Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[RugbyBuck]

Agreed that we're the best positioned of the conferences at this point. Points taken as to 'Cuse, Pitt, and the UofNJ, but they're still not what we really want. We wouldn't want them, I wouldn't think, if we were trying to get from 8 to 10 or 12. They're just what's left if we want to get to 16.

 

[kn1f3party]

Agreed that we're the best positioned of the conferences at this point. Points taken as to 'Cuse, Pitt, and the UofNJ, but they're still not what we really want. We wouldn't want them, I wouldn't think, if we were trying to get from 8 to 10 or 12. They're just what's left if we want to get to 16.

Disagree. Expansion is about long term, and I mean way long term consideration. Syracuse, Pitt, and Rutgers all provide athletics above those of some of the schools currently in the Big Ten. They fit academically, and can help our conference solidify a long-term foot print. Sure, it will dramatically alter the way we're used to conferences in the football realm but FBS football is expected to become the biggest sport in this country in the next ten years. Fifty years from now it could look a whole lot different and if we're not on the tip of the spear, being progressive about the makeup of our conference, there won't even be Syracuse, Pitt, or Rutgers left...

 

[Buckrock]

Disagree. Expansion is about long term, and I mean way long term consideration. Syracuse, Pitt, and Rutgers all provide athletics above those of some of the schools currently in the Big Ten. They fit academically, and can help our conference solidify a long-term foot print. Sure, it will dramatically alter the way we're used to conferences in the football realm but FBS football is expected to become the biggest sport in this country in the next ten years. Fifty years from now it could look a whole lot different and if we're not on the tip of the spear, being progressive about the makeup of our conference, there won't even be Syracuse, Pitt, or Rutgers left...

I agree completely. If i was a betting man i would say Rutgers and Maryland look better than 75%. Virginia and Syracuse 50%. ND a lock if they want in. They maybe forced at some point to give up independence. Look outside of athletics and all of these fit the Big 10 profile. Pitt too but i would put them under 50% at this juncture. Delaneys next move is to go East for ratings. This may force ND's hand. The Big East and ACC are the next conferences to fill the pinch IMHO. Look for movement in early 2011.

 

[cincibuck]

Disagree. Expansion is about long term, and I mean way long term consideration. Syracuse, Pitt, and Rutgers all provide athletics above those of some of the schools currently in the Big Ten. They fit academically, and can help our conference solidify a long-term foot print. Sure, it will dramatically alter the way we're used to conferences in the football realm but FBS football is expected to become the biggest sport in this country in the next ten years. Fifty years from now it could look a whole lot different and if we're not on the tip of the spear, being progressive about the makeup of our conference, there won't even be Syracuse, Pitt, or Rutgers left...

If you're thinking of tying up everything west of the Hudson, north of the Mason - Dixon, or entered as a free state, I think you're right. I have mixed feelings about ND, I'd love to see them because they would bring the north east coast market and the big city market, but they're focused on what's best for them - fuck anybody and everybody else - period.

As we've seen from negotiating with Texas, it's an enviable position to be in.

 

[woofermazing]

If BTN revenue keeps improving, and the schools keep receiving a bigger and bigger cut, we will be in a great position to take whomever we want. I bet the ACC and SEC are not in a position to launch a network anytime soon with their new ESPN contracts. There have to be stipulations restricting anything like that which would directly compete with ESPN. I think we'll hear rumblings again in early 2011 also, after the word is out on what the BTN revenue was for 2010.

 

[kn1f3party]

If you're thinking of tying up everything west of the Hudson, north of the Mason - Dixon, or entered as a free state, I think you're right. I have mixed feelings about ND, I'd love to see them because they would bring the north east coast market and the big city market, but they're focused on what's best for them - [censored] anybody and everybody else - period.

As we've seen from negotiating with Texas, it's an enviable position to be in.

At the end of the day everyone will have to get over their hurt undercarriage and realize business is business, nothing personal. We may not like it for a few years, but long term it will be the best for our conference.

 

[kn1f3party]

If BTN revenue keeps improving, and the schools keep receiving a bigger and bigger cut, we will be in a great position to take whomever we want. I bet the ACC and SEC are not in a position to launch a network anytime soon with their new ESPN contracts. There have to be stipulations restricting anything like that which would directly compete with ESPN. I think we'll hear rumblings again in early 2011 also, after the word is out on what the BTN revenue was for 2010.

One element of this I've been thinking about lately is that these television deals are cyclical and I've only followed them as of recent. That said, I am starting to realize that what we have right now may be great but it is only a matter of time before what someone else has is better. We do have an advantage with the Big Ten Network, but the brass are being smart by wanting to improve the footprint within the next few years as the current model may not be sustainable when our ABC/ESPN deals are revisited.

 

[DallasHusker]

So far, Nebraska visitors to Buckeye Planet have netted zero infractions and zero warnings.

Hypothetically, if Delany succeeds in forcing ND's hand at some point: what are the chances that ND fans would go that long with zero moderator actions taken?

I'd put the odds at 10,000 to 1

I'm really happy to hear that the Husker fans who have visited and joined have been classy. Any group has a few bad apples, but I hope ours are few and far between. By the same token, the warm welcome we've received here has made it easy to be classy - thanks!

Having said that, I have to agree with you about the odds of the arrogant Domer fans being as classy. :) One of my fondest memories is about 10 years ago when Nebraska turned THEIR stadium into a sea of red - and won the game too.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

...I have to agree with you about the odds of the arrogant Domer fans being as classy...

While we certainly have common ground vis a vis ND fans, those odds were more self-deprecating humor than serious commentary.

Click HERE for the BP inside-joke back-story.

 

[OhioSt88]

Other Options

Notre Dame is obviously the big prize, although I would just as soon see them get left out and end up in a poor situation. It would be a fitting end to their arrogance.

Assuming that the Big Ten leadership is not as spiteful as I am, eventually, Notre Dame will be in the league. That would leave three more spots.

Delaney has been very clear that the Big Ten wants to move south. Texas would have fit the bill, but they are out of the picture. When you look at the members of the Association of American Universities, I believe that the Big Ten's next move will be to raid the ACC.

Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia would all be great geographic fits to extend the network south. If the conference could pull in two of those and then round out the 16 with Rutgers, you would have a great geographic presence in football territory and the academic profile the Big Ten is looking for.

As an aside, if the SEC where smart they would grab Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Miami and TCU or Texas A&M. Their foot print would be an incredible coverage of the best college football states in the nation.

:osu:

 

[cincibuck]

Notre Dame is obviously the big prize, although I would just as soon see them get left out and end up in a poor situation. It would be a fitting end to their arrogance.

Assuming that the Big Ten leadership is not as spiteful as I am, eventually, Notre Dame will be in the league. That would leave three more spots.

Delaney has been very clear that the Big Ten wants to move south. Texas would have fit the bill, but they are out of the picture. When you look at the members of the Association of American Universities, I believe that the Big Ten's next move will be to raid the ACC.

Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia would all be great geographic fits to extend the network south. If the conference could pull in two of those and then round out the 16 with Rutgers, you would have a great geographic presence in football territory and the academic profile the Big Ten is looking for.

As an aside, if the SEC where smart they would grab Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Miami and TCU or Texas A&M. Their foot print would be an incredible coverage of the best college football states in the nation.

:osu:

Well since we're in the land of conjecture -- the only south that seems to make sense to me -- and I just don't see the core ACC schools giving up such a nice fit -- would be Vandy and Va Tech. I think Vandy would like to be in a conference controlled by presidents and not ADs. They'd come in and be in the middle of the Big 10 football pac instead of dead last in the SEC, with a much better shot at bowling in December and January.

Va Tech brings in a great fan base and a fast improving academic base, but I don't know that they would want to end their rivalry with UVA.

If anything the SEC looking at Okie and Ok State makes sense. Why? Because both of those schools seem to be to be looking for a conference run by ADs and not presidents and they've got to be smarting from the number Texas just put on them.

As for Georgia Tech, they got out of the SEC for two reasons: academics and getting clobbered every weekend. Why would they want to go back in? They're not likely to have abused wife syndrome.

I know, I know -- the Benjamins. I wonder if the TV Benjamins are worth it if your standing on the playing field suffers and the endowment fund takes a hit. The nice thing about the ACC core schools is that each year the playing level is just about even, every school except Duke has a shot at a division championship and it wouldn't take much to make them competitive again. They share a long history together, the core schools are all at least one academic notch above most of the SEC schools, their fans love to travel and the geography makes that easy for every place except Miami and FSU.

Finally, look at it this way, if Ohio State were offered a bigger pay day to go to the SEC would they take it? I say no. First because they would not be as dominant as they can be in the Big 10. Second because no OSU president would turn the keys to the place over to the AD and the football coach. Third because the fans would come out with torches and pitchforks over the loss of the rivalries with Michigan, Illinois and Penn State. Why would you not believe that such would be the case among the core ACC schools?

 

[JCOSU86]

Notre Dame is obviously the big prize

I honestly really don't believe this. Ntre Ame is irrelevant and is going to continue being irrelevant. Why do we want to add this to the Big Ten? Becoming a second rate team is going to make that $$$ go away quickly.

 

[jwinslow]

I honestly really don't believe this. Ntre Ame is irrelevant and is going to continue being irrelevant. Why do we want to add this to the Big Ten? Becoming a second rate team is going to make that $$$ go away quickly.

No, it won't, as seen by the past two decades with that status or worse.

 

[JCOSU86]

No, it won't, as seen by the past two decades with that status or worse.

Ach, I still don't want them.

 

[zincfinger]

I honestly really don't believe this. Ntre Ame is irrelevant and is going to continue being irrelevant. Why do we want to add this to the Big Ten? Becoming a second rate team is going to make that $$$ go away quickly.

No, it won't, as seen by the past two decades with that status or worse.

Ach, I still don't want them.

As a fan, I'm more interested in the national profile of the conference than I am in how profitable it is (and yeah, obviously those two things are linked). I like to turn on the tv and hear people talking about BigTen football, or click on a general sports webpage and see BigTen discussions high on the headline list. Notre Dame would enhance that, even if they struggle, moreso than almost any other program would. The money's nice and all, but it's the enhancement of national profile that makes the conference more fun, and it's good for every program in the conference. From my perspective, the fact that I don't care for Notre Dame football is completely irrelevant by comparison.