Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[MaxBuck]

The school that most closely resembles the Big Ten current members, along with the Western Conference ideals both academically and athletically, is the University of Pittsburgh. But Pitt brings nothing new to the table from a market perspective, and hence the discussions relative to Rutgers.

Probably won't happen, but if it does, it will be in order to get to 12 and thereby permit a conference championship game. $$$$$$$$$$

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

ok, I was still a young-un, so can you tell me why only 20,000 stayed for a 3 point game?

...

It's already been answered, but...

OSU, during the Earle Bruce era, was famous for terrible pass defense. John Cooper's first year was no different. And LSU had Tommy Hodson at quarterback.

The upshot: very few people expected Ohio State to win. So when it got really late in the game and OSU was only down by 1 score, people were starting to get hopeful. But we needed to get the ball back to have a chance.

Instead, a bizarre tipped ball turned into a long LSU touchdown. The vast majority of the people in the stadium left, including my younger brother (and yes, I have yet to let him live it down).

OSU got the first touchdown they needed, but it seemed to take too long so people continued to file out. LSU got the ball back, but unexpectedly played so conservatively that they ended up taking an intentional safety so as to get more room to kick the ball. Big mistake - a big return ensued, and the drive culminated in a clock-beating, diving catch in the end zone by Bobby Olive.

I had to run 15 yards to find someone to high-five. There is no way there were still 20,000 people there; but John Cooper gave credit to the home crowd, "...especially the 20,000 who stayed."

Those "20,000" (more like 10,000) made that Bobby Olive TD one of the 3 loudest moments that I have personally experience in Ohio Stadium. That stands to reason, as the people who are loyal enough to stay are the ones that make 95% of the noise anyway.

The best part though, is that my younger brother had a short walk home. He lived in Morrill Tower at the time, which is right next door to the stadium. By the time the elevator got him up to his floor; he could hear the stadium, and knew that I'd never let him hear the end of it.


And I haven't

 

[JXC]

Hard to believe 10,000 at the end of a game in The 'Shoe.

 

[Taosman]

Any discussion of Big Ten expansion that addresses the "importance of the Big Game between tOSU and TSUN," the desirability of matchups, travel, geography, etc. misses the point. As do discussions that say that it's a good idea so long as we don't have a playoff.

This idea, boys and girls, is about the following:

12 teams => NCAA allows a playoff

Playoff => $$$$$$$$$$$$$

All other discussion is irrelevant.

I think there is a lot to this particular part . Money talks.

 

[MaxBuck]

I think there is a lot to this particular part . Money talks.

It's not just that money talks. It's that no one else can get a word in edgewise.

 

[BrowardBuck]

There is only one team I personally believe the B10 should add as a 12th member. Screw ND, Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse, Missou, Nebraska, etc. The only team I want to see them offer the 12th spot to is Texas. They have everything our conference looks for in a conference member school with the lone exception being in a contiguous state. They have good academics, are a research school, have great tradition and great fans.

BB

 

[damiandoan]

never happen

There is only one team I personally believe the B10 should add as a 12th member. Screw ND, Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse, Missou, Nebraska, etc. The only team I want to see them offer the 12th spot to is Texas. They have everything our conference looks for in a conference member school with the lone exception being in a contiguous state. They have good academics, are a research school, have great tradition and great fans.

BB

As much as you are correct, about Texas, the thing you are missing is the culture and politics in the state. Texas will never be in a conference that does not include Texas A&M or Texas Tech. The politics behind a move to the Big Ten would be impossible. When the SWC broke up, there was a huge political involvement by the legislature(aka Bob Bullock), hence the inclusion of Baylor in the Big 12. So unless you want to expand to 14 to include A&M and Tech, which isn't going to happen, you might as well drop Texas off the list.

DD

 

[BrowardBuck]

I am aware of the back story on the B12 after the breakup of the SWC. The likelihood of Texas joining the B10 is remote at best, unless the political atmosphere has changed there. My point was simply that the only team the B10 should consider adding is Texas. Otherwise, leave it be. There are too many issues to deal with in adding ND. Let alone how poor of a football team they have become. Will it always be that way? Probably not. Aside from the fact that we already have to deal with the arrogance of the PSU fans. Imagine having to deal with the ND fanbase on a yearly basis. As for the rest of the pack that has been mentioned, there isn't really any team there worth pursuing.

Syracuse = Indiana
Pitt = Iowa
Rutgers = NW
Missou = Ill/Mich St.
Nebraska = Iowa (although I believe this will change)

BB

As much as you are correct, about Texas, the thing you are missing is the culture and politics in the state. Texas will never be in a conference that does not include Texas A&M or Texas Tech. The politics behind a move to the Big Ten would be impossible. When the SWC broke up, there was a huge political involvement by the legislature(aka Bob Bullock), hence the inclusion of Baylor in the Big 12. So unless you want to expand to 14 to include A&M and Tech, which isn't going to happen, you might as well drop Texas off the list.

DD

 

[NoDakBuckeyeFan]

I may be laughed at

You may laugh but how about North Dakota State? An FCS school that is working it's way up. They beat Minnesota two years ago, are a contigious state, research, academics, and all that. Probably don't have the money though.

 

[BUCKYLE]

You were right

You may laugh but how about North Dakota State? An FCS school that is working it's way up. They beat Minnesota two years ago, are a contigious state, research, academics, and all that. Probably don't have the money though.

 

[NoDakBuckeyeFan]

Wow, thanks. Are you trying to drive fans away?

 

[jwinslow]

To make such a radical change to tradition, scheduling & conference structure (divisions? CCG?), it better be worth it.

Congratulations to NDSU for beating Minn. That's a big accomplishment for a smaller school. However, the big ten is a top BCS conference, and beating Minnesota has not been much of an accomplishment lately.

NDSU would benefit a ton from joining the b10.
The big ten would gain very little from their addition, and the cons might outweigh the pros.

 

[NoDakBuckeyeFan]

Yup

Well, thanks for actually giving valid reasons. All true.

 

[BUCKYLE]

Wow, thanks. Are you trying to drive fans away?

Relax. Crimony. You even realized the idea was absurd when admitting you'd probably get laughed at. I'm supposed to find the good things about your proposal? That's your job.

If you read back in this thread, some were laughing at schools like Rutgers and WV.

No way in hell does the B10 take a current 1-AA team. Michigan would never allow it.

 

[osucollegebuck]

To make such a radical change to tradition, scheduling & conference structure (divisions? CCG?), it better be worth it.

I agree with this completely. All the teams that Paterno wants would be a failure. The only schools I'd want would be West Virginia or N.D. (never gonna happen). But the discussion is moot as the Big 10 isn't interested in this and why shouldn't they be; if PSU beats Iowa they would have most likely been in the NC game.