Big Ten and other Conference Expansion

[IronBuckI]

Rutgers has made the commitment to achieve the level of success that they had last year. Vastly improved facilities have given them a shot at recruiting their very talent rich backyard. If Rutgers gets into the Big Ten, and their coaches can sell that they aren't stuck playing Big Least opponents anymore. They could be very formidable for a long time to come.

 

[ant80]

Ideal Big10(12)

I would prefer ND as the 12th member of the conference. However, I don't want divisions. They just lessen the significance of regular conference games. I would like to see a 9-game conference schedule with each team playing three (or four) opponents every year. For example, OSU would play scUM, PSU and Illinois (the illibuck "rivalry"), scUM would play scUM lite, ND and OSU. PSU would play OSU, scUM lite and ND (I would like to see that rivalry get renewed). And so on. That will leave five or six games to play seven or eight teams within the conference who will get rotated.

I don't want a mandatory championship game each year, but I would like to see one if and only if two teams finish at the top of the conference that haven't played each other during the regular conference schedule. 2002 (Iowa and OSU) is the only year that comes to mind. Otherwise, the rules would be like present.

 

[Buckeye Nation]

Just say NO to a 12th team.:scum4:

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

You know, the other thing is... Who does Delaney work for and how much power does he really have? The school Presidents could put a swift end to this whole expansion discussion by voting "no."

Technically, the conference (and Delany) work for the presidents and by extension the faculties. Gee is adamantly opposed to a national playoff. I wonder what his position is on conference championship games. Given that he's viewed as a national voice on athletic reform after Vanderbilt, I wonder whether he could step in and kill this.

 

[Nicknam4]

I think VT or ND would be the best choices for the 12th team. I hate ND also, but, it would be a good edition. VT had better academics and has very little history the ACC, they would probably be more likely to say yes. They also are in a new state, brining the big 9th state positive in. Although, ND is a little better when it comes to athletics, closer to the rest of the B10 teams, and would probably turn more TV sets on. I don't know. Either team is fine by me.

For example, OSU would play scUM, PSU and Illinois (the illibuck "rivalry"), scUM would play scUM lite, ND and OSU. PSU would play OSU, scUM lite and ND (I would like to see that rivalry get renewed). And so on. That will leave five or six games to play seven or eight teams within the conference who will get rotated.

As long as we don't get split in divisions, I am all for the 12th team. Let's face it, there would be no good way to divide them. It's technically impossible. However, ^this^, is a great idea. I always thought we should put the 2 B10 teams we don't play each year in between the 2nd to last game and the scUM game. (And not getting a 12th team) But, getting the 12th and Forcing ant's idea in would work just as well. Or, maybe even both. If possible.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Why, why, why...

It's all about the money.:(

 

[PogueMahone]

After the BCS Title game, the one thing I really wanted was for our conference to return to its past strength, but then I realized this may have simply been a down year. Let's hope. If Wisconsin stays strong, Penn State gets a little better and more consistent, and Iowa and Illinois can rebound, I don't think we're that far off from the SEC in terms of overall program strength. Granted, the B10 (12 part deux?) will never recruit like they do given their weather and how much money they like to spend giving their recruits a little "somethin'-somethin'" on the side. But if those teams (save Wisky) keep underperforming, I'm fine with letting another national power into the conference. It would be nice to beat up the Irish every year and take them their fans down a notch (even though they're my 4th favorite program), but I'd be looking for a surefire hit, a Louisville or WVU. It would never happen, because like the Irish, those programs don't really want to play PSU-OSU-UM caliber teams at any point other than bowl games.

 

[DaytonBuck]

The domer faculty begged their administration to join the Big Ten, so they could get access to the CIC and beef up their weak graduate, research and faculty reputations. I believe that the ND faculty senate voted 34-2 in favor of joining but were overruled in favor of what was best for the football program. Can you imagine the howls from the domers had a Big Ten school made such a blatant tail wagging the dog decision. Then again, hypocritical domers are nothing new.

The presidents and faculties have been pretty clear that the only non-AAU school that they'd let into the CIC is Notre Dame which leaves out (and rightfully so) Louisville, WVU and a host of other pretenders. Personally, I think Pitt is the perfect choice: strong academics, decent football and basketball traditions and they provide a natural rival for Penn State. They don't, however, turn on any additional television sets, and that's what this is all about.

Delany is worried that a failed BTN will be his lasting legacy, and he's getting desperate. My hunch is that this is all about the NYC television market, and if ND says no (they will), the offer will go to Rutgers (good academics and an AAU school to appease the faculties).

I also don't want ND anywhere near the Big Ten. While it would be nice to watch them go through the kind of eye opening that Penn State fan has, I have no desire to see them gain access to the CIC--not after the hypocritical priests stood behind the podium last time and insinuated that they were turning the B10 down because they were too good academically. Screw 'em. They've already lost their 14 million dollar payout for making a BCS game, and in a few years Fat Bastard will have proven himself to be a fraud and a failure. I'd much rather watch them wallow into insignificance and irrelevance. Oh wait, they're already there, but for now, they just don't realize it.

I'm no defender of Notre Dame but aren't the law school and mba programs well respected nationally?

 

[coastalbuck]

Here's a good blog about expansion. It mentions the usual, ND and Rutgers but brings up an interesting third choice.....

Navy:
Academics: A-
History: B
Recently: B
TV Market: A-
Although Navy is a less attractive candidate than both Notre Dame and Rutgers in a number of ways, at the end of the day the Midshipmen make the most sense for the Big Ten.

 

[Muck]

Here's a good blog about expansion. It mentions the usual, ND and Rutgers but brings up an interesting third choice.....

Not sure the blogger knows what he's talking about.

Part of the reason Navy has had on the field success the last few years is because being an independent has allowed them to set-up a manageable schedule.

That is a big part of why they turned down membership in the Big East, because it would take away that flexibility.

Joining the Big10 would absolutely kill their "on field" success and do more harm than good to their program.

I don't know why he thinks their option offense feels "Big10 like", looks more like something from the Big 8 to me.

 

[Mike80]

I don't know why he thinks their option offense feels "Big10 like", looks more like something from the Big 8 to me.

that's because he probably subscribes to the "southern speed" ideas....

meaning he doesn't know as much about the Big 10 as he thinks he does.....

 

[DaveyBoy]

the blog was garbage

to have ND academics rated higher than Navy's is a joke. I'd dare to say that 75% of Navy students are in the top 5% of their HS graduating class.

ND is not a major grad school or research university......not by a mile. It's a fantastic undergrad school and has a great MBA and JD.....but so does Univeristy of Dayton

I really think this expansion will happen. Money is too big of a part of the equation going forward.....and you can only wring so much $ out of the current structure. Rutgers, Maryland, and possibly Syracuse would benefit us to the East.......Nebraska and Missouri would help us in the West. U of L helps us to the South. WVU and Pitt are good fits but are missing the big added $.

Personally, I think Rutgers and Maryland make the most sense. 3 years ago I think the BigTen could have pulled Maryland out of the ACC. I'm not so sure now. Rutgers is a good possibility.......their FB is getting better but would not be top tier in the BigTen for at least 5 years....if ever. The BB would be cellar dwelling too. But I think the fan base at RU would be patient.....they've waited this long to have a true winner.....

I suspect Rutgers will end up getting it.

As for Syracuse, they make some good sense to. But I think it would be a fall-back position in case Rutgers didn't go.

This is ALL under the assumption that ND doesn't accept an invitation......ND is the obvious choice.

 

[Muck]

This is ALL under the assumption that ND doesn't accept an invitation......ND is the obvious choice.

Remember that ND recently replaced TSUN & the Spartans on their schedules for 11 & 12. I know the former was because TSUN was trying to push them with what they felt were unreasonable demands but still it looks like ND is trying to branch out somewhat from their association with the Big 10.

That doesn't bode well for a possible future conference team.

The NBC deal runs through '10 so success over the next three years will be crucial for ND to renew the contract.

Personally I think that if they lose the NBC money that ND would be more likely to finally fully slide into the Big East. Their popularity on the East coast is huge and I have no doubt they see a Big East schedule as far more conducive to playing their way into a BCS title game than one in the Big10.

I'm sure the 'Nits lack of dominance over the past decade and a half has not gone unnoticed in South Bend.

 

[msj2487]

Personally, as a football fan alone, forget the academics and regional ties, the ONLY team I'd like to see join the Big Ten is Notre Dame. For me, the Big Ten stands for tradition, history, and excellence. Programs like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State make this conference great, because they are such storied college football programs. Obviously Notre Dame has their own legacies, so adding them on this basis only makes sense. Yet, I fully understand that my reasoning for adding a 12th team (as undesirable as it may be anyways), is far different than that of the Big Ten commissioner, coaches, and faculties, as it should be. However, in pure speculative fun I can only come down to Notre Dame as being the only formidable choice for us.

I would absolutley hate the idea of West Virginia or Rutgers joining the Big Ten, because I view these programs as "a few years and done." I honestly don't see Rutgers ever becoming a football power, even on the basis that West Virginia has seen, and thats not even saying much. For me, Schiano and the Scarlet Knights still have much to prove to me. I truly view last year as a sort of miracle year for them, and if they can even match what they did last year I'll still only be mildly impressed. Sorry, but two years of decency won't make up for 80+ years of mediocrity and awfulness. On a football standpoint we don't need another Indiana in the conference. We need to shut up the ignorant SEC fans once and for all by adding a Notre Dame-esque program, and since everyone else already has strong ties to their conferences and conference opponents, Notre Dame can and should be the only team considered.

Now since, Notre Dame will probably never join the Big Ten, then so be it, please don't add anyone else. Our conference is great the way it is, and I'd hate to see something as traditional as the name, Big Ten, have to be changed. Hopefully, this smoke will just blow over in the coming weeks before the new season and we can all just breath easy again until some other idiot proposes such an idea of adding a 12th team.

 

[cincibuck]

Hmmmmm, if I'm not mistaken Indiana has the worst football record of any Division I school, worse than Rice, Vandy, Kentucky, Duke, Baylor and Northwestern... so to complain about Rutger's record seems a bit out of place.

If I were a Michigan fan I'd want to see Cincinnati in to split the state loyalities. I've heard fans from Illinois, Indiana and Michigan bitch about the fact that they have to deal with two conference schools while Ohio State has the place all to itself.

I see no point in adding another farm belt/rust belt school. Iowa State and Missou make sense only from academic and geopgraphic points of view. they would add little to the TV deal.

Notre Dame was all but in when the alums and students went nuts. I can't see the Big 10 being willing to do that 'egg on your face' number again.

Ord says Pitt is highly rated academically, but I thought that was only with regard to Carnegie - Mellon, the Med school and some other programs. I thought it was a rather weak school w/regard to undergrads. Fill me in.

My concern is that Pitt doesn't stretch us in to the East Coast market the way Syracuse would. Syracuse brings excellent academics, the only "major" college in a huge market, restores a storied rivalry with Penn State and provides the conference with a school with strong programs in both high revenue mens sports, the cash cow for the whole conference.

As for Rutgers, do you want Vito Soprano for commish of the Big 10? I thought not.