dollars. Pitt was at the bottom. ND and Nebraska (and Texas, of course) were at the top.

[PRETZEL]

58. Haven't seen that list, would like to if you have it

that very well may be true,

it's tough. There's a pretty good split between kids that go to Pitt or Penn State. That probably hurts ratings since on any given saturday you have a choice between which game to watch.

[Condem]

59. Go down a couple replies to Frank the Tank, PRETZEL.

Click on the site and scroll down to potential revenue. Very interesting.

[MadBadger]

56. We already get the Big Ten Network where I live, 5 minutes from Rutgers

[Condem]

57. Once more. My man, Frank the Tank.

Scroll down just a little. http://frankthetank.wordpress.com/2010/04/19/the-value-of-expansion-candidates-to-the-big-ten-network/

[Redbear]

60. Yes. It is even available down here in Texas.

But not that many sign up for it.

[Condem]

61. Well, Redbear.

Pretty soon you'll be part of the SEC. Then you can watch eSECpn. No conflict of interest, though. None at all.

[Redbear]

62. I don't think Texas will ever give up their gravy train.

They like being the big dog. In the Big 10 or SEC they wouldn't be.

[Condem]

63. They won't give it up. That's right. Their hand will be forced.

Say Nebraska and Mizzou go to the Big Ten. Colorado departs for the PAC-10. The Big 12, for all purposes, ceases to exist. Texas, A&M, Okie and
one other team are swallowed by the SEC. The SEC isn't going to sit still when the Big Ten expands. They will act.

[MadBadger]

64. Big Ten is on the Digital Tier here

As long as you have COmcast Digital Cable (which a lot of people do), you get BTN.

[madinmaryland]

65. Verizon FIOS has it on their HD and digital packages, which we get here.

[Condem]

66. Lot on it besides football and hoops.

Found myself watching Ohio State-Louisville in baseball, last night. The announcers on BTN (Revson, Chris Martin etc.) are top notch. A great channel.
But maybe I'm just a little bit biased. I don't know.

[Condem]

67. Omaha radio station reports that the PAC-10 will make the first move...

...take Colorado and Utah (or BYU). Meanwhile a good read from the Trib. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-big-ten-expansion-qa,0,7168925.column Finally...is Maryland a player in the Big Ten??

[Condem]

68. More reports...

http://www.810whb.com/article/3527 Of course, the Big Ten will not comment on it. But the press is out there.

[Capt. America]

69. The 4 letter reported today Mizzou, Nebraska, ND and Rutgers invited, if they all accept

they will invite one more (unnamed).

[Condem]

70. LOL. I hope it's Maryland.

Then they can play in a real hoop conference. The ACC is heading down. The thing is Capt., ND will say no. Thus, it's Nebraska, Mizzou and Rutgers.

[Capt. America]

71. I agree, ND will not join. They would be a perennial middle of the pack Big 10 team and the

4 letter would not fawn over them all the time.

[TZ]

72. Down?

Did you miss who won the last National Championship? And who was the last team to beat that National Champion?
Hell no. The Maryland-Duke Rivalry is like Washington-Dallas in the NFL.

[madinmaryland]

73. Maryland?? WTF??

An average basketball team in a good basketball conference and a less than average football team in a less than average football conference.

:wtf:

[Condem]

74. Just kidding about the Terps.

The Big Ten wouldn't want them. No football tradition and barely any hoops. TV sets. Maybe.