Big Ten Expansion: 11+1=13 and it looks Orange
This analysis of the Big Ten expansion possibilities and the 3 follow-ups are a fascinating look at the academic, economic, and political forces at play in this decision. Thoughts?
over 2 years ago
SlingStone
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Nice Article...
As respects ’Cuse, there is zero chance that they would move from the Big East. As my sister, who is a ’Cuse Alum, said: “Yeah, I would much rather see them (Basketball Team) play Northwestern, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin than Georgetown, Villanova, UConn, and Pitt.” The ’Cuse alumni would be furious.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 7:47 AM EST reply actions
While the Big East is the better basketball conference
that comparison is weak.
She should at least say, “Yeah, I would much rather see the basketball team play Michigan State, Purdue, Ohio State, Indiana (usual Indiana, not current Indiana)” than Georgetown, Villanova, UConn, and Pitt"
Or “Yeah, I would much rather see the basketball team play Northwestern, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin than Seton Hall, DePaul, Rutgers, and West Virginia”
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 28, 2010 2:57 PM EST up reply actions
I think the sentiment...
my sister was trying to convery was not the class of teams, but trading traditional rivals such as Georgetown, Villanova, UConn and Pitt for any Big 10 teams, regardless of if they are good or not. Seton Hall is a traditional rival.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 3:00 PM EST up reply actions
well, you are always going to have people who long for the rivals of old
even with Penn State there are people longing for the days when we played Cuse, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers, etc., but we’re still better off in the Big 10 than if we were in the Big East.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 28, 2010 3:03 PM EST up reply actions
Oh I agree,
but the ‘Cuse faithful would not be happy. There are many ’Cuse alum in NYC, Philly, and DC who enjoy being able to see their team play St. John’s, G’Town, and ’Nova in person. Not as many ’Cuse alumni in Madison, Lansing, and Columbus.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 3:07 PM EST up reply actions
I read this a while back, and fully agree.
Texas would then bring us TAMU, and we could get another school pretty easy with that potential (probable) tv deal.
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
The first time I heard Texas to the Big Ten...
I laughed. It seems odd. But they [Texas] actually inquired in the mid-ninties and were told no. For what reason I can’t possibly imagine. Personally, I’d rather Texas than Notre Dame.
With respect to aTm, when Texas was flirting with the Big Ten previously, they were working on the SEC. I doubt that both schools would be added.
The football scheduling for them could be an issue though, with 12 games they’d play 8 Big Ten games, plus, I’d assume, they would continue to play Oklahoma and A&M. That means they’d only have two other games to schedule every year (Penn State has four), and they’d have to be home games every year just to get them to six home games some years (keep in mind, OU is a neutral site game) They would never have eight home games. I wonder if that winds up being a deal breaker.
Just keep swimin'...
Let's just say...
for the sake of argument, Texas joins the Big 10. What happens to the Big 12? Do they add a team or does the conference implode?
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 1:14 PM EST up reply actions
They'd likely raid the MWC
"In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
I think it depends.
Does Texas A&M leave (they might want to come with Texas, but those folks are way strange. I’d vote no on them)? If so, do the SEC and Big 12 trade Arkansas for Texas A&M (I doubt it)? Does the Pac 10 want Colorado (I doubt it too)?
The league still would have OU and Nebraska, and that’s not chi-chi beans. There would be a civil war in Texas over trying to get that 12th spot, plus you’d have to think that Utah, or possibly even a team like Colorado State would also want in.
So my guess is no.
Just keep swimin'...
I would think...
they would want another team or two from “down that way” to bring in with Texas to limit the amount of travel everyone would have to do. What if the Big 10 went to 14 teams and added Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska? I’m just spit balling here. I doubt it would happen that way and I don’t know if Oklahoma and/or Nebraska meet the Big 10 academic requirements.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
Nebraska does, barely.
Oklahoma does not (Tier 1, USN Rank 102, ie, worst in the Big Ten by 30 places). The original article makes an interesting point about how Nebraska adds a marque football team, but very little in terms of additional subscibers to the Big Ten network. Of course, adding all three schools would actually mean that the “footprint” would remain contiguous. And it would mean the Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan would all stay on one side of a draw.
East: PSU, OSU, Mich., MSU, NW, Purdue, Indiana
West: Texas, OU, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois
I mean, ouch. And wow. That would be some pretty serious football.
Just keep swimin'...
Yes....
it would be a heck of a football conferece. 6 of probably the 10 best programs historically. A heck of basketball conference too.
You could always swap out Oklahoma for Missouri. Not quite the same bang, but a nice one.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah,
but if Nebraska and Texas we’re on board. I don’t see any reason to take Missouri instead. Something tells me that OU would mysteriously find itself in the AAU pretty quickly upon joining the Big Ten. I also bet that their (OU’s and Nebraska’s) USN rankings would go up by 10-20 spots as well.
Just keep swimin'...
I wouldn't want Missouri...
just a “fall back” school if Oklahoma wasn’t “good” enough. Yes, rankings would magically increase.
Would they keep the Big Ten name?
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 2:58 PM EST up reply actions
well if we're already raiding the Big 12
can we steal their name out of spite? Sure we’d have 14 teams, but I’m sure that graphic designers can find a way to fit a 1 and a 4 into the logo somewhere.
by The JuggerNitt on Jan 28, 2010 3:01 PM EST up reply actions
The Great 14?
I’m sure some glitzy PR firm can come up with a better name.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 28, 2010 3:04 PM EST up reply actions
so we know what we're talking about:
Oklahoma is ranked 102
Mizzou is ranked 103
Nebraska is ranked 96
Texas is tied with PSU at 47
A&M is ranked 61
Syracuse is ranked 58
Rutgers is ranked 66
USN Rank is not a determining factor...
AAU membership is. The USN rankings are for comparison purposes.
Just keep swimin'...
you're right
but of those I listed, Oklahoma is the only non-member, even though they’re in the same range as Mizzou.
Well, AAU or not...
Did you go to the A&M game when they were at Pitt a few years back? Those people are strange. I could live without playing them on a regular basis.
Just keep swimin'...
I have relatives...
from Texas and many went to U of T. The A&M folks certainly are a special bunch.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 29, 2010 9:00 AM EST up reply actions
Special?
No, they’re creepy. End of story.
Just keep swimin'...
by jesse. on Jan 29, 2010 9:18 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Special...
wasn’t a flattering comment. They are cultish.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 29, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
I have no ill feeling toward Texas A&M
Hell, I kind of like them. But if you told me that having sex with a sheep was a graduation requirement of that University I would totally believe you.
Just keep swimin'...
by jesse. on Jan 29, 2010 11:55 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
PSU, Texas, Nebraska
That is a damn fine trio for Women’s Volleyball as well.
"In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move."
hadn't thought of that.
That’s a power conference right there. Conference games would mean something again.
Another thing...
Say it’s the Saturday before Labor Day. And the Big Ten decides it’s going to play cross-divisional games the first week of the season…
12:00 – Michigan versus Nebraska
3:30 – Ohio State versus Oklahoma
8:00 – Penn State versus Texas
Seriously, what’s an SEC? How does this not happen?
Just keep swimin'...
Wow....
The possibilities are endless…. PSU-OSU following the Red River Rivalry..
Michigan OSU followed by Nebraska-Oklahoma
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 29, 2010 12:51 PM EST up reply actions
I didn't even think of that.
Nobody would watch any other league. First weekend of the season as above, first week of October (or whenever Texas and OU traditionally play, add on PSU/OSU and Michigan/Michigan State, then the last week of the season you’d have Nebraska/Oklahoma and Ohio State and Michigan.
Also, the travel from Minnesota to Penn State is 974 miles. It’s only 200 miles further from Minneapolis to Austin. So the distances really aren’t that ridiculous, especially since you’d only get a really long trip once a year, maybe not even that often.
Just keep swimin'...
It would be tremendous...
It would almost force the SEC to go after FSU and Miami just to try and keep pace.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 29, 2010 1:16 PM EST up reply actions
I've always found the travel distance argument to be weak
Hawaii in the WAC or South Florida in the Big East?
Their athletic budgets are probably less than half of what Texas spends but they still manage to travel for conference play.
I tend to agree, but...
are Hawaii and South Florida turning the profits the Texas’ and PSU’s of the world are?
I would imagine so much of Hawaii’s athletic budget is allocated to travel. June Jones complained that the football facilities were horrible and South Florida’s basketball program has the smallest budget in the big eat.
Never mistake effort for achievement.
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 29, 2010 1:24 PM EST up reply actions




























