Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[jimotis4heisman]

I know that there could be more to come, but now that we've seen everything but the product on the field I'm going to ask the question. How does everyone really feel we've done in expansion? We've added a school that by every metric I can find is the lowest ranked academically in the new Big Ten. A school that locks up no new major metro areas for the BTN, a good athletic tradition in football and women's volleyball but little else. Our logo is more contrived than when it had the hidden 11 in it, it truly looks like a child did it. Our division alignment and names are worse than the ACCs, something I didn't think was possible. The rivalry with Michigan is actually at risk of losing importance to say Penn State, a team that the Buckeyes will be in direct competition with every year. No matter how much people may argue the point the Michigan game is a game that could help put us over Penn State and Wisconsin, the only way we would be in direct competition with them for a title or trophy is if we both make the championship game.

All in all I am feeling underwhelmed, I think the only thing they could do to make it worse from my perspective is bringing in Notre Dame.

however the counterpoints are the huskers deep football tradition, the large revenue of their athletic program, widely dispersed alumni base, and a culture/fanbase that fits in with big ten schools. all your points are correct and/or reasonable though.

 

[Emperor Brutus]

however the counterpoints are the huskers deep football tradition, the large revenue of their athletic program, widely dispersed alumni base, and a culture/fanbase that fits in with big ten schools. all your points are correct and/or reasonable though.

I'm not trying to be a jerk and hate it for hating it's sake, just when I look at everything together I am underwhelmed.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I'm not trying to be a jerk and hate it for hating it's sake, just when I look at everything together I am underwhelmed.

no doubt, and i do not disagree with any of your points. the counterpoints are the ones i can think of.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I'm not trying to be a jerk and hate it for hating it's sake, just when I look at everything together I am underwhelmed.

I agree fully. Corn Aggy was the promised home run in football only. By any other criteria, they were a horribly compromised choice.

 

[SidehatchHusker]

I agree fully. Corn Aggy was the promised home run in football only. By any other criteria, they were a horribly compromised choice.

Thanks!

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Thanks!

Well, if that's all that is important to your university, you're welcome...I guess.

 

[muffler dragon]

I agree fully. Corn Aggy was the promised home run in football only. By any other criteria, they were a horribly compromised choice.

Compared to what exactly? IMO, no school is going to be a homerun on all accounts. But that's not the objective, is it?

I, obviously, have my own personal bias that really appreciates the inclusion of Nebraska; but I also believe that the 'Huskers offer a lot more than many of the other alternatives.

 

[jlb1705]

I don't think you can judge conference expansion solely on the merits of the new inclusions. I think it also has to be judged relative to the other conferences. Viewed through that lens, I don't think there's any way to call this round of conference moves anything other than a 'win' for the Big Ten.

 

[Muck]

Compared to what exactly? IMO, no school is going to be a homerun on all accounts. But that's not the objective, is it?

I, obviously, have my own personal bias that really appreciates the inclusion of Nebraska; but I also believe that the 'Huskers offer a lot more than many of the other alternatives.

100% concur.

Honestly I think Nebraska has more to offer than any of the other (realistic) alternatives. The Big Ten should be thankful the 'Huskers fell into their lap.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

100% concur.

Honestly I think Nebraska has more to offer than any of the other (realistic) alternatives. The Big Ten should be thankful the 'Huskers fell into their lap.

I'm not necessarily saying that Nebraska wasn't the best possible choice after ND and Texas fell off the radar. That, however, doesn't make them the home run that Delaney spoke so glowingly about when beginning the process. Compare them to Penn State, which Delaney told us was his model. And then compare them along the following criteria, which gives a little extra weight to football:

Historical and Current strength of football program at time of invitation: equal
National interest in football program: equal
Media Markets: strong edge to Penn State
Academics: strong edge to Penn State
Basketball: equal--glaring weakness in both
Olympic Sports: strong edge to Penn State

Nebraska may have been the best option at the end of the day, but they weren't a well rounded "home run" the way Penn State was. We'll see what happens. Will Corn Aggy take advantage of the CIC and get their academic rankings up to the Sparty or IU level? Will they compete in basketball? Invest some of that money in their Olympic programs (maybe start a D1 hockey program)? Or, will they ultimately prove themselves a one dimensional addition?

Time will tell, but when we started out by swinging for the fences (Texas/ND), Nebraska, at least for the time being, can't help but leave me with something of a, "blaahh, better than Rutgers I guess" feeling.

 

[Muck]

Academics: strong edge to Penn Stat

I think you need to go back & take a look at where Penn State was ranked academically prior to 1993.

Their current perception as a University owes a lot to the past two decades of being associated with the Big Ten/CIC.

Nebraska has spent a lot of effort & money into transformation themselves academically over the past number of years...and that was prior to the opportunity to join the conference. They are a long way from their ceiling and more importantly seem committed to striving towards it.

I think the media markets is more of a wash.. PSU is huge in the Boston-DC corridor but I firmly believe Nebraska is a larger name nationally.

Overall athletic deparment - Director's Cup Standings (08-09): PSU - 18, Nebraska - 29 (that's what 7th in the Big Ten?)

Looking back to the earliest results I can find (93-94 & 94-95)...Nebraska wasn't that far behind PSU at that time either (18th in 94 & 9th in 95...ahead of Ohio State in both years).

While I think Texas was certainly a stronger overall catch I don't believe they were a realistic option...therefore they don't enter the equation. ND on the other is not a bigger catch IMO. Institutionally they are less of a fit for the Big Ten by quite a large margin than Nebraska.

 

[muffler dragon]

I'm not necessarily saying that Nebraska wasn't the best possible choice after ND and Texas fell off the radar.

I realize this may be off-center, but I consider Nebraska a better choice than ND.

That, however, doesn't make them the home run that Delaney spoke so glowingly about when beginning the process. Compare them to Penn State, which Delaney told us was his model. And then compare them along the following criteria, which gives a little extra weight to football:

Historical and Current strength of football program at time of invitation: equal
National interest in football program: equal
Media Markets: strong edge to Penn State
Academics: strong edge to Penn State
Basketball: equal--glaring weakness in both
Olympic Sports: strong edge to Penn State

Do you know if these are the criteria by which Delaney and the University Presidents would move? Furthermore, it would be interesting to see how ND fits the criteria above.

Nebraska may have been the best option at the end of the day, but they weren't a well rounded "home run" the way Penn State was. We'll see what happens. Will Corn Aggy take advantage of the CIC and get their academic rankings up to the Sparty or IU level? Will they compete in basketball? Invest some of that money in their Olympic programs (maybe start a D1 hockey program)? Or, will they ultimately prove themselves a one dimensional addition?

As I understand it, UNL had already started advancing its academic side.

 

[muffler dragon]

I think you need to go back & take a look at where Penn State was ranked academically prior to 1993.

Interesting consideration. Attempting to think back, I hardly knew a thing about Penn State in 89-90 besides they'd won a NC in the 80s. Other than that, nothing stood out.

I think the media markets is more of a wash.. PSU is huge in the Boston-DC corridor but I firmly believe Nebraska is a larger name nationally.

I can attest to this in the PNW big time.

 

[Buckeye86]

Time will tell, but when we started out by swinging for the fences (Texas/ND), Nebraska, at least for the time being, can't help but leave me with something of a, "blaahh, better than Rutgers I guess" feeling.

Optimistically, you could look at it as "blah, better than Rutgers I guess, and a decent start at getting the ball rolling on bigger and better things in conference expansion."

Landing Nebraska established the Big 10 as the conference pushing the expansion agenda, leaving everyone else to react. It also established that quite a few schools (certainly Missouri at least), would love to join the Big Ten, keeping the "conference expansion" ball squarely in the Big Ten's court.

 

[Saw31]

Well, I think we're all in agreement that we are a part of a fairly exclusive club. That by itself is going to make it difficult for many institutions to be a "perfect" fit and limit our options. All things considered, I think UNL was a good choice...