Big Ten Expansion

[Nosoj]

Also, this is a good article for anyone concerned about Grand of Rights.

http://sportspolitico.com/2015/02/16/will-grant-of-rights-protect-big12-from-future-raids/

 

[sherrane]

UVA is not going anywhere without Va Tech. State politics forced Va Tech over Syracuse to the ACC in the first raid of the Big East, so they certainly won't let UVA go somewhere else without the Hokies. Also, while UVA has been down in football recently, it's not that long ago that they were pretty strong, plus they have had very strong basketball, baseball and lacrosse recently and in the past.

That does not mean they are permanently joined by the legislature. Consider the historical context. Many "experts" were predicting the Big East was going to fall apart without Miami and the Virginia legislature used whatever leverage they had to protect a state school. This is similar to what the Texas legislature did in the early 90's when the SWC was on the verge of collapse and Texas was going to the SEC and leave Texas A&M behind. Fast forward 20 years and Texas A&M leaves Texas in the Big 12 without interference from the state government. UVA leaving the ACC will not be considered a death blow unless they are joined by Florida State, Clemson, and North Carolina. UVA and say, Georgia Tech moving from the ACC to the B1G would not create any panic on Tobacco Road.

 

[kjb32812]

Cincy for geographical and athletic purposes. I don't know a thing about their academics. And I thought Iowas St to give Iowa a true rivalry within B1G and to add a team to West to match Cincy in East.

Not trying to be a jerk, but Cincy adds nothing. It would be similar to B1G settling for PITT except Cincy's academics aren't nearly as good.

 

[Virginiarufan]

On the other hand if both UVA and Tech left for the B1G the ACC would be pushing the panic button. Virginia has a population of about 9 million, most of which are either Tech or UVA fans. Outside of FL, it's one of the best recruiting grounds on the east coast.
Funny, not many ACC members wanted Tech in the conference including UVA and their fans. UVA held the deciding vote and Pres. Casteen and their Board were against Tech but were advised by the Governor to vote affirmative. The rest is history with Tech winning the ACC 4 times in the last 11 years plus a few division championships.

If those 2 said yes to the B1G they'd be holding a press conference this afternoon.

 

[MADHAT1]

How long do you think it will take for the Cornhuskers to become a PAC member if Texas became a B1G member.:eek:

 

[MADHAT1]

Notre Dame is NOT joining any conference....but if they are forced to, and they feel the Big Ten is where they want to be, they will break that contract with the ACC as fast as Colorado, Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Missouri broke their deal with the Big 12 and left for another.

I've heard for years how Notre Dame will be forced to join a conference and it never happened.
I think ND will remain a football independent as long as it can find a spot for its other sports and it always will be able to find a conference willing to accept them.

Doesn't Notre Dame have an equal voice on Football issues and their vote on football issues counts the same as the P-5 conferences' votes do.
Notre Dame isn't going to wan that to end that type of power and just be part of the crowd that votes on the direction the conference , they belong to, will take.

As for TV money, have heard it will dry up and ND will need to join a conference.
Hasn't happened yet and wouldn't be surprised , if push cam to shove, to hear how ND set up a PPV network to earn the revenue they lost if for some reason couldn't get a network or cable TV contract

 

[krup]

I've heard for years how Notre Dame will be forced to join a conference and it never happened.
I think ND will remain a football independent as long as it can find a spot for its other sports and it always will be able to find a conference willing to accept them.

Doesn't Notre Dame have an equal voice on Football issues and their vote on football issues counts the same as the P-5 conferences' votes do.
Notre Dame isn't going to wan that to end that type of power and just be part of the crowd that votes on the direction the conference , they belong to, will take.

As for TV money, have heard it will dry up and ND will need to join a conference.
Hasn't happened yet and wouldn't be surprised , if push cam to shove, to hear how ND set up a PPV network to earn the revenue they lost if for some reason couldn't get a network or cable TV contract

I don't understand all the people thinking that the conferences will take steps to force ND into a conference when they just had the perfect opportunity to do so and didn't. They could have done it when they decided on the initial structure of the playoff just 2 years ago.

Sure, a lot of conferences would take ND. But on the other hand, they don't want to force ND's hand and have them join another conference and make them more powerful. ND's independence works for everybody, now that the ACC bent over and gave ND the bowl access and scheduling certainty they needed.

 

[chrisru99]

We are in this conference because of Tv sets and proximity to NYC. If the Big Ten wanted a school based on athletic achievement or championship teams it would Uconn in the BIG. Thank god we have close to 10 million people in NJ and are a short train wide away from the capital of the world. That we are superior attitude of some of us sounds like fans from western NY hating on us. Go RU

 

[rutger80]

No to ND, because they would surely come with some conditions for membership.
No to UCONN. Let them stay in the AAC and wither.
UVA, maybe, although as other posters said, surely, they'd be a package deal with VT.
Similar issues with Oklahoma and Kansas, I'd think.
Texas has too big of an ego issue.
So, who does that leave. Georgia Tech would continue to build the Eastern footprint, even though they are second fiddle to UGA.
I think the only was FSU goes, is if the ACC collapses. Right now they have a pretty open path to the playoff every year.
All that said, I'd rather not see any further expansion.

 

[jlariv9]

If we COULD get anyone we wanted:

Absolutely:
ND
UVA

Consider:
Mizzou
BC

Maybe:
Pitt (though no market gain, I would still like to see them in conf)

No:
Everyone else...esp no rebel states!

 

[AntiG]

The B1G wants schools that are academically prestigous/AAU, "franchise" football programs, and/or located in big-time DMAs that they don't already cover.

Of the schools not in the SEC or PAC:

UConn is most likely never going to be considered because we already cover the NYC DMA and UConn doesn't fully cover the Boston DMA. They are weak location-wise, strong academically (but not AAU), and terrible in football (their basketball only makes up for it a little bit).

Texas is that ultimate prize for the B1G - they cover every preference that the conference has. Notre Dame is that elusive whale that the conference has been trying for for decades.

Oklahoma, Florida State, and stretching it out a bit, West Virginia and Virginia Tech - all would get consideration as "franchise" football programs.

Rice, Duke, Virginia, UNC, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Buffalo, Pitt and Tulane are the AAU schools other than Texas that are not already in the B1G, SEC or PAC.

Duke, Virginia, UNC and Georgia Tech already were standing invitations a few years back when the B1G was trying to dismantle the ACC - all of them cover DMAs that the conference wants.

Rice, like Duke, brings elite academics, tons of political and scientific connections, and occupy a prime target DMA that the conference wants (Texas/Houston) and additionally has a long history of great all-around athletics, including elite football (which has gotten their groove back), baseball and women's basketball. They'd be an ideal fit alongside Texas if the B1G could ever get UT onboard.

Duke is an ideal target too, with their elite academics that would top the conference and their storied basketball (men and women), lacrosse, all-around sports program and a football program that has rapidly improved.

 

[Queztastic]

The B1G wants schools that are academically prestigous/AAU, "franchise" football programs, and/or located in big-time DMAs that they don't already cover.

Of the schools not in the SEC or PAC:

UConn is most likely never going to be considered because we already cover the NYC DMA and UConn doesn't fully cover the Boston DMA. They are weak location-wise, strong academically (but not AAU), and terrible in football (their basketball only makes up for it a little bit).

Texas is that ultimate prize for the B1G - they cover every preference that the conference has. Notre Dame is that elusive whale that the conference has been trying for for decades.

Oklahoma, Florida State, and stretching it out a bit, West Virginia and Virginia Tech - all would get consideration as "franchise" football programs.

Rice, Duke, Virginia, UNC, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Buffalo, Pitt and Tulane are the AAU schools other than Texas that are not already in the B1G, SEC or PAC.

Duke, Virginia, UNC and Georgia Tech already were standing invitations a few years back when the B1G was trying to dismantle the ACC - all of them cover DMAs that the conference wants.

Rice, like Duke, brings elite academics, tons of political and scientific connections, and occupy a prime target DMA that the conference wants (Texas/Houston) and additionally has a long history of great all-around athletics, including elite football (which has gotten their groove back), baseball and women's basketball. They'd be an ideal fit alongside Texas if the B1G could ever get UT onboard.

Duke is an ideal target too, with their elite academics that would top the conference and their storied basketball (men and women), lacrosse, all-around sports program and a football program that has rapidly improved.

Duke, although unlikely, is interesting. As a private school that is not the primary school in its state, it doesn't fit the mold that the B1G is looking for. However, its basketball brand is national and its academics are great. I don't think the B1G takes Duke by itself, but it would be interesting if there was a UNC / Duke package in play.

 

[NickyNewark51]

Uconn...so wrong for many reasons

VIRGINIA and TEXAS

Va,Okie,UConn, Kansas or VT. Texas would be great but a ND style headache.

 

[NickyNewark51]

I do see some of what you are saying, but I disagree with you that they didn't respect us as an equal (in football. In basketball, unfortunately, we are NOT their equal).

Most of their fans not only treated us as their equal, but also said it was the game they wanted to win more than any other game on their schedule.

That right there is a sign of respect. I loved to hate them. It made it fun. It was way more fun playing them than playing USF, or Temple or SMU. The only team I enjoyed beating more, was Sewercuse.

we think alike.

 

[NickyNewark51]

ND is contractually obliged to join the ACC until 2025 if they do join a conference. So you wish all you want but ND will not be in the B1G until then, they are all ACC.

fifty mill buyout is chump change for ND.

 

[rubigtimenow]

First, let me say I didn't want to go to 14, let alone 16. No offense to anyone here, I just liked it at 12 and I don't like that we're playing Iowa and Wisconsin and Nebraska less because there's more teams in the conference. The best thing about going to 14 was getting a do over on the "Legends and Leaders" debacle. Man, that was terrible. I don't even know which one Ohio State was in.

The B1G will be, and can afford to be, picky when looking for expansion candidates. No, Cincy, Iowa State, UCF, Syracuse, Pitt, Louisville, WVU and NC State are not getting an invite. VT and UConn are probably not realistically candidates either. Kansas could be if they have a good partner, like Oklahoma. They'd both have "State" problems with making a move like that though.

Personally, I want nothing to do with Texas and Notre Dame, even though I think they'd both get in if they were interested. They'd both want special treatment though, which they wouldn't get in the B1G, so screw 'em.

There's really only maximum 8 programs that could potentially get an invite:

Texas*
Kansas
Notre Dame*
UVa
UNC
Georgia Tech
Florida State**

That's it. Missouri MAYBE, but now they're in the SEC I doubt it. The conference won't be going further Northeast because it's a college football deadzone, and they won't/can't be going too far West. If it happens, I'd put money that some combo of UNC, UVa and GT is what you'll see.

*Could probably bring someone along not on the list, just because of the value they'd bring.
**Only included because there are some sources that say they seriously approached the B1G in the past about exploring membership. Probably only as a move to 18 with UVa, UNC and GT.

GREAT POST! Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

 

[BoogieKnight]

My choices would be Duke and Vanderbilt. Expands the footprint into southeastern markets and Duke adds to basketball prowess. You guys are sleeping on Vanderbilt. B1G gets to plant their flag in SEC country and Vanderbilt gets a legitimate chance to be competitive every year. In a division with academic peers like Northwestern, Illinois and Wisconsin who are actual universities and not just minor league football teams, Vanderbilt could thrive. Also, raiding the all mighty SEC would be a feather in the B1G's cap.

And ND if forced to join a conference would gladly join the ACC. They'd get to be a giant among midgets and recruit the fertile southeast even better than they do now as a "national" program. They'd assuredly arrange it so they join the division that DOES NOT have FSU and Clemson and would be in the ACC champ game virtually every year.

 

[bac2therac]

That's exactly what everyone in the midwest said when we were brought in, that we we were brought in to be a bottom feeder team that brings noting to the table. Obviously that is not true, and I don't believe it's true for UCONN.

They bring in strong academics, they fit the bill as a state flagship university that fully OWNS the #30 television market (Hartford/New Haven) and like us with NYC DMA, makes a dent into the Boston market. The most populous county in CT is also in the NYC DMA, and with their basketball success, they he also received interest from the NYC market, not for football, but for basketball, something the BTN and the league would surely welcome.

What they also bring is another chance for other teams to come to the Northeast, so for Big Ten alumni in the Boston, or NYC are, it's another chance in addition to the trip for our game, to watch their team play.

Selfishly, what they do for us is provide a legit rival. Our schools are very similar, in many ways (both state flagship, both land grant, both strong academically) and as much as we like to consider PSU our rival, they do not feel the same way. Maybe in 10 or 20 years that changes, but it ain't happening anytime soon with those jackasses.

It's a close road trip in a league where we only have two other close road trips....so that makes the football watching experience all the better.

They also strengthen the league on the backs of their very successful basketball programs and olympic sports.

Plus, it's fun to hate them. Nothing worse than playing against teams that you just don't care about, and with UCONN, it was always one of the two games (Syracuse being the other) that I absolutely HATED to lose.

That is what a rivalry is all about, and why we mocked Cuse for saying they didn't consider us a rival, yet they were absolutely obsessed with talking about us on their fan boards....and wanted to beat us more than any team on their schedule.

I'm not afraid of UCONN, and I think anyone that is afraid of them because they might be successful and how it might impact us are a bunch of p&ssies.

I know many disagree with me, maybe even most......but it's not like the reasons I listed are not valid.

They definitely do make sense in many ways.

All that being said, I love the idea of bringing in Oklahoma and Kansas, and shifting Purdue to the Big Ten East Division. That would be an amazing outcome for the league.

they bring zero to the table in football and that's what its about. Their basketball could not even get them a ACC invite. Can you give me one thing that they bring in football that is relevant to expansion.

 

[jason21psu]

What are the qualities/traits of potential expansion candidates? My take is the expansion candidate needs to meet 2 basic requirements. 1. They need to be an academic fit and 2. they need to do something positive for football/BTN whether that's a "blue blood" program, or major TV market, or additional recruiting area. So my idea would to take all these requirements, develop some parameters that fit the requirements (e.g. AAU for academic fit), put that all in a spreadsheet/database and then plug in potential universities to see if they make sense. Anyone want to help?

 

[vascosg]

It is sooooo nice to be in the B1G right now and reading this thread.

 

[NittPicker]

On College Sports Nation a couple days ago it was suggested that expanding with schools that aren't football powerhouses might be desirable, as long as they brought something else to the table. The theory was with the move to 9 conference games having an in conference "cupcake" built in to the schedule would be ok.

Thinking along that line, one of my personal favorites for Big Ten expansion is Cornell. Of course it will NEVER happen since the Cornellians would never give up the prestige of their Ivy League association. That aside, Cornell has almost everything to make the Big Ten drool. Outstanding academics and research. National and international prestige as an institution. Large endowment, financially speaking. Located in a populous state. Enrollment of 20,000+. Broad based athletics program which already includes wrestling and ice hockey, however football would take a beating for a few years until they built it up. Sadly, the reality is there is no reason for Cornell to join the Big Ten unless for some reason they wanted to go all in with their football program in which case the Big Ten would be perfect. The Ivy League seems to be working just fine for them. Still, a switch is a fun scenario to ponder.

 

[Arizona Knight]

My first choice is to do absolutely nothing.

My grand slam would be Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas and either VaTech or UVA in the East.

Slide Purdue and maybe Northwestern over to the East.

In case White Bus is reading, I know the LHN would be a huge hurdle to clear. :)

 

[Nosoj]

What are the qualities/traits of potential expansion candidates? My take is the expansion candidate needs to meet 2 basic requirements. 1. They need to be an academic fit and 2. they need to do something positive for football/BTN whether that's a "blue blood" program, or major TV market, or additional recruiting area. So my idea would to take all these requirements, develop some parameters that fit the requirements (e.g. AAU for academic fit), put that all in a spreadsheet/database and then plug in potential universities to see if they make sense. Anyone want to help?

I think it'd be more of a scoring system where you'd have to assign points to schools in different categories. You can't just say "AAU" for academics, Notre Dame would get in without AAU accreditation and Nebraska was invited even though the conference knew they were losing it (in fact, Michigan and Wisconsin voted against them in the AAU). Actually, Nebraska is a good case study, because of the "brand" a lot of the other traditional metrics can be relaxed. You'd see the same thing for other big football names if there were mutual interest.

I think you need to take into account the following if you're trying to rate candidates:

• Academics (AAU preferred, but not required)​
• Athletic Brand (may even need to be broken out into Football/Basketball brands separately, see Kansas)​
• Location/TV Value (combination of geographic location, TV markets, recruiting grounds and fan base)​
• Culture/Fit (for lack of better words, are they a large, public "flagship" in their state? Lots of research? etc.)​
• Interest (would they actually leave their current affiliation and join?)​

You don't need to have a max score in every category, but the higher the overall score the more likely candidate they are.

Penn State hit on every point.

Nebraska hit on brand, location/TV value (but not recruiting ground, and more about their massive fan base adding to tier 1 value than their home market), culture/fit and interest. Academics was shakier, but they're still a Tier 1 university.

Rutgers and Maryland hit in 4 out of 5 categories with the closest thing to a big time athletic brand being Maryland basketball (sorry, no offense to any one here).

 

[G- RUnit]

they bring zero to the table in football and that's what its about. Their basketball could not even get them a ACC invite. Can you give me one thing that they bring in football that is relevant to expansion.

Affluent high end advertising, Going to sell BMWs in Nebraska or Conn? More Eastern time zone, more content for B1G Network, toehold into New England, travel partner, Hoops, State University, Decent Academics, Women Hoops, Pod Talk if 16: RU, PSU, MD. Who would be #4? UConn would be a nice fit.

Texas, if any where, would probably be Pac 12. IF ACC schools stuck, Kansas and UConn makes for a nice East/West fit.

 

[JQRU91]

Rutgers and Maryland hit in 4 out of 5 categories with the closest thing to a big time athletic brand being Maryland basketball (sorry, no offense to any one here).

Anyone here who's offended by that should have their head examined.

 

[Caliknight]

Uconn isn't in the conversation. Their chances of getting into the B1G are similar to Blutarsky's grade point average.

 

[G- RUnit]

Uconn isn't in the conversation. Their chances of getting into the B1G are similar to Blutarsky's grade point average.

If Texas and ND are out of the question, then any and every body is in the conversation.

 

[BuggsyRU]

they bring zero to the table in football and that's what its about. Their basketball could not even get them a ACC invite. Can you give me one thing that they bring in football that is relevant to expansion.

I already gave you two things.

1.) They provide a second home venue for the Big Ten to send their teams to play in the Northeast megalopolis, the most heavily urbanized area of the U.S. (50 million people) and would give the Big Ten bragging rights for being the dominant conference in the NYC DMA when partnered with Rutgers. If the ACC were to take them, you know they would say that along with Syracuse and Notre Dame, with UCONN they are now the most dominant conference in the NYC DMA.

2.) For the Big Ten Network, it would mean 3.5 million people in the state of Connecticut for the BTN at a high per customer monthly subscription fee (because the people of that state would gladly pay for it if it meant being in the Big Ten, and greatly enhance the network's presence in both the NYC market as well as the Boston market.

You don't think Delany knows that and appreciates that?

Their top 10 (maybe even top 5) hoops program, while not enough on its own to justify an invitation on its own, would certainly be a big factor when combined with 1 and 2 above to make them an appealing addition to the league.

Hey, not saying it will happen, in fact I'm fairly sure it won't....but for a lot of reasons, I can see it being a possibility.

If it did, I would love having a team in the Big Ten that is similar to us in many ways, and we already have a nice rivalry with them rather than having to build one with Penn State and Maryland.

I love to hate Penn State, and I expect that rivalry to grow if we can stat beating them, but it won't be anytime soon.

I'm getting sick of defending them, though. This will be the last post I make on UCONN as I'm starting to feel a little dirty.

 

[OTBOTOR]

UConn has a better chance of getting into the CAA. UMass should head back there too.

 

[G- RUnit]

I already gave you two things.

1.) They provide a second home venue for the Big Ten to send their teams to play in the Northeast megalopolis, the most heavily urbanized area of the U.S. (50 million people) and would give the Big Ten bragging rights for being the dominant conference in the NYC DMA when partnered with Rutgers. If the ACC were to take them, you know they would say that along with Syracuse and Notre Dame, with UCONN they are now the most dominant conference in the NYC DMA.

2.) For the Big Ten Network, it would mean 3.5 million people in the state of Connecticut for the BTN at a high per customer monthly subscription fee (because the people of that state would gladly pay for it if it meant being in the Big Ten, and greatly enhance the network's presence in both the NYC market as well as the Boston market.

You don't think Delany knows that and appreciates that?

Their top 10 (maybe even top 5) hoops program, while not enough on its own to justify an invitation on its own, would certainly be a big factor when combined with 1 and 2 above to make them an appealing addition to the league.

Hey, not saying it will happen, in fact I'm fairly sure it won't....but for a lot of reasons, I can see it being a possibility.

If it did, I would love having a team in the Big Ten that is similar to us in many ways, and we already have a nice rivalry with them rather than having to build one with Penn State and Maryland.

I love to hate Penn State, and I expect that rivalry to grow if we can stat beating them, but it won't be anytime soon.

I'm getting sick of defending them, though. This will be the last post I make on UCONN as I'm starting to feel a little dirty.

I feel the same way! In their defense I parked near the church/elementary school across the way for a tailgate and they were perfectly fine. Actually was a neat tailgate experience.

 

[G- RUnit]

Uconn isn't in the conversation. Their chances of getting into the B1G are similar to Blutarsky's grade point average.

LOL! If my memory serves me right Blutarsky became the most successsful of them all! ;-)

 

[J.L. Gotrocks]

Encourage Villanova to bump up their football program to FBS level and bring them in. A visionary league commissioner would see that as the obvious answer. :sunglasses:

 

[jason21psu]

Uconn isn't in the conversation. Their chances of getting into the B1G are similar to Blutarsky's grade point average.

100% agree. UCONN is a non starter. I could see BC, if packaged with ND and those odds seems just slightly above 0.0. But other than that the northeast is football dead zone. With a la carte programming on the horizon I see schools that bring desirable content as well as a passionate fan base to consume said content as having the most upside. Opening recruiting areas to the B1G is another feather in the cap.

 

[jason21psu]

I think it'd be more of a scoring system where you'd have to assign points to schools in different categories...

Agreed, I'd call it weighting each parameter so depending on how the winds blow certain parameters might be weighted more heavily in the future than they are now. It would then be easy to adjust the parameter's weight accordingly.

 

[NickyNewark51]

I feel the same way! In their defense I parked near the church/elementary school across the way for a tailgate and they were perfectly fine. Actually was a neat tailgate experience.

They will be taken by either us or the ACC in the next round to lock down the NE in a shrewd long term move...so IMO that leaves out Swoffy. They don't seem to be doing any cutting in their AD for a dead in the water school?

 

[derleider]

My choices would be Duke and Vanderbilt. Expands the footprint into southeastern markets and Duke adds to basketball prowess. You guys are sleeping on Vanderbilt. B1G gets to plant their flag in SEC country and Vanderbilt gets a legitimate chance to be competitive every year. In a division with academic peers like Northwestern, Illinois and Wisconsin who are actual universities and not just minor league football teams, Vanderbilt could thrive. Also, raiding the all mighty SEC would be a feather in the B1G's cap.

And ND if forced to join a conference would gladly join the ACC. They'd get to be a giant among midgets and recruit the fertile southeast even better than they do now as a "national" program. They'd assuredly arrange it so they join the division that DOES NOT have FSU and Clemson and would be in the ACC champ game virtually every year.

Wow - Duke and Vandy? Two small private schools? One of whom is only successful in a sport that doesnt drive the money decisions and the other isnt really overly successful in either sport? Neither of which is in a big city (and one cant expect them to draw outside of their city - being private schools). Wow. That would be a disastrous move long term. In an a la carte world, Vanderbilt is worse than Indiana.

Why wouldnt you just take UNC and UVa (Virginia is a larger state than Tennessee by about 50%) - both are actual universities as well.

 

[derleider]

I already gave you two things.

1.) They provide a second home venue for the Big Ten to send their teams to play in the Northeast megalopolis, the most heavily urbanized area of the U.S. (50 million people) and would give the Big Ten bragging rights for being the dominant conference in the NYC DMA when partnered with Rutgers. If the ACC were to take them, you know they would say that along with Syracuse and Notre Dame, with UCONN they are now the most dominant conference in the NYC DMA.

2.) For the Big Ten Network, it would mean 3.5 million people in the state of Connecticut for the BTN at a high per customer monthly subscription fee (because the people of that state would gladly pay for it if it meant being in the Big Ten, and greatly enhance the network's presence in both the NYC market as well as the Boston market.

You don't think Delany knows that and appreciates that?

Their top 10 (maybe even top 5) hoops program, while not enough on its own to justify an invitation on its own, would certainly be a big factor when combined with 1 and 2 above to make them an appealing addition to the league.

Hey, not saying it will happen, in fact I'm fairly sure it won't....but for a lot of reasons, I can see it being a possibility.

If it did, I would love having a team in the Big Ten that is similar to us in many ways, and we already have a nice rivalry with them rather than having to build one with Penn State and Maryland.

I love to hate Penn State, and I expect that rivalry to grow if we can stat beating them, but it won't be anytime soon.

I'm getting sick of defending them, though. This will be the last post I make on UCONN as I'm starting to feel a little dirty.

As I said - UCOnns only hope would be if they could convince people that they would be New Englands FB team (BB doesnt matter - not even a little - hence Rutgers is in the Big Ten and Kansas was on the verge of having to join the dying Big east just to have a place to play.) But they can't be NE's FB team because they arent good at FB and really have no shot at ever BEING good at FB. Basically, if you could convince people that UConn would bring hartford, providence, AND Boston into the BTN, THEN you would have a good argument, but that wont happen unless they are a top 25 level team on a regular basis.

Ill ignore that they arnet in the AAU. I suspect that if they could ever get their FB team up to that level, they also would have the institutional power to get to the AAU (after all, Buffalo AND Stony Brook are AAU members).

 

[Scarlet Shack]

I turn my head and I see some of the most crazy stuff on this

1.) UCONN has never been in any real discussion for membership big 10. And now never will. They are desperate for movement at the top table to make an ACC spot.

2.) Boston College is NOT in an real discussion for the big 10. Nor ever will be.

3.) Syracuse and Pitt were casually looked at for big 10 membership...but Pitt brought nothing to the big ten that Penn state did not and Syracuse is a good private school, but just isn't the same type of school. Also concern with both schools to have the ability to have long term instutional commitment to big 10 level athletics

4.) The issue with Virginia state politics with getting Va Tech and not Syracuse into the ACC in 2004 was a question of leaving one of the two big state schools in a non BCS conference. Those dynamics are less likely in play unless the ACC completely implodes.

5.) The NC and Virginia schools will definitely not want to leave the other hanging..Va ad Va Tech and NC State/UNC. This will potentially leave Jim Delany in a bind if the SEC comes and takes two ACC schools that are not named Va Tech and NC State. If it does....then the big 10 taking UVa, and UNC.

6.) I have maintained the SEC is in a really interesting spot here. They can push west and get Texas and Oklahoma or geographically balance two eastern schools. But the two best eastern schools do not bring something to the table they don't already have (FSU and Clemson) and if it is about markets, then Virginia Tech and NC State are possible fits.

7.) Georgia Tech is the one school that really could be left without a chair in all of this. There isn't a spot at the table in the big 10 or SEC unlss they go to 18

 

[REDRICH65]

You can't say UVA brings nothing to the table. Their FB recruiting has been solid; their coach has to go. In BB, BB, Lax, Soccer, Swimming they are top 20 programs. Football will get better when they change coaches

 

[derleider]

I turn my head and I see some of the most crazy stuff on this

1.) UCONN has never been in any real discussion for membership big 10. And now never will. They are desperate for movement at the top table to make an ACC spot.

2.) Boston College is NOT in an real discussion for the big 10. Nor ever will be.

3.) Syracuse and Pitt were casually looked at for big 10 membership...but Pitt brought nothing to the big ten that Penn state did not and Syracuse is a good private school, but just isn't the same type of school. Also concern with both schools to have the ability to have long term instutional commitment to big 10 level athletics

4.) The issue with Virginia state politics with getting Va Tech and not Syracuse into the ACC in 2004 was a question of leaving one of the two big state schools in a non BCS conference. Those dynamics are less likely in play unless the ACC completely implodes.

5.) The NC and Virginia schools will definitely not want to leave the other hanging..Va ad Va Tech and NC State/UNC. This will potentially leave Jim Delany in a bind if the SEC comes and takes two ACC schools that are not named Va Tech and NC State. If it does....then the big 10 taking UVa, and UNC.

6.) I have maintained the SEC is in a really interesting spot here. They can push west and get Texas and Oklahoma or geographically balance two eastern schools. But the two best eastern schools do not bring something to the table they don't already have (FSU and Clemson) and if it is about markets, then Virginia Tech and NC State are possible fits.

7.) Georgia Tech is the one school that really could be left without a chair in all of this. There isn't a spot at the table in the big 10 or SEC unlss they go to 18

For your #1 - never is a long time. UConn is rapidly becomes New England's premier public university off the field. Its obviously got a great athletic program outside of FB. If thye could bring FB up to top 35 on a regular basis level , I think they would start to get looks. But again - that assuming they could bring FB up to that level - which they couldnt even do in the Big East, and certainly wont do in the AAC. So you are right - but only because the intial step wont happen.

it should be interesting to see how much conferences consider the end of bundling and rise of on demand viewing. In the bundled world UNC and UVa are no brainers and FSU and Clemson are extraneous. But in the on demand world its the opposite - overall fan base and fan base passion are much more important than broad but low level support.

The numbers in this article http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/20...ege-football-fans-and-realignment-chaos/?_r=0
would be alot more important than this ones on this page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_population.