Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[LordJeffBuck]

The hell with ND if they don't want to join, I'm tired of talking about them like the league depends on them. Bring on the Huskers and whoever else joins!

That bravado sounds great now, but how are you going to feel in ten years if "whoever else joins" means Missouri, Vanderbilt, Maryland, and Rutgers? Notre Dame makes any further expansion a home run ... but without Notre Dame, the Big Ten will have to be very careful to select the "correct" four schools to reach super-conference status. Not impossible to do, but getting Notre Dame makes it a lot easier accept three "lesser" schools (enter your favorite ACC, Big East, Big XII also rans) to fill out the conference slate.

 

[Hoosier Buckeye]

I'd rather have a school like Mizzou,Syracuse, Maryland or maybe even Vandy rather than keep begging ND to join. That's just me oh, if ND wanted to join then that would be huge but I'm tired of the "lets wait until ND joins and makes us a super conference".

 

[greyscarlet]

How much pressure would the big ten be putting on the domers if they "strongly suggested" the big ten schools not schedule ND? I've been looking for a ratings by game by team but can't find anything, anyone have any suggestions?

 

[cincibuck]

How much pressure would the big ten be putting on the domers if they "strongly suggested" the big ten schools not schedule ND? I've been looking for a ratings by game by team but can't find anything, anyone have any suggestions?

"How does Bo Schembechler really feel about Michigan's series with Notre Dame? "We don't need Notre Dame. They need us more than we need them." The former Wolverine coach, now 77, was just getting started. "Hell, we're playing all these Big Ten teams. When Penn State came into the league, then we should do everything we can to get this Notre Dame series over with. Now that's the way I feel." Schembechler wasn't finished. "I would rather have an intersectional game than a Midwest game. Play Southern Cal. I don't care. Play Texas ... somebody like that. But not Notre Dame."

 

[JCOSU86]

How would bringing Notre Dame into the BigTen evince a lack of integrity, and on whose part?

Yeah, Notre Dame, being a small, Catholic, non-AAU school isn't exactly a perfect fit for the Big Ten or the CIC

Asked and answered. If admitting Ntre Ame for simple reasons relating to football, then fine. But being a member of the Big Ten means more than football, more than athletics.

Right???

 

[muffler dragon]

IF the time comes when ND joins the Big Ten; then I still don't think I'll want them to win a game. I'd love them to battle Indiana for the bottom of the league. May kill ratings, but I always revel in their suckiness.

 

[jwinslow]

Seriously? Being catholic and small means a lack of b10 integrity?

I was hoping your earlier post was just the sequel to 'well nebraska isn't good at any other sports are they?'

 

[JCOSU86]

Seriously? Being catholic and small means a lack of b10 integrity?

I was hoping your earlier post was just the sequel to 'well nebraska isn't good at any other sports are they?'

They don't fit in with Big Ten schools besides football (and in your opinion apparently, basketball).

What is so hard to understand about that?

What other school in the Big Ten is so small (Northwestern is a founding member)?
What school in the Big Ten has such a suckass grad school as them?
What other Big Ten school is religious affiliated?

This is about sports alone (and 95% football). That is where my problem comes in.

Also, I didn't know about Nebraska's other sports, that's why I asked. If you had read on you would have seen that.

 

[msj2487]

I still vote to hold out for Notre Dame. It's just too perfect of a fit and is THE slam dunk expansion move as has as been previously discussed. No need to reach for teams just yet, thats just irrational... especially Vandy, when the hell did this talk start coming? We don't need another Indiana unless it's Rutgers in my opinion.

Rutgers fits just as Notre Dame fits, Notre Dame because of its history, traditions, and rivalries with already Big Ten members, and Rutgers because they played in the first ever college football game and the Big Ten is the oldest college football conference. Give me Notre Dame, Rutgers, Missouri, and someone else and I'll be happy.

 

[jwinslow]

Since when is only accepting someone just like you the definition of integrity?

Georgia Tech would be different.
Virginia is a different culture than most in the conference.
Texas is a different universe.

Unless we want to add an athletic money drain like Pittsburgh, there's no way to avoid "different" in expansion

They don't fit in with Big Ten schools besides football (and in your opinion apparently, basketball).

And most of their other sports.

What other school in the Big Ten is so small (Northwestern is a founding member)?

I fail to see how this is important, and I doubt you would hate them less if they had 35k on campus instead of 12.

What other Big Ten school is religious affiliated?

If they were an atheist school, could they be admitted then? The religion of independence seems like the problematic one on campus, not Catholicism.

What school in the Big Ten has such a suckass grad school as them?

Congrats you have one important difference out of three.

This is about sports alone (and 95% football). That is where my problem comes in.

So then you must be a big fan of Rutgers, which would be a coup in academic prestige, research revenue, BTN revenue, and average sports. Seems like they fit the integrity pre-requisites you listed above.

 

[JCOSU86]

Since when is only accepting someone just like you the definition of integrity?
And most of their other sports.
I fail to see how this is important, and I doubt you would hate them less if they had 35k on campus instead of 12.
If they were an atheist school, could they be admitted then? The religion of independence seems like the problematic one on campus, not Catholicism.
Congrats you have one important difference out of three.
So then you must be a big fan of Rutgers, which would be a coup in academic prestige, research revenue, BTN revenue, and average sports. Seems like they fit the integrity pre-requisites you listed above.

You mean, like in your geographic area with similar interests? Yeah

Rutgers does nothing for me. I could see Missouri as a better overall fit, but am against any further expansion.

I don't "hate" ND, I hate their fans. I just don't see them as a fit.

Atheist school? What does that mean?

"We" didn't kick Chicago out. My understanding is that they are still a member in a non-athletic way. It's too late for me to look it up.

Thanks for the congrats, it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

[jwinslow]

"How does Bo Schembechler really feel about Michigan's series with Notre Dame? "We don't need Notre Dame. They need us more than we need them." The former Wolverine coach, now 77, was just getting started. "Hell, we're playing all these Big Ten teams. When Penn State came into the league, then we should do everything we can to get this Notre Dame series over with. Now that's the way I feel." Schembechler wasn't finished. "I would rather have an intersectional game than a Midwest game. Play Southern Cal. I don't care. Play Texas ... somebody like that. But not Notre Dame."

It's not like MSU or Purdue are major TV draws either. ND will always command a sizeable audience and a national one. They could line up Oklahoma instead of Michigan and Vanderbilt instead of Purdue. Folks would still tune in.

 

[jwinslow]

Rutgers does nothing for me.

Nothing? After you went on and on about school size, research strength, research fit with others, academics?

To me, it seems like your disinterest in Rutgers is 95% about sports, otherwise how could that many strengths result in a 'nothing' answer?

I dislike Rutgers for that reason too, unless they are a sugar daddy that comes along with a trophy wife like ND or Texas (the non-crazy version we once thought existed)

I don't "hate" ND, I hate their fans.

Could that be playing a larger role than the "integrity" of allowing ND to join?

Atheist school? What does that mean?

I'm pretty sure you know what an atheist is. If they were the opposite of Notre Dame, would it be hurting the integrity of the big ten to add them?

"We" didn't kick Chicago out. My understanding is that they are still a member in a non-athletic way. It's too late for me to look it up.

Does it make you sad that they aren't competing athletically? Or are you glad to have a more competitive conference?

 

[zincfinger]

My understanding was that LJB was answering his own leading question "who is a better fit [for the BigTen than Notre Dame]?", as "Nobody is".

Not how I read it at all. I read that no one makes more sense to the Big 10 than ND.

On this one I can speak with confidence. That's exactly what I said.

 

[cincibuck]

It's not like MSU or Purdue are major TV draws either. ND will always command a sizeable audience and a national one. They could line up Oklahoma instead of Michigan and Vanderbilt instead of Purdue. Folks would still tune in.

I agree- but the point is that the Big 10 doesn't need to make it easy for Notre Dame. Michigan, Purdue and Michigan State gives the Irish 3 games close to their base each year against 3 nationally recognized programs. Where else are they going to find that? If they want to be "independent" and play a "national schedule" they'd have to play further away from their base - or they could schedule Ball State, Toledo and Army in Soldier Field.

- and no, Vanderbilt does not equal Purdue - Jay Cutler vs Drew Brees, Bob Griese, Gary Danielson, Len Dawson, Mike Phipps, Jeff George