Comments on: Big Ten’s 12th Team Announcement- Rutgers, Syracuse or Pittsburgh?

By: Melissa W.

Melissa W. — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:32:55 +0000

I want Barry Alvarez’ opinion on this. David Kay—go interview Barry up inside Camp Randall and see what he thinks. He has to be over the ND idea…it was his idea ages ago. But I’m sure he’s abandoned it. I actually like Pitt, Memphis, Mizzou, Boise St. and for a fifth…Barry once told me he’d like to see a Florida team in the mix. I’d like to hear if he still thinks that. That’s too much though geographically. Nightmare, yikes.

By: Peter Christian

Peter Christian — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:21:53 +0000

Come on guys, you all should be all over the proposal I made back in the spring: Memphis in the Big Ten!

By: chris

chris — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:56:42 +0000

I’m not sure if there is a reason but everyone has left out the school that would be at the top of my list. I thought the Big Ten should have pursued Cincinnati a few years back when they moved to the Big East. They fit the bill in all stated categories. Louisville would also be a very attractive addition to the Big Ten. But if Missouri was looking, they might be the best fit of all.

By: paulmbanks

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:27:29 +0000

the big one? the big momma conference?

By: paulmbanks

paulmbanks — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:27:02 +0000

“And then we could tell the SEC and ACC to go eff themselves on a daily basis.”

cant we just do that anyway?

By: Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:43:30 +0000

Also…they would have to rename the conference…The Big Big?

By: Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:42:44 +0000

The only reason it sounds like Boise State would be a non-starter is because I’ve heard that after this winter the WAC basically blows up with Boise St, Fresno St, and Nevada all headed to the Mountain West.

I think that I like Charlie’s idea, but to go both east and west. Let’s make it an unweildy 16 teams, and go with Mizzou and Nebraska from the west, and Pitt, Syracuse and Rutgers from the east. Gets us to 16, doesn’t COMPLETELY screw things up academically (4 of those 5 schools are pretty good in that respect), and geographically isn’t awful.

The only problem is selling a 16 team football conference…I’m not sure how that really plays out scheduling wise.

By: Peter Christian

Peter Christian — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:34:08 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly Charley… I believe that no matter what the decision ends up being (12 teams or more) that the primary goal is to expand the conference territory geographically as well as numerically. Adding a team that is already within the boundaries of “Big Ten Country” doesn’t help the conference or the existing members other than the fact that they can add a Conference Championship and become relevant to college football after Thanksgiving. It won’t help recruiting (would actually hinder recruiting) and it wouldn’t help in making the Big Ten nationally relevant every weekend from September through March.

Adding 3 or 5 teams instead of just one is a very interesting proposition in the fact that the Big Ten could expand in 3 geographical directions rather than just one. If an Big East Team is brought in, a “Southern” team (i.e. Mizzou or Memphis) and a Western team are all brought in that would establish the Big Ten as the geographically (and likely competitively) dominant conference in the nation. And then we could tell the SEC and ACC to go eff themselves on a daily basis.

By: Charley Davis

Charley Davis — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:02:14 +0000

Nearly every discussion I read about Big Ten expansion assumes that we are looking for a solitary twelfth member to replicate the models of the SEC, ACC or Big XII. I think this methodology is short-sighted, we need to break the mold, not conform to it. We have the opportunity to completely restructure the NCAA with astute planning and invitations.

First, I wholeheartedly agree that the ship has sailed on ND and that would be looking backward. Instead, there needs to be cooperation among Michigan, Michigan State and Purdue to ostracize them and make sure the Big Ten no longer contributes to their ability to remain independent without finfancial repercussions.

Secondly, this decision cannot be made on behalf of Penn St. to provide them with a closer geographic rival. If this expansion is not designed to enhance the academic and competitive reputations of the charter members of the Western Conference than the entire exercise is a waste.

Going back to my original point, why stop at 12 instead of creating a super-league comprised of 14 or 16 members? In this vein we can invite blocks of teams to abandon their former conferences. In essence corporate raiding in order to improve our business to the detriment of our adversaries.

Although opening up the NYC market audience to the Big Ten Network by accepting both Syracuse and Rutgers has appeal, I rather Go West. Neither Missouri or Nebraska are pleased with the way the Big 8 has marginalized their original members in deference to Texas. It would be far easier to invade the Big XII North by bringing their premier football programs into our brave new world.