What Are The Rules For Expansion?

by psu in the w-b on Dec 16, 2009 8:44 PM EST Comment 44 comments

I figured I would post this question as a FanPost. If this has been answered then my apologies.

It appears there are disjoints as to what if any requirements there are to joining the Big Ten. It was my understanding that the rules were simple.

1) AAU membership

2) Bordering an existing Big Ten school

This may not be true according to Mr. Rittenberg's post yesterday on ESPN.

Do we know that there are actual requirements for an invitation other then being recommended by the committee and voted on by the league? If these are the only requirements then there are many more candidates eligible.

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$$$

I think it will be a situation where they worry about the financial end of things first, then work backward from there with regards to justifying the decision with academics, geography, etc.

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Dec 16, 2009 9:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

WHAT FUN! WATCH THEM SQUIRM

As I understand the situation either Syracuse, Pitt, or Rutgers stands to gain $15 TO $20 million per year in their athletic budgets if they can manage to be granted membership in the Big Ten.

THEY WILL BE SQUIRMING, BEGGING, DENYING, AND POINTING FINGERS FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.

IT WILL BE FUN TO WATCH!

Elizabeth, the only person on earth working at the same job longer than JoePa.

by joefromboalsburg on Dec 16, 2009 9:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know that there are formal rules

But that does not preclude unspoken norms. The Committee on Institutional Cooperation is going to going to have a big say here. This is where the AAU aspect comes into play. The CIC is going to want AAU membership or, at the very least, attributes similar to those of an AAU institution. This is where Cincy and WVU fall far short of the mark. Keep in mind that the Big Ten isn’t like the SEC or ACC (thank God). The research and academic stuff does matter. If the conference ADs were able to maximize revenues without respect to the greater mission of the university (SEC style), then expansion would have happened long ago. CIC influence is also why the seemingly archaic rules persist that end the conference schedule so early and prohibit November night games.

"Never mistake motion for action." - Ernest Hemingway

by SubLime on Dec 16, 2009 10:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think there are any formal rules beyond “garnering enough votes” by whatever decision making body is in charge (I think the university presidents, but I’m not certain).

I think the idea that the conference would have some specific requirements for expansion in their charter is silly. Isn’t the entire point of voting to invite a team so you can ensure they are appropriate?

by Laaaaazzz on Dec 16, 2009 10:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

True

But you need criteria

"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. "
George S Patton

by psu in the w-b on Dec 16, 2009 10:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure

I’m sure the Big Ten does have criteria (stuff like “how much more money will this school make for the conference” and “are their academics good enough”). I just don’t think they are explicitly written down anywhere in some sort of binding charter. And it would be odd if they were.

by Laaaaazzz on Dec 16, 2009 11:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The criteria

is superior academics, huge fan following, bringing in excess of 20 million dollars of money to the table.

The discussion, is how far are we willing to bend on the criteria.

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 9:07 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I mean, if it really comes down to it

and that these are rules that are written down somewhere, couldn’t they just vote to change the rules if they really wanted? I can’t imagine they’d make an immutable, binding document. Heck, even the Constitution of the United States gets changed.

by The JuggerNitt on Dec 17, 2009 9:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

They're not "rules" so much as "reasonable guidelines".

After all, Rittenberg’s five choices are all AAU members (making them similar universities) and from neighboring states (making non-revenue sports travel reasonable).

by Aaron PSU on Dec 17, 2009 10:18 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Also, when trying to make a prediction

Usually, you try to base it in reality. I mean, there is no rule that the NFL can’t put an expansion franchise in Bozeman Montana, but like, they’re not gonna.

Similalry, the Big Ten can take whomever they want, but what they want is either Notre Dame, or in the alternative, a school that has a state’s name pretty promenently in the title.

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so Rutgers and Syracuse are out?

by The JuggerNitt on Dec 17, 2009 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It's called

Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey.

Close enough.

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"prominently in the title"

I know you lawyers are all about the fine print and all, but I wouldn’t call it “prominent”

by The JuggerNitt on Dec 17, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I said, Close. Enough.

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

tsuonjRutgers?

and I thought aOSU was irritating

It never gets to be easy

by chitownhawkeye on Dec 17, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aye

But University of Montana at Bozeman is now in.

"For me the game wasn’t grounded in reality. It was about the uniform you put on that turned you into a warrior. It was about the mythology of the battle, the victory, the defeat, the struggle." - Mike Reid, PSU '69

by jtothep on Dec 17, 2009 12:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I heard they might bring in the Helena market

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dude, that's the tip of the iceberg

Just wait until they get table in Sweet Grass and Have. HUGE.

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

table? WTF

Cable

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Havre

I screwed that up.

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for fessing up...

I thought I was on the outside of another inside joke.

One man doing the work of 100's for the good of 1000's

by rahpsu92 on Dec 17, 2009 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

is that pronounced "Harve"?

by The JuggerNitt on Dec 17, 2009 2:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Do Buffalos watch Big Ten football?

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure

I know the Blackfeet and Crow love Big Ten football.

We would also get the coveted “Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad” demographic.

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait a minute

Isn’t the U of Montana in Missoula (MSU is in Bozeman)?

This is important. A Missoula team could certainly bring the Lolo National Forest market.

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That IS important!

Could bring in additional fans from the Blackfoot River Basin:

by jtothep on Dec 17, 2009 12:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by jtothep on Dec 17, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh shit it's Viper!

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gentlemen, you are the top 1% of all naval aviators — the elite, the BEST of the best. We’ll make you better. Fly at least two combat missions a day, attend classes in between, and evaluations of your performance. Now in each combat sequence you’re going to meet a different challenge. Every encounter is going to be much more difficult. We’re going to teach you to fly the F-14 right to the edge of the envelop, faster than you’ve ever flown before — and more dangerous. Now, we don’t make policy here, gentlemen. Elected officials, civilians, do that. We are the instruments of that policy. And although we’re not at war, we must always act as though we are at war.

by jtothep on Dec 17, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well if Montana joined

The league would finally have a UofM that was worth a damn.

I say let's rock the Orange Bowl, because nobody will remember in five years anyway.

by jesse. on Dec 17, 2009 12:29 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

COTY!

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Could build a beauty of a stadium at the top of this hill

by jtothep on Dec 17, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The athletic teams are nicknamed the Griz or Lady Griz (when referring to women’s teams)

by jtothep on Dec 17, 2009 12:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Lady Griz"? That is ridiculous

Mother Grizzlies are the most badass animals on the planet. That would be a perfect nickname.

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know

Not so flattering for the ladies. Unless it’s 1969 again.

And while not specifically a badass (few mascots, ours excepted, actually are), Monte looks like he could easily best Pete, Brutus, Goldy, Bucky, Willie, Zooker and Herky. Sparty might give him a fight. Plus, he’s a Patriot!

by jtothep on Dec 17, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Monte is without question, the best mascot in sports

A bear who wears a leather jacket and a bandana, and rides a motorcycle.

Incredible.

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

didn't he beat the Lion in the first Cap One mascot contest?

by The JuggerNitt on Dec 17, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think so

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 2:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

illegitimately

at least, that’s the rumor, correct?

We decide when you hear the snap count...

by thedrizzle on Dec 18, 2009 9:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fun fact:

Monte was in the 503rd at Dak To in ’67.

"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09

by ReadingRambler on Dec 17, 2009 12:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

but then

the students would all complain about having to walk uphill to a football game. It’s early, you know, and sometimes cold.

I know about your diabolical plan.

by Kevin HD on Dec 17, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

yeah, but that hill can't be THAT big

I mean it has an “M” on it, and I’d say the average size for all M’s in use in the world is around 2 millimeters, so chances are that hill is no more than 1 meter high.

by The JuggerNitt on Dec 17, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs