kit444
Elsewhere
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The Big Ten is currently studying the idea of expanding:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4745381
What does everyone here think of the idea? And if you support it, which school would you prefer to see join? Personally, I'd like to see Notre Dame but I know it will never happen.
Core_Models
Columbus
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Cincinnati?
maveric1
5xNW
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I'm for the expansion. Excluding ND, I believe Pitt, Rutgers or Missouri would make the most sense. These school are big public, land grant schools which most B10 teams are and they would also meet the academic requirements. I breakdown the 3 schools below:
1. Pitt
Pros: In the Big Ten region for travel; existing rivalry w/ B10 team; good academics
Cons: Does not add to media market shares
2. Rutgers
Pros: Add New York / New Jersey region for media share; football program has been on a rise
Cons: Doesn't add a good football/basketball program
3. Mizzou
See Pitt
I personally would like to see RU since I'm from Jersey and it would be sweet to see the Bucks play in Jersey and visit home at same time.
maveric1
5xNW
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Core_Models wrote >>
Cincinnati?
Doesn't add anything academically. You have to remember that its the presidents of the universities that will be making the decision. Currently, all member of the Big Ten is a member of Association of American Colleges and Universities (invitation only membership) which share research information and other resources among each member.
Brant
Gahanna
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I oppose Rutgers and Syracuse on principle. The Big 10 is a Midwest conference, and those are east coast schools. It's bad enough we have to put up with Penn St.
Of course the Big 10 wants ND, but it's not going to get them. I see Missouri or Pitt joining the conference, maybe Iowa State or WVU as last resorts.
Aaron Marshall
South Side Wrecking Crew
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I'd like to see WVU or Mizzou. Good balance of football and hoops at each...
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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I'm more concerned about how they would split the conference so that you maintain the existing rivalries, but still have competitive, exciting divisions within the conference.
And, as maverick pointed out above, theseare your choices so it's pointless to only think what would be good for sports. The Big 10 has a lot more going for it than that which I think is pretty cool.
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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What about Chicago? they used to be in it.
Or drop Northwestern.
We should pull in a school from a place with a much costlier standard of living like San Fran, Miami, Boston or NYC. That way when the visiting teams fans come to Columbus, pedicab rides will be more profitable since I noticed people from those places over pay and tip for Columbus standards. The same would go for waiters and bartenders and hospitality workers.
dru
IV
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one correction - it is the Association of American Universities (AAU), not the AAC&U that matters. AAU is comprised of 62 of the leading research universities in the US and Canada. The Big 10 is the only conference that has all of its schools in this group - so next time some SEC or PAC-10 fan makes a snide comment about dumb Big 10 players you can bring this up. Of the teams floated thus far, Mizzou, Pitt, and Rutgers are on the list.
AAU membership
The only geographically obvious choice that is also on the list is Iowa State. I think the Big 10 could get over this for Notre Dame, but adding WVU or UC wouldn't be comparable.
As for Mizzou, what would compel them to leave the Big 12? Their recruiting base is Big 12 land (with possible exception of IL) and they can annually compete for Big 12 North, which puts them in the championship game for the automatic bowl slot. I think a Big East team would be much easier to poach.
kit444
Elsewhere
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cyclist II wrote >>
What about Chicago? they used to be in it.
I think Chicago is still in for academic purposes, but they don't have an athletic department anymore.
I think Rutgers may be the most likely choice because it adds the NY market to the Big Ten Network's reach.
As for rivalries, OSU and Michigan would probably be in the same division. We'd just have to accept that it won't be the final game on the schedule and will never be the de facto championship game again.
somertimeoh
Harrison West
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I'm guessing they'd want to maintain ALL of the conference rivalries, not just ours. Every school has 2, I think.
Pablo
Crestview Addition
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Chicago is a Div III school in the UAA: http://www.uaa.rochester.edu/
claw71
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The Big 10 needs to expand. Doing so would accomplish two things: 1. It would extend the season and keep the conference in the news. 2. It would do away with those infernal shared titles.
To expand the Big 10 has to let go of its sillier traditions (Illibuck), although putting traditional rivals in different conferences doesn't mean that they can't play a game with them outside of their division. There are rivalries that transcend conference affiliation all around the country. So If Ohio State and Michigan end up in different divisions they could still end the season with The Game.
Yes, there would be a conference championship game after that, but does that really minimize The Game in its current incarnation? I don't think so. We're inching along toward a bona fide national championship game. Be it a 'plus one' or a playoff system in years to come. The objective for most major programs will be that game. It's already BCS or bust at most schools.
So who should get the invite? Well, it's going to come down to money. It always does.
Cincy is out. Ohio State owns that market and adding Cincy does nothing as far as bringing more fans into the Big 10 mix. Ohio State would also set the state on fire if the Big 10 dared court an Ohio program. Forget Cincy.
West Virginia is out as well. That's not a big enough market. West Virginia couldn't even sell its ticket BCS ticket quota when they get in. No dice. That's also the case with Rutgers. NYC is not a college football town. Rutgers could win 10 BCS titles in a row and people in that market wouldn't even blink.
Pitt isn't getting in either. They are to Penn State what Cincy is to Ohio State. Pittsburgh is a Penn State town, they get on the Panther bandwagon from time to time but they don't have a real fan base. Penn State would also oppose an in-state rival getting a seat at the table.
Notre Dame is a good fit, if they're willing to come to the party, but they have a cushy TV deal that will be renewed if Brian Kelly restores them to glory. I think ND is going to stand pat for a while. That might be to their detriment. The next time the BCS negotiates a deal it's unlikely Notre Dame is going to get as many guarantees. The Irish don't have enough clout to get automatic BCS bids when the current deal expires.
That leaves Missouri as a viable option. They bring a respectable program that doesn't have the stink of NCAA sanctions on it.They alos have a pretty strong market (St. Louis) and a supportive fan base that buys tickets. Also, their basketball team isn't too shabby. So it's a good deal. Missouri is currently stuck in the stepchild division of the Big 12. Joining the Big 10 would be a promotion.
Missouri also won't step on toes when it comes to recruiting. Which means that resistance from current Big 10 members would be minimal.
Columbuzz
Grandview
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I feel like we've had this talk before...
Can't honestly say I differ in my opinion now than what I stated then:
Columbuzz wrote >>
Analogue Kid wrote >>
Core_Models wrote >>
Cincinnati is actually playing up to the Big Ten level in recent years, IMO.Indeed, if they want to jump off the Big East ship and come to the Big 10, I think they'd do alright.
I thought about them, too. Dantonio really turned that program around during his hiatus from Big Ten action. Joining the Big Ten extends into other sports as well, and obviously the Bearcats can play some bball. I guess if Northwestern can coexist with the Bears, Cincy can coexist with the Bengals.
If it was 2005 or 2006, I would have said "add Rutgers," but they really aren't that good aside from those two years. And what about their success in other sports? The only thing appealing about adding them would be the history. You've got the pageantry of OSU and Michigan and then adding Rutgers - the birthplace of college football. That's an awful lot of history right there...
Out of the list under consideration, and taking into account the fact that the 12th team would need to be at least a little bit of a draw, make some dough for the Big Ten, and be competitive in not only football, but basketball, I would have to pick Syracuse or Pitt.
Although Nebraska and WV know how to fill some seats, too...
claw71
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Columbuzz wrote >>
I feel like we've had this talk before...
Can't honestly say I differ in my opinion now than what I stated then:Columbuzz wrote >>
Analogue Kid wrote >>
Core_Models wrote >>
Cincinnati is actually playing up to the Big Ten level in recent years, IMO.Indeed, if they want to jump off the Big East ship and come to the Big 10, I think they'd do alright.
I thought about them, too. Dantonio really turned that program around during his hiatus from Big Ten action. Joining the Big Ten extends into other sports as well, and obviously the Bearcats can play some bball. I guess if Northwestern can coexist with the Bears, Cincy can coexist with the Bengals.
If it was 2005 or 2006, I would have said "add Rutgers," but they really aren't that good aside from those two years. And what about their success in other sports? The only thing appealing about adding them would be the history. You've got the pageantry of OSU and Michigan and then adding Rutgers - the birthplace of college football. That's an awful lot of history right there...
Out of the list under consideration, and taking into account the fact that the 12th team would need to be at least a little bit of a draw, make some dough for the Big Ten, and be competitive in not only football, but basketball, I would have to pick Syracuse or Pitt.
Although Nebraska and WV know how to fill some seats, too...
I can't see Nebraska ever leaving the Big 12. They're a confernce cornerstone. That would be like Wisconsin leaving the Big 10. It won't happen.
Syracuse is a basketball school and would not consider that change from a hoops perspective. West Virginia and Pitt would both love to be in the Big 10 but I don't think they put enough butts in the seats to satisfy the Big 10.
maveric1
5xNW
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dru wrote >>
one correction - it is the Association of American Universities (AAU), not the AAC&U that matters. AAU is comprised of 62 of the leading research universities in the US and Canada. The Big 10 is the only conference that has all of its schools in this group - so next time some SEC or PAC-10 fan makes a snide comment about dumb Big 10 players you can bring this up. Of the teams floated thus far, Mizzou, Pitt, and Rutgers are on the list.
AAU membership
The only geographically obvious choice that is also on the list is Iowa State. I think the Big 10 could get over this for Notre Dame, but adding WVU or UC wouldn't be comparable.
As for Mizzou, what would compel them to leave the Big 12? Their recruiting base is Big 12 land (with possible exception of IL) and they can annually compete for Big 12 North, which puts them in the championship game for the automatic bowl slot. I think a Big East team would be much easier to poach.
I stand corrected.
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